The Coronavirus pandemic has taken the entire world by storm. Ramadan happened to come during this lock down and it gave us a unique opportunity to adapt to a new way of living, sharing and rethinking the essence of it. You could simply call it self-isolation or see it as a perfect opportunity for a retreat or self-reflection.

The benefits of spirituality cannot be typified or replicated in bulk, it needs to be a personal experience. Some of the majority-led mass ideals may inadvertently deny the beliefs and wishes of anyone who doesn’t fit into this mainstream flow. For me personally, this period helped me to shift from the standard collectivist mode to make it more of an individualist journey. The essence remained the same, the shift was in doing the same things differently.

How was this Ramadan and Eid different?

Congregational Prayers

Prayers in mosques are a group activity, with people in rows shoulder to shoulder, transitioning positions in unison from standing to bowing to prostrating to sitting. This is a clear practise to elevate and experience our connect to the ultimate creator.

What changed

I decided to focus my attention to my breathing since this is one thing that always stays with us. This simple act of breathing helped me to stay in a deep calming loop keeping me in a constant state of prayer and gratitude. It was a reminder of the presence of the Creator and my connect with the greater energy force.

Community

Ramadan is all about togetherness, reaching out, being inclusive and social. But strangely, being physically socially distant allowed us to become virtually socially close. In fact this social distancing proved to be our biggest blessing saving our lives.

What changed

I decided to start by calling a lost connection who I had not been in touch with for a long time. Someone who I had distanced myself from subconsciously. Just picking up the phone and connecting made me realise that our vulnerabilities and our fears were the same. The friend opened up, we talked about bigger, underlying stuff brushed under the carpet, topics ranged from bullying as children, death of a loved one and it helped to release and heal both of us to an equal degree.

Charity

The most important pillar in Islam is charity. Donating money, appreciating others, practising kindness and gratitude, breaking fast and sharing meals with loved ones, family and friends is the norm during Ramadan. Many families visit one another and exchange gifts on Eid, but this too was limited.

What changed

I decided to a pick charity of my choice online, one that identified with my own personal beliefs. Better still, i decided to choose one from a diverse faith and a different practice instead of sticking with the usual ones. Others in the household got more creative and collected essential goods, driving to neighbourhoods to deliver them to the ones who needed them the most. Instead of sharing material goods, sharing time and using our available talents to help those around us, being empathetic to others and also to myself, kept me in a happy emotional state that was capable of spreading hope.

In hindsight I would add that the year of 2020 in Ramadan was quite a unique experience, with all the usual celebratory events on a changed trajectory. An emotional magical journey of opening up our hearts and diving deep within ourselves – one to be remembered for a life time.

Eid is a celebration for not just those who fast. Ramadan will still be celebrated as it is a validation of not just experiencing physical hunger but the hunger of the soul to unite with the higher self or the Almighty – whatever we call that big energy. A connection on a greater level with a very intense spiritual side lurking inside us. Waiting to be experienced “alone together” or “collectively apart”.

– by Erum Ali is a graduate from the London School of Economics and is an entrepreneur, writer, business strategist and a life coach, who has worked across industries ranging from advertising, fashion and retail, to media and communication.