Post COVID IFTAR -- WEB
Metadata
- Post COVID IFTAR -- WEB
- April 11, 2022
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English POST COVID IFTAR HEADLINE: Muslims Congregate for Ramadan Without Strict COVID-19 Restrictions TEASER: In the US, it is the first where congregational prayer and meals can be held without tight COVID-19 restrictions PUBLISHED AT: Sunday, 04/10/2022 at 9:26 pm BYLINE: Nova Poerwadi DATELINE: Silver Spring, Maryland VIDEOGRAPHER: Yuni Salim, Karlina Amkas PRODUCER: Mary Cieslak SCRIPT EDITORS: KE(1st); MAS VIDEO SOURCE (S): Original VOA, Zoom, Reuters PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __ TRT: 2:07 VID APPROVED BY: mia TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[For Muslims around the world, this year marks the third holy month of Ramadan held during the pandemic. In the U.S., it is the first where congregational prayer and meals can be held without tight COVID-19 restrictions. VOA’s Yuni Salim visited one community mosque in suburban Washington, D.C., in this report narrated by Nova Poerwadi.]] ((NARRATOR)) Ramadan has always been a communal affair for Muslims. This year marks the first time since the COVID pandemic began that they can fully congregate for prayer and the breaking of the fast - or Iftar - at sundown. Here at the IMAAM Center - established by the Indonesian diaspora in Silver Spring, Maryland - for the first time in three years organizers had to check whether they had enough food and drink for worshippers. ((Ita Raymond, Iftar Coordinator at IMAAM Center)) ((Female voice, in Indonesian) “The hardest part is guessing how many people we’d get. The previous two years, we were limited as to how many could come, due to the pandemic. Now, we can have as many as we want for iftar and the tarawih prayers. I’m so touched.” ((NARRATOR)) Unlike pre-pandemic years, where communal iftar followed by tarawih prayers occurred throughout the month of Ramadan, IMAAM Center is only holding communal iftar on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Only the prayer is held every night. That’s good enough for many congregants, after years of breaking the fast together online. ((Nabil Syarnubi, IMAAM Center Congregant)) ((Male voice, in English) “It’s exciting to see everyone, to break our fast together.” ((Ezra Tauhid, IMAAM Center Congregant)) ((male, in English)) “Yeah. It’s fun to be here. Because last year, there was no tarawih, because there was COVID and stuff like that.” ((NARRATOR)) While founded by Indonesians in the Washington, D.C., area, IMAAM Center’s Ramadan activities are open to all who’d like to participate, including Souheir, a Syrian American who is getting her first taste of Indonesian food. ((Souheir, IMAAM Center Congregant)) ((Female voice, in English)) “Actually, a lot of dishes are rice-based and have meat in them so it’s similar to home.” ((NARRATOR)) Ramadan is also a time of religious studies and contemplation. For these activities, the mosque is still using online learning methods developed during the pandemic. ((Nur Fajar, Ramadan Coordinator at IMAAM Center)) ((Male voice, in Indonesian) “It’s kind of a hybrid now. On weekdays, it’s difficult to get volunteers, because they’re working. And office hours hit so close to iftar hours ((editor’s note: around 7:30 p.m. EDT)) that few can volunteer. So, we’ve continued these activities online.” ((NARRATOR)) Most Indonesians follow the ruling of the Fiqh Council of North America and began fasting on April 2nd. Eid al Fitr, the celebration ending the monthlong fast, is expected on May 1st. ((For Yuni Salim in Silver Spring, Maryland, Nova Poerwadi, VOA News))
- Transcript/Script POST COVID IFTAR HEADLINE: Muslims Congregate for Ramadan Without Strict COVID-19 Restrictions TEASER: In the US, it is the first where congregational prayer and meals can be held without tight COVID-19 restrictions PUBLISHED AT: Sunday, 04/10/2022 at 9:26 pm BYLINE: Nova Poerwadi DATELINE: Silver Spring, Maryland VIDEOGRAPHER: Yuni Salim, Karlina Amkas PRODUCER: Mary Cieslak SCRIPT EDITORS: KE(1st); MAS VIDEO SOURCE (S): Original VOA, Zoom, Reuters PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __ TRT: 2:07 VID APPROVED BY: mia TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[For Muslims around the world, this year marks the third holy month of Ramadan held during the pandemic. In the U.S., it is the first where congregational prayer and meals can be held without tight COVID-19 restrictions. VOA’s Yuni Salim visited one community mosque in suburban Washington, D.C., in this report narrated by Nova Poerwadi.]] ((NARRATOR)) Ramadan has always been a communal affair for Muslims. This year marks the first time since the COVID pandemic began that they can fully congregate for prayer and the breaking of the fast - or Iftar - at sundown. Here at the IMAAM Center - established by the Indonesian diaspora in Silver Spring, Maryland - for the first time in three years organizers had to check whether they had enough food and drink for worshippers. ((Ita Raymond, Iftar Coordinator at IMAAM Center)) ((Female voice, in Indonesian) “The hardest part is guessing how many people we’d get. The previous two years, we were limited as to how many could come, due to the pandemic. Now, we can have as many as we want for iftar and the tarawih prayers. I’m so touched.” ((NARRATOR)) Unlike pre-pandemic years, where communal iftar followed by tarawih prayers occurred throughout the month of Ramadan, IMAAM Center is only holding communal iftar on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Only the prayer is held every night. That’s good enough for many congregants, after years of breaking the fast together online. ((Nabil Syarnubi, IMAAM Center Congregant)) ((Male voice, in English) “It’s exciting to see everyone, to break our fast together.” ((Ezra Tauhid, IMAAM Center Congregant)) ((male, in English)) “Yeah. It’s fun to be here. Because last year, there was no tarawih, because there was COVID and stuff like that.” ((NARRATOR)) While founded by Indonesians in the Washington, D.C., area, IMAAM Center’s Ramadan activities are open to all who’d like to participate, including Souheir, a Syrian American who is getting her first taste of Indonesian food. ((Souheir, IMAAM Center Congregant)) ((Female voice, in English)) “Actually, a lot of dishes are rice-based and have meat in them so it’s similar to home.” ((NARRATOR)) Ramadan is also a time of religious studies and contemplation. For these activities, the mosque is still using online learning methods developed during the pandemic. ((Nur Fajar, Ramadan Coordinator at IMAAM Center)) ((Male voice, in Indonesian) “It’s kind of a hybrid now. On weekdays, it’s difficult to get volunteers, because they’re working. And office hours hit so close to iftar hours ((editor’s note: around 7:30 p.m. EDT)) that few can volunteer. So, we’ve continued these activities online.” ((NARRATOR)) Most Indonesians follow the ruling of the Fiqh Council of North America and began fasting on April 2nd. Eid al Fitr, the celebration ending the monthlong fast, is expected on May 1st. ((For Yuni Salim in Silver Spring, Maryland, Nova Poerwadi, VOA News))
- NewsML Media Topics Religion and Belief, Human Interest, Health
- Topic Tags Iftar
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date April 11, 2022 15:54 EDT
- Description English For Muslims around the world, this year marks the third holy month of Ramadan held during the pandemic. In the U.S., it is the first where congregational prayer and meals can be held without tight COVID-19 restrictions. VOA’s Yuni Salim visited one community mosque in suburban Washington, D.C., in this report narrated by Nova Poerwadi.
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English