A Special Ramadan in the Time of Coronavirus

REUTERS/MUHAMMAD HAMED

The full moon, also known as Supermoon or Flower Moon, rises over a mosque minaret on the 14th day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Amman, Jordan May 7, 2020.

For Muslims all over the world, Ramadan in 2020 is really special. The COVID-19 outbreak has drastically changed all activities in the holy month. Even with social restrictions in place, festive togetherness remains intact during Ramadan.

We are now at the end of Ramadan 1441 Hijri. The different fasting month this year has almost ended. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Muslims are observing strict health protocols, including physical distancing, to cut off the virus spread.

Such unusual practices have led to a variety of emotions among Muslims, as captured during a Kompas poll in mid-May. Almost 40 percent of respondents said that they were saddened for having to fast under social distancing rules.

Conversely, almost a quarter of respondents said that they had come to terms with the situation. No one wants a pandemic to occur but we can only surrender to God’s will and try to go through the days with an open mind.

A minority said that they were confused and angered by this different Ramadan. Nevertheless, a third of respondents said that the pandemic had no impact on fasting. Feelings of angers, sadness and surrender are understandable, considering that Ramadan is a holy month that Muslims have waited for all year.

Also read : Ramadan 1441 H: Worshipping in Anxiety

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Residents wear masks during the first Tarawih prayer Ramadhan 1441 H at Mubasyirin Mosque in Waru District, Sidoarjo, East Java, Thursday (23/4/2020).

Restrictions

For Muslims, Ramadan does not merely mean fasting and withstanding hunger, thirst and worldly desires. It also has a significant spiritual dimension in which one can boost the quality of their worship while strengthening relations with other people.

Special Ramadan rituals, such as tarawih night prayers, reciting and studying the Quran, giving alms and intensive Islamic study classes for children (pesantren kilat), are sources of longing for Muslims. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Muslims cannot observe many of these rituals congregationally in mosques, like in previous years.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the World Health Organization (WHO) banning all activities involving mass gatherings, including religious activities. Various Ramadan activities must therefore be adjusted.

Also read : Fasting During the Outbreak

The government, through the Religious Affairs Ministry’s circular No. 6/2020, has also provided a guideline for safe Ramadan rituals during COVID-19. The guidelines were created to prevent and curb the COVID-19 spread and protect people from infection risks while still enabling Muslims to observe rituals in line with sharia rules.

Among the rules is that tarawih prayers must be observed at home, either individually or with family members. Quran studies must also be done at home. There are also bans of tarawih prayers at mosques, Idul Fitri eve parades (takbiran) and pesantren kilat.

A majority of respondents said that they adhered to the Religious Affairs Ministry appeal. Around 63 percent of respondents said that they observed tarawih prayers at home with only family members. Three quarters of respondents also said that they held Quran recitals at home. Some 40 percent of respondents said that they held Quran studies at home.

Congregational prayer restrictions have led to 7.5 percent of respondents feeling that they are missing Ramadan’s spiritual atmosphere.

Nevertheless, some respondents said that they disobeyed the government appeal. Some 30 percent of respondents said that they joined tarawih prayers at the mosque, while 29 percent of respondents said that they joined Friday’s prayer at the mosque. They said that holding prayers together at mosques would not expose them to COVID-19.

However, take a look at a case in Tambora, West Jakarta, on May 8, in which a person with COVID-19 led a tarawih prayer at the Baitul Muslimin mosque. Consequently, 28 people who joined the prayer were declared as persons under surveillance (ODP) who had to self-isolate.

Also read : MSMEs and Vendors Mobilized in Greater Surabaya Communal Kitchens

Congregational prayer restrictions have led to 7.5 percent of respondents feeling that they are missing Ramadan’s spiritual atmosphere. Meanwhile, another 4 percent of respondents said that they could not carry out rituals solemnly in this Ramadan.

Fasting, generally seen as a time for contemplation, can no longer be observed wholeheartedly. Moreover, itikaf (seclusion at a mosque) during the final 10 days of Ramadan is also undoable.

STR/AFP

Muslim worshippers perform the "Tarawih" nightly prayer during the holy month of Ramadan, while keeping their distance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at the Grand Mosque, Islam\'s holiest site, in the Saudi city of Mecca, late on May 8, 2020.

Togetherness

Other than missing Ramadan’s solemn spiritual atmosphere, more than half of respondents also said that they missed the sense of togetherness. Ramadan teaches Muslims values of togetherness and caring to share with others.

Togetherness during the fasting month is seen during congregational prayers at the mosque and in giving donations to the poor. Sharing iftar (breaking-of-the-fast meals) with less fortunate people on the streets, in orphanages or nursing homes are often carried out by various communities. Moreover, many groups are also commonly distributing sahur (pre-dawn) meals, in an activity known as Sahur on the Road.

Another common form of togetherness during Ramadan is the breaking-of-the-fast gatherings, be it with family members, neighbors, friends or colleagues. Often, such gatherings also form as reunions for diverse social groups. The tradition has led to huge crowds in restaurants all over big cities ahead of dusk, when fasting ends for the day.

Also read : Spirituality of Coronavirus

Breaking of the fast gatherings are the Ramadan tradition missed the most by two out of five respondents, other than congregational prayers at the mosque. There is no longer any commotion while waiting for the dusk prayer call at office buildings or long queues at restaurants, as offices, malls and restaurants have closed down in adherence with social distancing policies. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused people to do many activities at home.

Despite the lack of togetherness for the breaking-of-the-fast, many are replacing the tradition by bringing breaking-of-the-fast meals to one another. They use online ride-hailing and food delivery services to enjoy togetherness.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Muslims perform the Tarawih Prayer at Jogokaryan Mosque, Mantrijeron, Yogyakarta, Thursday (23/4/2020).

Ramadan routines

In previous Ramadans, many iftar meal and snack sellers set up impromptu shops in crowded places. People thronging around these sellers were a common sight ahead of dusk.

There is unique excitement in hunting for iftar meals and snacks. Activities carried out while waiting for the dusk prayer call, known as ngabuburit in Indonesia, are missed by 7 percent of respondents. Other than hunting for iftar meals, sports activities and relaxing in groups are also common habits for people while waiting for dusk to arrive.

A minority of respondents said that they missed hunting for Idul Fitri clothes at shopping centers. Usually, Tanah Abang and Cipadu textile centers were already crowded two months before Idul Fitri. However, due to stay-at-home orders, many respondents refrained from buying new clothes this year.

Mudik (exodus) is an activity 5 percent of respondents said they were missing in this year’s Ramadan. Mudik is a tradition for millions of Indonesians living away from their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri with their families back home. Usually, many of these Indonesians begin to leave for their hometowns in the last week of the fasting month.

However, this year, the government has issued a mudik ban through the Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 25/2020 to curb the COVID-19 spread. The regulation bans the use of all land, sea and air transportation modes between April 24 and May 31 this year.

Inevitably, the commotion felt during the activity is also missing, as felt by almost 30 percent of respondents.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

People wait for a bus at Poris Plawad Terminal in Tangerang municipality, Banten, on 22 April 2020. People chose to participate in the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) early before the ban took place on Friday (24/4/2020). The mudik ban, which aims to curb the spread of COVID-19, also took place in cities enforcing large-scale social restrictions.

Positive attitude

Despite the absence of Ramadan traditions during the outbreak, a majority of respondents said that they tried to have a positive attitude. Around 85 percent of respondents said that they had adopted new habits while fasting at home.

More than a third of respondents said that they now did activities together with family members, including preparing pre-dawn and iftar meals, congregational prayers and having discussions. Before the pandemic, it was difficult to experience such togetherness with the family as all members were often busy.

Meanwhile, around a quarter of respondents said that they prayed more often, including reciting the Quran and joining online Quran studies. As more time is available at home, people are using this opportunity to deepen their knowledge on religion.

The rest choose to take up new hobbies, such as cooking, gardening or reading – things many did not have time to do before the pandemic. Joining webinars and taking online courses to increase knowledge are other popular activities.

Many things have gone missing in this year’s Ramadan. However, if we see this as a challenge, we can go through Ramadan properly. Only a few days are left in this year’s Ramadan. The COVID-19 outbreak must not dampen our Ramadan spirit. (KOMPAS R&D)