Ramadan Begins This Week — And Sacramento Muslims Are Coming Together Virtually

This year, as a result of the stay-at-home orders, many Muslims in Sacramento and nationwide are celebrating Ramadan from their homes for the first time in their lives. 

“It’s different this year, members are feeling distant from the normal routine of Ramadan, but they’re all positive about the fact that they’ll still be able to come together,” said Mohsan Baig, spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Sacramento. 

The holiday began on April 24, and for Muslims the day signifies the start of a month of prayers, fasting and community gatherings. 

“What is actually interesting is members have had to become their own imams at home and lead their families in prayers,” Baig added.

The Ahmadiyya Community, along with many other mosques in the region, have started to bring their prayer services online to serve Muslims looking to worship from their homes. 

Other mosques have also been adapting to this change by offering online Qu’ran classes and by live-streaming prayer services so members can still follow along with an imam. 

At the Salam Islamic Center and Mosque in Arcade Park, the group has started broadcasting evening prayers on Facebook during the month of Ramadan. They’ve also started handing out hot food through a drive through for iftar, which is the traditional fast-breaking meal that happens after sunset. 

“We used to invite people to come over, so we’re offering this every Friday night at 6 p.m., and we’ve collaborated with local Muslim organizations to offer non-perishable foods for those who are in need during the entire month of Ramadan,” Imam Adr Dabour said. “We have a large refugee community and a lot of people who rely on us for this during this time." 

Maria Bhatti is a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and says she is still following along with prayers from her home. 

Her family will be planning to FaceTime with relatives when they break their fast in the evening, and will also be planning Ramadan-related activities for their children to keep them entertained. 

“We are going to be doing Skype calls and we will be doing the opening of the fast like that so we have a sense of togetherness even though we’ll be far away,” Bhatti said. 

Basim Elkarra, the director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Sacramento, said there are some aspects of celebrating Ramadan that will be missed.

“It’s the social component to Ramadan we’re going to lose that this year,” Elkarra said. “There’s virtual classes happening every night, recitations of the Qu’ran, people are trying to do their best during this time.” 

He added that some were already asking about how they’ll celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the final day of Ramadan, traditionally recognized by a large feast and prayers. 

“Missing Eid, people are already talking about it,” Elkarra said. “We already have leaders reaching out asking can we do prayers in a huge parking lot where people come in their cars and hear the talk.”

He says leaders are brainstorming solutions. “Of course, we’re trying to think of ways within the parameters of what’s allowed, but it’s going to be a challenge, no doubt,” Elkarra said. 

Eid al-Fitr will happen mid-May this year, potentially before stay-at-home orders are lifted. 

“This is going to be the first Eid in everyone’s lifetime where people can’t gather,” he said.

For those looking for online services, places such as The Tarbiya Institute and the Salam Center have been offering online classes and Qu’ran readings. The Salam Center is also offering hot meals every Friday through the month of Ramadan, starting on April 24 at 6:30 p.m. People can pick up a meal via a drive-through at the Salam Center at 4545 College Oak Drive in Sacramento.