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Iftar tents: A blessing for the needy

Sharjah - Many of the 'bachelors', who are jobless now or those who have sent their families back home due to financial crisis, depend on the free meals at the Ramadan tents

Ramadan tents in Sharjah are turning to be a blessing for bachelors and the expatriates who are forced to send their families back home due to financial crisis.
Many of those who were present at an Iftar tent, set up by the Sharjah Islamic Bank, near King Faisal Mosque, stated these tents were a huge relief for them since it is not possible for them to cook or buy food from restaurants for Iftar.
"I used to have Iftar at my home because till last year, I had my family with me. So I was not a frequent to Ramadan tents. But this Ramadan, I have sent my family back home as I don't have a job. I'm looking for a marketing job anywhere. Cafeterias also have increased prices, which is not affordable for me," said Abdulsalam Basheer, one of the beneficiaries of the free Iftar.
"So, I prefer to come to this tent to have Iftar and end the fast with a community meal. I feel very happy during Ramadan because I don't have to worry about food. Allah blesses those who provide Iftar for the poor like me," says Basheer.
During Ramadan, many of the new 'bachelors', who are jobless now or those who have sent their families back home due to financial crisis, depend on the free meals at the Ramadan tents sponsored by charity organisations, institutions, individuals of good deeds and mosques in Sharjah and Ajman.
During previous years, the Iftar tents were attended mostly by workers and poor people, but this year, number of people attending the Ramadan tents has increased.
The Imam of Khan Saheb Mosque in Al Mussala area said the number of people who attend Iftar at their tent increased every year, but this year the number has doubled in comparison to last year.
The tent serves biryani, brain masala and fried chicken along with bread and snacks to more than 1,000 poor and needy people," he said.

"Free dates, samosas, chaat, pakoras and a drink called Rooh Afza are also being distributed," he added. Every year, food parcels are sent to more than 1,000 poor families around Sharjah.
"Free Iftar meals are served outside the main mosque and some of it is provided by the generous people," he said.
Hassan Al Bagoni, Head of the Media and Public Relations section at Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB), which organises Iftar tent at King Faisal Mosque, said that the bank has been organising the tent for 12 consecutive years. It started in 2005 with providing food for 500 persons and the number reached 2,450 this year. The beneficiaries include workers, bachelors and needy families.
"As part of SIB's Corporate Social Responsibility, we are trying to provide food for at least 73,000 people by next year at the tent near King Faisal mosque and the other one in the Muwailih area," he stressed, adding that the location was selected based on its population density.
The bank assures the quality of the food by contracting the best restaurants. Bank employees and volunteers serve the food to the fasting people.
Mohamed Khair, a beneficiary at the tent, said he was forced to send his family back home and share an accommodation with bachelors after he lost his marketing job. "With my current situation, having Iftar at this tent is a great help as I need to pay only for the accommodation. Food in restaurant is very expensive in the holy month. A plate of mix grill with pieces of bread would cost Dh35 and it is not sufficient for a person who is fasting," he added.
Meanwhile, for some workers, Ramadan time is one of savings. Ahmed, Mahrouf, Khan and Zubair, who work with a construction company in Sharjah, said they save the money for the food during Ramadan because of the free Iftar and send that to their family back home. "We enjoy getting together in this tent. It's not only for food but also for socialising. As we all are from Bangladesh, we feel we are in our home country. The food is delicious too."
In Ajman, bachelors, jobless people and workers from flock to the Iftar tents sponsored by wealthy individuals and community associations.
Mohammed bin Zubair, an official at the Shaikh Zayed Mosque in Ajman, said that Ramadan is a month of blessing marked by prayers, fasting and charity, a time to share love and care towards any human being, regardless of religion.
It's not only Muslims who depend Iftar tents. Alphenso, Nithin and Satish who were in the tent, said that they come for dinner to the tent as they are jobless. "We enjoy the spirit of Ramadan and gathering of people of various nationalities," Said Satish.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com