OKC mosque prepares for pandemic-safe Ramadan
For the second year, members of one of Oklahoma City’s largest mosques will observe the holy month of Ramadan with safety measures in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ramadan begins at sunset on Monday. It is one of the five pillars, or obligations, of Islam. Many Muslims around the world abstain from food, drink and sensual pleasures from sunrise to sunset during the month, which commemorates the divine revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims also place emphasis on acts of charity and kindness during the holy month.
Tuesday will be the first day of fasting for observant Muslims.
Imad Enchassi, senior imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, said the Islamic Society’s mosque will host prayer gatherings on each night of Ramadan, but with safety precautions in place for a second year in a row to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Last year, the mosque at 3815 St. Clair Ave. closed for several months due to the coronavirus. The closure included the month of Ramadan when it is custom for Muslim congregations to gather together for evening prayers and iftar dinners where they break their Ramadan fast.
The imam said the mosque implemented several safety measures to reopen, and those requirements currently remain in place.
People currently have to bring their
own personal prayer rugs to kneel upon for prayers, or they are given disposable paper prayer mats, and must pray at least 6 feet apart from one another during prayer gatherings for social distancing.
Enchassi said this particular modification was important to maintain adequate space between congregants out of concern for public health.
“This is simply because the way we usually pray is shoulder to shoulder, foot to foot, the closer the better,” he said.
“It’s not the best setting, but it’s absolutely better than being closed.”
Also, Enchassi said carpet was taken up in some areas of the mosque and a plastic tarp is placed on top of carpeted areas and then swapped out when volunteers sanitize between services.
He said evening prayer gatherings during Ramadan will be limited to about 25 minutes instead of the typical time between 60 and 90 minutes. The mosque also will livestream sermons as they had been doing before the pandemic.
Islamic Society leaders also made modifications to Jummah Prayer, the Friday prayer gatherings that typically draw between 800 and 1,000 people. Enchassi said the mosque will continue to host three abbreviated prayer gatherings on Fridays instead of one to limit crowds.
The spiritual leader also said all common areas will be closed.
Enchassi said he and other Islamic society leaders will be ready to welcome people for the activities set for the holy month of fasting. He said like many houses of worship, the mosque has seen congregants return slowly but steadily as COVID vaccines become more readily available and people feel more comfortable attending in-person faith gatherings again.
“They’re not flocking in, but they are coming back. We expect a steady flow for evening prayer during Ramadan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the imam said the mosque partnered with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department to host a vaccine pod on Friday, April 9, so he expected some members of his congregation would take advantage of the familiar location to get the vaccine.