Islam and faith in times of crisis: religious observance and Muslim communities in the pandemic

Abstract

This article explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Muslims living in Birmingham, UK on religious observance and faith in times of crisis. This article presents qualitative insights into participants' experiences of the impacts of the pandemic and the national measures taken on their religious observance, including impacts around prayer and worship, the use of technologies to mediate faith practice, communal worship and wellbeing, worship under socially distanced conditions and the observance of Ramadan and Eid. In exploring these experiences, we reveal a range of ways in which Muslims have been impacted, as a result of the distinctive nature of Islam as embodying specific aspects of orthodoxy and orthopraxy. We explore the dynamic between impacts religious observance and the ways in which religious leaders drew upon Islamic scripture and teachings to reinforce adherence to local and national guidance as a dutiful responsibility to others. We also unpack what this means for Muslims, faith and community connectedness in times of crisis such as the pandemic.