Ramadan in America

Ramadan experience as a graduate student in the U.S.

The Ramadan experience for me as a graduate student in the U.S. is a bittersweet one. In Singapore (where I’m from), Ramadan is the time where you spend time with your family, especially with the daily iftars and tarawih prayers. For someone like me whose family is not here, it can get lonely having iftar by yourself. Fortunately, the Islamic Center of Raleigh has daily iftars from Monday to Saturday for singles, travelers and needy families. In addition, there are many wonderful muslim families who prepare food and host single students who are away from their families. Alhamdulillah.
In addition, being away from your family helps in your overall Ramadan experience when you are trying to get closer to Allah. Facing the long fasting hours in the U.S., the thirst, hunger, trying to keep away from worldy possessions, and entertainment can be exhausting. However, Allah’s help is always near. Allah reassures us in the Qur’an with the ayaat regarding Ramadan which can be translated as “……Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and wants for you to complete the period and glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful [2:185]”.
Other than daily work as a graduate student, you do not have many other distractions which would allow you to concentrate on your ibadah efforts. We do not have to prepare food for our families, or help out with housework. Which means that the time can be (InshaaAllah) spent on reading Qur’an, praying additional sunnah prayers, and making dua and dhikr.
Let us all make the most of this Ramadan InshaaAllah!
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