Ramadan unites 1.8bn in worship amid enforced physical separation
Millions of Muslims on Friday began Ramadan under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced extensive changes to longstanding traditions.
The holy month of fasting is a time for Muslims to get closer to God, family and society, but due to the deadly virus outbreak many have lost jobs, been forced to cancel visits to relatives, and found themselves unable to break their daily fast with others.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti, said people would have to perform prayers at home, and Kuwait’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs shared a video showing Sheikh Raed Al-Hazimi, the imam and khatib, explaining the importance of abiding by the measures. In Bangladesh, people are requested to offer the taraweeh prayer at home. Only five people — the imam, muezzin and three other mosque officials — will be allowed to offer daily prayers at mosques. In Afghanistan, wealthier people have promised to increase their charitable deeds as a result of poverty levels and rising food prices. But there are no plans to prepare meals at mosques to feed the poor because of the coronavirus curbs. In Pakistan, the government agreed to the demands of religious leaders for prayers in mosques after they vowed to abide by a list of 20 conditions and safety measures during a meeting with President Arif Alvi. Worshippers will be required to stay 6 feet apart, while children and those aged over 50 will pray at home.
But doctors in Pakistan have urged the government to reverse its decision, warning that the number of COVID-19 cases could significantly escalate.
Israel has allowed a maximum of 19 worshippers to meet at any location for religious prayer on the condition of social distancing, while a PLO representative said Ramadan would be tough for Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee population. In France, more than 5 million Muslims were staying connected during Ramadan through social media platforms and many TV and radio stations around the world were scheduling extra Ramadan shows.