Muslims around the world, including Indonesia, will fast in Ramadan while undergoing home quarantine during the pandemic. The number of cases and the increasing number of deaths makes many people worry about whether they can pray safely. There is no need to worry, there are a number of things that need to be considered when fasting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guide to safe fasting in the month of Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic
Normally, the month of Ramadan is marked by social and religious gatherings when family and relatives gather to break their fast after sunset. For most people, this moment is used to improve the quality of their worship by praying at the mosque to spending the night there. In Indonesia, the government closed public places unrelated to food logistics and supplies, including places of worship such as mosques. As a result, congregational prayers were carried out at home. This may continue until the end of Ramadan. Meanwhile, transmission of the COVID-19 virus is very possible when you come into close contact with other people. The reason is, the virus spreads through water splashes or comes into contact with contaminated surfaces. COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData
1,024,298
Confirmed
831,330
Recovered
28,855
DeathDistribution Map Therefore, recognizing how to guide safe fasting during Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic is very important. Here are some tips for carrying out fasting during a pandemic according to WHO.
1. Move away from the crowd and keep your distance
One of the things that still need to be done when fasting in the month of Ramadan when the COVID-19 pandemic is to stay away from the crowd and keep a distance from other people. An appeal to apply
physical distancing and undergoing home quarantine aims to reduce the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, most people hold meetings and events in the month of Ramadan. If possible, try to reduce outdoor events. If not, you and the organizer may be able to make sure the venue has ventilation and airflow. However, it all depends on the rules of the government in each country. Don't forget to obey the rules of keeping a distance of 2-3 meters from other people, either when sitting or standing. In addition, you also need to see if the person in charge of this event regulates the number and how people enter and leave the room. Most governments in countries with a large number of Muslims advise them to pray in their own homes. Therefore, some countries are willing to temporarily close their places of worship to avoid large crowds.
2. Always maintain cleanliness
Apart from staying away from the crowd and maintaining a distance, taking other preventive measures for fasting in the month of Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic is no less important. Always maintaining cleanliness, especially your hands, is the main key to reducing the risk of transmitting the virus. Generally, Muslims will perform ablution before performing prayers and this helps them maintain cleanliness and health. However, it doesn't hurt to take additional steps when performing worship. For example, you still need to wash your hands with soap and water before and after ablution because your eyes and face will be touched more often. In addition, don't forget to bring your own prayer mat or carpet to put on the mosque carpet. This aims to reduce the spread of viruses that may stick to the carpet. Regardless of whether the mosque near your house is closed or not, you should continue to worship in your respective homes during fasting. You can still pray tarawih in congregation with other family members or listen to lectures via television or social media.
3. Applying a healthy lifestyle while fasting
Until now there has been no research on fasting and the risk of COVID-19. Therefore, healthy people can still fast in the month of Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, a patient who is infected with the virus may be able to consider whether his body condition can carry out this worship. They need to at least consult a doctor. For healthy people, there are several things that need to be considered when fasting in the midst of this pandemic, such as:
- keep exercising regularly at home during fasting
- meet nutritional needs when fasting and drink lots of water
- eat fresh fruit and vegetables at dawn and breaking the fast
A healthy lifestyle during a pandemic certainly needs to be involved with efforts to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Starting from washing your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer to keeping your distance from other people, aka
physical distancing. You can go outside to shop for groceries or work when you can't work from home. In addition, try to reduce face-to-face contact with other people, including family and friends, as the virus can spread without showing symptoms.
4. Stop smoking while fasting
When a person is fasting, anything that enters his mouth on purpose can invalidate the fast, whether in solid or liquid form. Therefore, smoking is also not allowed while fasting. Smoking has also proven dangerous, both when fasting in Ramadan and the normal situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Smokers are at risk of developing lung disease or having damaged lung function. This unhealthy lung condition makes smokers more susceptible to complications of COVID-19 when infected. What's more, they are also at an increased risk of transmitting the virus. The reason is, when someone smokes, fingers and cigarettes that may be contaminated will touch the lips. This increases the likelihood that the virus will enter the respiratory system directly. It should be noted that the risk of smokers against COVID-19 is quite high because the virus called SARS-CoV-2 attacks the respiratory system more often, including the lungs. Therefore, when fasting during Ramadan, a smoker can reduce and stop their bad habits. This aims to protect one's own health and reduce the risk of spreading.
5. Pay attention to mental health
The implementation of fasting in the month of Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic also needs to pay attention to mental health. Regardless of the way of running that may be a little different this year, keep in mind that you can still have the opportunity to worship and pray remotely. You and your family may not be able to travel back and forth during the pandemic. However, advances in technology help you to stay connected with those back home, right? Moreover, during the quarantine at home there may be psychological problems that arise. Either because you cannot leave the house and meet people or have an unhealthy home environment. Alias experiencing domestic violence during a pandemic. Therefore, maintaining mental health while fasting in the month of Ramadan during a pandemic is no less important than paying attention to physical health. Fasting services during the month of Ramadan this year will be different from the COVID-19 pandemic which limits the movements of almost all people. However, there is nothing wrong with continuing to follow the government's advice to worship at home for yourself and your loved ones.
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