Qatar Prepares for Ramadan - 1435 AH/2014

So all of us in Qatar are awaiting news with regard to sighting of the moon tonight and the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

The whole atmosphere changes in Qatar during the month of Ramadan with working hours becoming less and nights emerging to be lively than usual days! Opening hours of important Government Offices, Malls and other places in Ramadan can be viewed here

Join us on Facebook and Twitter for "Ramadhaan Pearls", which will include Ramadan Quotes and sayings in Arabic and English to enhance your spirituality every day throughout the month of Ramadan. This is a humble effort from Rush360 to remind the Muslims of this month and share the essence with the non muslims who are in Qatar. So please share these beautiful Ramadhaan Pearls with everyone.

 

Remember small kindness go a long away with rewards as well as humanity. Here are some small things each one of us can do this Ramadan.

• Buy  few pack of water bottles and put them in the masjid (Mosques) so the people can have water to drink during Taraweeh (The Night Prayer in Ramadan)

• Buy some tissues and leave them in the prayer area.

• Sponsor an iftaar at the masjid for the people

• Help out in setting up the iftaar in the masjid

• Come early and clean the masjid so the people come to a masjid which looks very clean

• Buy some air freshners and leave them to be used in the masjid

• Buy some burning incense to be used during Taraweeh

• Give rides to those who don’t have a means of transportation to the masjid for Taraweeh

• sponsor and arrange iftaars (Breaking Fast Gatherings)

Don't forget to take advantage of www.rush360.qa this Ramadan and find anything and everything around you and save time!

Singing Sand Dunes - Qatar

Have you heard of the Singing Dunes in Qatar? Have you been there?

Rush360 Team was there just for you!!! Exact Location can be found at www.rush360.qa  by searching for "Singing Sand Dunes"

Take Salwa Road, to go to Mesaieed
Take Exit 24
Turn at Khararah (follow the Rush360 Map as you get few turns marked "Kharaarah" and may get confused where to turn)
Keep going and you will see the Singing Dunes

SUV's are best to travel on, but since there are roadways non SUV's can travel too. Watch for little rocks at the foot of the dunes, so you've got to drive carefully, also at times sand is piled up across the road and you may get stuck just like us!!!

We had a bunch of fit boys (who were visiting the dunes) as saviours who pushed us through the sand. Its always better to go with a crowd as you will not find any help close by other than visitors. Keep some phone numbers handy to get help!

So  What are Singing Sand Dunes?

According to National Geographic "Scientist call it "singing sand," . As sand grains shuffle down the slopes of certain sand dunes, they produce a deep, groaning hum that reverberates for miles".

It still remains a mystery as to how they produce these hums and why different dunes sing different tunes. But the closest conclusion so far is supposed to be this

" ........ the scientists say that collisions between sand grains cause the motions of the grains to become synchronized. The outer layer of the dune vibrates like the cone of a loudspeaker. The particular note depends primarily on the size of the grains"
(New York Times)

The Singing Sand Dunes in Umm Said really sings and you experience the vibration as well. Having a skateboard makes it fun, but if you do not have one, anything would do. Even something like this....

If not just your footsteps can bring out the humming!

Be fit! You need all that strength to climb up to slide again!

What can you do at the Singing Dunes!

Imagination and Creativity is the limit! You can have a family picnic, (in summer it has to be an early morning one or a late night one) slide and slide and have fun, Read a book (a very quiet place indeed, no big noise except for the humming), watch the vast dunes and ponder the creation of the Creator, or you can simply fly a kite like this.....

And of course when you visit the Singing Dunes please do not litter!.. Littering is ugly!

A place not to be missed. Hot summer days are not ideal to visit though! Cooler months are great! Get out of the place before sunset and its pretty dark unless you are an experienced camper and you are ready to camp!

Marco Polo in the 13th Century said the singing sands  "at times fill the air with the sounds of all kinds of musical instruments, and also of drums and the clash of arms",

...... but we wonder what the Arabs had to say about the Singing Dunes and may be they would have discovered the humming many many years before Marco Polo!

Anyone knows anything???!