Ramadan – COVID-19 Press Release
For Immediate Release
4.23.20
American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP) Joins the National Muslim Coalition in Promoting Coronavirus Best Practices During Ramadan
(Chicago, Illinois 4/23/20) – American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP), in collaboration with the National Muslim COVID-19 Taskforce, a broad coalition of more than 40 American Muslim organizations, in releasing an advisory that strongly recommends Muslims nationwide continue to take all necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the month of Ramadan. Recommendations include continued practicing social distancing, avoiding congregational prayers at mosques, and donating to organizations supporting vulnerable communities.
Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from break of dawn to sunset.
The National Muslim COVID-19 Taskforce strongly recommends, from both an Islamic and public health perspective, that the Muslim community take aggressive measures to reduce transmission of the virus, including:
- following public health guidelines,
- practicing social distancing,
- staying at home,
- temporarily canceling public congregational prayers, including Taraweeh (an additional evening prayer performed by Sunni Muslims), and
- fasting and praying at home during the month of Ramadan.
The Taskforce encourages Muslims to donate Zakat (obligatory charitable giving) and Sadaqah (optional charitable giving) to organizations that are supporting vulnerable communities in the United States and abroad.
The National Muslim COVID-19 Taskforce is putting great emphasis on the health and well-being of the American Muslim community, and its Ramadan advisory also includes best practices recommendations on: fasting, physical activity, healthy diet and nutrition, promoting mental and psychosocial health, and responding to situations of domestic violence (which has risen nationwide since the pandemic).
The National Muslim Task Force on COVID-19 is one of the largest American Muslim coalitions in recent times. It is comprised of Muslim public health and medical professionals, civic and faith leaders, social justice, and policy experts to provide a comprehensive response to the unique needs of American Muslims during this coronavirus pandemic.
National Muslim Task Force on COVID-19 member organizations distributing this community advisory include:
- American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF)
- American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP)
- Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA)
- CELEBRATEMERCY
- Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
- Darul Qasim
- Emgage
- Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA)
- Imamia Medics International
- Initiative on Islam & Medicine (II&M)
- Institute for Muslim Mental Health
- Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA)
- Islamic Networks Group (ING)
- Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA)
- Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
- Mercy Without Limits
- Muslim Caucus Education Collective
- Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
- North American Imam’s Federation (NAIF)
- Penny Appeal USA
- SEEMA
- Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab
- SWISS
- The Mosque Cares, Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed
- United Mission For Relief and Development (UMR)
For more information on National Muslim COVID-19 Taskforce, click here. For additional community resources, click here.
AMHP is a national non-profit built on the vision of human rights and guided by human rights principles that affirm and prioritize the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings. Our mission is to bring together and strengthen the impact of Muslim health professionals to improve the health and wellness of all Americans.
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CONTACT: AMHP Executive Director, Ghazala Salam, (9540 309-4797, executivedirector@amhp.us
