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Muslims around the world began marking Ramadan under the coronavirus blockade on Friday with unprecedented bans on family gatherings and mass prayers, while a pullback in some countries raised fears of increased infections.
This year, the day fast month will be a grim affair for many in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
Widespread rules have been imposed that prohibit praying in mosques or gathering with family and friends for big iftar meals at dusk, a centerpiece of a month’s fast.
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King Salman of Saudi Arabia said he was sad that Muslims were unable to pray in mosques due to restrictions on the coronavirus.
“It pains me to welcome the glorious month of Ramadan under circumstances that prohibit us from praying in mosques and performing the Ramadan prayers of Tarawieh and Qiyam in the House of Allah. This is all due to the protective measures taken to save lives and human well-being in light of the global threat from COVID-19, “he said in a statement quoted by state news agency SPA.
Saudi Arabia announced last week that the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina would remain closed throughout Ramadan.
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Turkey imposes restrictions on COVID-19 movement before Ramadan begins (02:42) |
Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims, where they fast during the day, gather together to pray, and share meals as a community.
But due to the coronavirus, almost all Muslim-majority countries have closed mosques and asked people to pray at home, in addition to imposing curfews to limit the spread of the deadly virus.
“I can’t remember anything like this happening before,” Mohd Faizal Musa, a researcher at the Malaysian Institute of World and Civilization at the National University of Malaysia, told Al Jazeera.
The coronavirus has left many in the Gaza Strip blocked wondering how they will manage this year.
“Markets and mosques are closed. Good people who give us money or help every Ramadan face a difficult situation,” said Salah Jibril, 47, who is unemployed.
He and his wife live with their six children in a narrow two-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of Gaza City.
Jibril said her family normally counted on using the assistance they received during Ramadan to help them for the rest of the year.
“This is the most difficult Ramadan we have faced. We do not know how we will manage,” he said.
‘I am not worried’
The restrictions have affected spirits in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority Muslim nation, where national religious organizations have asked worshipers to stay at home.
“This Ramadan is very different, it just isn’t a holiday,” said Indonesian housewife Fitria Famela. “I am disappointed that I cannot go to the mosque, but what can we do? The world is different now.”
However, some religious leaders in Asia, home to nearly one billion Muslims worldwide, stopped fearing about the spread of COVID-19.
The main Islamic organization in the conservative Indonesian province of Aceh has publicly breached a national order to stay home.
Several thousand worshipers attended evening prayers on Thursday at the largest mosque in the region’s capital, Banda Aceh, although the crowds were smaller than usual.
“I am not concerned because I am wearing a face mask and I keep my distance,” said Cut Fitrah Riskiah, one of the participants.
Mohamad Shukri Mohamad, the leading Islamic cleric in the conservative Malaysian state of Kelantan, planned to skip public prayers and family meals, even if it meant not seeing his six children and 18 grandchildren.
“This is the first time in my life that I have not been able to go to the mosque,” he said. “But we must accept it and obey the rules of social distancing to protect our lives.”
Total lock
Several Arab countries have eased restrictions on the occasion of the holy month, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and other countries reducing the duration of the blockades.
The United Arab Emirates said Thursday that it had decided to ease a full blockade to an eight-hour night curfew and also moved to partially reopen shopping malls and markets.
In Egypt, all Ramadan activities, including charity tables and group iftars are prohibited.
Month-long Ramadan bazaars with stalls selling food, drinks and clothing, usually crowded places, are not allowed in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.
In Iran, the most affected nation in the region, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called on people to avoid collective prayers.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will allow congregational prayers in mosques during Ramadan, but worshipers must keep a distance of two meters (six feet) from each other and are encouraged to bring their own prayer mats.
At the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem, which will be closed to Muslim worshipers throughout Ramadan, the call to prayer will still take place five times a day, and religious workers allowed entry.
Mosques in the UK and elsewhere will broadcast live sermons, recitation of the Koran and prayers.
Muslims will also be able to attend religious conferences through the Zoom video conferencing app, Facebook and YouTube.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the declaration of Muslim faith, daily prayers, charity and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
In Muslim-majority countries, offices are required by law to reduce working hours, and many restaurants are closed during the day.
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