Celebrating a socially distanced Ramadan and Eid
This weekend Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid, the closing festival of Ramadan.
This month Muslims have observed Ramadan, a time which usually involves visiting mosques and standing shoulder to shoulder with other members of the Muslim community. There are 650 Muslims in the UK Armed Forces who have been celebrating Ramadan while many work on coronavirus-related operations.
The key marker of Ramadan is a daily fast during daylight hours, going without food and water, but also without smoking, swearing or other negative practices.
Private Faisal Yousaf’s unit has been in a state of readiness to help with the coronavirus response.
He is a Transport Manager Assistant, making sure vehicles are safe and ready when they carry supplies to the NHS.
His Chain of Command has given him two days this weekend to celebrate Eid with his family, and has been supporting him celebrating Ramadan.
He has a message for key workers:
Thank you so much, especially in the NHS, for helping the country. The British Army soldier is always there to support the key workers. This is what we joined the Army for, being able to help our nation.
WO1 (RSM) Abbas Salihu is the Deputy Chair of the Armed Forces Muslim Association.
From joining as a recruit, he is now the highest rank a soldier can be, with one of the top appointments. He believes the Army is a family, full of different faiths, and says the Armed forces Muslim Association is particularly important for supporting younger Muslim personnel.
Working from home during Ramadan, he has enjoyed the opportunity to spend more time with his wife and two daughters, 22 and 16.
For Eid, he will wear his best clothes, eat “plenty of food”, give presents to his family, and go for a long walk. He also plans to leave sweets at the doors of his neighbours, who are unable to join him this year to celebrate.
To all those on the coronavirus frontline, he says:
I cannot even to find the words to say thank you. You have my utmost respect.
Captain Tim Rudkin is the Chair of the Armed Forces Muslim Association.
He is part of 8 Training Battalion REME, the largest Battalion in the Army. They take soldiers through trade training after Basic Training, and even do Apprenticeships.
He says:
There have been a lot of constraints this year with Ramadan, but people have taken initiative in a really positive way, using social media and video calls to overcome social distancing.
We have two fantastic Imams running weekly services, because people have not been able to visit mosques.
The Association held an online Iftar event (a breaking of the fast every evening at sundown, usually celebrated with friends and family.) Major General Duncan Capps CBE was present to answer questions and take part. The event included Muslims and non-Muslims coming together.
Lance Corporal Foday Ceesay is a British Army driver ready to help.
He drives vehicles weighing up to 15 tonnes — twice as heavy as an elephant. His squadron has been conducting essential training using video calls. He is a member of the Armed Forces Muslim Association, which he says provides a great source of community and support during social distancing times.
He will be celebrating Eid this weekend with his wife and two children, 5 and 4, who he lives with. His wife is a key worker: working in a care home for the elderly, she often does long hours. LCpl Ceesay says that with his kids off school, his Chain of Command has been allowing him to work from home when needed.
He says:
I’m putting in all my effort to support the country I am proud of. I am not doing things so that people will say thank you to me, I’m doing it for Allah’s reward.
My wife works so hard, she sometimes spends two nights not sleeping at home. I’m glad my workplace has been supporting me when I need to look after the kids.
