Auckland, 14 Ramadhan 1436/1 July 2015 (MINA) – As thousands of Kiwi Muslims observe the fasting holy month of Ramadan, teens in the country’s most populous city of Auckland find it challenging, but not a hard task to control their hunger.
“In Ramadan most people bring all the good stuff to school like chocolate,” Hamza Riazuddin, a New Zealand-born Pakistani and Mt Roskill local said, On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
“I never get offered food, but during Ramadan I do,” Riazuddin jokes.
“It’s hard but not that hard. I don’t really get hungry except when the kids I teach are running up and down. From controlling them I get hungry.”
Also Read: UN Experts Warn Right Violations in Kashmir by Indian Authorities
The 16-year-old teen Riazzuddin plays cricket, teaches Qur’an at his local mosque and works in his family’s cake factory while fasting during Ramadan.
Ramadan is the holiest month in Islamic calendar.
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.
It is customary for Muslims to spend part of the days during Ramadan studying the Noble Qur’an.
Also Read: At Least Nine Children and One Woman Killed in Pakistani Airstrike on Afghanistan
Many men perform i`tikaf (spiritual retreat), spending the last 10 days of the month exclusively in the mosque.
Kiwi Muslims are possibly fasting the shortest fasting hours in the world, with just 11 hours each day.
Many Kiwi teens, like Riazuddin, often face questions about their faith.
“They don’t have a great picture of what Islam is,” he said.
Also Read: Pakistan Condemns Israeli Settler Attacks in West Bank, Al-Aqsa Storming
“Some people will say as a joke ‘Allahu Akbar’ but they don’t actually understand that not everyone is like that.
“I try to explain to them I’m sitting here with you, I’m joking around, there’s no extremist thing that I’m doing.”
Acceptance
Also Read: China Criticizes US-Drafted UN Gaza Resolution as Vague, Abstains from Vote
Observing the fasting month in New Zealand, Muslims teens feel accepted as the society is becoming more understanding about their faith.
“There are other people who really do understand the significance of what Muslims do,” Riazuddin said.
“We should be happy in New Zealand that it’s a multicultural country and people adapt to different people’s cultures.”
The Muslim teenager praised the diverse Muslims community in New Zealand, saying that Kiwi Muslim identity is picking up.
Also Read: Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death
“There’s all these different cultures at the mosque. Pakistanis, Indians, Afghans, Somalis, Middle Eastern, Malaysian you’ll find all these people there they have a great bond and that’s what is positive about Muslims in New Zealand,” Riazuddin said.
Nevertheless, Kiwis Muslims are reeling from the negative portrayals of the faith in the media.
It is a struggle to deal with issues of racism and “how the media portrays 1.6 billion people the same, as extremists”, Riazuddin said.
“People call me a terrorist when I go out wearing Islamic clothes but what have I terrorised?
Also Read: Pakistan Declares State of War After Car Bomb Incident
“Unfortunately every time something happens around the world it’s brought back to us.”
Muslims make about 1.1% of New Zealand’s 4.5 million population, while Christians represent 44%, according to CIA factbook. (T/P006/R03)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
Also Read: Jakarta Hosts Gala Dinner for World Peace Forum Delegates
Mina Indonesia
Mina Arabic
Mina Sport