As mosques are closed due to coronavirus restrictions, Australia’s Muslim leaders are set to host online seminars and lectures during Ramadan. However, prayers will not be observed online. Two of Australia’s most senior Islamic leaders tell us why.
News
During Ramadan in isolation, Muslims get creative to preserve community
(Religion News Service) — The holy month of Ramadan, observed by fasting from dawn to dusk, has many themes: sacrifice, discipline, devotion, empathy, gratitude, generosity.
But for many Muslim communities, what defines Ramadan, which begins this week, are the moments of community: sharing platters of dates to break their fasts, the call to prayer reverberating through the halls of packed mosques, filling empty stomachs with mouthwatering nightly meals known as iftars — plates piled high with the black Muslim staple bean pie, South Asian samosas and maqluba in Arab traditions — the charitable zakat collections and the never-ending mosque fund-raising pitches.
It is the coming together, many Muslims say, that builds a heightened sense of spirituality, individually and communally.
Leading in the New Normal of a Pandemic World
Leading in the New Normal of a Pandemic World is an intensive dialogue between religious leaders and scholars on the intersectional nature of “Leadership” in and beyond a time of pandemic. This conversation will be live-streamed Tuesday, 28 April 2020 | 8:00 am – 10:00 am ET.
Addressing the Covid-19 Pandemic: Religions for Peace and UNICEF in Partnership
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented us with an unprecedented global challenge, touching every community in every nation of the world. The pandemic is causing systems of work, education, finance and domestic lives to grind to a halt, affecting nearly every aspect of people’s lives.
Religions for Peace (RfP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), are joining forces to launch a global Multi-Religious Faith-in-Action Covid-19 Initiative to raise awareness of the impacts of this pandemic on the world’s youngest citizens.
The Initiative reflects the unique and critical roles played by religious leaders and actor, in influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and actions that affect the development and wellbeing of the world’s children. The Initiative will be coordinated by the global partnership on Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities , which involves Religions for Peace’s Interreligious Councils, including senior leaders of the world’s religious and spiritual traditions in South East Asia, known as Religions for Peace Asia.
What follows is the first regional webinar of member bodies of Religions for Peace Asia and officers from UNICEF in discussing the Multi-Religious Faith-in-Action Covid-19 Initiative.
A Jewish Psychologist’s Guidance for Talking About Coronavirus with Kids
Parents often assume that kids aren’t really listening, when, in reality, what children hear second-hand often leads to misunderstandings and misperceptions that raise their anxiety. Parents might think about shielding children, as much as possible, from broadcast news because media outlets tend to be sensational, which can be very alarming to children. Young children can’t distinguish between reality and fantasy – another reason to stay clear of scary broadcasts.
Ethical and Legal Implications of Navigating a Public Health Emergency in the Wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic
This report summarizes a global panel discussion webinar in the wake of COVID-19 held on Sunday night (Melbourne time), 19th April under the sponsorship of the Department of Education’s UNESCO Chair in Bioethics located at the University of Haifa which works to encourage the teaching of bioethics in medical and health sciences and law courses across the world. It was stated that there were competing sources of moral authority.
Ramadan Messages in the time of Coronavirus – 13 Languages
Ramadan Mubarak to our Muslim friends and colleagues. Our thoughts are to you and your families during this challenging time. The Victorian Government has prepared radio (audio) messages in 13 languages about Ramadan for individuals and communities to share during this holy time on the importance of managing Coronavirus together.
Safeguarding children during COVID-19
Australian Catholic University have developed a practitioner guide and parent guide for supporting shared parenting during COVID-19. There is an extensive list of organisations which assist parenting and parenting issues.
Prime Minister’s Ramadan Message
The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, gives a message to the Islamic communities of Australia on occasion of Ramadan 2020, albeit in the time of Coronavirus lockdown.
Advancing a disability-inclusive response to COVID-19
In responding to Coronavirus ~ Covid-19, it is important that we practice inclusion at all levels of society – for the disabled, for the vulnerable, for the aged, for those unable to care for themeselves. Religious principles have to be practiced and their validity established. The Golden Rule is an example of religious principles in action – a moral imperative, a human value, a religious principle found in all the religions of men and women. So we may proceed as humankind – and in our kindesses to our fellow humans, practice a disability-inclusive response to COVID-19.
An Interfaith Earth Day message in times of Covid 19 and Climate Emergency
As faith-based organisations and movements calling for fair and just policies able to tackle the climate emergency, we understand and support the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s decision to postpone COP26 in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic that is affecting the whole of humanity. We nevertheless call on ourselves and on all stakeholders to not delay ambitious and urgent climate action.
If Saudi Arabia is forced to put the Hajj on hold, it will not be without precedent
JEDDAH: Will the Hajj, which draws millions of Muslims annually to Islam’s birthplace in Saudi Arabia, be suspended this year owing to the global coronavirus pandemic? That question had been uppermost in the minds of millions of Muslims worldwide even before a Saudi official asked them to put on hold any plans to perform the obligatory pilgrimage, scheduled to begin in late July.
