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More hours for spiritual growth ~ The Brunei Times In Brunei, Ramadan is a period where time seems to slow…

More hours for spiritual growth ~ The Brunei Times
In Brunei, Ramadan is a period where time seems to slow down. Government offices and public services operate and ends earlier from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The private sector also makes its own adjustments to allow Muslim staff to go home earlier in order to prepare for the breaking of fast with their families.
What is the rationale of these reduced hours? We have to remember that there is no lunch break, and Muslims who fast take their first meal of the day very early before sunrise. Therefore, they are already up and about very early before performing their solat subuh or dawn prayer. In the early mornings, fasting Muslims are still energetic; so it makes sense to work as early as possible and through the lunch hour. There should not be a drop in productivity. In fact, Muslims should be even more focused as they do not have to think about what to eat at mid-day or for some, for mid-morning break.
Apart from experiencing how the poor feels not having enough to eat, fasting allows one to have better spiritual focus. Ramadan, is after all, a month where special prayers such as the tarawih, are performed, and many Muslims make extra effort to read the Quran, aiming to complete it before the first of Syawal.

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