(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will, - it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew. (Quran 2:184)

Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So, every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful. (Quran 2:185)

So far, the quotes. The words of Allah in this place are narrative in nature, explaining exactly what to do. Therefore, in this article, I do not cover that subject, but want to draw the attention why this Ramadan is different of those have been before.
When the Islamic community was registered in Hungary in 1988, our compatriots heard about Islam mainly from the novel "Stars of Eger". Since then many have gone below this level. At the time, I thought that the author, Géza Gárdonyi was malevolent when he portrayed the Turks as bad and the Hungarians as good. But even in his work there were scenes where characters were neither black nor white. Today I'm crying for Gárdonyi to come back. Comparing his approach to the actual communication regarding Muslims, it was better. In our homeland today Muslims are portrayed worse than in the mentioned novel. If I go beyond the borders, I find negative and positive news on us, and all kind of approaches.
Either way, positive or negative, the situation is not the same as it was in 1988. In Europe, Islam has become a factor. Rather, it is not even the Islam, because most Muslims do not know it. Muslims have become a factor. We are not talking about a homogeneous population. Some of them represent the third generation, are integrated, are aware of their rights. There are those who follow their traditions, those who follow the modern way of life, those who cannot integrate even after decades and there are the new immigrants who have caused a big confusion everywhere. They are a completely different topic. Those who have been sweating for decades and moving forward day by day after investing tremendous effort are not looking willingly at those who come according to quotas, get housing and money. You can see that there is a huge difference between them. The outside world sums that up so simply: anyway, they are all Muslims: This issue is unmanageable like that. However, it is a fact that some authorities began to understand that the topic is sensitive and something needs to be done. I have noticed that this year is no longer a simple courtesy question if an outsider asks about Ramadan. I'm not talking about Hungary now.This year, we Muslims in Europe have a different significance than before. It started to be a matter how do we feel, what is our “welfare” like? We are no longer asked about Ramadan as we used to. It is not raised as a cultural custom, a stereotypical tradition, but how it can be kept during the epidemic? And this is not being raised by Muslims, but by non-Muslim scientists. Why is this an important change? Because the question is not asked from a guest as before, but from a labor force who is needed. If this labor force feels bad, also endangers the well-being of outsiders. Huge change!

A Norwegian journalist sent me an inquiry. One of Norway’s immunologists has suggested that Muslims have to drink water during the fasting period because of the coronavirus. She added a professional explanation for this suggestion. It is a leading state-owned newspaper that, among many other Muslim thinkers, have also asked me about the above proposal, at the same time they were interested on the position of science according to the Quran and Hadith and the possible postponement of Ramadan. The point is not my answers, as those coincided with the opinions of the other respondents, but the fact: Opinion of the Muslim thinkers in Europe was asked adequately! Otherwise, the answers are not difficult to guess because those can be found in the Quranic verses quoted above. However, Ramadan cannot be transferred to another period. I don’t think our Christian brothers would be happy either to celebrate Christmas in July.

There will certainly be a few more phenomena that will make the Ramadan of this year extraordinary apart from the fact that community programs cannot be kept. Allah wanted it that way and there will be many benefits that we do not see yet. Hamdulillah!