How to make the most of Ramadan during lockdown

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and is a time for gaining closeness to Allah through acts of worship, including prayer, fasting, and charity. It’s also a time for celebrating with loved ones. Many Muslims usually spend the month with friends, family, and their wider community, but with the coronavirus forcing the world into lockdown, Muslims are being forced to switch up their traditions. Here, we’ll go through what you can do to make the most of Ramadan, even when you can’t see your family in person.

Remember why you’re celebrating Ramadan

Beginning with the right mindset and gratitude is key. During this stressful period, it can be easy to dwell on the negatives, so it’s even more important to look for the window of opportunity to find the best parts of daily life. With more time than ever before, now can be the perfect opportunity to focus on strengthening your relationship with Allah. Take some extra time to practice deep and sincere reflection, without having to rush and switch from one thing to another. Remember, we may never experience another Ramadan like this.

Choose stylish comfort clothing

A big part of Suhoor (the early morning meals) and especially Iftar (the breaking of the fast in the evening) is socialising with family and friends, and breaking the fast together. Traditionally, this involves getting dressed up and celebrating Ramadan with one another. But with lockdown, it’s likely that everyone will be choosing comfort and practicality over dressing up in traditional suits.

Our cotton twill collection of hijabs are lightweight and breathable, offering great coverage for wear during prayers without compromising on comfort. They are also versatile enough to be worn every day, while being easily dressed up for special occasions. Wearing well-made, high-quality, and beautiful hijabs during this strange and difficult time can help to bring a sense or normality to your Ramadan celebrations.

Video call your family and friends

You may be used to spending Suhoor and Iftar with friends and family and beginning and breaking your fast together. Sadly, with the lockdown rules in place, this isn’t possible. Families are turning to video calls to connect with their loved ones during these special moments, which can do wonders for your own mental health. It’s important to keep conversations and social lives going, and take extra care to connect with those closest to you.

Discover new ways to help the community

Even with the lockdown measures in place, it’s still possible to help your wider community without contact. You can put together a Ramadan basket for children in the neighbourhood, full of activities and small gifts to keep them occupied during the long days. These can be dropped off on their doorsteps to ensure you don’t touch anyone. You may also donate items to your local food bank, helping those in need, or even offer to do the weekly food shop for vulnerable members of the community.

Buy and send gifts online

Another large part of Ramadan is exchanging gifts with your family and friends. However, as this isn’t possible to do face-to-face, you may choose to buy gifts online, and have them delivered to your nearest and dearest. There are many small online businesses who have sustainability at the forefront of their operations and need more support now than ever before. If you’re thinking of gifting someone a hijab for Ramadan this year, our silk hijabs and popular jersey hijabs would make a great choice. Alternatively, our luxurious cashmere hijabs are a great choice too, owing to their high quality and unique fabric composition. We offer a wide range of colours, from light pastel pinks to deep, dark greys, perfect for any occasion. And because we ship worldwide, you can easily send your loved one a gift, regardless of where they are in the world.

Tune in to religious speakers

Many Muslim organisations and relgious scholars have been using this time to broadcast and stream prayers, especially since Mosques around the world have closed in accordance with the lockdown rules. This can throw off your usual Ramadan traditions of going to the Mosque to pray. However, thanks to technology, you can quickly tune in to listen to your favourite speaker. Many Mosques and Islamic centres have shared material online for users to access during the lockdown. Various imams and scholars — such as Imam Omer Suleiman, Suhaib Webb, Abdel Rahman Murphy and Mufti Menk — are currently sharing gems via Instagram Live, IGTV, and YouTube.

Clear a space for your prayers

If you have the room in your home, you could clear a space dedicated to prayers for the month of Ramadan. As Mosques and other Islamic centres are likely to be closed, praying at home may not offer the same atmosphere. However, you could take inspiration from this man and his sons in Newport, who transformed an area of the house into a mini Mosque, complete with decorations. This makes it much easier to pray together while also acting as a bonding activity for the whole family. Having a dedicated, clear space where you pray every day can also encourage your mind to focus on your faith, rather than worrying about other things like work or being distracted by your own decorations and furniture.

Tips on fasting during the coronavirus lockdown

Muslims around the world have adapted to fasting on a normal day, with many saying it gets easier as the holy month of Ramadan goes on. However, in a normal year, you might have had work or other social events to keep your mind distracted from food. Now, with everyone at home, the urge to eat or snack is likely to be higher, especially as you continue to adjust to the situation. It’s more important than ever to think carefully about what you eat during Suhoor and Iftar to ensure you stay energised throughout the day.

Have a filling Suhoor

As the first meal you eat in the morning, you should make sure it’s nutritious and filling enough to keep you feeling satiated up until Iftar. You should also look at what you’re eating. Your macronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, and your body needs the right amount of these in order to function correctly. Filling and healthy meals you can include in your Suhoor include oats, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. We also suggest holding back on overly salted foods and caffeine, as these can make you feel thirsty during the day.

Eat the right foods to boost your immune system

As countries continue to battle against coronavirus, it’s important that you do your bit to stay healthy, eating well in order to keep your immune system working as it should. Consider your micronutrients, like vitamin C and iron, when preparing your Suhoor and Iftar, as these can help keep your energy levels high and fight off any early signs of infections and illnesses. You should be eating mainly whole, healthy foods, rather than filling up on processed foods, refined sugars, and fried food. It is also important not to defeat the purpose of fasting by overeating.

Look after your mental health

Look after your mental health by engaging in lots of meditation, reflection, dhikr, and keeping your mind decluttered by journaling your thoughts, feelings, ideas and to-do’s. Start your day with gratitude, consciously thinking about all of your blessings. Take the time out to relax, look after your body, journal, or spend some time taking short walks outdoors. Deep breathing, simple yoga, and mindfulness techniques are also great things to practise.