Covid stories: Living as a Muslim revert during Ramadan in lock-down

In Islam, we call ‘converts’ ‘reverts’ as we believe every person is born a Muslim. This is known as fitra.

As a Muslim, I have found this Ramadan to be a challenge but a rewarding experience. Eating food and spending time with my family. But this privilege is not for everyone. Ramadan is a difficult time for Muslim reverts. I spoke to a recently converted Muslim women about her experiences.

As we remain in lockdown, Ramadan can be a challenging time for Muslim converts who are estranged from family or lack support in their decision to revert.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar where Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset. The month is dedicated to prayer, reflection, charity, and community. But as mosque’s are shut, finding support during this month is hard.

Newly converted Muslim Fatima [not her real name] from Walsall, talked about her experiences and expectations during Ramadan. The 26-year-old is a trainee solicitor and comes from a Hindu Punjabi family.

She lives at home with her family who were initially in “denial”. However, through her fasting “made them realise how important Islam [was]”.

She expressed her feelings of “failure” before Ramadan:

“I think I really worked myself up before Ramadan and was so scared of failure, but it’s easier than I expected”

“I was also worried about fasting whilst working and having to explain things to people at work was quite worrying for me”

She talked about her experiences practicing her religion in lockdown with her Hindu family.

Fatima said, “being at home during lockdown has been challenging”.

“Although they do not always speak to me, I have been able to tell my parents I am fasting and practice as I wish, albeit in private”

It can be difficult finding support mechanisms especially as mosques and support centres have been closed due to the outbreak.

Nevertheless, Fatima was “fortunate enough to be introduced to a few revert sisters in the local area”.

Prior to the outbreak, she was able “to have a monthly meet up with converts at the mosque where [she] can get to know other Muslim reverts and share their experiences”.

Many mosques around the UK have been making their services accessible online like As Saffa’s online social for new Muslims. 

Fatima is regularly active on “WhatsApp groups where they always post information, videos and courses” for reverts.

Reverts will be facing challenges of mental health and disconnect throughout the lock-down, not just during the month of Ramadan.

So, let us think about the different people experiencing their own challenges during this lockdown. Because we are all in this together.