This year, it’s a very different Ramadan
Iftar will be celebrated on Zoom, and much giving will target COVID-19 relief
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is upon us. What is typically a highly social time of year for Muslims around the world, full of daily congregational prayers, communal meals and extensive charity work, is being adjusted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As many others recently experienced with Easter and Passover, this year will be very different.
One of my favourite memories growing up was the elaborate feast my Mom would prepare for us every night of Ramadan. We’d have half a dozen homemade appetizers (think samosas, dates, pakora, chutneys, fruit salads, mango milkshakes and more) to break our fast with, followed by the main course.
Fast forward to celebrating Ramadan with my own family. The meals are still special, albeit much simpler.
Our family would also look forward to community gatherings. We have groups of friends who would get together once a week for a giant Iftar (the name of the meal to break our fast) potluck. What started as a handful of couples has grown into a dozen or so families with two to five kids each. When they were younger, my kids used to refer to their friends from these potlucks as their Ramadan cousins.
Rather than gathering at one another’s homes, Muslims will be video calling our loved ones at Iftar time, similar to what our Jewish and Christian friends did recently. One of the things we’ve always done for our kids since they were toddlers is story time. It’s a meaningful way to keep the kids calm and quiet before the breaking of the fast, as well as an opportunity to share valuable lessons.
This year, these story times with the “Ramadan cousins” will take place on Zoom.
While we’re all trying to remain as calm as possible while social distancing, truth be told, it’s getting hard to stay away from loved ones. I miss gathering with family, making fun of one another in person (it’s not quite the same over a video call), cuddling with my nieces and nephews and sharing a meal. I also know that I’m not alone. We’re all in this together. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.
Giving charity is an essential part of the Muslim faith. That would often take the form of feeding the poor and vulnerable. This year, many of us are pivoting. Families are picking up groceries for those who cannot leave their homes, donating to COVID -19 relief efforts online as well as donating masks, ventilators and supplies to local hospitals and frontline workers.
Isolation is hitting the elderly hardest, a sad reality shared across communities. Never is it more felt than during such important celebrations as Easter, Passover and now Ramadan. Checking in with the elderly is now more essential than ever.
I traditionally start the month by preparing Ramadan
plates for my neighbours. This year, I’m calling ahead to see whether it’s something they are comfortable receiving. The same goes for close friends and family. Social distance meal drop-offs have been my favourites. I love to stand in my front window and capture snapshots of loved ones dropping off or picking up meals. These are memories we’re going to one day look back on.
Through it all, I’m going to continue to support local businesses to the best of my ability and encourage others to do so as well. Our restaurants, local grocery stores and vendors need our support.
I think of the local Muslim restaurant owners who are fasting all day while cooking. Their restaurants would be full every night in Ramadan; reservations would be required a week in advance. They sit empty every night now, alongside thousands of others across the country.
Whatever your faith or belief, I wish you peace and health, and I wish us all a speedy return to normal.