Traveling around the world, witnessing Ramadan's return after the pandemic.

RamadanThe holy month of the year for the Muslim community has been underway for almost two weeks. During this time, among the more than 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide, healthy adults embark on a fasting period from sunrise to sunset. For them, it is an opportunity for repentance, forgiveness, and purification of the soul; a duty and a right to draw closer to the embrace of God (Allah).

Makram Nu'man El-Amin, the Imam (leader) of the Muslim congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, shared: "The pandemic has affected us so, so much. So, just thinking about being able to gather together during this special month – a month of fasting, reflection, personal growth, charity, etc. – is enough to excite me. This is an opportunity to do the things we enjoy, the things we want to do, the things we can do – at least something bigger than in previous years. I am so grateful for this moment."

Many people think of Ramadan as a month of festivities and revelry. In reality, that's not the case; during this time, Muslims still go to school, work, and live their lives as usual. The true purpose of this holy month is discipline and devotion. Fasting here doesn't just stop at eating, but extends to thought and action – Muslims must keep both body and mind pure and healthy.

“Ramadan is a tangible and constant reminder to us of God, of all the people on Earth who lack sufficient food and drink. Ramadan creates an impetus for developing gratitude and charity,” Adeel Zeb, a Muslim cleric in the United States, revealed in an interview.

Ramadan emphasizes charity, worship, empathy, and human connection. People practice these virtues independently, from their own hearts, and together – as a community, a family. Sadly, during the more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, many major rituals were omitted or scaled down.

This year, although the pandemic is still ongoing, countries are gradually adapting to living with Covid-19, and many events and festivals around the world have returned to a scale comparable to pre-pandemic levels. For Muslims, in many places, there are also plans to resume communal Iftar meals (the last meal of the fast, starting at 6:15 PM after sunset). Following Iftar is the Tarawih prayer service, which is also eagerly awaited by many.

That's truly good news for believers like Rizwan Ali.

Rizwan Ali is an Imam from the Naperville Islamic Center (Illinois, USA). He shared, “The worst thing is the lack of people. [During the pandemic] I could only do Wudu (washing the body before prayer) in my home. I never thought I would miss the long lines of people waiting to do Wudu before prayer so much. It’s just the little things I miss – the smiles, the faces. I can close my eyes and still say exactly where this person or that person is sitting. And now I miss those little memories so much.”

Additional information

Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month in which Allah bestowed the Quran – the holy book of Islam – upon the Prophet Mohammed. Ramadan officially begins at the new moon, the beginning of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, so different countries will have different start dates for Ramadan, varying by one or two days. In 2022, Ramadan began on Friday evening, April 1st, for most countries around the world.

The holy month will conclude with Eid al-Fitr – a three-day celebration. This is a time for eating, relaxing, and enjoying each other's company after 30 days of intense fasting and prayer.

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