» 08/10/2011 17:11 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Ramadan: fasting lasts two more minutes at Dubai’s al Burj Khalifa Tower A Muslim cleric issues a ruling on the matter. In his opinion, residents of the tallest building will be able to see the sun for a longer period than people at ground level. Another cleric is more specific about the length of time: two minutes before the 150th floor, three minutes after it. The world’s tallest skyscraper thus changes the timing of fasting and praying.
Dubai (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Muslims living in the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa (pictured), will have to fast longer during the Ramadan holy month, this according to one of the leading local clerics.
“Burj Khalifa is almost one km (0.6 miles) high, which means people in higher floors can still see the sun after it has set on the ground," Ahmed Abdul Aziz al-Haddad said. Hence, they will have to break their fast two minutes after those on the ground.
Another cleric, Mohammed al-Qubaisi, is more specific. People living above the 80th floor should fast for an extra two minutes, while those on the 150th floor and higher should wait for three more minutes before eating or drinking.
The al Burj Khalifa Tower was inaugurated in January 2010. At 828 metres, it is the tallest skyscraper in the world (see “Dubai inaugurates the tallest skyscraper in the world,” in AsiaNews, 4 January 2010 http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Dubai-inaugurates-the-tallest-skyscraper-in-the-world-17257.html).
Worthy of pharaoh, the glass and steel structure has been front and centre in the world’s press since construction began.
However, it is impossible to verify how scrupulously its residents will respect the rulings of Muslim leaders. What is clear is that the building’s owners are thankful for the free advertising.
