In Islam, Ramadan marks the month when God sent the angel Gabriel to reveal the Quran to the prophet Muhammad.

Ramadan started April 23 and ends May 23. Muslims traditionally celebrate the holiday with fasting, communal prayer and charitable deeds to atone for past wrongs and empathize with the less fortunate.

But Ramadan isn't about regretting. It's about abstaining.

The distinction is important, according to Waqas Tirmizi, president of the Muslim Association of Greater Pittsburgh (MAP) in Gibsonia.

“It's not a mourning,” Tirmizi said. “It's more about praying to God … getting closer.”

Ramadan is traditionally marked by community: Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sundown, gather in nightly prayer, and join in iftar, the meal eaten after sunset.

“We break fast together for the evening meal,” Tirmizi said. “We kind of look forward to having that gathering.”

COVID-19 adjustments

Tirmizi helps lead a mosque that draws congregants from the Wexford-Cranberry Township region. Like other faith communities, MAP has adjusted operations during the coronavirus pandemic to protect congregants.

Tirmizi said MAP closed its facility around March 12, about a month before the start of Ramadan. Members have been encouraged to practice at home.

“We just cannot have that nightly prayer in person,” Tirmizi said. “There's a concern from a lot of community members.”

In an effort to continue reaching people, MAP has been offering virtual lectures and lessons. Tirmizi said while these don't replace Friday congregational prayer — which Muslims practice all year — it does provide guidance for the faithful.

“It helps, in terms of people learning more about the religion,” Tirmizi said.

Tasin Malik, a Cranberry Township resident, has been attending mosque in Gibsonia for about three years. He said practicing as a community is a big part of his family's faith. This Ramadan, that community is smaller.

“We are kind of doing (Ramadan) as a family,” Malik said. “I've been spending time with my kids.”

Tirmizi said as in other religions, the center of the faith is the communal gathering spot. Tirmizi said mosque is more than a place to worship: It's a community center.

“Mosque is the main community between people,” Tirmizi said. “(It's) important in bringing people together.”

Having that physical element removed has been challenging for some congregants.

Learning the faith

The format for Sunday school, for instance, has changed. Tirmizi said MAP has 120 to 130 children who attend instructional faith classes from September through May.

“Some teachers are doing online classes,” Tirmizi said. “There's a curriculum that we have.”

Tirmizi, who has two kids learning the faith, said MAP also has youth groups for older students. These groups allow them to participate in volunteer work and mingle with peers. Social distancing regulations have limited gatherings.

But that doesn't mean congregants have stopped participating in community service. Tirmizi said members have served meals to frontline workers and assisted with food bank distributions.

Malik said the pandemic has helped him grow in his faith. Prior to COVID-19, he relied on the mosque to provide lessons for his children in Sunday school. Now, he's learning to teach them himself.

“To be honest, I would have not done that if (the) pandemic had not been here,” Malik said. “What this pandemic has brought is an opportunity to spend more time with the family.”

Malik said he probably won't be able to spend time with all his extended family this year. Many of his relatives are older and live in the Midwest. MAP is particularly concerned about its elderly population, according to Tirmizi.

Tirmizi said in a way, social distancing aligns with guidance passed down from Muhammad. Islam teaches practitioners not to enter or leave an area of sickness.

“Try to stay safe and healthy,” Tirmizi said. “And try to keep others … safe and healthy, as well.”

Celebration plans change

Ramadan ends May 24 with Eid al-Fitr, a festival breaking of fasts. Tirmizi said MAP usually draws around 300 people for the celebration. For a mosque that sees between 150 and 200 people during regular Friday prayers, it's an important time.

“At this point, we're not thinking that we will do Eid,” Tirmizi said. “That's a difficult decision that we're going to have to go through.”

The end of Ramadan is also traditionally when MAP hosts an open house for people of other faiths to learn about Islam. This can build important connections.

“We usually invite other religious organizations,” Tirmizi said. “This year, we won't be able to have that.”

Malik believes despite the disruptions the pandemic has brought, there is great potential for personal growth.

“It's … an opportunity to get closer to God,” Malik said. “More one-on-one.”

This year's Ramadan may not be celebrated the way it traditionally has. But Tirmizi has hope. Eid al-Adha — which honors Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for God — is in late July. Tirmizi anticipates being able to celebrate as a community then.

“That may be more probable,” Tirmizi said. “We'll see.”

“Think on the positive side,” Malik said. “That's the right thing to do.”

After all, Malik believes, this too shall pass.