This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/opinion/coronavirus-ramadan-iftar.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
‘We Will Make the Best Out of It’: Ramadan Amid a Pandemic ‘We Will Make the Best Out of It’: Ramadan Amid a Pandemic
(about 7 hours later)
The Prophet Muhammad once told his followers never to enter or leave a town that has the plague, to avoid spreading the disease.The Prophet Muhammad once told his followers never to enter or leave a town that has the plague, to avoid spreading the disease.
That advice seems timely for this year’s Ramadan. The annual Islamic holy month is upon us, during which Muslims fast from food, drink (Not even water? No, not even water) and sex from sunrise to sunset. Thanks to social-distancing measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, most of us won’t be leaving our homes, let alone our towns, this month. My family’s Google calendar is completely empty. There are no community iftars, the fast-breaking meals. The local mosques are all shut down.That advice seems timely for this year’s Ramadan. The annual Islamic holy month is upon us, during which Muslims fast from food, drink (Not even water? No, not even water) and sex from sunrise to sunset. Thanks to social-distancing measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, most of us won’t be leaving our homes, let alone our towns, this month. My family’s Google calendar is completely empty. There are no community iftars, the fast-breaking meals. The local mosques are all shut down.
In the years before this pandemic, despite the hangry, exhausted moments that tend to accompany fasting, Ramadan always left me with a faint smile. I’d relish the memories of the month’s daily rituals and the beautiful chaos of a community in constant motion.In the years before this pandemic, despite the hangry, exhausted moments that tend to accompany fasting, Ramadan always left me with a faint smile. I’d relish the memories of the month’s daily rituals and the beautiful chaos of a community in constant motion.
This time, everyday life has been upended, and we will confront a different kind of chaos. How can there be community engagement and worship, which is as central to Ramadan as the fast, during a lockdown and quarantine?This time, everyday life has been upended, and we will confront a different kind of chaos. How can there be community engagement and worship, which is as central to Ramadan as the fast, during a lockdown and quarantine?
During a normal Ramadan, we feast on a delicious spread of food every night, at someone’s home or at the mosque. This gathering is especially important for people without families and those without income, which is unfortunately common right now. Nobody wants our most vulnerable community members to be breaking their fasts alone in their home.During a normal Ramadan, we feast on a delicious spread of food every night, at someone’s home or at the mosque. This gathering is especially important for people without families and those without income, which is unfortunately common right now. Nobody wants our most vulnerable community members to be breaking their fasts alone in their home.
This year, we’ll have to improvise.This year, we’ll have to improvise.
Recently, a friend proposed this: Families cook a meal, meet in the parking lot and leave our dishes in our open trunks so that everyone can enjoy a self-serve buffet. My wife, a physician, quickly said this sounded like the perfect recipe to get infected.Recently, a friend proposed this: Families cook a meal, meet in the parking lot and leave our dishes in our open trunks so that everyone can enjoy a self-serve buffet. My wife, a physician, quickly said this sounded like the perfect recipe to get infected.
Another friend, Brenda Abdellall, tried to refine the idea. She wants to attempt “social-distancing potluck iftars,” where we each cook a meal and leave samples on one another’s doorsteps and the doorsteps of those who might need help providing food for their families. My wife says this sounds reasonable (so long as I’m the one cooking — a skill I’ve finally picked up while stuck in the house). Another friend, Brenda Abdelall, tried to refine the idea. She wants to attempt “social-distancing potluck iftars,” where we each cook a meal and leave samples on one another’s doorsteps and the doorsteps of those who might need help providing food for their families. My wife says this sounds reasonable (so long as I’m the one cooking — a skill I’ve finally picked up while stuck in the house).
Mohamed Magid, the imam of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center, a large Virginia mosque, told me he would normally expect 600 people to show up for communal prayers each night during Ramadan. This year, he’ll instead offer nightly Zoom sessions featuring a rotating group of Quran reciters so that everyone can listen from home. A social worker will organize and coordinate grocery deliveries to vulnerable members.Mohamed Magid, the imam of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center, a large Virginia mosque, told me he would normally expect 600 people to show up for communal prayers each night during Ramadan. This year, he’ll instead offer nightly Zoom sessions featuring a rotating group of Quran reciters so that everyone can listen from home. A social worker will organize and coordinate grocery deliveries to vulnerable members.
It’s challenging to adjust. But he told me that any time he feels like complaining, he thinks of the Rohingya Muslims he visited in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. Even in the most dire of conditions, he said, they fasted without complaint.It’s challenging to adjust. But he told me that any time he feels like complaining, he thinks of the Rohingya Muslims he visited in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. Even in the most dire of conditions, he said, they fasted without complaint.
“God tested the Prophet, peace be upon him, during Ramadan many times,” the imam said. “It’s a month where we learn perseverance and patience. We will make the best out of it.”“God tested the Prophet, peace be upon him, during Ramadan many times,” the imam said. “It’s a month where we learn perseverance and patience. We will make the best out of it.”
I am always inspired by such stories, but I confess I’m also prone to moments of doubt and fear. How do I concentrate on godliness when I’m trying to avoid the virus to protect my immuno-compromised daughter who just survived cancer?I am always inspired by such stories, but I confess I’m also prone to moments of doubt and fear. How do I concentrate on godliness when I’m trying to avoid the virus to protect my immuno-compromised daughter who just survived cancer?
I know I’m not alone in my anxiety, but I also know there are people in much more difficult situations this Ramadan. I especially think of the front-line health care workers, putting in long hours and without adequate supplies, who will be fasting alone while trying to save lives.I know I’m not alone in my anxiety, but I also know there are people in much more difficult situations this Ramadan. I especially think of the front-line health care workers, putting in long hours and without adequate supplies, who will be fasting alone while trying to save lives.
Saquib Rahim, an internal-medicine doctor working in Flushing, Queens, who has been treating Covid-19 patients since the first days of the pandemic, plans to fast this year. “I can’t think of a more appropriate way to show one’s commitment to faith and God than taking care of patients during this time,” he told me. He’s temporarily living apart from his family to avoid the possibility of spreading the virus if he contracts it, and he admits the lack of community will be very difficult. “It will be a unique challenge to immerse myself in faith while spending significant time alone,” he said.Saquib Rahim, an internal-medicine doctor working in Flushing, Queens, who has been treating Covid-19 patients since the first days of the pandemic, plans to fast this year. “I can’t think of a more appropriate way to show one’s commitment to faith and God than taking care of patients during this time,” he told me. He’s temporarily living apart from his family to avoid the possibility of spreading the virus if he contracts it, and he admits the lack of community will be very difficult. “It will be a unique challenge to immerse myself in faith while spending significant time alone,” he said.
As I listen to people’s stories, I’m reminded that God wants ease for his believers, not difficulty. Those who are sick or traveling are commanded not to fast. We are asked to do the most good and the least amount of harm, valuing life above all else.As I listen to people’s stories, I’m reminded that God wants ease for his believers, not difficulty. Those who are sick or traveling are commanded not to fast. We are asked to do the most good and the least amount of harm, valuing life above all else.
So this year I will emulate prophetic behavior by being responsible, staying at home, praying with my family, being grateful and simply trying my best. It won’t be heroic or extraordinary, but during these challenging times, it will be enough.So this year I will emulate prophetic behavior by being responsible, staying at home, praying with my family, being grateful and simply trying my best. It won’t be heroic or extraordinary, but during these challenging times, it will be enough.
If we’re blessed, it might even be next to godliness.If we’re blessed, it might even be next to godliness.
Wajahat Ali is a playwright, lawyer and contributing Opinion writer.Wajahat Ali is a playwright, lawyer and contributing Opinion writer.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.
Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.