Region yearns for Ramadan of old

Muslims hope for congregational prayers as vaccine programs prompt easing of pandemic curbs

After observing the past two Ramadan festivals at home, Philippine academic Julkipli Wadi is hopeful that he can go to the mosque and join in with congregational prayers.

The Muslim holy month started on April 1, after the sighting of the new moon, and Julkipli expects that with the Philippine government easing pandemic-related restrictions, Filipino Muslims like him can finally worship together.

Julkipli, the dean of the Institute of Islamic Studies at the University of the Philippines, said that while he has been looking forward to this year’s Ramadan, he was waiting for a directive from the university’s management on whether it would allow the holding of communal activities related to Ramadan.

Such activities are subject to the protocols set by the national government.

Julkipli is among the nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide who are welcoming a return to Ramadan’s traditional practices as governments ease COVID-19 restrictions.

Ramadan is often marked by fasting and praying. These activities can be solitary and are not affected by lockdowns. But Muslims also observe the holy month by doing communal activities: holding tarawih (night prayers) at the mosque, distributing alms to the poor, and breaking the fast (iftar) together with family and friends. These activities were halted in the past two years as lockdowns were imposed to curb the spread of infection.

This year promises to be different. In Asia-Pacific, home to over 60 percent of the nearly 2 billion global Muslim population, successful vaccination programs have encouraged most countries to reopen their borders and loosen movement restrictions. Places of worship and other public facilities reopened and gatherings in small groups are now allowed.

Mohammad Salami, fellow at the

Pakistan-based International Institute for Global Strategic Analysis, said the easing of COVID-19 restrictions would encourage more social activities — an important aspect in Ramadan as Muslims prefer to do tarawih in groups and donate food during iftar.

Mustafa Izzuddin, senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, said that for this year’s Ramadan, Muslims will be “living in an endemic rather than in a pandemic”.

“They will be living with the virus while exercising personal responsibility,” he said.

This means that despite easing restrictions, Muslims still need to continue following hygiene protocols. These protocols include wearing face masks and using contact tracing applications when entering public premises even if restrictions have been relaxed.

And in some mosques, religious leaders require social distancing during communal prayers. In the state of Johor in Malaysia, State Religious Affairs Committee Chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said worshippers must bring along their own prayer mat measuring at least 3.5 feet by 2 feet (107 centimeters by 61 cm). Worshippers are not allowed to eat food at the mosque premises but will instead get packed food after the prayers.

In the United Arab Emirates, the National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority said people will need to use face masks if they are entering iftar tents. Security guards or volunteers will be deployed at each tent to regulate people’s entry and exit.

Pakistan has lifted all pandemicrelated restrictions, but the government said this will not apply to those who are not yet vaccinated.

In Saudi Arabia, home to the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet Muhammad’s Mosque in Medina, the government has scrapped most of its COVID-19 rules and government officials unveiled organizational plans for worshippers during Ramadan. The kingdom has also allowed quarantinefree entry for fully vaccinated travelers, making it easy for Muslims to take the umrah (Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) during Ramadan.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has also said that women over the age of 45 can now perform umrah without being accompanied by a male guardian. In the past, women were only allowed to go on a pilgrimage if they were part of a group with a male chaperone.

Mustafa, of Solaris Strategies, expects more Muslims to do an umrah this year and beyond, following the opening of borders and easing of restrictions.

“What we may see is an increase in the number of people going for umrah as we see (more people treating) COVID-19 as endemic, more people getting vaccinated, and Saudi Arabia welcoming more foreigners to do the umrah,” he said.