The Holy Month of Ramazan, in 2020 …

Ramazanınız Mübarek Olsun

I wish all of you who are fellow Moslems a peaceful, blessed and holy month of Ramazan.

When I first saw this image of the deserted courtyard of the Great Mosque in Mecca, something inside me felt deeply unsettled. Somehow, it made the global crisis we are all living through even more real to me. Covid-19 respects no boundaries, sees no borders and knows no religious, ethnic, cultural, social or political distinctions. It is indiscriminate and ruthless and has infiltrated all our lives in one way or another.

A Very Different Ramazan …

I know that the month of Ramazan is a time when we, as Moslems, come together as one community. Where we pray together, embrace one another, invite each other into our homes to break our fast, and where we as a community offer food and support to those most in need. But instead, due to the current global crisis, most countries have had to temporarily close our mosques and ban congregational prayers. We are forbidden to invite our family, our friends and our neighbours into our homes for iftar, and large iftar banquets organised for the poor can no longer take place.

Keep Faith and Remain Patient

But Ramazan is essentially a time for spiritual reflection, introspection and feeling a closeness with Allah. And this is something that Covid-19 is powerless to stop.

We will pray in our homes instead of at the mosques. We will pray with our immediate family, or whoever we are isolating with, instead of with a wider congregation. And we will listen to our imams delivering sermons, reciting the Quran and we will still follow them in prayer through one of the many live-streaming methods that are available. We will have iftar only with people living in the same households as us, but we will virtually connect with our family, friends and neighbours perhaps using Google Hang-Out, Zoom, House Party or FaceTime so we can still feel the warmth of coming together with our loved ones. Even a telephone call can make us feel connected with one another. And we will most certainly still help those less fortunate than ourselves by displays of generosity and compassion. Perhaps we will make a donation online to one of the many deserving charities, or we will send parcels of food (adhering to all the physical distancing and hygiene regulations).

Follow the Restrictions and Guidelines

I do not know of another time in history when Moslems were forbidden from gathering during Ramazan. Wars, natural disasters, and outbreaks of plague and disease have never before forced such drastic measures as are needed now. Therefore, in a way, we are living through history.

I am reminded of something the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, once said: “If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it, but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place.” This hadith is just as relevant today, as it was when these words were first spoken. And is a reminder to us all that we must continue to listen to our governments and adhere to their quarantine regulations, their lockdown guidelines and their strict curfews. Not just now, during Ramazan, but until things change.

These rules have been put in place to keep us and others safe and well. We must maintain social distancing for as long as is necessary in order to save lives, protect the vulnerable and support all our brave doctors and nurses battling to look after the sick. And we must continue to be patient, and wait for all this to pass.

So, I know that this Ramazan will be different. And I know that many people will be feeling particularly alone, lonely and abandoned during the holy month. But remember that you can never truly be alone. Allah is always with us. I hope this brings you some form of comfort, especially at this time. Of course times are difficult, and we all face challenges we have not faced before, but if we help each other and keep faith then we will overcome our fears and survive these uncertain times.

Hope For the Future

And these times will most certainly pass. Quarantine will end. Lockdown and curfews will be lifted. Scientists in almost every country are working hard to find a cure and to produce a vaccine for Covid-19, to ensure that our lives can return to normal. That cure will be found. That vaccine will be produced. And we will be reunited with our family and friends once more.

We must all just keep faith, remain patient and trust in Him …

Hayırlı Ramazanlar

Bu zor zamanlarda Allah’a tevekkülünüz ve sabırınızın size gönül ferahlığı vermesini temenni ederim …

I pray that during the holy month your faith in Allah will deepen, your patience will grow and together they will bring you comfort …