Ramadan 2020 is Not #Cancelled
By: Alaa Essafi
I am sure you have heard that Ramadan is “cancelled” and most people will mourn the spirit of Ramadan as though it cannot be maintained outside of taraweeh in the masjid or communal iftars. Surely, we must cast away all hope that this Ramadan will be as spiritually nourishing as past ones and wait patiently for Ramadan 2021 to arrive. Wrong. There is no doubt that this year, Ramadan will be different but that doesn’t mean it won’t be just as fruitful.
The need for normalcy and routine will be overwhelming. But it shouldn’t overshadow this once-in-a lifetime opportunity to fully appreciate the buoyancy of our relationship with God. This could be the Ramadan we make a commitment to God, that’s not tethered to whether or not our community members praise us for public acts of worship.
The outcome of this Ramadan is entirely up to us. This is the biggest chance we have to invest in ourselves and the services that our communities offer. If anything, this pandemic has shown us that we are able to rise to the challenge. Our communities have adjusted to the horrific circumstances remarkably by adapting our community gatherings to the virtual world and offering programs like online tafsir classes, lecture series, or social media livestreams specifically about the pandemic which will no doubt carry into Ramadan.
In an effort to rejuvenate the spirit of Ramadan at home, some practical and creative methods include getting involved in weekly online Quran circles with your closest friends or sending a card to neighbors to check in on them. Perhaps, one can have a Zoom iftar with family and friends or community members who rely on community gatherings for moral support and social comfort.
“The outcome of this Ramadan is entirely up to us.”
In the spiritual aspect, Muslim non-profit organizations and masjids are rolling out programs, podcasts, or even month-long seminars to ensure that the spiritual essence of Ramadan is preserved. Specifically, Yaqeen Institute is offering a daily email track for faith-building content along with its series “Angels in Your Presence” with Sheikh Omar Suleiman. Local masjids are going live for Jummah and other programs like Dar-ul-Islah’s tajweed classes for sisters on Wednesdays.
From a fellow New Jerseyan who is very much looking forward to Ramadan: Don’t allow yourself to wallow in despair and hopelessness, at least not for an extended period of time. Do yourself a favor and mute a couple of WhatsApp groups preaching that this is a punishment from God and that the Day of Judgement is upon us. Take some time to adjust, recharge, and embrace the chance we all have to reinvent our sincerity and make this a memorable Ramadan.