By: Edi Jatmiko )*
Muslims welcome Ramadan 1441 H with a different atmosphere due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike the atmosphere of Ramdhan in previous years, Muslims today must be able to worship in their respective homes as an effort to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic situation. The recommendation was not only issued by the Senior Ulema Council of Saudi Arabia but also by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Apart from not reducing the solemnity, worship at home is also able to prevent the transmission of Covid-19.
Ramadan is a month full of goodness and blessings. One positive deed, even though it only removes thorns in the road, is rewarded with multiple rewards, compared to other months. The Muslims happily welcomed Ramadhan and competed for reward, by worshiping more intensely, for example by diligently giving alms and reciting more frequently.
Similarly, the 5 times prayer. Muslims usually prefer to do it in the mosque, while the month of Ramadan, because they expect a great reward. This obligatory prayer is also accompanied by tarawih prayer after evening, and many mosques are always crowded with worshipers who are enthusiastic about worshiping.
Unfortunately the pandemic due to the spread of the corona caused there to be a recommendation to pray 5 people together and tarawih at home. This makes some people feel disappointed, because they think that Ramadan without tarawih is empty. They are sad because as if forbidden to pray in a holy place and failed to get a big reward.
Prompts to stay at home plus congregational prayers and tarawih at home alone is not actually seizing the personal rights of citizens. But it is an effort so that all levels of society are healthy and not affected by corona. All of these rules are actually for mutual security. The effort is also a form of adaptation to the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
Imagine if all people were desperate to pray at the mosque and shake hands with each other, then if there was just one person carrying the covid-19 virus, it would spread to all people in the mosque. Then the man went home and transmitted corona to his family. The spread of this disease will be more widespread. At this rate, how long will the pandemic end?
Better to obey the rules for congregational prayers and tarawih at home. It’s still worth it anyway, right? The adaptation of the tarawih prayer in the mosque and then being moved to the house is actually not too complicated. Just do it at home musala or install a clean carpet in the living room, if there is no special place to worship in your home.
If the congregational prayers and tarawih are prohibited to be carried out together in the mosque, as well as other worship services such as sahur on the road. This activity can indeed reap a great reward, because usually many people who eat the meal on the street while giving away alms rice, square rice or basic food to the poor. But this year it must be temporarily vacant because there are rules for social distancing and stay at home. Therefore, Muslims and other religious communities must be able to adapt to all existing situations as a new normal situation.
You can still do good by distributing zakat rice, square rice and food packages to a trusted charity. They can give directly to scavengers, buskers, and the poor who are and have been recorded in the database. So you don’t have to jump right into the road. Alms can still be done and you obey the rules to stay at home.
Adapting to worship during Ramadan, when the corona pandemic is easy. You don’t need to get angry because there are rules for tarawih at home and a ban on the sahur on the road. Rest assured that this is done so that everyone is healthy and is not infected with the corona virus.
Muslims can still be rewarded even though tarawih prayers are at home and distribute rice alms and alms through charities. Obey the rules for social distancing and stay at home. Isn’t adaptation actually easy? You can still get the reward at home.
)* The writer is a citizen, active in the Press Circle and Cikini Students