PETALING JAYA: Cristina Chew (pic) was in a foreign country when she began fasting for the first time.
“It was 2018 and my first Ramadan.
“I was travelling alone in Jordan, so I had to figure out everything from sahur times, what to eat and when to break fast,” the content creator recalled.
She said it was physically tough and exhausting, but that prayers had strengthened her.
“Fasting is about self-discipline. It exposes your weaknesses – your impatience, your mood, your habits. It forces you to slow down and be conscious of your being,” said Chew, 36, who eventually embraced Islam in 2019.
Recounting her journey to becoming a Muslim, she said it had not been an easy decision to make.
“It can feel lonely at times,” she said when contacted.
Unlike many Muslim converts who embrace the religion through marriage, Chew, who was raised a Buddhist, said she chose Islam after much research and reflection.
“It wasn’t because of anyone. I had been giving it a lot of thought since I was in my 20s. Eventually, I made the decision to convert a decade later,” she added.
“It was something I chose after a lot of reading, questioning and sitting by myself. Islam gave me structure and clarity. It gave me firm grounding when everything else in my life felt uncertain.”
Asked about her family’s reaction, she admitted that it was tough at first, but over time, they fully supported her decision.
“Public perception was also complex, especially when I wore the headscarf. People have opinions. I struggled with the hijab at times, but never with my faith,” she said.
