Ramadan hashtag sparks controversy on social media
By Faten Omar
KUWAIT: The hashtag #last_ten_days_of_Ramadan has sparked controversy on social media between opponents and supporters. The hashtag came after demands by several citizens to apply a proposal by MP Hamad Al-Obaid to suspend work in the public sector during the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan in order to give employees more time for worship, prayers and rituals.
A number of experts in several fields agreed any government move to consider the last 10 days of Ramadan as an official holiday will afflict Kuwait with more economic paralysis, in addition to perpetuating the behavior of disrespecting the value of work. It will also cause severe harm at an educational level for students who are already suffering from learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the ministry of education confirmed earlier that it had not received any instructions regarding a holiday on the last 10 days of Ramadan, affirming that such a decision will affect the study plan. Several citizens on Twitter rejected the adoption of this decision. Ali Al-Fadhala affirmed that a decision to suspend work in the last 10 days of Ramadan is considered irresponsible, as suspending work for 10 days, in addition to the Eid holiday, will lead to a lot of disruption.
“I feel bitter when I read about demands for a holiday in the last 10 days of Ramadan. Work is worship, and we are in the month of worship. How can Muslims face God if they are being lazy? It is pure ignorance. Hopefully, the government will not heed an illegal request in the name of sharia,” Farida Al-Habib said.
“To work diligently to benefit yourself and others during the last 10 days of Ramadan is better than spending its nights praying. A country that obstructs people’s interests over worship is a state which has mixed priorities. Worship is an individual matter. It is hypocrisy to demand a holiday for the last 10 days of Ramadan for worship, then spend it traveling,” Salah Al-Rashed tweeted.
Kawther Al-Jouan revealed that families in the olden days fasted during summer heat and winter cold, while their children went to school walking under the burning sun, rain and cold. “They fasted, prayed and went to tarawih with their children. Today, people are inside their air-conditioned cars and workplaces, and they want a holiday!”
Fahad Al-Jaffar emphasized that the generation of the seventies and eighties was the most patient. “We used to go to our unairconditioned schools, while our Palestinian teachers counted every mistake we did. Our backpacks were full of books, and we had a notebook with not less than 120 pages for every subject we studied. We always returned home with a smile on our faces,” he said.
“The month of Ramadan is the month of goodness, fasting and worship. It is not a month of sleeping, eating, staying up late, shopping or visiting. It is just a month and sometimes it is only 29 days. We should teach our children to be more patient and teach them about how our grandparents survived with no such luxuries,” he added.
On the other hand, some citizens supported the decision. for Ashkanani, the 10-day holiday is a must, because people are now up until Fajr prayer and stay up late worshiping, calling on people who object to the decision to stay out of this matter. Budoor also supported the proposal. “I strongly agree, because everyone is busy with worship and tarawih prayers, as well as preparing for Eid. And with school homework and drops and pickups, how can all of this be done?”
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