Ramadan will be different this year for many Muslims around the world, including in Johnson County.

As the coronavirus pandemic has led to lockdowns across the country, many places of worship are closed and gatherings are limited.

"This year it is affecting the local Muslim community on many fronts," said Shams Ghoneim, a retired medical researcher and Press-Citizen Editorial Board member.

From Thursday evening until May 23, Muslims are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. During this month, it is believed that the Muslim holy book, the Quran, was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

Muslims are called to abstain from food, water and sex, and emphasize charity-giving, or "zakat."

Every day, a meal is eaten before dawn and a second meal is eaten after sunset. They break their fast in group gatherings with family and friends.

Every evening, prayers are held at mosques and performed by the imam. The imam leads the "Taraweeh" often in front of crowds of worshippers for the holy month.

However, to keep the community safe, the Iowa City Mosque, along with other places of worship has closed its doors. The community is praying and breaking fast at home.

"This year's Ramadan will be family-oriented in that everyone will be doing the Ramadan activities with their families at home," said President of the Iowa City Mosque

Ousainou Keita. "All the Muslims globally will be spending the Ramadan with their families instead of their communities as it is normally done."

As Ramadan is about being together, said Iowa City Mayor Pro Tem Mazahir Salih, this is very sad for the Muslim community.

"But we have to do what we have to do to be safe," she said.

There are ways to continue to participate in Ramadan activities and keep them fun, Salih added. She said she's been sharing online Ramadan lectures produced by Bashir Fadl, a former Iowa resident.

As for charity-giving, Ghoneim said while in the past people left cash donations at the mosque, things will have to be done differently this year. Instead, it will have to be done by check or direct deposit to the mosque.

"In Islam, the best charity of all is when the right hand does not know what the left hand has given so anonymous giving is preferred and encouraged," she said. "This year, unfortunately, we will not be possible to do so."

Despite Ramadan taking a different form this year, community leaders are finding ways to stay focused.

"The pandemic brought us closer together, calling, emailing, and checking on one another in spite of our staying at home. The impact though had a serious effect on our elders, and young alike," said Ghoneim. "It reminded us of what is really important in our life. It is family and friends and a larger community and neighbors offering help."

A list of Ramadan programming shared by Mazahir Salih:

1. The Beauty of Allah from 5-5:30 p.m. every day presented by Bashir Fadl at this link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/744395565

2. Benefit of the day from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday for all ages presented by Mujahid Ibrahim: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/396425637

3. Daily Ramadan kids hour (with gifts for the kids at the end of Ramadan) from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday for kids presented by Mona Abdalla and Lubna Abdelrahman: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/396425637

4. Prophet Mohamed (saw) Sira from 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday for all ages presented by Mona Ahmed: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/396425637

Dial-in by phone at +1 (872) 240-3212 with access code: 396-425-637.