Hawzah News Agency (Manchester - UK) - On April 23, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin.

These are unprecedented times but, unlike music festivals or sporting events, there will be no postponing or cancelling of the religious celebration.

Instead, members of the Muslim community will need to adjust to new ways of fasting, prayer, and reflection during Ramadan.

With the recent news that lockdown measures will continue across the UK for at least another three weeks, it’s now a certainty that Ramadan will begin in lockdown.

“For Muslims, Ramadan is very important,” Faheem Ali, Manager of Makki Mosque in Longsight, tells the Manchester Evening News.

“It’s part of the five pillars of Islam, we have a very spiritual connection to it. The Qur’an was revealed for the first time during the month of Ramadan.”

Faheem says staff at Makki Mosque have been preparing their congregation for a ‘unique’ Ramadan since lockdown measures were first put in place in March.

“For anyone, it’s a time of confusion and something completely alien. But, of course, we understand the lockdown and understand it’s for the greater good.

“That’s not to say people aren’t upset about it but we have been managing expectations by letting people know that we may have to observe all Ramadan celebrations at home.

“Before lockdown measures, we explained what was going on and what might happen in order to prepare people.”

To combat the fact that all mosques are shut, Makki Mosque has been conducting weekly online classes every evening through Zoom for both adults and children and plans to do so until lockdown measures are relaxed.