Amid a different reality caused by deadly coronavirus outbreak, countrywide lockdown, restriction on mass gatherings and congregational prayers, the month of Ramadan provides an opportunity to Muslims to deal with the pandemic with its spirit.
The holy month, marking the fasting by Muslims from sunrise to sunset, begins on Saturday.
Health experts say Ramadan also brings about an opportunity to effectively contain the pandemic through leading a disciplined life by upholding the true spirit of the month of self-restraint.
They suggested the government to strictly enforce the shutdown, social distancing rules, and ban any kind of iftar party or religious gathering as people tend to indulge in extravagance and gather at markets in this month ignoring its true essence.
Islamic scholars suggest the Muslims to stay at home and pass their time with various religious activities, like saying mandatory and additional prayers, reciting from the verses of the holy Quran and extend their helping hand to ease the sufferings of people facing food crisis as the reward for doing charity during Ramadan is multiplied most generously by the Almighty.
As many people give Zakat during Ramadan, the Islamic scholars said it should be provided to the needy people silently without any show-off and mass gathering.
Talking to FT TEAM, Principal of Dhaka Medical College Prof Khan Abul Kalam Azad said people should remain alert and maintain social distancing as Ramadan arrives this time with a different reality. “Since we’ve long been offering Jum’a and five-time mandatory prayers at homes, we should also say Tarabi prayers at home instead of mosque.”
According to Islam, Ramadan is a month of exercising self-restraint and self-purification, he said, “We’ve got a chance to engage in various prayers at home instead of going out of home and thus control the prevalence of the virus.”
He said those who observe Ramadan spit frequently but they should do it very carefully as it causes the spread of the virus. “All should maintain health hygiene and avoid gathering during iftar.”
The DMCH principal said people are also used to gathering too much at kitchen markets for buying iftar items and other daily essentials during Ramadan. “So, the government should strongly monitor the market so that social distancing is maintained. The best option is to set up small but adequate makeshift shops at all blocks, lanes of the residential areas from where people can easily collect essentials and iftar items.”
He said the government also can take steps for providing cooked food and iftar items throughout the month among the destitute using the schools and colleges through law enforcers maintaining social distancing. “We must strictly enforce the shutdown and enforce law to keep people at home to get rid of the virus.”
Dr Harun-or-Rashid, the head of medicine department at Dhaka Community Medical College & Hospital (DCMCH), said the government should remain strict during Ramadan to prevent people from going to mosques and gather at markets as the situation continues to deteriorate amid community transmission.
“The government should enforce ban on any iftar mahfil in the month or religious gathering. Kitchen markets should be strongly monitored so that people cannot gather there as people have a tendency to indulge in much food consumption though it is a month of self-restrain. People should consume healthy and nutritious food and sufficient liquid to remain fit,” he said.
Prof Harun said people also have a tendency to gather at shopping malls for eid shopping in this month. “The government should not allow open the markets until the corona situation comes under control.”
Moulana Mufti Mizanur Rahman, Senior Pesh Imam of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram said the month of Ramadan is a blessed one for many reasons, and Muslims should take advantage of all of its blessings as the nation is under the grip of a deadly virus.
“According to a narration, Almighty Allah has divided Ramadan in three parts as the first ten days reflect the mercy of Almighty Allah (Rahmat) while the other 10 days represent forgiveness of Almighty Allah (Maghfirat) and last 10 days represent salvation or safety from the fire of Hell (Najat),” he said.
“Those who we expect to get Allah’s mercy, forgiveness and respite from the current danger, we should perform more ebadat (religious activities) staying at home than any other month,” the Islamic scholar added.
At the same time, he said many people are passing through a tough time losing their means of earning due to the coronavirus shutdown. “We should stand by them in this month with food and financial assistance as per our ability to get the blessings of Allah as reward for such charity in this month is multiplied by him generously. Allah gives this reward even to those who give a sip of milk to a fasting man.”
Mizan said people should silently give people food, iftar items and money instead of arranging any lavish iftar party in this month.”
During the month of Ramadan, the Islamic scholar said, people hand out saris and lungi as zakat causing mass gatherings. “It’s contrary to basic Islamic principles. It should be done without any formality and silently avoiding mass gatherings. Rich people also can take advice from alem- ulema for the better use of their Zakat money.”
About Tarabi, he said it is not mandatory to pray in congregation or at mosques, people can perform it at their homes instead of going to mosques for their own safety.
Talking to FT TEAM, Dr Muhammad Shafiq Ahmad, a professor of Dhaka University’s Islamic studies department, said fasting is not only mere abstinence from food and drink and basic instincts, it is more about applying self-restraint from evil thoughts and actions, eventually bringing spiritual and physical goodness to the individual and society. Fasting is also intended to evoke empathy for the poor and underprivileged. We should strive to become better human beings.”
“Ramadan also gives people a chance to realise the pain of hunger the poor people suffer. If we uphold the spirit of this month by exercising self-control, courteousness and charity, I believe, we’ll be able to get rid of the virus and assuage the sufferings of the poor. We need to practise discipline and help each other overcome the worst time,” he observed.
