Ramadan in Corona time

How the Covid-19 has changed the familiar face of this special month

A round two weeks ago, the Muslims over the world received their most famous month – 'Ramadan', which came this year in exceptional circumstances and in an unprecedented manner.

We have never imagined a dramatic change such as this would happen, that Ramadan this year would be devoid of its most important characteristics and its advantages: apart from the spiritual aspect of Ramadan, the social one is much significant as well. This year we lost the nice and warm contact that happens through the gatherings of big groups around Ramadan meals (the Eftar), organized every year by different communities and parties and with the small groups of friends who usually gathered around the meal in their homes respectively during every Ramadan.

Ramadan for me remains an extraordinary month, where I live and enjoy the ultimate inner calmness, security and wisdom. It is the month that makes the space for me to listen to my inner voice and bring me much closer to my soul.

The Covid-19 has changed the familiar face of this special month. It imposed an uncomfortable situation in our social life, it restricted us from meeting our friends and always must keep distance between us if we want to do so, as well as with all the people over all the places, ‘one meter and half’ are the most common words these days people use in their verbal and body languages. This is, how coronavirus has influenced in almost all the aspects of our lives, and Ramadan is not an exception in this.

The other face of the Ramadan this year is illustrated in the picture with this article. Instead of celebrating the Eftar together with others in our community, we bring each other homemade dishes, keeping the mandatory distance. In this way we feel connected with each other, and able to bring each other tangible (and edible) Eftar greetings.

The coronavirus is also a big problem in my homeland Darfur (Sudan). At the moment I am day and night occupied with coordinating help for my countrymen. I have a lot of family there, among others my parents. There is not really any health care to speak of. I am therefore also in contact with the central government in Khartoum.

Now, our consolation is, the warm meeting we have every evening around our Eftar table at home in Driebergen, this small and beautiful celebration compensates us for the loss of the Eftar gatherings, and a date that we do not want to miss for whatever reasons.

Abdelrahman Adam