For Noora, an expatriate who embraced Islam three years ago, this Ramadhan is all about meeting her sisters and ‘Ustadhs’ after two long years of fear of pandemic and convergence.
A Filipino national, Noora works as domestic help, and this is her fourth Ramadhan fasting after she embraced Islam in 2019.
“This Ramadhan brings in great relief and happiness as we are able to lead a normal life again, and for me, I’m able to see my friends and ‘Ustadhs’ who helped me embrace this religion of truth and peace,” an excited Noora told the Observer.
Her previous Ramadhan was a little bit gloomy, in her own words, because she was just home most of the time and was not able to meet her sisters as they used to during Ramadhan by attending lectures and other gatherings about the holy Quran.
But this year, she met with all of them and reunited in the name of holy Quran and lectures on Islam yet again.
“It was very emotional since we didn’t see each other for long. I attended lectures again and read the Quran with them. We are praying Taraweeh at the mosque, all praises to the Almighty.”
Noora fasted for three weeks continuously for the first time in her life with due piety and commitment to Allah in 2019. “I was excited at the beginning of the holy month and still now, after fasting for the last three to four years, I’m able to keep that spirit of starving for the cause of Allah Almighty,” she said.
Noora arrived in Oman some 14 years ago and worked as a domestic help in some local houses. It all began when she started to observe the prayers. She didn’t realise that she was slowly falling in love with the religion then, according to her.
It all began some years ago when she started observing what her ‘madam’ was doing on the prayer mat and slowly developed a liking towards the beautiful mat, which was a classy one, brought from the holy land of Mekkah.
Sensing her urge to learn and understand Islam, her boss arranged some scholars to educate Noora on Islam, and it was the gateway for her. She recited ‘kalima shahadah’ and became an active Muslim.
“May Allah Subhanu Wa Taala reward us this holy month of Ramadhan, all the khair in this Dunya and Akhira (this world and the next), Ameen Ya Rabbil Alameen,” she concludes.
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