Ramadan begins today in Oman

Muscat: Ramadan begins today in Oman, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Awqaf announced on the advice of the moon-sighting committee.
During the Holy Month, it is traditional for Muslims to observe the fast from dawn until dusk.
The Maghrib prayers, which normally take place at about 6:40pm, signal the end of the fast. There are many expats who are new to the country, and will need to familiarise themselves with the rules of the country to ensure everyone has a safe and blessed Holy Month.
During the hours of the day, expats and non-Muslims are advised to not eat food and drink in public.
Nusreen Sahil, an expat living in the country, said it was important that those who don’t fast, respect the traditions of the Sultanate during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
“Since we are all living in a multicultural society, it is good to respect the beliefs of others,” she said.
Many of those who do observe the Ramadan fast are actually doing so for the first time. Hasna Annacot, another expat, said that many children who are fasting for the first time are likely to be gradually introduced to the concept.
“There are those who are fasting for the first time – particularly children – who are still getting to know and understand the whole purpose,” she explained.
There are those who are doing it for the first time. There are also those with diabetes, who may not be able to it, but are still doing so with difficulty. For me, I have been observing the fast since grade one. I like the month of Ramadan, but I know a lot of people who have a lot of trouble, and they find it difficult.”
Omani national Maimunah Shebani said: “When you look at it from a different angle, you will learn to appreciate it differently. What we do in our family is that we ask our children to fast until a certain time of the day, such as lunchtime, to get them into the habit. Doing 12 hours of fasting is not easy for them, but sometimes, if kids want to experience fasting, they don’t need to do the whole thing. It is about creating a habit. For one week, we might tell them to fast until noon, and the next week, until 4pm.”
Other tenets one must observe during the Holy Month include the avoidance of playing loud music, and the importance of dressing conservatively.
Simplicity and austerity
Ramadan is often held in high regard as a time of peace, simplicity and austerity and those who will be observing the fast in the country have said that these tenets are an important part of that.
“Dressing is a very subjective topic but you have to dress modestly in every part of life,” said Nusreen Sahil.
“You have to avoid loud music and movies, although it is very difficult in this era to avoid all those. But that is what Ramadan is about – it is about refraining from these things and concentrating on your prayers.”
Maimunah Shebani added: “When you look at how healthy it is to actually fast, it is quite amazing to know what happens when your body fasts,” she added.
“Maybe it would be a good time to get healthy. You don’t need to fast for the whole nine hours, but look into the benefits of fasting in terms of giving the body a rest. Our bodies are like factories, and you need to switch off, so look at it from that perspective, a different perspective.”
When you do meet someone observing the fast, do greet him by saying ‘Ramadan Kareem’ or ‘Ramadan Mubarak’.
Do’s and don’ts during Ramadan
Avoid eating and drinking in public
Avoid scheduling work lunches during the Holy Month
Do not listen to loud music or play loud movies
Please dress conservatively
When you meet someone observing the fast, greet them by saying ‘Ramadan Kareem’ or ‘Ramadan Mubarak’
Do show respect and etiquette in your daily routine