JEDDAH: It is well-known to every Muslim that the month of Ramadan is characterized by its own special features which are different from every other month of the year.
This is clear from the joy and happiness welcoming the arrival of the holy month and the way people treat it from both the religious and social perspectives.
The phenomenon of high prices, and the culture of extravagance and inexcusable waste of food puts everything under close scrutiny and has prompted a local publication to highlight these issues.
Nabeela Mahjoub, a novelist and writer, said Ramadan was a religious occasion and urged Muslims to be more compassionate and take the opportunity to do more acts of charity which would be rewarded by God the Almighty.
“There should be an incentive for merchants to take into account the needs of the poor and people in general, and mitigate their sufferings. And I ask why merchants in our country raise prices while in western countries at similar times, merchants give discounts during Christmas and New Year?” she asked.
Speaking on the issue of appearances and extravagance during Ramadan she said: “What others see as extravagance and excessive consumption, I see as consistent with Saudi culture in Ramadan which is very different from other Arab countries. Ramadan here in our country is an occasion for hosting large parties and issuing invitations to families and relatives to join Ramadan dinners. Feeding a fasting individual has both religious and social value but the month is not an excuse to raise prices. It is necessary to punish those who manipulate prices.”
She said some actions, such as boycotting high-priced commodities, and changing some habits, might be a good response. Intisar Al-Aqeel, another writer said: “Ramadan is a month for prayers and fasting, and a month of blessings and joy for everyone. All segments of society, rich and poor, increase their purchases and double their spending substantially. It drives the economy and is positively reflected in the commercial sectore but one must carefully balance expenditure with income.”
Ahmad Al-Najjar, also a writer, said, “Everything will be fine if you balance the ‘how’ and the ‘how much!’ On the other hand, raising prices is not the solution if consumers are not aware enough to balance things. The competent authorities must put in place sophisticated programs to raise awareness on all issues of rational consumption and reacting to higher prices through the joint efforts of the media, households, educational and religious institutions. I think this way we can reach a satisfactory solution.”
Musa Al-Zahrani, a poet, said the month was an opportunity to practice self-control; he urged everybody not to be fooled by commercials and ads, but to prove that he or she is an intelligent consumer.
“The month is a chance to lose weight, regulate one’s blood sugar, high blood pressure and heart problems. Fasting is a very healthy way to purify the body and eliminate the toxins from it,” he added.
This is clear from the joy and happiness welcoming the arrival of the holy month and the way people treat it from both the religious and social perspectives.
The phenomenon of high prices, and the culture of extravagance and inexcusable waste of food puts everything under close scrutiny and has prompted a local publication to highlight these issues.
Nabeela Mahjoub, a novelist and writer, said Ramadan was a religious occasion and urged Muslims to be more compassionate and take the opportunity to do more acts of charity which would be rewarded by God the Almighty.
“There should be an incentive for merchants to take into account the needs of the poor and people in general, and mitigate their sufferings. And I ask why merchants in our country raise prices while in western countries at similar times, merchants give discounts during Christmas and New Year?” she asked.
Speaking on the issue of appearances and extravagance during Ramadan she said: “What others see as extravagance and excessive consumption, I see as consistent with Saudi culture in Ramadan which is very different from other Arab countries. Ramadan here in our country is an occasion for hosting large parties and issuing invitations to families and relatives to join Ramadan dinners. Feeding a fasting individual has both religious and social value but the month is not an excuse to raise prices. It is necessary to punish those who manipulate prices.”
She said some actions, such as boycotting high-priced commodities, and changing some habits, might be a good response. Intisar Al-Aqeel, another writer said: “Ramadan is a month for prayers and fasting, and a month of blessings and joy for everyone. All segments of society, rich and poor, increase their purchases and double their spending substantially. It drives the economy and is positively reflected in the commercial sectore but one must carefully balance expenditure with income.”
Ahmad Al-Najjar, also a writer, said, “Everything will be fine if you balance the ‘how’ and the ‘how much!’ On the other hand, raising prices is not the solution if consumers are not aware enough to balance things. The competent authorities must put in place sophisticated programs to raise awareness on all issues of rational consumption and reacting to higher prices through the joint efforts of the media, households, educational and religious institutions. I think this way we can reach a satisfactory solution.”
Musa Al-Zahrani, a poet, said the month was an opportunity to practice self-control; he urged everybody not to be fooled by commercials and ads, but to prove that he or she is an intelligent consumer.
“The month is a chance to lose weight, regulate one’s blood sugar, high blood pressure and heart problems. Fasting is a very healthy way to purify the body and eliminate the toxins from it,” he added.
