The COVID-19 pandemic pushed all fathers and sons everywhere to rise to the occasion and serve as “imams” for the Idul Fitri prayer at home.
By
YOLA SASTRA/Fransiskus Wisnu Wardhana Dhany
·5 minutes read
Usually, a preacher with deep knowledge of Islam leads the Idul Fitri or Lebaran congregational prayer. However, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed all fathers and sons everywhere to rise to the occasion and serve as “imams” for the Idul Fitri prayer at home on Sunday (24/54/2020).
Mulyono, 49, of Curug subdistrict in Bojongsari, Depok, West Java, was no exception. He even prepared by reading guides on how to lead the prayer. “I have never given a sermon before, said Mul, as he is called, on Sunday. Mul then prepared a room in his house for the congregational prayer. He recorded the prayer, which went smoothly, and uploaded it onto his YouTube channel.
That day, his neighborhood mosque did not hold a congregational Idul Fitri prayer. The decision was made to help curb COVID-19 spread. As a result, Idul Fitri felt different. This year, residents did not crowd the mosque. Almost everyone who celebrated Idul Fitri prayed at home.
After the prayer, residents joined virtual gatherings through video conference. Heru Suroso, 41, of East Jurang Mangu subdistrict in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang city, Banten, did this. After the prayer, he prepared a laptop and then joined his wife and children to call his mother in Pekanbaru, Riau, and other relatives in Jakarta and South Tangerang. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot travel for mudik. We celebrated Lebaran in a new way by holding a prayer at home and gathering through video conference,” he said.
Behind the fences
In Padang, West Sumatra, Idul Fitri celebrations were muted but people still joined gatherings from the safety of their homes.
“This is usually the most crowded kampung in Padang. However, look at it now. It feels the same as regular days,” said Sumarni, 57, on her verandah in Ujung Gurun subdistrict, West Padang, Padang, on Monday (25/5).
That day, the alleys in Purus Kebun hamlet were empty. Most houses had their front doors shut. Only a few people were outside, manning shops or going to and fro on motorbikes.
Locals were lucky to be able to join the Idul Fitri prayer at Quwwatul Ummah mosque. The mosque caretakers obtained a district head recommendation to hold the prayer under strict adherence to health protocols. Only locals were allowed to join the prayer. Congregants were told to wear masks, bring their own prayer mats, wash their hands with soap and get a temperature check. After the prayer, they went back home immediately without shaking hands with one another.
Sumarni said she felt this year’s Lebaran was the hardest and quietest for her family. Nevertheless, she still tried to visit her neighbors in her own home. That day, she shared stories with two of her neighbors.
Ruslieti, 60, of Anduriang subdistrict in Kuranji, Padang, also said that she had a quiet Lebaran this year. She held a congregational prayer with her family members at home. Ruslieti said that she did not see the usual Idul Fitri commotion, filled with joy and involving many family members. Her children, siblings, grandchildren and cousins, spread in Jakarta, Tanah Datar, Solok, Mentawai and Pekanbaru, could not travel back home. “This is a quiet Idul Fitri. Usually, people arrive at my home one after the other. Today, no one is visiting,” she said.
Gatherings with relatives went on through voice and video calls. In the absence of physical presence, this must suffice as an antidote for longing.
Sadness enveloped Salman’s heart after finishing the Idul Fitri prayer with his family. He said that he missed the usual Idul Fitri festivities, in the mass prayer and family gatherings. This year, the 57-year-old man celebrated the holiday only with his wife and two children.
In previous years, his family usually joined a mass prayer in a soccer field in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta. After the prayer, residents shook each other’s hands and mingled. However, the streets were empty this year as locals stayed at home with their families. “It felt very different before the pandemic. We usually held a mass prayer at the field. Afterwards, we shook hands with others and it was just so crowded. This looks sad, indeed,” Salman said.
This year, Salman and his family started preparing for the Idul Fitri prayer at 5 a.m. They had breakfast first before prayer. There was rice cakes, rendang and chicken in soy sauce. All mandatory Lebaran meals. At 6.30 a.m., Salman led his family’s prayer at their house’s 15-square-meter living room. There are two rakaat (prayer unit) in the Idul Fitri prayer. After the prayer, they shook hands with one another. “There was nothing special. It was all very modest. No new clothes, no new mukena [prayer gown for women]. My wife and children did not wear makeup. However, we are still grateful,” he said.
It felt very different before the pandemic. We usually held a mass prayer at the field.
Among the things Salman said he was grateful for was that he could still join virtual gatherings with his relatives. His extended family, spread in several regions, met in a video conference.
This virtual gathering business opportunity is grabbed by social entrepreneurship training agency Info Inspirasi Melintas Zaman (IMZ, meaning Inspiration Across the Ages), which has provided virtual meeting services since April. Those wishing to do virtual meetings or gatherings with up to 100 participants can do so with the Info IMZ service by paying Rp 150,000 (US$10.13) per four-hour service. Info IMZ program manager said that the service had gained positive responses from people and social agencies without premium accounts from video conference providers. “It has helped so many, especially those without credit or debit cards [to pay for subscriptions],” he said.
The COVID-19 outbreak has led to people to finding new ways to celebrate Lebaran. However, holding prayers at home and joining virtual gatherings will only strengthen our spirit as a nation with a high level of social solidarity to cut off COVID-19 spread.