Mastercard-CrescentRating Ramadan & Eid Lifestyle Report 2022: Prioritizing Spirituality During The Holy Month
The Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Fitr is approaching. We should be grateful to ourselves for getting through the difficult two years after COVID-19 became widespread. In the last two years, we even could not have an opportunity to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr as we usually do at normal times.
Nonetheless, Mastercard and CrescentRating launched a report of Mastercard-CrescentRating Ramadan & Eid Lifestyle Report 2022 in March. Particularly, the report clearly explained how people are more engaging with more spiritual activities during Ramadan.
In the report, CrescentRating and HalalTrip founder Fazal Bahardeen said that the report explains about the behavior and preferences of Muslims in Ramadan and the updated Ramadan Destination Index.
Ramadan will be the first opportunity to examine behavioral changes brought about by the new normal in traditional Ramadan behaviors, particularly community-oriented events. Spiritual rituals, community practices, philanthropy, food, and Eid celebrations are all covered in this report. It is based on stakeholder and consumer interviews as well as a study done in January, February, and March 2022. The majority of the responses were from Southeast Asia.
More than half of those polled (59%) said they will devote more time to reciting the Qur'an, with approximately a quarter attempting to memorize the Holy book from cover to cover once throughout the month. The majority of them (68%) will also endeavor to be consistent in their five daily required prayers and do Taraweeh salat in a congregation (51%). During this month, 31% will pay Zakat and a lot of Sadaqah.
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Ramadan is the month of the Qur'an, and most Muslims recite more Qur'an during this month than they do during the year.
"To also attend Tafsir/Explanation of the Quran."
Furthermore, the holy month causes a surge in spirituality, which most people capitalize on by being constant and timely in their worshiping activities. Ramadan is also regarded as the month of almsgiving.
"Having iftar with the needy."
During Ramadan, most Muslims make it a point to pay their Zakat, the mandatory annual charity based on one's wealth. Increased empathy for the impoverished and needy during Ramadan also encourages more people to participate in charitable deeds.
Many people go to considerable measures to avoid all possible distractions during Ramadan in order to focus on the spiritual parts of the month. To keep motivated during a lengthy day of fasting, more people will watch or listen to religious content.
Spiritual activities you look forward to during Ramadan
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During this month, businesses that cater to Muslims must understand the lifestyle changes that they are undergoing, particularly the significant emphasis on spiritual aspects. To attract more Muslim clients, restaurants and hotels should make sure that there are dedicated prayer areas.
Approximately 58% are looking forward to praying the taraweeh in a congregation, and nearly 50% are looking forward to eating iftar with their friends and families. Muslims will be able to re-fill mosques once COVID-19 restrictions are eased and extra immunizations are administered, as is common throughout Ramadan. Mosques serve as community centers and educational institutions in addition to being places of worship.
“Attending more sermons (khutbas) from different scholars and increase in reading Quran.”
According to a CrescentRating Pulse Report 2022 on how mosques responded to the pandemic, they were actually essential in establishing communal harmony. They implemented necessary safety precautions to guarantee that worshippers had a safe place to escape to for their daily prayer.
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Another ritual that many Muslims will be able to observe is gathering with family and friends to break their fast and enjoy traditional snacks and meals. Mosques frequently provide food so that people can break their fast shortly before the Maghrib prayer. Some people would bring extra goodies from home to share with their pals.
“There are many sponsors of iftar & dinner in the masjid. A list of names is placed on the board which is filled for the days of Ramadan. Takeaway food boxes are available. Different dishes by families, variety of fruits, salads and desserts are included.”
