Ramadan 2020 And COVID-19 - M.A.Aleem Neurologist #Trichy #Tamilnadu #India

Ramadan 2020 and COVID-19 

- M.A.Aleem Neurologist #Trichy #Tamilnadu #India 

This year Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan in a difficult situation in lockdown with tight restrictions due to the  coronavirus pandemic outbreak and that has paralysed the entire world .

As of now today at the end of the 2nd week of Ramadan 2020 nearly 4 Million (3939553) people all over the world  are infected with the COVID-19. There were about 271410 deaths and  1355788 were recovered from the  COVID-19 infection.

Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims, in which they fast during daylight hours, congregate for prayers and share meals as a community.

Due to strict curfews and physical distancing directives enforced to limit the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 , many of  Ramadan's rituals and traditions are  curtailed this year in all Muslim countries. 

In the past  during Ramadan, even in  war time or during any disasters, Muslims still observed their religious rituals together with gathering .

During the holy month, Muslims wake up early to eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and break their fast after sunset with a meal called iftar.

Breaking of the fast is usually a communal affair. It is common for mosques to host large iftars, especially for the poor.

Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has spread to 212  nations (which include almost all Muslim countries), many countries including india this year have advised their Muslim citizens to avoid large gatherings and have suhoor , iftar and all prayers individually or with family at home.

In this Ramadan 2020

Congregational prayers are banned  and  mosques have been temporarily closed in many countries including in India in the view of lockdown and to break the chain of COVID19 spread in the community. 

During the current COVID-19 pandemic 

it is advised to practise physical distancing, not to greet one another in the way that we usually greet by hugging our fellow Muslims or shaking their hands.

It is ideal to

use culturally and religiously sanctioned greetings that avoid physical contact, such as waving, nodding, or placing the hand over the heart.

It is better to pay attention 

while distributing their sadaqat or zakah during this Ramadan by keeping  the physical distancing measures in place. It is also good to avoid the crowded gathering associated with iftar banquets and  consider to use individual pre-packaged boxes/servings of food. These can be organized by centralized entities and institutions, which should adhere to physical distancing throughout the whole cycle (collecting, packaging, storing and distribution) to prevent the coronavirus spread

No studies of fasting and risk of COVID-19 infection have been performed. Healthy people should be able to fast during this Ramadan as in previous years, while COVID-19 patients may consider religious licenses regarding breaking the fast in consultation with their doctors, as they would do with any other disease.

The current COVID-19 Pandemic may passes through  Hajj 2020 and even it may extend  beyond Christmas and New year 2021.

So we should learn to live with lifestyle modifications to keep away COVID-19 from us . 

 Muslims are requested , not to plan to perform Hajj 2020

Every year over 1 Million Muslims are performing Hajj. This year, Muslims should wait to do prior plan to perform Hajj 2020. Because it is very difficult to maintain social distancing  during their Hajj  performance if the current  COVID-19 Pandemic is  continuing.