Faith in the time of quarantine
Congregational engagement and a feeling of community is one of the cornerstones of religion. It is also among the first casualties of COVID-19.
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Editor's note: On the evening of 30 Ramzan, the last day of the Islam’s holiest month of fasting, Ahmed Raza Khan is sitting at home, looking out of his balcony at the stillness of Delhi, his home for over 20 years. Traditionally, this is the evening of celebrations. Streets are packed to the brim with last-minute shoppers, hawkers and people coming home to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, one of Islam’s biggest festivals. Markets are open overnight, with salons to jewellery shops working overtime to meet demand. Homes are decorated, guest lists updated and final touches are given to the menu for the next day. Discussions on what clothes to wear and what places to visit continue for hours over extended henna sessions. Shoes are polished and kept ready for the morning. The festivities often go on till the Fajr prayer at dawn. It feels different this year. Muslims across the world witnessed the strangest Ramzan ever. The novel coronavirus, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 350,000 people globally and infected over 5.5 million, has cast a shadow over Eid celebrations. Many governments …
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