Festival & New Muslims...
සෞභාග්යයමත් අවුරුදු සමය
Festival & New Muslims...
A message sent by a new Muslim during the Islamic festival to Muslims who born into Islamic families.
ඉස්ලාමීය පවුල්වල උපත ලැබූ මුස්ලිම්වරුන්ට ඉස්ලාමීය උත්සවය අතරතුර නවක මුස්ලිම්වරයෙකු විසින් යවන ලද පණිවිඩයකි.
Dear Muslims who born into Islamic families.
Please take a moment to read my message on behalf of Muslim reverts (new Muslims) in the community.
If you know someone who has chosen Islam as a way of life and is not born into a Muslim family, invite them to the Iftar dinner and Eid festivals during Ramadan and Eid al Adha as well.
Ramadan and Eid are the loneliest and most depressing days for many new Muslims. Because we have no family and friends to understand, support, or encourage us in our new faith.
We do not have a Muslim family to wake us up for suhur, so we start our fast alone.
We do not have a Muslim family to awaken the Fajr, so we pray alone.
We do not have a Muslim family to share the joy of fasting with, so we break our fast alone.
Some of us try to go to Masjid in the hope that someone will come with us during Iftar. Most of the time we go alone. After prayer often we are alone again because you forget about us and do not ask us to join you at your table.
We have no plans for Eid also. So we usually eid day also stay at home and spend our time alone.
Let me tell you something my dear born Muslim friends. Walking back to our car or home after Eid prayers is THE absolute worst.
Wishes, Congratulate and spread glad tidings amongst one another in their native mother tongues. Making us feel like we don't belong. We understand this isn't your intention, but can't help but feel like we don't totally belong.
Children run around wildly with balloons, candy, and money in hand, excited for the day ahead. We know at that very moment we are witnessing a precious childhood memory in the making. For a moment we share their joy and think to ourselves how lucky this kid is to have such a wonderful experience. At the same time, we can't help but wonder if our (future) children will ever experience the same joy on a communal level.
Others shriek with joy as they bump into old friends and extended family members while swearing oaths to reconnect with one another. Many times, reverts see this and can't help but feel a sharp pang in our hearts. Not out of jealousy no, but out of longing for our families and lifelong friends to accept, love, and share our faith too.
Some of our families have cut us off completely since our conversion. We long to have family and friends to share our joy with too. We long for acceptance and affirmation too, it's human nature after all.
We watch other families frantically rush off and pile into cars, ready to partake in their annual traditions; Eid family breakfast, gift swapping, and house hopping from party to party. The madness is muffled as we close the door to our car and place our hands on the steering wheel, wondering what to do with ourselves for the remainder of the day.
This is not my personal story, this is the story of every revert (new Muslim) you have ever met who can relate to the aforementioned on some level.
Unfortunately, this is the reality for many new-muslims during Ramadan and Eid.
With a community as large as we have, with as many people committed to da'wa as we do, with as many people who claim to follow the sunnah dogmatically, there shouldn't be a SINGLE person who feels lonely in our communities, but the reality is, there are.
Dear 'born Muslims', how many reverts(new muslims) do you know?
How many times have you invited a new Muslim over to your home to break the fast with your family? How many times have you picked up the phone, sent a text, or reached out to see if your new-muslim friend was in need of anything?
How do you implement your faith during this blessed month and the rest of the year?
Dear 'born muslims', do us a favor and call or text your new-Muslim friends and invite them over during Ramadan and Eid time. It means more to us than you'll ever know.
A Revert (new-muslim) in your community.
ඔබ සැමට ප්රීතිමත් ඊද් දිනයක් වේවා!