Several cases of bruises and injuries are brought to King Fahd Hospital daily at the Iftar time because of the fights and jostling in queues to buy “Fool” (cooked fava beans), Dr. Adnan Abdul Raheem Sabahi, head of the Emergency Room, said here Thursday. Fool and Tamees are a favorite dish for many people at Iftar (breakfast) during the holy month of Ramadan. Dr. Sabahi said fasting people should be characterized by Islamic conduct and have patience so as to win Allah's reward. “It is illogical that people fight over a plate of Fool that costs no more than SR5,” he said. Dr. Sabahi said a majority of the cases received at the hospital during Ramadan are just before Maghreb (dusk) and between 9 P.M. and 3 A.M. because of the overcrowding at roads where Fool shops are located. Naji Muhammad, owner of a restaurant selling Fool, said sometimes very funny incidents are seen at the Fool shops. The quest for a plate of Fool is during the last hours of the day when people are tense and irritable, so fights and quarrels increase, he said. As to the reason for the problems, Naji Muhammad added that the critical time among fasting people is just before the call for Maghreb prayer. People raise their voices in anger and the quarrels begin. The more the call for prayer draws near, the more tense the situation becomes and pent up anger surfaces. He said the big rush at Fool restaurants causes many problems and scuffles because some people are impatient and jump the queue or try through tricks to get a plate of Fool before the others, who have been waiting patiently. The goal is to get a plate of Fool before Adhan. After that the streets become race courses for racing cars when those who are late for Iftar take off in a reckless way resulting in tragic accidents, Muhammad added.
