Neelofa, a mother to four- and two-year-old boys, says she involves her children in the fasting process even at a very young age.
“They wake up with me for sahur because I want them to experience waking up early to eat kurma ... just to get the whole vibe of Ramadan.
“And when it’s time to break fast, we sit together at the table.
“I turn on the TV and listen to Quran recitations while waiting for the azan. We recite the doa before eating, and later, we perform our prayers together.”
The 37-year-old adds that early exposure is important to her.
“I want them to witness it from now, so they’ll have a sense of what they need to do when Ramadan comes around again.”
From time to time, Neelofa has shared updates on her older son Muhammad Bilal’s progress in memorising surah and doa.
“By the age of three, he was already able to recite Al-Fatihah,” she has said on one of her posts.
As for what she prepares for iftar, Neelofa – who has been married to Haris Ismail, also known as PU Riz, since 2021 – prefers to keep things simple.
“I don’t want anything too heavy because it can cause discomfort.
“I usually stick to singgang, you know something soupy – simple things,” says the Kelantan-born host and entrepreneur. (Singgang is a traditional East Coast Malay dish, known for its light, healthy and refreshing broth.)
After becoming a wife and mother, Neelofa admits her daily routine has changed significantly.
“Before, I had all the time to myself and could do everything according to my own schedule,” she says.
“But now, I have to make sure everything is ready for them before I can do my own thing. That’s been the biggest change.”
On a day-to-day basis, she explains, her mornings revolve around preparing breakfast and settling her children’s routines before she can focus on herself.
“It’s a constant give and take.”
Still, she says she has adjusted well and now understands how to balance her personal and professional commitments.
For Ramadan, Neelofa has cleared her schedule entirely, with only one livestream session for an online shopping platform to complete before the month begins.
“This way, I can focus on all the ibadah I’ve planned – reading the Quran, attending tadabbur sessions, online classes and all that.”
Neelofa and Haris can be seen on the Astro Oasis (Ch 106) programme, Halaqah Nunha, airing during the month of Ramadan.
