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British Muslim doctor offers top tips for positive change during last 10 days of Ramadan

Dr Hina Shahid said it is important to consume balanced meals for both sahoor and iftar. (File/Getty Images)
Dr Hina Shahid said it is important to consume balanced meals for both sahoor and iftar. (File/Getty Images)
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Updated 01 April 2024

British Muslim doctor offers top tips for positive change during last 10 days of Ramadan

Dr Hina Shahid said it is important to consume balanced meals for both sahoor and iftar. (File/Getty Images)
  • Chairperson of the Muslim Doctors Association highlights the importance of continuing to consume sahoor
  • ā€˜Itā€™s common for people to feel tired during this stretch,ā€™ says general practitioner

LONDON: As Muslims enter the last 10 days of Ramadan, the grand finale of the holy month during which believers intensify their worship, keeping up energy levels is of the utmost importance.

Dr. Hina Shahid, the chairperson of the Muslim Doctors Association, spoke to Arab News about how British Muslims can maintain their stamina and equip themselves for fasting through the day while worshipping at night in search of the night of power.

The night of power, or Laylat Al-Qadr in Arabic, is a sacred night in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the night on which the Qurā€™an was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Although its exact date is not known, it is believed to fall on one of the odd-numbered nights of the last 10 days of the holy month.

The Prophet instructed Muslims to ā€œSeek Laylat Al-Qadr in the last 10 days of Ramadan,ā€ and the Qurā€™an describes the night as ā€œbetter than a thousand monthsā€ in terms of virtue.

Therefore, Muslims increase the amount of time they dedicate to prayer, supplication, and recitation of the Qurā€™an during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, but this can prove difficult due to the sleep deprivation and fatigue caused by fasting for the first 20 days of the holy month.

Shahid highlighted the importance of continuing to consume the early morning meal despite the temptation to sleep through it, and eating balanced meals that are rich in fluids for both sahoor and iftar, while choosing local and seasonal produce.

The general practitioner said: ā€œThere are a lot of positive changes that people can make during these last 10 days, not just to optimize their worship but also to make sure they keep their energy levels up.

ā€œItā€™s common for people to feel tired during this stretch of Ramadan and skip sahoor but itā€™s really important to have that meal because that is whatā€™s going to keep you going for the rest of the day.ā€

Shahid said it was important to consume balanced meals for both sahoor and iftar, adding: ā€œYou should have all of the major food groups at both of those meals, so thatā€™s basing the meals on complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, healthy proteins, a bit of dairy, fruit and vegetables, and lots and lots of fluids.

ā€œIn general you should be having two liters of fluid during the day. You can stagger that during non-fasting hours, and one way of doing that and getting your fluid intake up is by making sure that you have lots of fluid-rich foods at both of those meals.ā€

Shahid said her personal sahoor staple was overnight oats as ā€œyou can bring in all your food groups into one dish without sapping your energy and time.ā€

She added that thinking about time-efficient ways of preparing meals allowed people to focus on worship during the last third of Ramadan, and highlighted the importance of choosing local and seasonal produce.

She said: ā€œStudies have shown that local and seasonal produce is better for you in terms of your health and nutrient value. You should also choose whole foods over processed foods ā€” looking at the harmful effects of processed foods is a big thing at the moment in the world of nutrition.ā€

Talking about the good habits with which Muslims can continue after the end of Ramadan, Shahid said that being mindful about their intake, increasing fluids, and quitting smoking should be high on the list.

She said: ā€œFood is medicine. Everything that you put into your body will keep you going in terms of worship. Thatā€™s really the purpose of why youā€™re eating: to optimize your worship.

ā€œWe should carry that mindset forward: that food is medicine, that actually the purpose of what youā€™re eating is not only to feed your body, but also to feed your soul.ā€


Qatar exhibition explores relationship between AI and humanity

Qatar exhibition explores relationship between AI and humanity
Updated 21 January 2025

Qatar exhibition explores relationship between AI and humanity

Qatar exhibition explores relationship between AI and humanity

DOHA: The Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar launched ā€œAi or Nay? Artificial vs. Intelligent,ā€ a thought-provoking exhibition exploring humanityā€™s evolving relationship with machine learning. 

Running until May 15, the exhibition brings together over 20 works by international and regional artists.

Directed by Alfredo Cramerotti, the exhibition emphasizes interdisciplinary dialogue, he said. ā€œFor me, itā€™s important as a curator to combine arts with something else and have a foot in art and a foot in something like technology or media,ā€ Cramerotti told Arab News.

Alfredo Cramerotti (L) is the director of the exhibition and Jack Taylor (R) is the curator. (Supplied)

ā€œWeā€™re embedded in an environment of communication, technology, and media and (in this exhibition) we bring in artistic elementsā€¦ to tackle themes that are relevant for society now.ā€

On display are installations from international creatives such as Jan Zuiderveld (Netherlands), Patrick Tresset (France/Belgium), and Adnan Ayub Aga (UAE/Portugal), alongside interactive and visual works by Amr Alngmah (Yemen/Egypt), Farjana Salahuddin (Bangladesh), graphic designer Hind Al-Saad (Qatar), Hadeer Omar (Egypt) and Bilge Emir (Turkey/Germany).

ā€œWe thought, letā€™s bring in in different voices ā€” from the region and internationally, from different sectors of society and cultures ā€” to help us understand the different pinch points of AI to make the general public more aware of certain issues,ā€ explained Cramerotti.

The exhibition brings together over 20 works by international and regional artists.(Supplied)

The exhibition also addresses the tension between digital and physical experiences, he added: ā€œThis hybridity is central to the show. Itā€™s about being aware of how AI and information flows shape our identities and impact our lives.ā€

As an example, Cramerotti highlighted the work of Al-Saad and Omar, which features screen walls offering a glimpse into how AI works in our everyday lives.

ā€œThe idea of how computers see us is actually quite central, but itā€™s completely invisible ā€” like facial recognition,ā€ he said. ā€œIt is integrated in your life flow. You donā€™t notice it. But there is an incredible amount of ā€˜bio-politicsā€™ behind it.ā€


Tiffany Trump stuns in Zuhair Murad gown during inauguration week

Tiffany Trump stuns in Zuhair Murad gown during inauguration week
Updated 21 January 2025

Tiffany Trump stuns in Zuhair Murad gown during inauguration week

Tiffany Trump stuns in Zuhair Murad gown during inauguration week
  • Tiffany is married to Lebanon-born Michael Boulos
  • Married in 2022, they are expecting their first child

DUBAI: Tiffany Trump, the daughter of US President Donald Trump, turned heads this week in a dress by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad at the Inaugural Candlelight Dinner, hosted at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Traditionally held on the eve of a US presidential inauguration, the black-tie event honors the incoming administration with an evening of celebration and speeches.

For the occasion, Tiffany, who is expecting her first child with husband Michael Boulos, chose a custom, chocolate-brown chiffon gown with an asymmetric one-shoulder neckline, and a cape-like sleeve that flowed dramatically.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The dress was cinched at the waist and highlighted by intricate draped detailing on the bodice.

On Monday morning, Tiffany and Boulos attended services at St. Johnā€™s Church in Washington, D.C., a longstanding tradition for incoming presidents and family members.

Later in the day, she joined her family at the swearing-in ceremony, which was held indoors at the Capitol Rotunda due to extreme cold weather.

She also attended the inaugural parade at the Capital One Arena and the inaugural balls that evening.

For the dayā€™s events, she wore a velvet navy-blue coat cinched at the waist, accessorized with minimal jewelry and leather point-toed stiletto boots.

She wore a velvet navy-blue coat cinched at the waist, accessorized with minimal jewelry and leather point-toed stiletto boots. (Getty Images)

Tiffany and Boulos tied the knot in 2022. For her special day, the bride wore a custom-made Grecian-style gown by Lebanese designer-to-the-stars Elie Saab.

Tiffany chose her wedding dress as a nod to Boulosā€™ heritage. ā€œItā€™s a Lebanese-American wedding, so we were so happy to have Elie Saab create the magic,ā€ said mother of the bride Marla Maples at the time, according to People magazine.

Boulos is of Lebanese and French descent and grew up in Lagos where his father, Massad, runs Boulos Enterprises and is the CEO of SCOA Nigeria.

The family is also linked to the world of Hollywood through Michaelā€™s brother Fares, who is an actor and appeared in a 2017 episode of ā€œThe Crown.ā€

Boulos and Tiffany were engaged in January 2021, the day before Trump left office following defeat in the 2020 election.


Camila Alves McConaughey shines in Elie Saab at Riyadh event

Camila Alves McConaughey shines in Elie Saab at Riyadh event
Updated 20 January 2025

Camila Alves McConaughey shines in Elie Saab at Riyadh event

Camila Alves McConaughey shines in Elie Saab at Riyadh event

DUBAI: Lebanese couturier to the stars Elie Saab took to Instagram to give a shoutout to model Camila Alves McConaughey, who wore the label to the recent concert ā€œLife is a Dream,ā€ led by Hollywood giant Anthony Hopkins in Riyadh.

ā€œ@camilamcconaughey attended the ā€˜Life Is A Dreamā€™ concert composed by Sir Anthony Hopkins with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra alongside her husband Matthew in an ELIE SAAB Spring Summer 2025 look,ā€ the label captioned the Instagram post.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Alves McConaughey, who attended the event with her actor husband Matthew McConaughey, wore a striking yellow gown to the event, with flowing caped sleeves and a plunging neckline.

Meanwhile, US pop sensation Christina Aguilera, who performed at the Joy Awards ceremony over the weekend in Riyadh, also opted for an Elie Saab creation for the first part of her performance.

Aguilera took to the stage in a dramatic burgundy gown from Elie Saabā€™s Haute Couture Autumn Winter 2024 collection. The glittering gown saw Aguilera channeling old-school 1920s Hollywood glamour. The dress flowed into a feathered train, and she completed the look with a chiffon scarf, draped over her head and shoulders.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The same event saw Alves McConaughey opt for another yellow gown, this time from Oscar de la Renta.

As for the symphony concert, in a captivating blend of art and humanity, Hollywood icon Hopkins graced the Bakr Al-Shaddi Theater in Boulevard City, Riyadh, with a performance titled ā€œLife is a Dreamā€ as part of the Riyadh Season festivities.

Introduced by fellow actor Morgan Freeman, Hopkins opened his speech with the Arabic greeting, ā€œAs Salaam o Alaikum,ā€ setting a tone of cultural respect and unity.

Hopkins shared his reflections on life and art, drawing from the words of Edgar Allan Poe: ā€œI have always believed that all we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.ā€

Reflecting on his life, he described the path from ā€œthe son of a simple bakerā€ in South Wales to a world-renowned composer and actor.

ā€œMy life, to me, is a profound mystery,ā€ he said. ā€œItā€™s impossible to understand or take credit for the blessings Iā€™ve been given. Thatā€™s why I believe life is a dream, and this piece, ā€˜Life is a Dream,ā€™ was inspired by my dreamy childhood in South Wales, my wonderfully supportive mother and my father, who was larger than life and worked tirelessly throughout his life.ā€


Italian sculptress Ariana Palmieri contemplates worldā€™s cyclicity at Tuwaiq SculptureĀ 

Italian sculptress Ariana Palmieri contemplates worldā€™s cyclicity at Tuwaiq SculptureĀ 
Updated 20 January 2025

Italian sculptress Ariana Palmieri contemplates worldā€™s cyclicity at Tuwaiq SculptureĀ 

Italian sculptress Ariana Palmieri contemplates worldā€™s cyclicity at Tuwaiq SculptureĀ 

RIYADH: With the theme ā€œThen and Now: Joy in the Struggle of Making,ā€ the sixth edition of the Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium has brought together 30 sculpture artists from around the world.

Among them is Italian artist Ariana Palmieri, whose piece ā€œMotion of Revolutionā€ was inspired by the movement of the solar system around the sun. Depicting the inevitable cycles of birth and death, the work contemplates the notion that birth is conditioned by assured fatality. 

Adriana Palmieri at her Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium booth. (Instagram)

ā€œItā€™s all about the circularity of life ā€” you are born, you are a child, then you are an adolescent, then you grow older, and then you die. But your life will continue after this, and we give life to other things. So itā€™s more about how everything is connected and a circularity of life; as humans move within the planets, the planets are moving around the sun,ā€ Palmieri told Arab News. 

Originally from Milan, Palmieri moved to Carrara, a town known worldwide for its white marble, to study sculpting. She graduated in 2023 and the 26-year-old is one of the youngest artists amongst the group at the symposium.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

She says it is an opportunity to learn and grow as an artist. 

ā€œItā€™s like a dream. I didn't think they would choose me because I am so young,ā€ she said. ā€œThe last edition was more about people that had experience. This edition, they tried to concentrate more (on) the artwork and the background of the artist,ā€ she said. 

The finished works will be exhibited from Feb. 12-24 and moved to various locations across the city as part of Riyadh Artā€™s initiative to beautify the capital.

ā€œPublic art is the main thing that our sculptures can achieve because you can do big stuff and they will be like a journal in some way. Iā€™m really, really happy that I can do something so big that will stay there so much longer than me,ā€ she said. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Palmieriā€™s work is not merely a reflection of planetary movement but contemplates the existence of the human race and its role within a larger picture. Her work itself is a representation of this thought: As every human diminishes, remnants of them and their work on earth will be set in stone ā€” waiting to be discovered by another. 

ā€œI thought about nature a lot, and all of humanity. I hope at least that my art can get through this idea, to connect all the people,ā€ she said.


Review: ā€˜A Man on the Insideā€™ ā€“ comedy series on Netflix

Photo/Supplied
Photo/Supplied
Updated 19 January 2025

Review: ā€˜A Man on the Insideā€™ ā€“ comedy series on Netflix

Photo/Supplied
  • Dressed in impeccably pressed suits and armed with plenty of trivia about architecture, he saunters in, shyly at first, then begins to find his footing

ā€œA Man on the Insideā€ is an eight-episode comedy series that premiered on Netflix in 2024, blending humor, heartfelt storytelling and a touch of mystery.

After retired professor and widower Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson of ā€œThe Good Placeā€) speaks to his concerned only daughter, Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis), he decides to make a change. A year after her motherā€™s death, Emily encourages her father to find a new purpose; to take a class or try a new hobby.

With a love of newspaper cutouts (he would often clip and mail interesting articles to Emily), Charles finds an intriguing yet vague job listing in the classified section.

He is soon recruited by Julie, a private investigator (Lilah Richcreek Estrada), who reluctantly enlists his help to uncover the whereabouts of a stolen necklace in a local San Francisco retirement community.

At its heart, the series explores the evolving father-daughter relationship between Charles and Emily, along with her husband and three teenage sons.

It also shows Charles making friends and trying out new things at an age and stage in his life when he thought life ended with his wifeā€™s death.

Dressed in impeccably pressed suits and armed with plenty of trivia about architecture, he saunters in, shyly at first, then begins to find his footing.

ā€œHeā€™s like if a podcast wore a suit,ā€ one staff member aptly describes him.

Then another valuable item is stolen from the community. Then another.

Stephanie Beatriz (ā€œBrooklyn Nine-Nineā€) co-stars as Didi, the sharp and determined managing director of the retirement community, bringing her trademark wit and charm to the role.

The whodunit-style show examines coping with grief, lost love, and the excitement of new beginnings from the perspective of seniors.

Whether youā€™re here for the mystery, the comedy, or its effortless charm, the series delivers a family-friendly binge-worthy viewing experience.