Safe Fasting Ramadan Calendars from Haref

We know how important Ramadan and Eid are for all our Muslim communities. This year, Ramadan falls between 23/24 April and 22/23 May. However, this year it will be practiced differently to make sure everyone is safe and remains healthy. Our 2020 Haref Ramadan prayer calendar is available as an online version only. We are not printing any calendars due to the difficulties of distribution and because Mosques and community organisations, like everywhere else, are closed.

Key information from the Muslim Council of Britain about coronavirus

The Muslim Council of Britain advises everyone needs to stay at home and avoid social contact. This includes all walks of life, whether social, work or the mosque, and ensuring the socially vulnerable and isolated receive support. Some Muslim communities are at higher risk, so it is even more important for Muslim community members to strictly follow public health and government advice and encourage family members and friends to do so as well.

The MCB has produced guidance to support Muslims and mosques in making the most of Ramadan from home socially and spiritually; from hosting and attending virtual iftars to tuning in to and setting up livestream services at mosques. In addition to providing support for individuals fasting, the guidance has advice for mosques and prayer facilities, employers and line managers. Find out more

Key messages from MCB for adapting this year’s Ramadan:

Online – Stream Islamic lectures or taraweeh to your home, either pre-recorded or live.
Prayers – Organise prayers including taraweeh at home as a family and pray as a congregation.
Virtual Iftars – Try to organise virtual iftars with extended family and the community through the many online video calling facilities available.
Plan food – Plan your iftar menus in advance so that you can limit multiple shopping trips and limit exposure given social distancing measures.
Drink well – Hydrate well for the long work days. Dehydration can lead to tiredness, headaches, lack of focus/concentration.
Energy foods – Eat high energy, slow burn foods for suhoor (starting your fast) – It is important that you remain energised throughout the workday, especially as we can experience heightened levels of anxiety during these times.
Breaks – Take regular breaks to reflect and take time for yourself.
Mental Health – Life can be full, and we try to fill it with more worship during Ramadan. We all want to pray more and this can help with anxiety but it is important to be good to yourself – sometimes it is quality over quantity.

Local information about Ramadan

Newcastle City Council has written a news article about local plans for Ramadan during the pandemic. They have also produced a poster which you can share online in your communities. Imam Abdul Basith Mohammad of Newcastle Central Mosque said “Newcastle Central Mosque would like to carry on offering its services to the congregation even in this challenging and unprecedented time. Although the building is formally closed, the Mosque has continued to provide online classes to children, lectures to the public, ladies classes, phone consultations and new services in collaboration with charity groups and the council in relation to the COVID-19 lockdown.

“The Mosque aims to continue its amenities in serving the public, during what is usually the busiest month of the Islamic calendar; Ramadan. Most of the spiritual and pastoral services will continue to be provided online. However, we urge everyone to stay at home during the Suhoor (morning meal) Iftaar (breaking of the fast) and prayer times, especially in the evenings. Take this opportunity to spend this valuable time on these blessed days with your loved ones at home.”

How we are sharing the calendars this year

This year, we are asking the mosques to distribute the calendars by email to their community members so they can look at these online or print them in their own house, if they have a printer. We are asking the same from any other services we normally give the generic calendars to. You can email and share the calendars online rather than display them in a community facing building. Please add them to websites, information bulletins or share through social media.

We have worked with 10 mosques over the last 2 months to get the right prayer timetables for their individual calendars. We have also worked with International Glaucoma Association and Diabetes UK to get the right health information relating to fasting.