I have been Muslim for 5 years now, Alhamdulellah and I used to spend much time of Ramadan with sisters in the Muslim community.
We had also support groups where we used to talk, break our fast together not to feel lonely or isolated during Ramadan.
I feel Isolated from now on and I will be suffering more during Ramadan and Eid.
Any thoughts on how to cope?
Answer
In this counseling answer:
You could have regular group calls together as a means to get as close to the same type of social contact that you would have had otherwise.
In an online world you can connect with sisters from all over the globe.
Use this time wisely. Read Quran more, pray more and study Islam.
Assalamu alikum,
This is a dilemma that many are facing right now as we face the challenge of embracing a Ramadan that will be very different to the others.
During Ramadan the majority of people link up with other sisters more than usual as a means to support their spiritual journeys. Also to make Ramadan and Eid enjoyable and memorable experiences.
However, we are now in a position where this is more challenging due to the restrictions in place that do not allow for social contact isn’t the way that we have always been used to.
Feeling isolated
Being stuck at home will inevitably lead to feelings of sadness and isolation only exacerbated by the fact that a time of usual increased face to face social contact has now been removed as an option at this time.
These feelings can still exist even if we have family in the home with us such as a spouse and children.
There are however, ways which you can relieve yourself of these feelings and support yourself in achieving the usual sense of sisterhood that is usually enhanced during Ramadan.
Virtual contact
Whilst not the same or even the most ideal, alhamdulillah that today’s technology allows us to maintain social contact only via alternative means.
Perhaps the sisters in your local area might set up a whatsapp group or the like as a means to having group discussions much like you would in Ramadan, or if they don’t, you could always be the one to facilitate and encourage the same.
You could have regular group calls together as a means to get as close to the same type of social contact that you would have had otherwise.
Whilst not the same as face to face contact, it is a way and means of maintaining contact with them and achieving spiritual goals together and encouraging each other to do the same.
Check out this counseling video:
You might even look to other online communities beyond your normal one. In an online world you can connect with sisters from all over the globe, so this could be an opportunity to meet more sisters.
This is an opportunity that perhaps you wouldn’t have looked into had we not be out in this situation.
Increase spirituality
Aside from finding alternative ways to maintain social ties with your sisters, use this additional time you have at home to increase spiritually. By keeping yourself busy and immersed in spiritual activities.
Never did we have more opportunity to do this. Certainly, being restricted to remain at home has come with many downfalls, such as not being able to maintain social ties. At the same time it has also opened the door for opportunity in giving us more time to do things that we otherwise have time to.
Use this time wisely. Read Quran more, pray more and study Islam. There is always much to learn, even for the one who was born into a Muslim family and has been practicing Islam for their entire life.
Sign up to one of the many online courses available to learn more about Islam. This will keep you busy and therefore less focused on the feelings of isolation, but it will be a means of supporting your spiritual growth too.
It will give you food for discussion with other sisters too and will encourage you to interact more with them virtually.
As you can see whilst we might be primarily focused on the negatives of the situation right now, they are alternatives available. The alternatives will help to recognize the positives in the situation.
May Allah bring you ease during this difficult time. May He bring you an abundance of benefits during this special time and see you through to the other side of this challenging time in happiness and success.
salam,
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Read more:
https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/living-islam/ramadan-2020-how-to-turn-lockdown-into-a-blessing/