By: Mariama Njie
Dozens of Muslims across the Greater Banjul Areas have expressed their greater concern over the upcoming Holy Ramadan amid of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ramadan is the fourth Pillar of Islam which every Muslim that has the strength and healthy should observe as commanded.
Sampling some Muslims opinion on the month taking into consideration the current situation of corronavirus pandemic worldwide, Muhammed Lamin Jeng, student of University of The Gambia expressed his concern as the month is fast approaching.
“Many people are worried this year Ramadan is going be a different one compare to the previous ones due to the deadly Coronavirus pandemic cases on increase and plus the closure of all Mosques,” Jeng expressed
He said some people termed Ramadan a form of celebration or period people come together or go to neighborhoods to sit and have iftar together.
“Ramadan is not purposely for that; Ramadan comes once in a year so that people can fear Allah, worship him and seek for His forgiveness,” he noted.
He explained that this year Ramadan might come with challenges because people are familiar with going to the mosques to offer observe the congregational prayers during fasting, one of the interesting parts of it that always makes it enjoyable and connected to God.
But in the other hand, he added, this year all that will be missing due to the stay at home and closure of the mosques to reduce the spread of the virus.
In his own view, he said staying back at home to pray will have no bad effect or sin on any Muslim because worshiping Allah still remains the same, “the only different is people won’t be going out to the mosques.”
He stressed that it is a blessing as it will bring families together especially in terms of observing the congregational prayers together at home.
Jarriatou Badjie has a little bit worried of the prices of items saying some people will face a lot of challenges as regarding to hike price of food which will show the wide gap between the rich and the poor in this period of pandemic.
“The needy people will find it difficult to purchase items from the market due to the increment of commodities.” she lamented.
She said praying salat taraweeh at home for some people or families might be a challenge when it comes to leading the Jamaat prayers especially among some brothers who cannot recite the Holy Quran or some suraat from the Holy Quran properly.
She noted that during the last ten days of Ramadan many spend the whole night at the masjids (Mosques) worshipping Allah but this time around it is going to be observed indoors which many will find difficult doing on their own.
She called on philanthropies that Allah has blessed to help the vulnerable people in the coming Ramadan especially with commodities that will ease their fasting and as well sustain them through the Holy Month.
Jarriatou Badjie called on Muslims to return back to Allah especially in situations like this, and also pray whenever breaking the fast to Almighty Allah to ease the suffering, hardship and put an everlasting ending to the pandemic as soon as possible.
Ahmad Jonga, both Islamic and English Students felt badly for the fact that Ramadan is approaching but the country is in a State of Public Emergency.
Jonga explained that this year’s Ramadan is going to be different; Muslims will pray in their houses instead of going to the mosques but in regards to the worshiping of Allah is still the same.
“Also the street Iftar people normally do might not happen due to this current Pandemic, even if there will be I believe it is going to be in a different way,” he added.
However, he said the closure of mosques is going to prevent a lot of people from praying the Taraweeh at home as some might only ray the obligatory ones and go straight to bed.
