Isolation, Community and Spirituality: British Muslim Experiences of Ramadan in Lockdown
Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, is typically a time associated with individual worship and communal gatherings as Muslims meet, eat and pray together. In 2020 especially, COVID-19 had a significant impact on the observation of the holy month. With lockdown measures in place, mosques were clos...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/1/74 |
| _version_ | 1797490764064751616 |
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| author | Laura Jones-Ahmed |
| author_facet | Laura Jones-Ahmed |
| author_sort | Laura Jones-Ahmed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, is typically a time associated with individual worship and communal gatherings as Muslims meet, eat and pray together. In 2020 especially, COVID-19 had a significant impact on the observation of the holy month. With lockdown measures in place, mosques were closed and there were prohibitions on visiting family and friends, making the month an unusual occasion. This paper draws upon qualitative PhD research on Ramadan 2020 in Britain comprising more than 50 Ramadan photo diaries from diverse Muslim participants and follow-up interviews. The findings highlight how participants experienced the benefits of isolation by being able to reflect and connect more with God and via the establishment of “Ramadan corners” in homes, while at the same time missing the mosque and the Muslim community. I further highlight how communal aspects of the holy month were maintained and transformed to suit lockdown conditions, including the use of online activities, praying in congregation at home and sharing food. Emerging from these two facets of Ramadan, I explore ideas of socially dependent spirituality and how participants negotiated communal and individual elements of their spiritual lives. Through the diverse examples discussed, I argue that material, embodied, aesthetic and emotive practices were emphasised in 2020 to recreate a ‘feeling’ of Ramadan when typical expressions of the month were unavailable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:37:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9907d3fadf045d790dc232935ec1951 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:37:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9907d3fadf045d790dc232935ec19512023-11-23T15:14:11ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-01-011317410.3390/rel13010074Isolation, Community and Spirituality: British Muslim Experiences of Ramadan in LockdownLaura Jones-Ahmed0Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3EG, UKRamadan, the Islamic month of fasting, is typically a time associated with individual worship and communal gatherings as Muslims meet, eat and pray together. In 2020 especially, COVID-19 had a significant impact on the observation of the holy month. With lockdown measures in place, mosques were closed and there were prohibitions on visiting family and friends, making the month an unusual occasion. This paper draws upon qualitative PhD research on Ramadan 2020 in Britain comprising more than 50 Ramadan photo diaries from diverse Muslim participants and follow-up interviews. The findings highlight how participants experienced the benefits of isolation by being able to reflect and connect more with God and via the establishment of “Ramadan corners” in homes, while at the same time missing the mosque and the Muslim community. I further highlight how communal aspects of the holy month were maintained and transformed to suit lockdown conditions, including the use of online activities, praying in congregation at home and sharing food. Emerging from these two facets of Ramadan, I explore ideas of socially dependent spirituality and how participants negotiated communal and individual elements of their spiritual lives. Through the diverse examples discussed, I argue that material, embodied, aesthetic and emotive practices were emphasised in 2020 to recreate a ‘feeling’ of Ramadan when typical expressions of the month were unavailable.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/1/74RamadanpandemicspiritualitycommunityIslameveryday |
| spellingShingle | Laura Jones-Ahmed Isolation, Community and Spirituality: British Muslim Experiences of Ramadan in Lockdown Religions Ramadan pandemic spirituality community Islam everyday |
| title | Isolation, Community and Spirituality: British Muslim Experiences of Ramadan in Lockdown |
| title_full | Isolation, Community and Spirituality: British Muslim Experiences of Ramadan in Lockdown |
| title_fullStr | Isolation, Community and Spirituality: British Muslim Experiences of Ramadan in Lockdown |
| title_full_unstemmed | Isolation, Community and Spirituality: British Muslim Experiences of Ramadan in Lockdown |
| title_short | Isolation, Community and Spirituality: British Muslim Experiences of Ramadan in Lockdown |
| title_sort | isolation community and spirituality british muslim experiences of ramadan in lockdown |
| topic | Ramadan pandemic spirituality community Islam everyday |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/1/74 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laurajonesahmed isolationcommunityandspiritualitybritishmuslimexperiencesoframadaninlockdown |