| Hakim Hayat |
BEING away from home does not deter them from observing the holy month of Ramadhan, despite facing challenges due to the longer fasting period compared to a shorter one back in the Sultanate.
Bruneian students currently pursuing higher education in various universities in the United Kingdom yesterday joined millions of others worldwide in welcoming the first day of the holy month, following an announcement made by the London Central Mosque on Sunday.
First-year Marketing Management undergraduate at the University College Birmingham, Nabilah Sa’adatul Hayat binti Shamsul Hayat, said that this year’s Ramadhan would be different for her, given the struggle of being away from her family back in Brunei.
“It is sad knowing that I won’t be able to break my fast with my family and performing Tarawikh together,” she said, adding that she saw it as a test from Allah the Almighty.
She also talked about the challenge of the 19-hour fast in the UK, which she initially thought would be impossible. “But Insya Allah, I’m still in the process of getting used to it, and Alhamdulillah, I got through my first day.”
Being away from family during Ramadhan can be difficult especially for students who are studying overseas but it can still feel like home breaking fast together with housemates and friends
Shaddrina binti Razak, another undergraduate in Marketing Management at University College Birmingham, said although there is a big difference in observing Ramadhan between Brunei and the UK, she still feels thankful at being able to perform her religious obligation. “The family and religious atmosphere may not be felt much here but I am still grateful,” she said.
According to Shaddrina, dehydration is one of the main challenges during the long hours of fasting, apart from the long walking distance to the nearest mosque and the four-hour gap between the breaking of fast and Sahur (pre-dawn meal).
“I hope to make full use of this Ramadhan month here, with recitation of the Al-Quran and finishing one Juzuk per day, to fill in the time during the long hours of fasting. As for my family and loved ones, they are always in my prayers. May this Ramadhan bring us closer to Allah the Almighty,” she said.
Nazirah binti Zairi, a Business Management and Marketing major at Keele University, said that the experience of fasting abroad was a strange one for her. “There is no Ramadhan vibe, but fasting with my housemate really feels like part of home,” she said.
“The main challenge would be the long hours that we have to fast, with a very little amount of time between sungkai (breaking of fast) and sahur, since it’s now summertime in the UK.
“It’s hard to find Halal food in Keele, so I really miss home-cooked food; nevertheless this may be a good experience for me, as it’s my first year studying abroad.”
Another student from Keele University, Nain binti Junaidi, who majors in Business Management and Marketing, summed up her feelings.
“This is my first time fasting without my family and there’s no Ramadhan feel to it, but it is a good experience, because I have my housemate helping me to cook for sungkai and Sahur,” she said.
Nurul Akmal Afidah binti Mohd Shahrum Ariffin, also from the University College Birmingham, undertaking a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management said, “It’s a whole new experience for me, mainly because I am in a western country.
“The feeling of Ramadhan isn’t the same as in Brunei… In Brunei, we have lots of bazaars and Ramadhan songs are played all the time on the radio… But here in the UK, no one knows that it’s the fasting month, except for the Muslims.
“Fortunately, though, in Birmingham, the majority of the population is Muslim. What I like about being in the UK is that the people here are respectful of the
fact that we are fasting, and that they are curious to learn more about Ramadhan.”
Relating some of the challenges, she said, “We tend to fast for 14 hours in Brunei, but here in the UK, we fast for 19 hours. And by the time we break our fast, we would find ourselves preparing for Sahur, as well,” she said.
Nurul Akmal also shared the hope that this Ramadhan would teach her to have more patience.
“I hope my Ramadhan in the UK will go well,” she said. “Hopefully, this year’s Ramadhan will make me into a better person, and bring some life-changing lessons for all of our students in the UK.”
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