But some essential activities like nightly terawih prayers and porridge distribution returned this year, restoring some familiarity to how the fasting month was marked prior to the pandemic.
Muslims performing terawih prayers at Al-Muttaqin Mosque in Ang Mo Kio, on April 24, 2021.
Since they re-opened in June, mosques have been taking extra measures like disinfecting their compounds in between congregational prayers and ensuring that worshippers have a valid booking to facilitate contact tracing. These practices continued throughout Ramadan this year.
A volunteer preparing dates and water for congregants to break their fasts before performing their daily Maghrib prayers at Al-Muttaqin Mosque.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
One volunteer helping to facilitate safe prayers is 16-year-old Serangoon Gardens Secondary School student, Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Sukairi, who has been active at Al-Muttaqin Mosque in Ang Mo Kio, helping out with terawih preparations.
He said: "I help out at the mosque about three to four times a week during Ramadan. I balance volunteering with my school work."
Syafiq helps with sanitising the prayer halls before and after congregational prayers and preparing light refreshments for worshippers breaking their fast, and serves as an usher for up to 250 of the faithful performing terawih prayers each night.
The customary distribution of porridge to the public has also returned at mosques and some community centres.
Outside Ghufran Mosque in Tampines on April 24, a queue formed before the porridge distribution, which started at 5pm. Mosque volunteers and staff were present to enforce social distancing.
Staff and volunteers of Al-Muttaqin Mosque having chicken rice and other snacks to break their fasts proper.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
The mosque distributes 500 packets of porridge each day on weekdays, with an additional 100 each day on weekends.
As part of the effort to reach out to more people, Ghufran Mosque distributes almost half of its daily porridge portion at Our Tampines Hub (OTH), which is next to the mosque.
Muslim migrant workers at Westlite Kranji QBD collecting food to break their fasts. They usually get porridge on weekdays, and get other dishes like Briyani Rice on weekends. The food is donated by members of the community. Some would also cook their own dishes in the dorm's communal kitchens, in adherence to social distancing measures in place.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
When The Straits Times visited Westlite Kranji Way Quick Build Dormitory (QBD) on Thursday (April 29), several residents were mopping an open court after heavy rain to prepare for their terawih.
There are about 600 Muslim residents at Westlite Kranji Way, but only 40 people can perform prayers at a time due to space constraints.
At Westlite Kranji Way, Mr Md Foridshek, 36, is one of two appointed prayer leads (Imams) approved by Muis.
In Bangladesh, Mr Foridshek led up to 150 worshippers in prayer.
"I feel very honoured that my friends in this dorm trust me to lead them," he said.
Correction note: A previous version of this story misstated the name of Westlite Kranji Way Quick Build Dormitory. We are sorry for the error.
