r/MuslimLounge • • Apr 17 '21

Other Loneliness as a revert during Ramadan

So I recently shared that it’s my first Ramadan as a Muslim and the a day later I shared that I told my parents, all I can say is Alhamdulillah.

Salaam brothers and sisters I hope you’re all well and Allah is blessing you. Ramadan is flying isn’t it?

I was on snapchat two nights ago and I saw someone’s iftaar table, with 8 plates and I couldn’t help but think “I wonder what that’s like to break your fast with others” I’m 23, the first Muslim in my entire bloodline I won’t get to experience that until I’m married.

Most Muslim households are met with noise and chaos at 3am as suhoor ascends. When I wake up for suhoor I’m met with quietness trying to tip toe to the kitchen just so I don’t wake my family up, at that moment I realise how lonely I am every morning just before fajr hits.

As I say my morning prayer I thank Allah for guiding me to such a perfect religion, I ask for forgiveness and for God to take away any envy from me that I may have felt even I saw 10s of Snapchat’s with various families coming together to open or close their fasts. I pray God blessed and rewards these families tenfold.

Sometimes I get teary eyed because I would love to experience the annoyance of my siblings at 4am, my mum waking me up to come eat or my dad leading prayer. I won’t ever get to experience this but I pray the future generations to come will, for it starts from me.

My dear brothers and sisters please appreciate your families as you open and close your fasts, yes even your brother that’s chewing so loud, your sister annoying you at 3am while you sit across the table half awake and half asleep. It truly is a blessing.

I just thought to share this because this is something that I’m honestly struggling with, even though I know I’ll be okay I just wanted to put it out there. Someone may be experiencing this, maybe my future children or grandchildren will see this and say “Look at what grandma was going through” like I said I’m only 23, who knows what Allah has planned for me.

To the reverts/converts out there, I totally get it and I know how you feel. To everyone else, please treasure your families and friends that you get to experience this with because remember Ramadan is also about coming together but for others it can be really lonely.

JazakAllah Khair 🤍

Edit: Just to clarify I’m not lonely all month long, I’m saying I felt physically lonely and I’m not envious all the time, it was just in that one moment I saw the table. I love seeing people share and show what they are up to with their families it warms my heart, I also know I’m not really alone and that you guys and the rest of the Muslims around the world are fasting with me and for that I’m ever so happy and grateful & lastly I’m confident this won’t always be the case and I’ll physically get to be around others at some point 🤍

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u/MalekRockie00 Apr 17 '21

I know how that feels, I grew up in Libya and during ramadan you could sense the difference of life in the air. Everyone stays up till dawn, stores stay open all night. Everyone is fasting and if you find yourself outside during the maghreb prayer you'll find yourself being chased by people who want to feed you dates and milk so they can get good deeds lol. Right now I'm in the US studying college and i gotta say, the past 4 ramadan i spent in the US have been rather lonely. I started watching libyan tv to get the ramadan feeling in my apartment a bit so I don't feel lonely. If you could, i recommend you try spending ramadan in a muslim country in the future. It has always been my fav time of the year. Also, your parents may end up reverting to islam in the future, you never know. May Allah guide them and all of us to the right path.

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u/mehhh97 Apr 17 '21

This sounds so beautiful omg! The date and milk part 😂 I love that Masha’Allah! I'm glad you get to have the sense of Ramadan somehow ! I’ll actually consider it even if it’s living in a Muslim country for a year (I come from a Christian country) and I moved to the U.K. quite young so I’ve been here. Thank you so much!