Saudi Arabia, home to the first two holy places in Islam, announced the start of the fasting month of Ramadan on Friday, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the royal palace.
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"Friday is the beginning of the month of Ramadan," the royal court said on Thursday in a statement quoted by the SPA news agency, saying it was based on observation of the lunar crescent. The fasting month of Ramadan, during which Muslims must notably abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset, is traditionally a period of gatherings. It is also a month of prayer during which Muslims converge in large numbers in mosques, especially at night.
But due to the new coronavirus, almost all Muslim countries have closed mosques and asked people to pray in their homes, sometimes imposing curfews to prevent the spread of the virus. In a message, King Salman of Arabia said he was saddened that Muslims cannot pray in mosques because of these restrictions. “I am distressed that the holy month arrives in circumstances which deprive us of performing prayers such as tarawih (night prayers) in mosques, because of preventive measures to protect the life and health of peoples in the struggle against the coronavirus pandemic , " said the king quoted by SPA.
In the Middle East, from Saudi Arabia to Morocco, via Egypt, Lebanon or Syria, where population containment is widespread, strict health restrictions are supported in most cases by religious authorities .