Al Hussein Youth City comes to life at night as thousands gather to enjoy Ramadan atmosphere

AMMAN — Shortly after the sunset iftar meal, 12-year-old Salma Hamad puts on her Real Madrid outfit, long white socks and sneakers and heads to Al Hussein Youth City with her mother and sister to play football.

Although weary after a day of fasting, the sixth grader makes do with a glass of water, soup and little rice for the fast-breaking iftar meal as she has a game to play.

"Since the start of Ramadan, our coach makes us practice after iftar because it is too hot during the day to run and play, especially as some of us are fasting," Hamad said as she pulled her brown hair in a ponytail.

The little girl said she finds it thrilling to play with her classmates at night under the bright lights of the stadium at a time when she would usually be in bed. 

"I'm enjoying Ramadan this year so much and I like this new routine," she said.

Close by was 33-year-old Tareq Waheed, jogging around the stadium.

"I go to the gym almost every day, but during Ramadan I get too exhausted to exercise before iftar and the night is too short after [the sunset] maghreb prayer to go to the gym. So, I find it best to jog [here]," Waheed said.

The graphic designer said that it would be a lot easier for him to jog   around his neighbourhood, but the pavements are not pedestrian friendly.

"In addition to the fact that jogging in the Sports City's several stadiums and asphalted tracks is safer, the atmosphere is also exceptional during Ramadan," Waheed told The Jordan Times.

As for the septuagenarian Abu Muath, walking at Al Hussein Youth City at night during Ramadan is essential for his health.

"My friend and I usually walk for 40 minutes after we perform the dawn prayer, but during Ramadan, we decided to take our usual walk after taraweeh prayer," said Abu Muath, a retired government official, referring to the special evening prayer performed in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. 

It is safer to walk at Al Hussein Youth City at night as the stadiums and playground are well-lit, Abu Muath said, explaining that he "needs to watch his step to avoid tripping".

But not all of the city’s late night visitors are there to exercise.

Haneen Halaweh and her three friends come to the city's club after iftar to socialise.

"We sit there until midnight, play cards, talk and watch Ramadan TV series and matches. The atmosphere here is beautiful," Halaweh, a college student, said.

Located in the heart of Amman, Al Hussein Youth City was established in the 1960s to host local and international sports activities. It stretches over 1,200 dunums, a third of which is covered with trees.

Over 6,000 people come to the city during Ramadan after iftar, according to its director, Atef Rweidan.

"The Sports City has a special ambiance during Ramadan. Lots of people escape the hot weather during the day to exercise at night. People of all ages come here after iftar," Rweidan told The Jordan Times.

He underscored that the city's administration adjusted the working hours of many of the facilities to welcome people after iftar, noting that the facilities are lit during the night, and the gym stays open until midnight.

In Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset. Consumption of food and beverages in Jordan tends to rise during the fasting month due to the change in eating patterns.

Health experts say the best time to exercise during Ramadan depends on the individual. Exercising during the hours before breaking the fast enhances the body's ability to burn fat by 100 per cent, while walking after the taraweeh prayer is also effective in losing weight because the body is ready for physical activity.