How Muslims Feel About Ramadan 2020: A Report

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. As the ummah entered an unprecedented Ramadan amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many Muslims found themselves observing the blessed month in isolation, separated from their beloved houses of worship and the communal gatherings that have long defined this season. To understand how believers were approaching this unique circumstance, Yaqeen Institute conducted a survey of 450 Muslims from across the world, diverse in ethnicity, education, and age. Most respondents reported praying five times daily (77%), and a majority (55%) described their relationship with Allah as intimate. The aim was to gauge the attitudes and behavioral intentions of Muslims for this Ramadan compared to previous years and to offer recommendations rooted in the findings.

A central finding was that Muslims remained remarkably optimistic. This aligns with the encouragement of our Prophet ﷺ, who said, “I am amazed by optimism, the good word, the kind word.” Despite lacking access to the masjid, nearly two out of three respondents believed this Ramadan would be better than the previous year. Much of this hope was connected to the expectation of engaging more deeply with the Book of Allah, for Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an. Indeed, more than 80% of respondents anticipated reading more Qur’an than in the prior Ramadan. Respondents expressed sentiments of seclusion, reflection, and remembrance, viewing the confinement as an opportunity to focus on their relationship with Allah, to reflect upon their inward state, and to become better Muslims.

The findings also revealed a generous ummah. This generosity echoes the example of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who was the most generous of people, and even more so in Ramadan when Jibreel would meet him to teach him the Qur’an, such that he was more generous than a nourishing wind. Despite the financial strain brought by the pandemic’s economic downturn, respondents overwhelmingly believed that charity during uncertain times could only lead to good (81% strongly agreed, 15% somewhat agreed). Regarding their intentions, 57% intended to donate more to relief organizations, 35% more to educational organizations, and 39% more to the masjid.

An investigation into the predictors of optimism, defined as answering “somewhat better” or “much better” when comparing this Ramadan to the last, yielded instructive results. Those who read the Qur’an regularly, who considered their relationship with Allah intimate, and who perceived many blessings since the spread of COVID-19 were found to be more optimistic. Conversely, those who felt they needed a community to thrive were generally less optimistic. From these findings, several practical recommendations were drawn to help believers flourish during the blessed month.

The first recommendation is to reflect on the Qur’an regularly, for those who did so were more optimistic and perceived more blessings. Allah says, “We have not revealed the Qur’an to cause you distress,” and He describes His Book as sent down “to clarify all things and as guidance, mercy, and glad tidings for the Muslims.” The Qur’an is meant to be a source of peace and comfort in this life and the next. Believers are encouraged to find solace by reading and pondering passages of personal interest—reflecting, for example, on Sūrat Yūsuf (Chapter 12) to grasp Allah’s wisdom in the trials of Yūsuf عليه السلام, or on Sūrat al-Qaṣaṣ (Chapter 28) to empathize with Mūsá عليه السلام as he fled his homeland—immersing oneself in the stories, metaphors, and parables of the revelation.

The second recommendation is to have an intimate conversation with Allah, for those who considered their bond with Him intimate expressed more optimism and greater intentions toward charity. Allah says, “And when My servants ask you about Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.” Though isolated from people, the believer is never isolated from his Lord. In a sacred narration, Allah says, “I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he mentions Me… And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go running to him.” Believers are urged to set aside moments each day, such as after Fajr or before Maghrib, to converse with Allah, whose door is always open.

The third recommendation is to practice gratitude through journaling and letter writing, since those who perceived many blessings were more optimistic and inclined toward generosity. Allah proclaims, “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you in favor.” Gratitude has been shown to improve life satisfaction, sleep quality, mental health, prosocial behavior, and to increase optimism. Two practices are suggested: first, keeping a gratitude journal in which one records five blessings each day, whether great or small; and second, writing a letter of thanks to someone deeply appreciated but never properly thanked. This latter practice reflects the words of the Prophet ﷺ, “Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah.”

The fourth recommendation addresses those who felt they needed community to thrive and were consequently less optimistic. Recognizing that social connection is a basic human need and a cherished part of Ramadan, believers are encouraged to create a sense of virtual community—arranging video gatherings to read Qur’an together, hosting virtual ifṭār gatherings, or attending tafsīr lectures online. Though separated in physical distance, believers need never be separated in heart. As one stands alone in prayer at home, it is a comfort to remember that millions of Muslims around the world are simultaneously facing Makkah in worship, bound together in devotion to the One who hears and answers all.