COVID-19 Pandemic and Spiritual Challenges in Iran

ndividuals encounter unprecedented
critical conditions globally. The Coro
navirus 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 is
sues 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 CO
VID-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 pub
lic meetings at the bottom, as well as mosques and Hus
seiniyahs1 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 rela
tionship with religious authorities (clerics). Accordingly,
in religious affairs and some social issues, and even some
daily affairs, the intellectual policy of the society is deter
mined by religious leaders. Numerous religious leaders
are elderly and among the high-risk group of COVID-19;
therefore, this relationship was challenged by the COV
ID-19 pandemic and reduced biosocial relationships.
3. The potential of religious communities and psycho
social support to each other in reducing psychological
stress and preventing mental disorders has been empha
sized 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