Albanian Muslims are preparing for the second month of Ramadan under the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from tomorrow, April 13, Muslims worldwide will enter a month of fasting, prayers and special religious atmosphere associated with what they consider a holy month.
Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk, devoting themselves even more than usual to worshiping God and restrain the ego.
This month is the most important time of the year from the religious perspective for Muslims everywhere.
Yesterday, the Albanian government eased measures against the pandemic by relaxing the curfew time with two hours, in order to provide Muslims with more time in the evening after they break fast. However, praying in mosques still remains restricted, as congregation of more than 10 people in banned.
The previous year, they went through Ramadan under stricter conditions due to the pandemic.
This year, their holy month coincides with general elections in the country, which are planned for April 25.
In Kosovo, the government escalated COVID-19 measures last week by banning dine-in services in bars and restaurants, while the same measure applies in North Macedonia. Congregations in mosques are also restricted.
Top Muslim clerics in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia wished a happy Ramadan to Muslim believers on Monday. They prayed for peace, devotion, and reward for the fasting sacrifice of believers, while reminding them of the need to respect pandemic measures.
In Albania, nearly 60 percent of the population identifies as Muslims, while in Kosovo the number exceeds 90 percent. Albanians in North Macedonia comprise roughly 25 percent of the population, according to a 2001 census which they rebuke, and they almost exclusively identify themselves as Muslims.
