What I Learned Spending Eid Fitr Alone + Vegan Food

Eid Fitr is the time of year when Muslims celebrate a successful month-long fasting in Ramadan. It’s usually a day or two (or week!) spent with families and friends.

My Eid this year was unlike any other; I spent Eid alone in Sheffield, UK.

Why Spend Eid Alone

No one in their right mind would plan their Eid to be by themselves. It’s always a circumstance that happens like estranged family relationships or in my case, being away from family due to travelling.

I arrived in a new city a few days before Eid and so I couldn’t make time to engage with the local Muslim community.

Plus, after a month and a half of fast-travelling, my social energy was depleted.

I needed time by myself.

Benefits of Spending Eid Alone

You’re not actually “alone” if you believe that God is always with you and that you’re comfortable with being by yourself.

While it may seem like a dampened celebration, you can actually find little gems in solitude.

1. You truly appreciate the blessings of Ramadan

It’s not to say that you won’t appreciate the blessings if you don’t spend Eid alone. It’s just that you’d feel it even more as you continue to reflect inwards and not get distracted by the celebrations.

Being alone means being with your thoughts. And if you’ve not created a safe space in your mind, I can understand how scary it can be.

Alhamdulillah, I’ve managed to create a safe haven in my mind and learn to have healthy inner conversations.

In summary, Ramadan has taught me to be:

• extremely kind to myself and others
• closer to Allah SWT through prayers and dhikr
• disciplined with work and focus on what matters

I used to struggle a lot with focus and getting things done.

But in Ramadan, especially when travelling, you’re forced to follow a strict schedule so as to not miss either Suhoor or Iftar. So I’ve managed to eliminate distractions and get work done amidst the travelling.

So when spending Eid alone, I reflected on all of this and vowed to continue the good habits cultivated in Ramadan as best as I can.

2. You can turn this into a social detox

Be it social media or society in general, you can take this opportunity to switch off from everything.

I went to Sheffield Botanical Gardens and I was basically offline because I didn’t have data on my phone. While there were people there, I didn’t have to talk to anyone as I don’t know them.

Being in nature is always rejuvenating. You get to appreciate the wonders of God’s creations and it is in itself a healing experience.

I felt so at peace, bathing in the sweet smells of flowers and musky trees.

And after taking a nap on the grass under a tree, I felt refreshed!

3. You won’t eat too much and get bloated

In Malaysia, the Eid culture is to visit people’s houses and eat food.

Imagine going to five houses—so you’d have to eat five times. And they’re usually oily foods with a very little amount of vegetables.

So spending Eid alone means you get to control what you eat.

For breakfast, I had my usual oats with fruits and nuts. And at lunchtime, I went to a vegan cafe called Gaard and had their Onion Bhaji Wrap, Hot Chocolate and a piece of Carrot Cake.

Honestly, It’s Not So Bad

The most “natural” reaction when I tell people that I was spending Eid alone was that of pity. They would encourage me to spend it with a friend somewhere or be with a Malaysian community.

Being alone during Eid seems to be looked down upon. But given the right circumstance and maturity in one’s life, I’d say being alone during Eid can be healing.

Rest assured, I did not feel lonely. I felt content.

While I wouldn’t recommend spending Eid alone every year, I’d definitely recommend it at least once in your lifetime.