An observing Ramzan unlike any other: A Covid-19 shadow on the Muslim fasting month
Despite the fact that Muslim communities across the country experienced a second, even more deadly outbreak of Covid-19 in Ramzan 2021, Ramzan 2020 was said to be unlike any other Ramzan in living memory.
For many Muslims as well as for others, Ramzan and Eid have receded like a distant dream because of the festivities, the cheer, the breakfasts of the Muslims and the 'sehri' at food joints. (Photo: PTI)
Ramzan is faced with even darker shadows this time and even more despair, resulting in a scramble for oxygen, hospital beds, and even a decent graveyard for their departed, overshadowing the gloom of last year.
There were no large congregations in mosques, no iftar parties, and no late-night shopping in 2020 Ramzan that was expected to touch a nerve. Now, a second Covid-19 wave that is much deadlier is sweeping through the country, shattering the norm.
Nearly every American family has been impacted by the pandemic. Some have lost friends and loved ones, while others have been battling the dreaded virus.
"This Ramzan has been a tough month and I have prayed to Allah to take away the deadly virus from us. I have lost many of my near and dear ones and many are infected," said Tanvir Parvez, a lawyer from Ghaziabad.
The celebrations and joy, the 'sehri' at the food joints that underscored Ramzan and Eid for not just devout Muslims, but for other people as well, seem a distant memory to individuals like Parvez.
Photo: PTI
Family members would be sweating over oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, hospital beds, and plasma this Ramzan instead of hoarding the spread laid out at nearly every dining table during iftar time.
"Iftar is such an amazing time when we pray to God, eat a wholesome meal with the family and reflect on our blessings. This year has been different where we have been daily dealing with bad news," Parvez told PTI on Wednesday.
According to estimates by the Ministry of Health, 4.205 new deaths have taken the country's death toll to 2,54,197 (23 million/2.33 crores). 3.48 lakh new cases were recorded.
As Ramadan approaches its end with the solemn festival of Eid to be celebrated on May 14 in most parts of India except in Kerala where the moon was not visible on Wednesday, Covid fears cast a dark cloud over the festivities. Kerala will celebrate it on Thursday.
Agriculturalist Qazi Rafat Masood is an agroculturist from Uttar Pradesh's Nagina district. "This year, the fasting month was consumed by funerals, deaths, health issues, and the handling of health emergencies for relatives and friends."
Photo: PTI
Even in many places where there was no religious holidays, prayers were held according to Covid norms and restrictions. In addition, many clerics appealed to people to pray at home, especially during Covid hotspots.
As a time for purification and reflection Ramzan is celebrated in every locality in 'Qazi Sarai' every year. Throughout the month, there is always a 'Roza Iftar' party in one house or another.
A dash of fun would be added to the iftar parties with inevitable comparisons of culinary skills of each household, he suggested, recalling the older days when shopping and preparing for the feasts were a highlight, with sherbet and sweet dishes on the menu.
Much like last year, this year has seen lockdowns, empty streets, and shuttered shops — all symbols of an otherwise lovely time off.
In several cities, it has been decided to hold Eid prayers in local mosques with social distancing norms rather than Eidgahs. In other cities, urging people to pray at home during Eid has been made.
Photo: PTI
The president of the prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind , a prominent official of the Muslim community in Pakistan, said, "All Muslims are called upon to perform Eid prayers following all local customs and procedures related to Islamic religious functions."
Two other prominent clerics – Mufti Mukarram Ahmed and Ahmed Bukhari from the Jama Masjid. – have also published separate video appeals for Muslims to offer Eid prayers at home.
With the hashtags 'EidAtHome' and 'SayNoToEidShopping' on the rise on Twitter, calls are also being made to celebrate Eid in accordance with Covid protocols.
As many lost their loved ones and many saw close friends and family struggling in hospitals and many were infected themselves, Madani said Muslims during Ramzan acted with a lot of patience.
In Ramadan this year, several people also missed fasting due to catching the coronavirus, lamenting the fact that they couldn't fast during the month of Ramadan.
Saad Majeed, a resident of Dwarka, said, "I usually don't fail to keep Ramzan fasts, but this year I tested positive for Covid-19, so I couldn't fasts for the second week. It was frustrating."
It was difficult to cope with being infected with coronavirus and also having the inability to fast, he told PTI.
Photo: PTI
In many ways, the going has been tough. While middle and upper-class households struggle to cope with the mental and emotional toll of the pandemic, the poor and needy struggle to get by.
In previous years, Ramzan always brings cheer, but for the last two years we have been robbed of that. This year was even worst as so many people in my family were infected by this virus," said Shaheen Bano, a homemaker and mother of six.
Also, since many households forbade me from coming because of the risk of the virus, we only drank water when we started our fast and wondered whether we would be able to afford a meal for iftar," she said.
A number of places are experiencing lockdowns as Eid approaches, and medium and small traders are also feeling the pinch with their businesses and shops experiencing severe losses.
The Muslim community marks the end of Ramadan and heads towards Eid, and everyone keeps one thought in mind -- praying for the epidemic to end.
Muslims around the world observe Ramzan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, by abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, and ending their fast in the evening.
Read More News -
https://telegra.ph/How-to-Use-Tablets-in-Business-Infographic-05-27
https://www.fanfiction.net/u/12477194/
https://www.nairaland.com/5852321/resource-links-business-management
https://www.experts-exchange.com/members/Bethany-Wilson.html
https://seekingalpha.com/user/52270369/comments
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Profile/nancybatespro
https://gitlab.fib.upc.edu/nancybatespro
http://flgclassifieds.cce.cornell.edu/author/nancybatespro/
https://business-tablet-world-blog.webflow.io/
https://andrew-brown.mn.co/members/6268392
https://www.twitch.tv/nancybatespro/about
https://newspicks.com/user/6499312
https://maps.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https://scalefusion.com/mdm-solution-for-education
https://maps.google.de/url?sa=i&url=https://scalefusion.com/mdm-solution-for-education
Comments
Post a Comment