"I can't remember anything like this happening before"

April 23, 2020 7:45 PM

How will the coronavirus pandemic change Ramadan for Muslims?

"There was World War II or natural disasters, but from past literature, historical texts, and various archives, I found that Muslims still gathered during Ramadan, despite the war or disasters, and still observed their religious rituals together. However, we are facing a different enemy this time around. It can be merciless and invisible."

posted by Ahmad Khani (5 comments total)

Yeah I'm really worried for my students this year, most of whom are Muslim. Even in normal years they struggle with their coursework and dissertation writing during Ramadan, and this year they were already struggling beforehand. Being stressed AND hungry AND trying to come up with creative ways to meet your religious and cultural obligations in an unprecedented context is just too much to ask them to deal with and still expect any kind of progress in their studies as well. But our university is being unnecessarily relentless about expecting progress anyway and there's only so much of that I can protect them from.
posted by lollusc at 10:03 PM on April 23, 2020 [10 favorites]

Here in Jakarta it feels like people are stunned— last night’s announcement of a total ban on people movement until after Eid al-Fitr is sinking in. People are still fasting but the social distancing and lack of jobs makes It so much harder.

Ramadan Mubarak, all.
posted by frumiousb at 12:22 AM on April 24, 2020 [10 favorites]

That is a really interesting article. I was already aware that the ban on gatherings was going to change how Ramadan was observed, but I hadn't thought of the impact on the charitable provision of food to those in need.

Thank you for posting this.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:52 AM on April 24, 2020

Indeed.
posted by y2karl at 10:20 AM on April 24, 2020

Mosques have been closed here in Ontario since March. So I've missed the lead-up of announcements and people distributing timetables which normally help mentally prepare me for Ramadan. This year it was someone just mentioning "Oh, Ramadan starts next week" and then me having to do a quick Google. Normally I buy a case of Gatorade so that I can more easily hydrate and even though I did shopping yesterday it still hadn't entered my mind. Guess I'll pick it up next week.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:01 AM on April 24, 2020