Ramadan has always been a time for reflection and focus on becoming the best version of yourself, but 2020 brought a completely new perspective. None of us fathomed this year the entire planet would be in lockdown amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.
I had chosen to fast this month; it was not because I did not have food. I felt for those who rely on food banks in the UK or who can no longer afford to buy food because they are now out of work. For those elderly and vulnerable who fear to venture outside to the supermarket, and when they eventually do only face empty shelves because of hording. I thought about those in third world countries with very little income or those in war torn countries and refugees with little or no access to food all year round. The notion of possibly having to ration food as though we were at war, led me to be more mindful about what I eat and what I give my family to eat, appreciating nutrition and resisting the urge to overindulge but to savour what I have and not waste it. It was still a time to share food, but to drop it off whilst observing social distancing. Talks of food shortages and the unknown impact of closed borders to cargo and the import export of food items really made me think about where my food comes from and how it gets to my plate. Ever more appreciative of the farmers who work so hard and how the pandemic may now affect them more than it will affect me with the loss of crop.
The impact of COVID-19 caused my workload to increase and working from home for a global company meant the hours of business were undefined. I was extremely tried, working on very little sleep, waking up in the early hours of the morning to start my fast. At the same time, I felt more grateful than ever to have a job and to be working in an industry that I love. It deepened my awareness of the difficulties the recession is going to bring to many people who are at risk of loosing their jobs and those completing their education about to enter the job market. I kept in mind those who were part of our key work force for which there is inadequate PPE forcing them to risk their own lives to save us. Some Muslims were fasting, as tired as me but dealing with the direct impact of COVID-19 in overcrowded hospitals witnessing suffering and death every day. I prayed Ramadan gave them the strength they needed to endure this.
I greatly missed going to the mosque for daily prayers, to hear the imam recite beautiful verses from the Quran and pray in congregation to feel a sense of the culturally global ummah. However, working from home gave me the opportunity for the first time in my adult life to offer all of my prayers on time and with members of my family. Instead of going to the mosque and connecting with strangers, I became closer to my own family, which I will always cherish. I appreciated my family and everything they do for me to a new level and reminded me that I need to do more for them. I appreciated all of my friends who I had not seen for months but would message to check up on me and see how I was doing.
Ramadan is usually a time for socializing with community, family and friends, this year Ramadan became a month of fasting in isolation. I welcomed the sense of focus this brought me perhaps due to my semi-introverted nature. I had more pockets of time to study Islam without my daily commute to work. I gave my personal appearance less attention but more attention on being ready for prayer. Fewer daily distractions of having to be social but the comfort of knowing my family and friends were just a phone call or Zoom away if I needed them. I was mindful that this time was especially difficult for reverts to Islam who had no one to share this experience with, but I tried to check up on them often.
Watching videos of people in London and the US out on the streets against government advice to stay home, my heart went out to those suffering real oppression. The Palestinians. Our restriction of movement in the UK was our own safety; it was nothing in comparison to what they face on a daily basis to be tortured and humiliated. We may lack healthcare right now but in Palestine, it is denied to them just because they are Palestinian. I wished the world outraged for them just as much as it is has for us in our lockdown, which was just a taste of temporary ‘injustice’ if you could even call it that.
On the last day of Ramadan, close to the celebration of Eid after a month of fasting and devotion, I woke up to the news of a plane crash in Pakistan. A jetliner failed to land safely plummeting into residential housing just miles from the airport in Karachi, killing over 100 people. Families were scrambling all over the streets grieving for their relatives, simultaneously exposing themselves to Coronavirus. It once again reminded me that life is ultimately out of my control and there will always be those who have less than me as well as those who have more, but it’s about being grateful for what I have.
This Ramadan will be one none of us will ever forget. The lockdown has shown us what is important – Family, friends and helping each other. Hearing all of the stories of acts of kindness, compassion and selflessness has been and revelation that we take many things for granted, often without realising it until it is gone. These were my Ramadan reflections during the pandemic that I hope will stay with me after this blessed month is over.
Eid Mubarak.
