Katanning Muslim community marks Ramadan with a difference

As soon as the sun sets at this time of year, Katanning’s Muslim households start to bustle with family and food. Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, and involves fasting from food and water from dawn to dusk for 29-30 days. But the holy month, which started last Thursday, has looked a little different this year. Katanning’s mosque, which usually echoes with prayer in the evening, remains silent and empty. Until Monday, the day-long fasts were broken in isolation. But the “cautious relaxation” of COVID-19 restrictions, allowing indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, has given the Muslim community some optimism for the rest of Ramadan. “The situation at the moment is upside-down,” Imam Alep Mydie said. “But I was very happy to hear the good news — it was a comfort to our family.” Secretary of the Katanning Islamic Association Moh Aeson said it was a small win for the community who were bracing for a very isolated holy month. But while small groups could now break fast together, Ramandan would not be the same with the closure of the mosque, he said. “We usually have congregational prayers at night, where the whole household would go to the mosque,” Mr Aeson said. “And after that we would bring a plate of food each and share it. It was a big deal for many families.” For Mr Mydie, the pandemic has shown we cannot take the simple things for granted. If regional border restrictions are loosened in the coming weeks, it could allow him to spend Eid with his children, who live in the South West. “That would help — that would really help. Mentally and spiritually it would really help the people,” he said. Eid al-Fitr is the biggest religious holiday on the Islamic calendar and marks the end of Ramadan. “We see Katanning as a hub. All the elders are here and all the kids would’ve moved out of town or out of the country, but when it comes to Eid, everybody comes back,” Mr Aeson said. Last year there were more than 500 people gathered at the local mosque for the end of Ramadan. With three weeks to go, Mr Aeson said he was hopeful but not confident the closure of places of worship would be revoked. “It’s probably a very special Ramadan this year — one that we’ll never forget and it will be one of the stories we’ll tell our grandchildren,” he said. “It’s a time to reflect. When we all come back together we’ll appreciate each other much more.”