Ramadan like no other for Calgary Muslims in shadow of COVID-19

The month of Ramadan startslater this month and will look and feel dramatically differentwithtens of thousands of CalgaryMuslims facing unprecedented restrictions and the prospect of worship in isolation in the shadow ofCOVID-19.

But religiousleaders in Calgary saythe holy month of fasting, prayer,communityand reflection,happening at what could turn out to bethe peakof Alberta'sCOVID-19 pandemic,could prove to be more meaningful than ever for devotees.

It's supposed to be a month of enhanced worshipand good deeds, of self improvement, of largefamily and social gatherings, culminating in a three-day flurry of Eid al-Fitrevents andcelebrations to mark the end of fasting.

But this year in Calgarywill be a Ramadanwith families and individualsstaying at home to quietlyfast and pray,out of sight with noIftargatherings and meals, which would normallytake place as fasts are broken each evening.

Usually packed mosques and smaller places of worshipin all quadrants of the city will now standempty as Calgary Muslims play their part in flattening the curve, staying home and in manycases turning to online prayers and guidance from imams.

Not only Muslims

Of course, it's not only Muslims that will see theirreligiouscelebrations affected by COVID-19.

Easter masses andPassover seders will be forced online with family gatherings and prayerstaking place on platforms like Zoom,with importantHindu and Sikh festivals,includingVaisakhi,alsoimpactedin what areunprecedented times of social isolation and compliance.

But the themes across all faithsthis year areuniversal: helping those less fortunate, giving and sharing with others, praying for patients and front-line workers and helping as much as possible in the community.

"Due to social distancing we won't be congregating in our mosques, there'll be no community dinners but it will give us an opportunity to engage in self discovery," said Sheikh Fayaz Tilly, seniorimam at Calgary's Akram Jomaa Islamic Centre.

"Perhaps this Ramadan will be a great Ramadan despite not being able to connect physically. Our bodies may not be in the same space but out hearts can be in the same space," said Tilly.

"We can do that by praying for each other, by praying for our front-line workers and assisting those on the front lines like medical doctors or people stacking shelves and cashiers."

Engage in true spirit ofRamadan

There will still be nightly Tarawhi prayers. Tilly will be live-streaming prayers and programs along with pushing philanthropyand charity efforts,with many morefamilies than usual needing food and extra help.

"Maybe it will be a month to remember when we engage in the true spirit of Ramadan: sacrifice, not having the extravagant meals, and a focus on family," he said.

Calgary's AhmadiyyaMuslims, like other groups,are focusedon closely followingAlberta Health Services recommendations to stay isolated and stay at home as much as possible.

"We have been taught that loyalty to one's country or residence is part of one's faith," saidAsif Arif, a Baitun Nur mosque imam.

Arif says they will be following whatever the provincial government recommends over Ramadan, which means the mosque will continue to remain closed.

"Prayer can be done at home. We should follow the laws set out by the government in order to flatten the curve," said Arif.

"It will be more family oriented," he said. "We have to look at the safety of individual."

Arif says Muslims will also be focused firmly on helping in the community over Ramadan and meeting an expected demand for food and financial assistance among Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

"I have never seen a situation like this in my life," said Atthar Mahmood, vice president of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and a director for Al MadinahCalgaryIslamic Assembly.

"Prayers will be held, if we can, into people's homes. We can also ask community members to hold prayers in basements but I'm not sure how that would look at this moment," said Mahmood.

Mahmood is still hoping for a best case scenario and a huge levelling of the curve between now and the end of the month that might make some form of smallergatherings possible at the Green Dome Mosque in northeast Calgary.

"Things will hopefully move in a positive direction," said Mahmood.

Unique opportunity

Different Muslim groups in the city are agreed thatwhatever happens, this Ramadan presents a uniqueopportunity to step up more than ever and help.

"With thepandemicthis year, it seems different," saidRiyazKhawaja, president of the Hussaini Association of Calgary, the main ShiaIslamic organization in the city.

"We all feel it will be challenging but we have always found ways to continue to observe at times of crisis and it can actually be an opportunity to assess what is important in life," said Khawaja.

"Congregation prayers and eating together, that part we'll be missing, but it's going to be better to observe ourselves and be more spiritual in these hard times," he said.

Khawaja says peoplewill be donating to food banks, checking on neighbours and making financial donations during Ramadan and looking to help wherever it's needed.

He says Ramadan has always been about reflecting on those less fortunate.

This yearRamadan is due to begin on April 23and comes to an endon May 23.