TCN News
Jamaat Islami Hind’s Sharia Council issued an official advisory for Muslims on how to spend last ten days of Ramadan under COVID19 lockdown.
The advisory, issued by Sharia Council President Maulana Jalaluddin Umari and Secretary Maulana Raziul Islam Nadvi, contains a detailed list of instructions for Muslims on the observance of the sacred last ten days of the holy month. The notice also has observance measures for Eid prayer, which is usually held in the congregation but would be different this year to maintain social distancing.
The Sharia Council reminded the government of careful observance of lockdown rules by Muslims even during Ramadan where the congregational Juma (Friday) prayers and Tarawih (special Night prayers) prayers were restricted. An ordinance has been issued before the month instructing Muslims to keep offering these prayers at home individually and collectively inside the confines of their own homes. As the last Friday of Ramadan is approaching, the Council opined that “it does not have any special significance and under the present circumstances, if a person is alone, they should offer the Friday prayer individually.”
The Council noted that owing to the present upshot on Coronavirus cases, with India crossing the 90, 000 mark and overcoming China in the number of infections, situations may persist for long and therefore the government must “exempt the places of worship under Lockdown 4.0.” It demanded that “people should be permitted to practice their religious rites by maintaining social distancing,” as is being done in several other cities of the world. Continuing with its note to the government, the Council said that Eid ul Fitr prayer is offered in Eidgahs “but if there 4 people in a house then they can offer it at home although it is not compulsory.”
The Sharia Council, keeping in view the fervour with which Eid shopping is done in the country has issued a directive “to avoid crowding the markets in the last days of Ramadan and on the day of Eid, whatever clothes, old or new are available, can be adorned.” It extended that the giving spirit of Ramadan be remembered by all Muslims and instead of buying new clothes, people “must remember the poor, the needy on the day of Eid along with Muslim prisoners and their relatives.” Similarly, people must avoid going out on Eid for meeting and greeting people.