New Delhi. Siyasat.net
In view of the surge in the COVID19 situation across the country IMPAR has appealed the Muslim community to pray at home for next one month. Ever since the COVID 19 lockdown was imposed, the mosques were closed and Muslims all across the country had taken to praying at home. The mosques opened on June 8 after a gap of over two months with government allowing relaxations as part of Unlock 1. With the alarming pace of COVID 19 patient increase in the public hospitals and exorbitant pricing of private medical facilities, IMPAR urged the community to follow social distancing norms strictly and pray at home. It further said that the call for praying at home should be followed unanimously in all cities and towns to contain the spread of novel Coronavirus.
Health experts believe that the COVID 19 spread is not at its peak yet and if taken lightly at this stage might end up having alarming consequences.
IMPAR also welcomed Shahi Imam Syed Ahmad Bukhari’s decision of keeping the historic Jama Masjid shut till June 30th and requested the coordination committees of smaller mosques to take similar action. The historic Masjid will be closed for namaz with immediate effect in view of the critical conditions created by the Covid-19 surge in Delhi.
This decision of praying at home is also supported by various Islamic scholars and public intellectuals. Few days ago, Maulana Syed Arshad Madni had appealed the public about following strict social distancing norms within the mosque. He had urged that multiple jamaat (congregational) prayers at differing spots could be held inside the mosque instead of one jamaat. If this was not feasible, it was better to pray at home.
IMPAR prioritised on saving lives during the pandemic and categorically stated that the decision of closing the mosque does not clash with the sharia. Quran 5:32 ordains Muslims that if anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole humanity. IMPAR also appeals to Muslim community to take the rapid spread seriously and behave like a good Muslim and the good citizen simultaneously.
(www.siyasat.net is Ahmedabad, Gujarat,India based website)
