The current Ramadan will feel different from the previous years. It’s sad to see the fact that millions of people around the world are fasting in a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every year Muslims celebrate the holy month of Ramadan as a ritual of devotion to the almighty god. Usually, the fasting month is always celebrated with family and relatives with joy. However, the rapid spread of the Coronavirus forces us to stay at home and limit physical contact with others. But there are some considerations that you must make in regards to fasting during a pandemic.
Things That Must Be Fulfilled When Fasting
Nutrients and Vitamin
Fasting throughout the day may have an impact on decreasing body immunity. So it’s essential to make sure you get enough calories after breaking the fast and suhoor. Make sure the food you consume at the time permitted contains macronutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, and fat. You must also meet micronutrients such as vitamin C and iron during fasting. The nutritional and vitamin content can be obtained from vegetables, fruits, nuts, and meat or fish.
Maintain Your Health
Fasting also has a risk of dehydration. Then enough body fluids by drinking water after breaking the fast.
But maintaining other aspects of health is also important, try to get enough sleep and have a little exercise. Manage your stress during fasting can also increase endurance.
As far as possible, protect your health from exposure to viruses. The best way to avoid infections is to wash your hands with soap and running water.
Stay at Home and Keep Distance
Most places of worship will be closed for now. Homemaking is the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Don’t be a fool; follow the government rules. Worshipping with high-risk crowds speeds up Coronavirus transmission. You may still feel healthy and fit because your immunity is good. Still, you can bring Coronavirus and spread it to families, children, parents who live in your home.
Following the rules of maintaining social distance will help control the spread of COVID-19 and protect families, friends, the broader and more vulnerable communities.
You can only leave home for one of these four reasons:
- Shop for necessities such as food and medicine.
- Meet a critical business such as going to the bank, refueling, or sending goods through a package delivery service.
- Every medical need, including getting treatment or donating blood. Or for those of you who work in the pharmaceutical sector, which is badly needed now.
- Travel for work purposes, but only for those of you who cannot work from home.
Although staying at home throughout Ramadan will be a challenge, you need to do it to save the lives of many people. Consider using technology to stay connected with family, friends, and the wider religious community.
Although physically separated, this condition does not become an obstacle for you to worship in the holy month of Ramadan.
What about people with health conditions?
People who have serious illnesses, especially those who are suffering from COVID-19, are released from fasting. Fasting is not recommended for people with long-term illness conditions such as diabetes with complications.
If you want to keep fasting, you must follow several precautions such as eating slower carbohydrates such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, and other low-sugar foods.
Beyond the health risks that can be caused, fasting is beneficial for health. Even if you don’t get daily calorie intake, fasting can be an effective body detox. Fasting releases toxins and parasites in the body. Fasting can also release the cortisone stress hormone and accelerate the body’s regeneration. Empty the stomach all day can replace old cells with new ones.
