What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calender where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
Ramadan is a holy month to Muslims and also a joyous and spiritual time. I am concentrating upon that which most effects Non-Muslims during Ramadan.
When is Ramadan?
Because the Muslimīcalender is a lunar calender the date in the Julian, or solar, calender changes every year. Each year it is about 11 days earlier than the previous year.
Ramadan 2016 is 6 June to 5 July.
Ramadan 2017 is 27 May to 25 June.
Ramadan 2018 is 16 May to 14 June.
W
hen does Ramadan actually start?
The Muslim day starts at sunset and continues to sunset. Sightings for the new moon are taken at sunset and when sighted the month of Ramadan has started. Fasting begins later in the Muslim day at sunrise. Thus if Ramadan starts on June 6th then it is the sighting of the new moon at sunset on June 5th that marks the official start.
Are there exceptions to the rules?
There are exceptions to fasting rules such as the aged, sick, pregnant women, travellers, etc.
Some branches of Islam demand payment of a fine or a penance, such as feeding the poor, for breaking the fast whilst other branches do not. In some branches of Islam travellers may voluntarily choose to continue fasting whilst other branches forbid fasting whilst travelling.
When does Fasting take place?
Most agree that the times of fasting are from Sunrise to Sunset. Others use Dawn and Dusk. The latter could cause serious health problems for those who live at latitude 48.5 or greater. See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight for an explanation.
How does Ramadan affect QR?
QR adheres to the rules of Ramadan as required by the State of Qatar.
Food is always available inside the airport and on all flights. This is because of the traveller rules.
Non alcoholic drinks are always available both in the airport and on all flights.
Alcohol is NOT available at Hamad International Airport either inside or outside the airport buildings, even at the Airport hotel. Nor is it available on most regional flights. On all other flights from DOH alcohol is available after departure. The cabin crew decide when departure is. For some it is closing the doors, others pushback and yet others after take-off. Where alcohol is permitted on the flight then pre departure alcoholic drinks will normally be served on flights to DOH. There may be exceptions.
In every respect, other than alcohol, service is unchanged throughout QR.
Duty free alcohol is available at QDF. But there may be restrictions such as delivery to the aircraft door.
How does Ramadan affect Qatar?
If you leave the airport during Ramadan please remember
1) the sale and public consumption of Alcohol is banned by law during Ramadan. In several, but not all, hotels alcohol may be obtained by residents from room service.
2) It is extremely offensive, and in some Muslim countries, including Qatar, a criminal offence, to be seen eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the period of fasting.
Want to know more?
If you want more information then
http://marhaba.qa/ramadan-dos-and-donts-in-qatar/ is specific to Qatar. If you are also interested in health issues then
https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/...hy_fasting.pdf is worth looking at, not only for health issues.
Thanks are due to IAN-UK, Lobengula, RUN4FUN, sharp5flat9, VH-RMD and others for help in making this as accurate as possible.