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A Congregation of One: Observing Ramadan During the Pandemic
A little time apart makes the heart grow fonder.
Religion’s ability to unite seemingly different people under a single banner is about the power of the collective. As tribal creatures, the groups we choose to be part of is fundamental to our identities and way of life. It’s understandable then that asking people of faith to stay away from their congregations and houses of worship has been difficult, if not down-right heartbreaking, during this global pandemic.
As Muslims, my immediate family and I have also experienced the loneliness and challenge of practicing our religion from afar. Our congregation, like those from many other faiths, is leveraging technology to bridge the separation from each other. These days, however, my immediate and extended family of approximately 1.2 billion Muslims are faced with a new test — observing Ramadan 2020 in isolation.
This year, the Islamic holy month kicked-off on the evening of April 24. It was during this month around 610 A.D. that Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of God be upon him) learned of his calling as the Prophet of Islam. He received his first divine revelation from Archangel Gabriel: “Proclaim thou in the name of thy Lord Who Created man from a clot of blood” (Ch. 96 verses 2–3), and these verses are the first revelation of what would…
