Author: zeynab-gamieldien

When I found out that my husband and I would be temporarily relocating overseas, one of the first thoughts which came to mind was that of us being alone in an unfamiliar place during the month of Ramadan. It would be so lonely, so desolate and empty. Ramadan is a time we associate with big pots of rice, bucket loads of invitations to share meals and all of our mothers’ special dishes served as a smorgasbord. I was convinced that a solo Ramadan would be a hard slog, and not anywhere near as beautiful or joyous. But this line of thinking neglects an important and oft-neglected reality for so many Muslims. It is tempting to paint a romanticised picture of what Ramadan is like, but this perhaps reflects a rosy ideal more so than a lived experience. Ramadan can be a time of immense struggle and difficult contemplations, of dates stuffed into mouths in peak-hour traffic and microwave iftars on a couch for one. For some, work continues well into the night regardless of the long day’s fasting which preceded it. The reasons people may experience struggles in Ramadan vary. Some are far away from their beloved families and have little opportunity for reunions. For some, the family home is not a safe haven, but in fact a place fraught with danger and difficulties. Some are so busy trying...