Ramadan 2020: Different but dignified

Corona Pandemic has awfully put a pause to each and every activity of people around the world. Every place is closed for people to go and everyone is staying home where they're under 'lockdown' or 'self isolation'. Even the holy places where people used to visit regularly is under 'lockdown'. Our world is filled with various religious beliefs and practices followed by people from various parts of world to exhibit their faith towards God. But, now people weren't able to follow their practices to their god because of corona virus pandemic; before 2 weeks it was Easter Sunday which Christians around the world used to celebrate but didn't due to corona. And now, the Holy month of Ramadan begins for the 1.8 billion Muslims of world's population which is their traditional time of observing dawn-to-dusk fasting, festivities and communal prayer, every year that is unlike this year.

The Holy Mosques all over the world where Muslims used to awash with faith during the month of Ramadan were kept closed due to pandemic; even Mecca and Medina the holiest cities of Islam is closed which is never seen in the last decades. The holy month of Ramadan is believed by the Muslims as the month that God revealed the Holy Quran to the Prophet Mohammad. Ramadan, officially begins at the first sighting of the waxing crescent after the new moon, that leads to different countries declaring its start a day or two apart based on their locations.

The Holy month of Ramadan began on Friday(April 24,2020) in Saudi Arabi where Mecca, the holiest place of Muslims is located after the waxing crescent was sighted. Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saudi statement groaned the need of 'social distancing' to stop the spread of deadly corona virus and thus, people have to give priority to their health first and then celebrations.

According to the official Saudi Press Agency, Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saudi said, "It pains me to welcome the glorious month of Ramadan under circumstances that forbid us of prayers in Mosques and of performing the Ramadan prayers. All this is due to the protective measures taken to save lives and human wellbeing in light of the global threat of COVID-19."

In Iran, there are 87,000 confirmed cases with nearly 5,500 deaths due to corona virus which the Government is fighting to control. Being a Muslim country, Iran Officials decided to reduce and regulate the Ramadan gatherings, even though Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Country's Supreme Leader had already hinted about this.

And another Muslim country Pakistan, have diagnosed nearly 11,000 confirmed cases. So, the officials of Pakistan have also decided to ensure people's safety and health first, before Ramadan gatherings.

In India, the officials of the secular country which consist about 182 million Muslims have also decided to regulate the gathering and celebrations in main cities such as Pune, Kerala due to corona pandemic.

Irshad Mulla, a senior Muslim citizen expressed his grief, "Every year there is a congregation of people praying at the mosque, there is a special namaaz (taravik), for the whole month, where people pray together; but, because of the lockdown, people will have to pray in their houses with the family,"

On the top, there is Indonesia constituting the world's largest Muslim population with 7,800 corona virus confirmed cases. Being the largest country with Muslim population, the step and pronouncements made by the mainstream Muslim organizations is highly commendable in Indonesia. It was pronounced to Mosques that they shall not conduct mass prayers in this lockdown period even during the holy month of Ramadan. Knowing about this announce from Government and Muslim organizations, The Jakarta Post-an Indonesia based English journal praised the restrictions and warning made to country's people by writing "not out of the pandemic woods yet."

United Kingdom being a shelter to 2.6 million Muslims is facing high-rated corona threat already and Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) made an announcement to people that, they shall attend the mass prayers virtually by tuning into live streams broadcast by their local mosques. United States have also made such announcements like video-conferencing ahead the holy month of Ramadan.

Yes! It cannot be denied that this year Ramadan is definitely going to be a different Ramadan for every Muslims around the world. People agree that they really miss the Iftars, mass prayers during this Ramadan month due to Corona virus Pandemic: But the good part is, people are really co-operating with governments to control and defend the corona pandemic by staying inside home and celebrating Ramadan for the well-being of everyone. Hence, Humanity is the ideology of every religion which is said in different ways.