Ramadan in a Time of Pandemic --- A Word of Friendship
Today
in the Mecca —and tomorrow morning here in Troy—begins the month of Ramadan. According
to the Quran “The month of Ramadan is that wherein the Quran was sent
down as guidance to mankind, as clear proofs of guidance, and as the Criterion.
Let him among you who is present fast during that [month]” (Surah 2:185). Thus,
Ramadan is a month-long observance for Muslims to celebrate the giving of the Quran to the
Prophet Muhammad through fasting and prayer during the daylight hours. During
this time Muslims make a greater effort to go to the mosque to pray the evening
prayer (you can pray at home, but during Ramadan, there is a sense of blessing
that comes from going to the mosque). When the sun goes down, it is time to
break the fast and share in a large meal, preferably in community—especially
the mosque. That word community is important. One can eat together as a family,
but again a special blessing comes when one does so in community. When the
moment arrives, in my experience at least, one takes a date and eats it. That
is the first stage of breaking the fast. This meal, which breaks the fast, is
called the iftar.
This year, things will be different
around the world. Even as Holy Week and Passover had to be observed at home and
online, the same will be true in most places during Ramadan. Muslims will not
be going to the mosque for prayers or the iftar dinner. Such events will
not be safe, and so Muslims, like Christians during Holy Week and Jews during
Passover, will observe these holy events in their homes and perhaps connecting
digitally.
Although I’m not Muslim, I have
participated in iftar dinners each year for the past several years. I’ve
been invited to local mosques and other Islamic communities to share in their
meals. For the past several years, my congregation (Central Woodward Christian
Church) has cohosted an interfaith iftar meal with our friends from the
Turkish American Society of Michigan. Plans were underway to do the same this
year in mid-May. The way we do this is we put up the tables in our fellowship
hall, invite our congregation and the larger faith community, and they bring
the food and their people. Together we have a great time, and they always ask
me to bless the food. Unfortunately, what had become an annual event that I
looked forward to experiencing again will not happen. I’m saddened by this
reality, because not only will I miss the wonderful food that is served at an
event like this, but more importantly because I’ll miss out on the fellowship
that comes when gather.
In an age of Islamophobia, we need these kinds of events to dispel stereotypes and build relationships across religious lines. Although I won’t be able to join in the meals this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I will remember my Muslim friends in my prayers and hopefully in conversations during this season (you know who you are!). May God’s blessings be upon them all!
In an age of Islamophobia, we need these kinds of events to dispel stereotypes and build relationships across religious lines. Although I won’t be able to join in the meals this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I will remember my Muslim friends in my prayers and hopefully in conversations during this season (you know who you are!). May God’s blessings be upon them all!
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