Doha: Al Nafla Night is a delightful occasion for adults and children alike that comes once every lunar year as the holy month of Ramadan approaches, where people prepare themselves by doing good deeds, such as fasting, distributing alms and bringing joy and happiness to family and neighbours.
People of Qatar celebrate Al Nafla Night every year in mid-Shaban (Hijri month in Islamic Calendar), where boys and girls dress in lovely traditional outfits, bringing joy and merriment to the silence of neighbourhoods as they cheerfully chant Yal-Nafla Ya Um El-Shaham Wil-laham, which comes from a folk song passed down from generations to celebrate this joyous traditional occasion.
Many women in the neighbourhoods prepare Qatari dishes, while others fill baskets of nuts and candies, which they distribute to the children.
Al Nafla Night is very similar to Garangao Night, which is celebrated in mid-Ramadan, as the biggest common dominator and aim of the two occasions is spreading joy and putting a smile on the children’s faces, as well as promoting generosity and hospitality.
A number of researchers in the Qatari heritage emphasised the importance of holding on to folklore and ancient customs and traditions, especially those that are not contradicting to Shariah or religion.
In this regard, Researcher in the Qatari Heritage Khalifa Al Sayed told Qatar News Agency (QNA) in a statement that mid-Shaban, which is known as Al Nafla, is still celebrated every year in Qatar, as children gather around chanting the folklore song, passing by the neighbourhoods’ homes and happily collecting nuts and candies that grownups delightfully offer to them.
Al Sayed stressed that this tradition is still celebrated in the community, noting that neighbours also kindly offer traditional dishes amongst each other, such as Harees, Khabees, Sago, Tharid, Aseeda and other popular dishes, which proves the existence of that strong bond among people.
Regarding the ways to preserve this Qatari heritage through generations, Prof. Dhabia Abdullah Mohammed Al Sulaiti, a researcher in linguistic documentation, culture, heritage and the Qatari environment, said in a statement to QNA that the heritage of Al Nafla, which celebrates the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, and one of the ways to ensure its survival and consolidation in society is to accustom children and young people to consider it an act of goodness, blessing, communication and charity to oneself and to others, including parents, neighbours, relatives and acquaintances.
She added that whoever chose this name for iftar time on the middle of Shaban and called it Al Nafla was a wise person who chose the name accurately, because iftar meal on this day distributed to neighbours, family and relatives shows social connections and is considered early cooking training for Ramadan meals such as Thareed, Harees, Marquq, Madrouba, Luqaimat, Balaleet, and others.
Al Sulaiti pointed out that this tradition plays a major role in making the month of Ramadan beloved by "our young children, who receive it with longing and joy, in addition to spreading the virtues of morals such as solidarity, family visits, and harmony among the members of society".
She added that it was the custom to fast in the middle of Shaban and to cook various Ramadan foods on this day and children would distribute them to neighbours, family and friends before iftar time. Therefore, tables are full of delicious Ramadan dishes in every house because they exchanged them, even if they are rich or poor, there is no difference between them.
For her part, Head of the Media and Publication Department at QU Dr. Khawla Mortazavi explained to QNA that modernity dominated everything and changed the course of events, however, the month of Shaban and Ramadan remain the same.
She pointed out that the goal of Al Nafla Night is to present a gift by distributing a number of traditional foods such as Luqaimat, Harees, Thareed, Zalabia, and others, to the neighbours and to the needy and the poor. And it is a very noble habit that expresses brotherhood, neighbourliness, kindness and social solidarity, which was and still is one of the most important values that characterise Arab society in general and the Gulf society in particular.
