With Ramadan upon us, why not spend some of your day - or long evening - reading? The UAE has many bookstores that are open well into the night this Ramadan, and for many of us, the month will finally offer us a chance to sit down and read.

For a fascinating glimpse at the history of Islam, pick up a copy of Islamic Civilization in 30 Lives: the First 1,000 Years by author Chase Robinson. The book offers an interesting look at the first 1,400 years of Islamic history by looking at the lives of some of its most important figures, beginning with the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) himself to figures including Ali, Saladin, Tamerlane, the poet Rumi, and even lesser known figures such as Shajar Al-Durr, a slave-turned-Sultan of Egypt.

For another interesting read - written by Emirati author and ambassador to Russia Omar Saif Ghobash - pick up a copy of his book, Letters to a Young Muslim. The book - which is written as a series of personal letters to his sons - Ghobash offers a sort of manifesto that lays out the challenges that today's young people will face in the future, particularly in an age in which extremists are attempting to co-opt religion for the sake of their own political agendas and ambitions. Even for non-Muslim readers, the book offers a fascinating glimpse into a world one may not be intimately acquainted with, and help provide understanding to the issues currently faced by hundreds of millions of Muslim young people.

Lastly, for a look at the modern-day UAE and the work of its government, try out Reflections on Happiness and Positivity, by none other than His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In the book, Sheikh Mohammed answers complex questions in a storytelling fashion that makes the book relatable to young and poses different visions of administrative, developmental, and civilised work based on positivity and faith in citizens.

So while Ramadan has a lot to offer us outside our own homes, make sure not to neglect yourself by missing out on such ample time to enhance your own mind!

Source: Khaleej Times