Homemade tents and iftars on Zoom: How people around the world are marking #Ramadanathome


Emma Day
  • English
  • Arabic

There is no denying that for many marking the holy month, Ramadan is a little different this year.

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many Muslims are spending the holy month in doors in a bid to spread the stem of Covid-19.

Mosques will remain closed in many countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, with large gatherings also curbed as part of social distancing measures.

In the UAE, groups of more than five people are not allowed to gather, while the elderly, and people with chronic diseases that make them more vulnerable to the virus must stay at home.

Tents and Ramadan majalis are banned, and the exchanging of food between households is prohibited, with similar measures introduced in many countries with a majority Muslim population.

It's certainly different from the more congregational celebrations usually hosted during the holy month.

However, many observing Ramadan have chosen to get creative while complying with guidelines.

Using the hashtag #RamadanAtHome, social media users around the world are showing followers how they've incorporated traditions of the holy month into their daily life.

Here are some of the best posts so far.

A homemade mosque

Yahya, an 8-year-old boy from Yorkshire, in the UK, has built his own mosque in his family home, using cardboard, fairy light and sweet wrappers.

"It's important to make the best of the situation that we are in and focus on what the spirit of the month is and the spirit of the month is showing gratitude," his mother, Auzma, told the BBC.

A backyard mosque

Another family in the UK have created a play to pray in their back garden.

"Our #RamadanAtHome mosque this year," wrote Mai Elftise on Twitter, alongside images of the tent, decorated with prayer mats.

An iftar spread

Amel Ali Ahmed, a filmmaker and journalist in the US, shared a picture of a brightly coloured trestle table set up under the night's sky, decorated with flowers and fairy lights and laden with sweet treats.

"Ramadan under quarantine doesn’t have to be so grim," she wrote.

Festive decorations

Many social media users have posted images of their artfully decorated home, festooned with lanterns and twinkling lights.

Instagram user Waafia, from California, showed her custom creation, a door adorned with paper fanoos lanterns, each filled with words that her family are grateful for – health, family, shelter, food, love and so on.

"I can feel the loneliness and longing for their friends and teachers at school. Ramadan was always a special time for them there – crafts, lessons, reminders, activities," she wrote, revealing her children are studying from home for the holy month. "I feel like I needed to bring the wonderful and welcoming Ramadan vibe they felt and experienced at school into my own home."

Community prayers

While many mosques are shut, those celebrating Ramadan from home can still share prayers with their neighbours, as this video shows.

As one family, in an unknown location, pray in their back garden, their neighbours join in on the opposite side of the fence in a touching display of community.

Breaking the fast online

With celebrations kept small between immediate families, many have used video-conferencing technology to keep in touch with loved ones.

Among those taking to Zoom during iftar this week was Prince Charles, with the British royal joining a virtual fast-breaking hosted by the Naz Legacy Foundation.

“In different circumstances, this would have been a joyous time of year. Mosques would be filling with life, families would be coming together to share food and prayers and many of them would be inviting their neighbours and friends, from all faiths and none, to join them,” the next-in-line to the throne said.

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Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

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1987

1954

1921

1888

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Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.

5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs

B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full