Ramadan Mubarak!

Without getting to anything else, I would like to wish Ramadan Mubarak to all the Muslim visitors to my blog. Let's all learn from the Sahabah and make the best use of this month.

Since my last post, I've gone through a lot of changes. For one thing, I've left my country to pursue a degree and am now enrolled at a university. This also happens to be the first Ramadan that I'm going to be spending away from my family. So of course, it's a big challenge for me and I did find it a bit strange during the first couple of days (I really missed my Mom's cooking, for an instance) but as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. There's a strong, close-knit Muslim "community" where I live, and they've all been conducting themselves brilliantly so far in this blessed month. It's an amazing feeling when we line up for prayers; the congregation is as multinational as it gets, consisting of students from all over the world. People from Nigeria to Russia, Arabs, South, Central and East Asians all prostrating down to the same Lord.

It's not easy having to mix classes and assignments with the month, I'm going to admit that. I've had to shorten my sleeping hours during weekdays which left me running on empty last Friday (although I did manage to steal some of those hours during the weekend). But hey, sometimes you have to choose between what is right and what is easy! And I thank Allah for showing me the right path.

I've also found the change of scenery rather refreshing in a way. It's nice to be away from those Maldivians who treat the month like a giant food festival. Instead, I'm happy that none of my colleagues over here waste their time on the "Roadha kurukurun" nonsense. Shame on them, especially considering the fact that many of the earliest generations of Muslims actually prayed to Allah to allow them to experience Ramadan 6 months prior to the beginning of the month.

Anyway, I'm also painfully aware of the fact that my last post was 6 months ago. I will, insha Allah, try to upload new posts more frequently. I've honestly been buried up to my neck with over the past few months with assignments and also getting myself adjusted to a new environment.

Alright then, I've got to run to catch a bus. Stay tuned!