This archive report was first published on 23 May 2020.
As the Ramadhan month comes to an end, Amisa Rashid Ahmed reflects on the highs and lows of fasting during the Covid-19 pandemic.
For millions of Muslims, Ramadhan means no eating, drinking, or snacking from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. But with a ban on social gatherings, things are different this year.
"On a particular day in the future, I am going to look back to this year and a Muslim next to me will exclaim, Ya Allah! They will be referring to this Ramadhan season," Amisa says.
Amisa, a 26-year-old psychologist, has always looked forward to the Ramadhan period longingly. She normally spends her days fasting and seeking piety, and her evenings gathering with friends and family to break the fast.
"My calendar, especially, is normally full. I will have had dinner at a friend’s home one night and then have relatives come to our home the following night. When we gather, we stuff ourselves with all manner of foods and juicy stories. Having fasted from dawn to dusk, we deserve that, right?" Amisa says.
But this year, things are different. The 7pm curfew means that Amisa has to break her fast at home, and the local mosques are closed. She misses the night prayers, Tarawih, which are after the iftar and involve three-hour-long prayers at the mosque.
"At the mosque, an Imam is leading so when you get tired, you can take a short break and join others later. Now I have to be my Imam," Amisa says, laughing.
Despite the challenges, Amisa has found a silver lining. She has been able to focus on her work, providing psychosocial support at the grassroots level for gender-based violence victims in Kibera and running a food drive for the needy.
"My services have been critical especially during this time when most people are at home. I have not taken enough time to slow down and reflect on life which is among the main actions of Ramadhan," Amisa says.
But she believes that she has made the most of the situation, and that she will be many steps ahead of understanding the holy book of Koran next year.
