Darren, a 30-year-old Chinese Muslim convert, shares his experience celebrating Hari Raya Puasa alone each year. Despite the festive atmosphere being centered around family, Darren finds solace and strength in his faith.
Darren, a 30-year-old Chinese Muslim convert, finds himself celebrating Hari Raya Puasa alone each year. While Ramadan and Hari Raya Puasa are typically joyous occasions for Muslims to strengthen bonds with loved ones, Darren, the only Muslim in his family, faces the holiday alone. He describes the experience as having the 'holiday blues', missing the traditional family gatherings and shared meals.
'It's a family affair, right? In more traditional homes, the mum wakes up super early to prepare food for the family and even if you oversleep, you don't have to be too worried because she will shake you until you wake up for your morning meal. But for me, that doesn't happen. I have to prepare the food on my own, I have to think about what food I'm going to get the day before, and on the day itself, if I oversleep, that's it.', Darren shared. He has tried attending Eid prayer at the mosque but finds it difficult as everyone else is gathered with their families. 'People go with their family and I don't have that. So, it kind of feels weird for me because it's not like any other congregational prayer. But for this event, if I go, it's very in my face that I don't have a family with me because everyone is with their own groups, with their own families.', he explained. Despite the loneliness, Darren has never regretted his decision to convert to Islam. He found religion during a dark period of depression and had a profound dream about the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam. The dream prompted him to study the religion and eventually convert several years later. Darren's first Ramadan and Hari Raya Puasa after his conversion were quiet affairs, but he remembers them as significant moments of personal growth. He diligently studied the Quran and even took Arabic classes to better understand the faith. While his family is accepting of his conversion, they haven't adopted any Islamic practices, creating mealtime challenges during Ramadan. Darren tries to navigate these challenges by suggesting later dinner times when possible. Beyond personal observances, Darren also aims to foster a sense of community. He plans to organize events with his company, Plan B, where they will break fast with listeners and discuss various topics, promoting understanding and connection.
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