Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics

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September 2021. Volume 8. Number 3
Fatemeh Shirzad1 , Ruohollah Seddigh1
1. Spiritual Health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
* Corresponding Author:
Fatemeh Shirzad, PhD.
Address: Spiritual Health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Phone: +98 (21) 66551616
E-mail: shirzad.f@iums.ac.ir
Letter to Edithor:
COVID-19 Pandemic and Spiritual Challenges in Iran
Please cite this article as Shirzad F, Seddigh R. COVID-19 Pandemic and Spiritual Challenges in Iran. Health, Spirituality
and Medical Ethics Journal. 2021; 8(3):141-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/hsmej.8.3.9
: http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/hsmej.8.3.9
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ndividuals encounter unprecedented
critical conditions globally. The Coronavirus
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has
spread worldwide [1]. In addition to
biopsychological health, this crisis has
affected other areas of human life, like
the spiritual health of individuals [2].
This issue can be of great importance because spiritual
issues are closely related to general health, and especially
mental health among individuals [3]. In Iran, >99% of
the population is Muslim; thus, spiritual and religious issues
overlap and greatly interact [4]. Spirituality is the
search to find the greatest meaning in life and closeness
to the source of existence [5]. Religion structures such
a search by drawing the place of religious authorities,
shaping social networks, certain customs, valuing works,
encouraging collective participation, and so on [6]. Due
to this overlap, damaging these structures during the COVID-
19 pandemic may create a kind of spiritual crisis.
How did the coronavirus create a spiritual crisis? Some
aspects of this crisis include the following:
1. We can consider religious spirituality in the Iranian
society as hierarchical; with important holy places and
houses of religious leaders at the top; and religious public
meetings at the bottom, as well as mosques and Husseiniyahs1
in the middle. All of them were closed and
physical access to them had become impossible during
1. A mosque-like place used for religious meetings and religious rituals
public quarantine. These include the places where some
Muslims used to visit to strengthen their inner spiritual
resources and release daily psychological stress.
2. In Iranian culture, individuals have a very close relationship
with religious authorities (clerics). Accordingly,
in religious affairs and some social issues, and even some
daily affairs, the intellectual policy of the society is determined
by religious leaders. Numerous religious leaders
are elderly and among the high-risk group of COVID-19;
therefore, this relationship was challenged by the COVID-
19 pandemic and reduced biosocial relationships.
3. The potential of religious communities and psychosocial
support to each other in reducing psychological
stress and preventing mental disorders has been emphasized
in various studies [7]. Islamic teachings also place
great emphasis on community and participation among
religious brothers, while these communities were also
banned under quarantine due to illness.
4. Many of the survivors of this disease were deprived
of physical companionship during the funeral of their lost
loved one or could not mourn according to their traditional
cultural customs due to the mentioned problems [8].
These data highlighted the necessity of the intervention
of experts in the spiritual fields. Some of the following
measures helped to reduce these crises:
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September 2021. Volume 8. Number 3
1. Psychoeducation was performed by mental health
professionals to create insight and emotional acceptance
(as well as intellectual acceptance) of new lifestyle
changes. Emphasizing that according to Islamic teachings,
Muslims’ lives are among the main principles; clerics
also invite individuals to accept new social laws and
discover new goals and meanings in them, such as reducing
physical relationships to help save the lives of others.
Furthermore, some religious rituals that were banned
were replaced because of the COVID-19 pandemic with
other good deeds, such as helping the disabled who are
unable to meet their needs in the new circumstances. Accordingly,
such measures helped to strengthen the sense
of empathy and hope in the society by creating a collective
spiritual goal.
2. Changing the conditions for holding religious gatherings
from the traditional manner to more compatible
ways in which health protocols can be observed. The use
of virtual approaches instead of being in spiritual places.
As a result, the feeling of losing spiritual resources was
reduced in individuals.
3. Creating alternatives to traditional mourning in new
and virtual ways, such as coordinating survivors to pray
or apologize to the deceased at a specific time and place
through virtual networks or performing good deeds on
behalf of the deceased collectively; these acts can prevent
the feeling of loneliness in the conditions of mourning
in quarantine to some extent, and create a greater
sense of sympathy and empathy.
Conclusion
Some of the issues described in the Iranian community
over the last months have been addressed by mental
health professionals and some by religious; subsequently,
they could improve psychological and spiritual stress
on the society to some extent. Currently, with the arrival
of the third wave of COVID-19 and the passage of the
disease period, the relevant stress may be further aggravated.
Moreover, further research and the reflection of
specialists and their consensus can strengthen the existing
solutions or lead to the discovery of new solutions.
Of course, other aspects of stress, i.e., involved in the
creation of a spiritual crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic
exist, i.e., beyond the scope of this article. Thus,
further research in this field is required to prevent more
problems in the community
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
There were no ethical considerations to be considered
in this research.
Funding
This research did not receive any grant from funding
agencies in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors.
Authors' contributions
Both authors equally contributed to preparing this article.
Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
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Shirzad & Seddigh. COVID-19 and Spiritual Challenges. Health Spiritual Med Ethics J. 2021; 8(3):141-142