For many Muslim international students, Ramadan can be a delicate balance between faith and unfamiliar surroundings, sometimes marked by homesickness and adjustment. For Muhammad Shabir Jussab, however, the experience has grown into one of responsibility, leadership, and community.
Muhammad Shabir Jussab, a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering student at INTI International University & Colleges from Malawi, leads Tarawih prayers for fellow students during Ramadan.
Originally from Malawi and currently in his fourth semester of the Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering programme at INTI International University, Muhammad Shabir has spent the past three Ramadans away from home. Over time, he has become a familiar and reassuring presence among fellow Muslim students, frequently stepping forward to lead the Tarawih prayers at the campus surau and occasionally at nearby mosques.
Having memorised about 20 ajza’ of the Quran, he is no stranger to leading prayers back home. When he noticed there was no clear arrangement for Tarawih on campus, he felt compelled to act. Together with a friend who is a full Hafiz (someone who has memorised the entire Quran), he helped establish a routine that gradually developed into an informal nightly gathering for students during Ramadan.
“I try,” Muhammad Shabir said modestly. “If I’m there, it’s me. If not, then somebody else takes charge.”
For him, the effort goes beyond leading prayers. It is about creating a sense of connection among international students who are far from their families.
“It’s just to say, ‘Oh, are you an INTI student? Are you Muslim? Let’s try to stick together.’ Because Islam teaches us togetherness. At the end of the day, we’re all far away from our families.”
Muhammad Shabir with international students at the campus surau after Tarawih prayers. What began as a simple arrangement has grown into a nightly gathering for local, international, and mobility students.
He sees his role not as recognition but as continuity, carrying forward the values instilled at home. He credited his father for nurturing the discipline and commitment that shape his spiritual life.
“He’ll be like, did you go for Jumaat [prayers], or have you read the Quran today?” he reflected. “He always tries his best to make sure that we remain on the right path.”
Each night, students keep their meals light before gathering after iftar for the 20 raka’ats of Tarawih prayers. On the first few nights, especially, the surau fills with familiar and new faces, including local, international, and mobility students. As the days pass, attendance gradually becomes smaller, but the sense of fellowship remains.
Beyond campus, Muhammad Shabir has embraced the opportunity to explore Malaysia’s religious and cultural landscape. Over the past three years, he has visited mosques and suraus across Nilai, Kuantan, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya. Coming from Malawi, a predominantly Christian country where mosques are few and far between, each visit has deepened his appreciation for Malaysia’s accessibility to places of worship.
“Alhamdulillah, it is a beautiful sight to see,” he said. “There are suraus everywhere, and you’re always hearing the Adhan. Even if you go to the shopping malls, you can find a place to pray.”
Among the mosques he visited, his favourite is the Putrajaya Mosque, which he admires for its architecture and peaceful lakeside setting. One particularly memorable moment took place on the 29th night of Ramadan last year. After completing Tarawih prayers, he and a group of friends made a late-night visit to the mosque. Its silence and serenity left a strong impression on him.
“It was maybe two to three a.m., so the mosque was almost empty,” he recalled. “We spent a few hours there before returning to my friend’s house.”
He has also enjoyed experiencing Ramadan bazaars and Malaysian cuisine, with nasi goreng ayam kunyit among his favourites. He describes it as something distinctly different from the dishes back home.
“A lot of the way we prepare the food back home is as stews. Like, ayam kunyit is very dry, right? So, back in our country, it would be how Tom Yum is.”
For Muhammad Shabir, Ramadan ultimately centres on reflection, growth, and renewal. His goal remains simple.
“Just to get closer to Allah,” he said. “I think that is the whole basis of Ramadan.”
Muhammad Shabir alternates with other students in leading Tarawih prayers, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and community during Ramadan.
In stepping forward to lead Tarawih prayers among his peers, Muhammad Shabir represents more than student involvement. His quiet leadership shows how international students contribute meaningfully to campus life academically, spiritually, and culturally.
Through his dedication, Ramadan at INTI becomes more than a shared observance. It becomes a reminder that even far from home, faith and responsibility can build a strong sense of community