How Muslims are digitally celebrating Ramadan under quarantine and protecting themselves from Zoom-bombers

• Muslims are coming up with creative, digital ideas to celebrate the month of Ramadan amid the coronavirus pandemic and quarantine.
• Many are turning to video-chatting apps like Zoom to break fast and pray.
• Concerns over surveillance and online trolls have led organizers to use enhanced security measures for their events.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The month of Ramadan is often community-oriented with late-night taraweeh prayers in the masjid (mosque) and iftar get-togethers for breaking one's fast. But with the ongoing social distancing guidelines in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, Muslims are turning to digital spaces to celebrate Ramadan.

Fasting can zap a lot of your energy so a Ramadan social life often revolves around night events like iftars. Aware that this Ramadan may have some Muslims feeling more isolated than ever, Minneapolis-based Fadumo Osman launched Remote Iftar to pair up groups to share a meal over Zoom.

"One goal for Remote Iftar is to bring us together to not only break bread virtually but to share our thoughts and how we're feeling in the absence of those conversations happening in the halls of mosques or the home," Osman told Insider. "This presents a window between personal time and nightly taraweeh prayers to practice community and promote a sense of communal experience."

Since launching Remote Iftar, Osman received incredible feedback, including from Muslims who may be isolated this month regardless of the pandemic, like mothers with young children and new converts. Osman said, "I'd love to have this global community continue even after Ramadan as I believe, like many others, that we need to build a new normal after this."

Black Iftar, which first launched in 2018 as a Chicago-based iftar before its virality on Twitter led to events nationwide, is also turning to digital spaces.

Creator Samira Abderahman was apprehensive about making the decision, telling Insider, she found herself asking "How is everyone apologizing and offering tips so quickly, when we are all experiencing this very new thing for the first time together?"

Abderahman's priority rested with checking in with her team of primarily Black Muslim women first. But as shelter-in-place orders were extended, Abderahman said, "I had to reconsider what Black Iftar could offer. I had to reconcile that in-person spirit can't be matched — can't be packed into a Zoom lecture, an email. But...if I can offer something for my communities, if I can help a person in their journey towards Islam, to the depths of their practice, then I have to do that."

A number of Muslims are also planning events between family and friends, but these small events still have a global reach.

Kamila Yusuf, a Nigerian-Canadian now living in Cambodia, invited friends from around the world, including New York, Paris, and New Delhi, to a digital iftar to kick off Ramadan.

"Ramadan is one of the most special times of the year for me — and to be observing it away from my family (again) while social distancing in a new and unfamiliar environment? Whew!" Yusuf said. "Hosting these digital iftars gives me something to look forward to and helps restore some of the excitement I have for this reason."

Standup comedian Nadirah Pierre's family is planning iftars, game nights, jummahs, and Qur'an readings. Pierre told Insider, "It's especially important for us to connect during Ramadan because we have grown accustomed to communal gatherings that fulfill that desire to worship alongside another believer. With our current circumstances, that spot will remain empty, having a very heavy digital impact, if we aren't intentional about doing our best to fill that void."

Houston-based Muslim Space is also looking to address spiritual needs. The organization developed an entire month of virtual and digital content including Qur'an recitations before iftar. It was intentional in inviting more than just men to recite. This isn't unusual as Muslim Space already reserves the third Friday services of each month for women alone but digital spaces presented an additional opportunity for inclusivity.

"For far too long, women have been excluded from any form of leadership that would involve the entire community," Executive Director Shadia Ingram said. "Another added bonus of making a Ramadan virtual, you get to expand your reach of your community."

These large-scale events come with security concerns as white supremacists target Muslims and other groups through Zoom-bombing.

Both Remote Iftar and Muslim Space require registration on a separate platform before accessing any meetings and having someone serving as a moderator during Zoom calls.

For Abderahman, security also brings up digital literacy. She said, "I am concerned about...how people who have not felt comfortable or had access to the internet...could feel even more [isolated] than those of us who are comfortable using it." She advocates for teaching masjids how to effectively use technology and finding ways to "support those new and / or most vulnerable in our community."

This is not the first time Muslims have incorporated digital spaces into their practice. For some, online community is the only option. Ingram wants this Ramadan to serve as an inspiration for the future, saying, "We had to get creative [asking] how can we expand the boundaries of ritual and worship? My hope is that this trend continues. That this is going to lay down the groundwork not just for an acceptance of creativity but a welcoming of creativity."