With regard to the article “What will you do after nine when shops close?” (Mar. 17), all activities should be between Fajr and Isha. No meetings, functions or parties should take place after 9 p.m. In this way children will wake up on time in the morning with a fresh mind and in a mood to go school. The same will be true of those going to work in offices. We should spend time with our families at home after 9 p.m. to learn what our children are doing and to understand the expectations of all family members. All shops and business activities must be closed to produce a healthy society. Mohammed, Online response II. If this decision is enacted, workers in private sector businesses (shopping malls, food courts, fashion, retail stores, etc,) will work until 9 p.m., but in the other parts of the private sector, businesses will be faced with a financial loss. The majority of the public are employees who finish their jobs by 5 p.m. and people will not be able to complete their shopping if businesses close by 9 p.m. So the ministry should think twice before implementing such a decision. Shahul, Online response III. This article states, “We sleep whenever we want and get up only when we are exhausted by the long hours of sleep.” Pardon my boldness but this is spoken like someone who has no job, responsibilities or goals in life. Faith777, Online response IV. Many countries around the world have trading hour restrictions, but the 9 p.m. deadline may be a little too extreme; 10 p.m. may be ideal. Many people in Saudi Arabia sleep during the day and are awake at night. We as humans were never designed like this. A number of studies have concluded that night workers age faster. The nights are meant for sleep and the days to seek one's livelihood. Yet to assume that domestic violence will increase is preposterous in the extreme. Are people so fickle? Muhammad, Online response
