Ramadan And Single by Asma Ali

This post is dedicated to all you sisters who are spending Ramadan alone. Whether you are divorced, widowed or separated – this is an extremely difficult time of the year and I want you to know that you are not forgotten.

I know it’s hard parenting single-handedly on normal days but even more so while you are fasting and doing it all alone. As much as you love your children you need a break from them. Then, when the children are not with you (possibly spending a weekend with their dad), you miss them! The house is TOO quiet and you feel a heavy pain in your heart. You remember you told them off for something or that they forgot to take their jumper and it eats you up inside.

There are times when it can all get overbearing and you feel you are holding onto your faith by a very thin thread what may snap at any given moment.

Waking up for suhoor and breaking fast at Iftar can be very lonely when you are the only adult in the house fasting. If you have very young children, you just about break your fast with water then rush to tend to them. If you have older children, they might be breaking their fast elsewhere.

You feel you are not doing enough Ibadah and you are not doing enough for your children (are they connecting to Allah and Islam?)

However hard it is sisters, hold on to your faith and trust Allah. Let your children see you depending on Allah.

I promise you everything else will follow. I promise you it gets easier. Keep trusting Allah and making duaa.

The baby in your arms today will be much older next Ramadan and the Ramadan after. You will have time to go to Taraweeh in the mosque or read a Khatam of the Quran. For now do what you can do, even if it seems little and not much compared to everyone else.

Motherhood is one of the highest form of Ibadah. So imagine the reward struggling through it as a single mother.

Remember, we are not in competition with anyone but ourselves. Aim to be the BEST you can be and do the best you can. Only you know your own situations and limitations. Allah sees all, our rewards are with Him.

May Allah give you all ease and accept all your efforts no matter how small. Ameen.