Muhammad Ikraam Abdul Latif (File Photo)
KUALA LUMPUR: Being far from home and their families did not stop Malaysian students in Egypt from welcoming Syawal and celebrating Aidilfitri gratefully and joyfully.
“We celebrate Syawal as though we are in Malaysia and not thousands of kilometres away from home,” said Malaysian Health Science Student Association president in Egypt, Muhammad Ikraam Abdul Latif.
The Cairo University student cited house visiting and decorating homes as some of the traditions the students maintained.
“And it is so satisfying when we are able to enjoy traditional raya food such as nasi impit, kuah kacang, kuah lodeh, rendang and raya cookies that we prepared together.
“Some of us are also busy attending to the invitations by our neighbours, local Arab families, doctors, lecturers and friends from other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Jordan and Turkey,” he told Bernama when contacted through Whatsapp.
About 1,600 Malaysian students are studying at seven universities in Egypt such as Al Azhar University, Ain Shams University and Cairo University, he said.
Al-Azhar University medical student Amirul Azmeer Asmadi said he was celebrating Aidilfitri away from home for the third time and sorely missed the gaiety of the occasion back in his parents’ villages at Guar Chempedak, Kedah and Ayer Molek, Melaka.
“The feeling is so intense admittedly but I have to set it aside as this is a sacrifice I have to make. Anyhow, my friends and I try to make the occasion as merry as possible,” he said.
Iskandariah University dental student, Nur Haliayatul Shawani Abd Goni, 22, said not all the students were on holiday as some had to prepare for their final semester examination.
“But although we are busy, we won’t miss the opportunity to perform Aidilfitri prayers with the local community at the nearby surau, mosque or open space,” said the student from Pokok Sena, Kedah.– Bernama