In pictures: Coronavirus changes Ramazan for Muslims around the world — but not its spirit

Social distancing, live-streamed prayers and video calls form a large part of this year's Ramazan for observers.
Dawn.comUpdated 27 Apr, 2020

Mosques stood largely empty and fast-breaking feasts were cancelled as Muslims in Pakistan and around the world marked Ramazan under the coronavirus lockdown on Saturday.

Ramazan is typically a period of both worship and socialising, but this year strict lockdowns limit gatherings for iftar meals at dusk when the fast is broken — a centrepiece of the holy month.

But from Washington to Jakarta, Muslims are finding ways of keeping the spirit of Ramazan alive through charity and worship — with social distancing, live-streamed prayers and video calls forming a large part of this new normal.

Muslim people maintaining social distance stand in line to buy food for Iftar on the first day of Ramazan in Lahore. — AFP
Muslim people maintaining social distance stand in line to buy food for Iftar on the first day of Ramazan in Lahore. — AFP

This combination of pictures shows (up) devotees offer evening prayer after breaking their fast on the first day of Ramazan at the Jamia Mosque in Rawalpindi on May 7, 2019, and (bottom) a deserted Jamia Mosque on the first day of Ramazan on April 25, 2020. — AFP
This combination of pictures shows (up) devotees offer evening prayer after breaking their fast on the first day of Ramazan at the Jamia Mosque in Rawalpindi on May 7, 2019, and (bottom) a deserted Jamia Mosque on the first day of Ramazan on April 25, 2020. — AFP

Policemen pray before breaking their fast at a checkpoint on the first day of Ramazan in Karachi on April 25. — AFP
Policemen pray before breaking their fast at a checkpoint on the first day of Ramazan in Karachi on April 25. — AFP

A woman breaks her fast with free food from a nearby restaurant in Rawalpindi, Saturday. — AP
A woman breaks her fast with free food from a nearby restaurant in Rawalpindi, Saturday. — AP

Sara Alkabra, 9, gets up after finishing the iftar meal with mother Laila Almounaier, father Ahmed Alkabra and sister Lina Alkabra, 13, on the first day of Ramazan in Bellevue, Washington, US. — Reuters
Sara Alkabra, 9, gets up after finishing the iftar meal with mother Laila Almounaier, father Ahmed Alkabra and sister Lina Alkabra, 13, on the first day of Ramazan in Bellevue, Washington, US. — Reuters

A combination picture shows people eating their Iftar meals inside Juma Masjid on the first day of Ramazan May 7, 2019 and during a nationwide lockdown to slow the spreading of the coronavirus in Ahmedabad, India, April 25, 2020. — Reuters
A combination picture shows people eating their Iftar meals inside Juma Masjid on the first day of Ramazan May 7, 2019 and during a nationwide lockdown to slow the spreading of the coronavirus in Ahmedabad, India, April 25, 2020. — Reuters

This combination of pictures shows (up) Muslims breaking their fast on the first day of Ramazan along a roadside in Rawalpindi on May 7, 2019, and (bottom) the same road deserted on the first day of Ramazan on April 25, 2020. — AFP
This combination of pictures shows (up) Muslims breaking their fast on the first day of Ramazan along a roadside in Rawalpindi on May 7, 2019, and (bottom) the same road deserted on the first day of Ramazan on April 25, 2020. — AFP

A Muslim family prays before breaking their fast at a home in Malwana, Sri Lanka on April 25. — AFP
A Muslim family prays before breaking their fast at a home in Malwana, Sri Lanka on April 25. — AFP

Men distribute food to people on the first day of Ramazan in Karachi. — AFP
Men distribute food to people on the first day of Ramazan in Karachi. — AFP

An Indian worker hangs strands of vermicelli to dry at a factory in Prayagraj, India, Saturday. — AP
An Indian worker hangs strands of vermicelli to dry at a factory in Prayagraj, India, Saturday. — AP

Sheikhs Muhammad Alla Eldine, Caido Bashir Mudera and Mohamad Al Bukai conduct a social media live stream of the Taraweeh prayer in an almost empty mosque, on the first day of Ramazan in Sao Paulo, Brazil, April 24. — Reuters
Sheikhs Muhammad Alla Eldine, Caido Bashir Mudera and Mohamad Al Bukai conduct a social media live stream of the Taraweeh prayer in an almost empty mosque, on the first day of Ramazan in Sao Paulo, Brazil, April 24. — Reuters

Sanitation workers disinfect the area around the Kaaba in Makkah's Grand Mosque, on the first day of Ramazan. — AFP
Sanitation workers disinfect the area around the Kaaba in Makkah's Grand Mosque, on the first day of Ramazan. — AFP

Gohar Sultan (70) looks on as her family eats an Iftar meal at their house in the old quarters of Delhi, India, April 25. — Reuters
Gohar Sultan (70) looks on as her family eats an Iftar meal at their house in the old quarters of Delhi, India, April 25. — Reuters

Grandfather Osman Hoxha (C), his son Agron Hoxha (L) and his grandchildren pray at their home prior the iftar during Ramazan in Tirana, Albania on April 24. — AFP
Grandfather Osman Hoxha (C), his son Agron Hoxha (L) and his grandchildren pray at their home prior the iftar during Ramazan in Tirana, Albania on April 24. — AFP

This combination of pictures shows (up) people buying food for Iftar during Ramazan at a street in Dhaka on July 19, 2015, and (bottom) people walking along the same street on April 25, 2020. — AFP
This combination of pictures shows (up) people buying food for Iftar during Ramazan at a street in Dhaka on July 19, 2015, and (bottom) people walking along the same street on April 25, 2020. — AFP

A Syrian craftsman displays traditional "fanous" lanterns at his shop in the old city of Aleppo. — AFP
A Syrian craftsman displays traditional "fanous" lanterns at his shop in the old city of Aleppo. — AFP

A Kashmiri girl feeds pigeons on a deserted road outside the closed Shah-e-Hamadan shrine on the first day of Ramazan in Srinagar, Indian-occupied Kashmir, Saturday. — AP
A Kashmiri girl feeds pigeons on a deserted road outside the closed Shah-e-Hamadan shrine on the first day of Ramazan in Srinagar, Indian-occupied Kashmir, Saturday. — AP

A merchant selling kitchenware sits in his shop waiting for customers in Tajrish Bazaar in Iran's capital Tehran on April 25, during Ramazan. — AFP
A merchant selling kitchenware sits in his shop waiting for customers in Tajrish Bazaar in Iran's capital Tehran on April 25, during Ramazan. — AFP

An activist of Al-Khidmat Foundation arranges food for distribution in Peshawar on April 25. — AFP
An activist of Al-Khidmat Foundation arranges food for distribution in Peshawar on April 25. — AFP

A worshipper recites the Holy Quran at a mosque during the first day of Ramazan in Peshawar. — AP
A worshipper recites the Holy Quran at a mosque during the first day of Ramazan in Peshawar. — AP

Header image: Muslims offer prayers as they maintain social distance after having their Iftar meals inside an almost empty Juma Masjid on the first day of Ramazan in Ahmedabad, India, April 25. — Reuters

Comments (28) Closed
Rafiq Lone
Apr 25, 2020 10:52pm
Awesome pics.. Ramadan Mubarak
Recommend 0
M. Emad
Apr 25, 2020 11:48pm
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (24 April 2020) extended his greetings to the Muslims on the occasion of Ramzan. PM Modi in his Twitter message said: ”Ramzan Mubarak! I pray for everyone’s safety, well-being and prosperity. May this Holy Month bring with it abundance of kindness, harmony and compassion. May we achieve a decisive victory in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and create a healthier planet.”
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bhaRAT©
Apr 25, 2020 11:58pm
Deserted places of worship from now and before is a stark contrast in these difficult times.
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TruthMatters
Apr 26, 2020 03:54am
Excellent pics! Glad to see everyone observing lockdown and social distancing directives despite the hoopla in certain fascist, overpopulated corners of the world.
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TruthMatters
Apr 26, 2020 03:55am
Excellent pics! Glad to see everyone observing lockdown and social distancing directives despite the hoop-la in certain fascist, overpopulated corners of the world.
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Laila
Apr 26, 2020 04:29am
So I guess it is safe to say, mosques of Rawalpindi and Ahmedabad didn't get the memo. Neither did Dhaka. Ignorance is a curse. It literally kills. In sharp contrast is the woman breaking her fast alone. That picture is very sad. Nobody should be alone. I wish I could take her home so she could be with us.
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Ibrahim S
Apr 26, 2020 04:47am
It was so pleasant to see people observing Ramadan . I hope these gathering won’t trigger further infection . It could have been better if they had kept reasonable social distancing to avoid any tragedies
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Stayhome time
Apr 26, 2020 05:50am
Beautiful
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Mk
Apr 26, 2020 06:29am
Those are amazing pictures Thanks Dawn keep it coming
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AZAM AKBAR
Apr 26, 2020 06:55am
Ramazaan Shareef Mubarak.
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Akhter
Apr 26, 2020 07:40am
Exquisite Images! Ramadan Kareem...Ramadan Mubarak...Happy Ramadan! May the holy month of Ramadan bring peace and tranquility for all!
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samanvita
Apr 26, 2020 08:03am
Life is so dry without celebration! It's depressing.
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adnan
Apr 26, 2020 11:21am
Thanks for sharing across the globe pics.. great
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jyoti prakash bhattacharjee
Apr 26, 2020 11:54am
thank you, Dawn, for these beautiful pictures
Recommend 0
Adil Pasha
Apr 26, 2020 12:43pm
Ramadan Mubarak.
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Sohaib Hussain
Apr 26, 2020 02:47pm
Dawn news channel is my favorite resource to be aware of current affairs of our country as well as the whole world.
Recommend 0
SATT
Apr 26, 2020 03:52pm
Still no social distancing.
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rns
Apr 26, 2020 05:01pm
Good to see the message is sinking in to the general public at least from these photos. Hopefully the same level of caution through out the entire country and not only in selected urban areas.
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Naveen
Apr 26, 2020 08:29pm
thanks dawn for always showing beautiful and meaningful photos .i never miss any of your editions
Recommend 0
Shuban khushu
Apr 26, 2020 10:05pm
Awesome Pictures as usual. Wishing Ramzan greetings to all Muslims on this Planet.
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Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Apr 26, 2020 10:11pm
Prayer heals. Long live prayer.
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Salman Jan
Apr 26, 2020 10:23pm
Most of the pictures show people not abiding by the rules of social distancing.
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karr
Apr 27, 2020 02:37pm
@Laila, That is before and now pictures, Combination pictures showing today Vs previous ones
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Steve lomas
Apr 27, 2020 03:16pm
Great photos. Fast well everybody fasting.
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Mansoor Khan
Apr 27, 2020 05:59pm
@Laila, The mosques In Rawalpindi and Ahmedabad got the message. The pictures are ‘before and after’. The later picture of Ahmedabad mosque shows only 3 people, who probably work there. Dacca too is a big difference. So many people before vs less congested now. Bangladesh is such a dense country, that separation is impossible to achieve.
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Sami Khan
Apr 27, 2020 06:21pm
Mashallah excellent photos. Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims around the Globe.
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Sarkar
Apr 27, 2020 09:20pm
--- and we lived to see empty Masajids in the month when they supposed to be packed. I hope and pray that we will not be in same situation in this life. Ameen
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Aum
Apr 27, 2020 11:56pm
These amazing shots indeed show social distancing is a myth and Chinese virus is real!
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