Even During a Covid-19 Pandemic, Ramadan is Still a Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The first time I encountered the holy month of Ramadan up close was in 2013 while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in a small desert town in Morocco. That year, the thirty days of fasting began in mid-July (Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar, it moves up 11 days each Gregorian calendar year). It was all new to me. The fasting, the slower pace of life in the daytime, an emphasis on piety, modesty and, importantly, self-reflection.
A Peace Corps volunteer spends their first months in country learning about the local culture as well as learning the local language. In the case of Morocco, most Moroccans speak a dialect of Arabic called Darija, an eclectic mix of Arabic, French, Tamazight (Berber). The language may have been a challenge but the experience of Ramadan in a small desert town was an experience I will always cherish. My neighbor, Hassan, always invited me over to his house to break fast. It did not matter to him that I wasn’t Muslim; I was his neighbor. His income may have been modest but his hospitality was boundless. Harrira (lentil and chickpea soup), boiled eggs, flatbread, juice, milk, cookies and tea. It was a beautiful experience.
In the intervening years, I have experienced Ramadan here in the Twin Cities area. Several organizations held community iftars in 2019 which I attended including the Iragi and American Reconciliation Project and the Muslim American Society of Minnesota. The community gatherings allow Muslims and non-Muslims to share a great meal and a conversation.
Last year, I was back in Rabat, Morocco during Ramadan. Coronavirus-induced lockdowns meant that neighborhood gatherings were prohibited. Travel between cities was prohibited. My Moroccan friends and neighbors were dejected that the festive holiday was occurring during a global pandemic that required such limitations. Trips to see relatives and large-gathering iftars would have to wait. As Ramadan 2021 continues here and around the world, the holiday perhaps finds additional meaning as the world seems to be at a Covid-19 turning point.
Millions have received vaccinations, social distancing is widely accepted as the new normal in public spaces, and medical staff have many more tools available to treat Covid-19 patients. Hamdullilah! But the isolation that is likely felt by countless Muslims worldwide stands in stark contrast to the festive atmosphere of past Ramadans. Late night family walks, youth soccer matches, men gathering at cafes over tea and evening tarawih prayers at neighborhood mosques. A social isolated Ramadan is as jarring as a Thanksgiving Day spent on Zoom.
Despite the challenges, Covid-19 perhaps provides an opportunity to genuinely embrace some key components of Ramadan. Self-restraint and sacrifice, the ability to restrain personal ambitions (not just ones appetite) and reflect on the challenges of those who have much less material wealth and resources. Additionally, doing good deeds during Ramadan nourishes the soul. Helping those who have less is no small challenge during the coronavirus pandemic when so many families, especially those from modest incomes, have likely lost considerable income or business opportunities.
I have fasted just twice during this Ramadan and I have not been able to see most of my Muslim friends in person but the experience brings me back to that small desert town in Morocco in the summer of 2013. Life during the afternoon ground to a halt in the hot summer sun. Local shops closed. Citizens went home to rest, pray and share family experiences that are so important during the holy month. This pandemic reinforces why Ramadan is so important for spiritual wellbeing as well as the health of the larger community.
Mark Mahon is a writer and community engagement professional from Minneapolis. He served in the US Peace Corps in Morocco from 2013 until 2015. Additionally, he later worked as a writer and contributor for a Morocco-based English language news service.
