Muslim Religious Groups in India Advise Community to Avoid Eid Congregations
May 13, 2021
Community leaders have been appealing for extra cautions urging people to follow all the SOPs while performing prayers
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — With the holy month of Ramzan about to end Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr amidst a coronavirus pandemic.
India, which is reeling through a brutal second wave of coronavirus and congregations banned, Muslim religious leaders have been making appeals to the community to observe a sombre Eid, avoiding crowds and congregational prayers.
The Darul uloom Deoband has issued a Fatwa telling Muslims that offering Eid Namaz in congregation is forgiven in circumstances such as pandemic which the health experts say spreads rapidly when people gather.
Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi ‘naib mohtamim’ of Darul uloom, while issuing the Fatwa, said under present circumstances people can offer ‘Namaz-e-Chasht’ to avoid congregations for Eid prayers.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board appealed to the people to celebrate Eid with simplicity. It issued a set of guidelines which include avoiding crowds in markets, smaller gatherings for Eid prayers, maintain extra gaps between queues for prayers, use masks, avoid hand shakes and hugs and follow SOPs issued by local authorities strictly.
Similar guidelines were issued by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in its appeal to the Muslim community on how to observe last days of Ramzan and Eid holiday. “While doing worship we should keep in mind that as Muslims we should not become a reason to put the lives of humans in danger,” the appeal said, adding that people should follow all orders of authorities while performing their religious obligations.
Darul Ifta Jamia Nazmia in Hyderabad appealed Muslim to hold Eid prayers in open spaces while following all SOPs and even avoid congregational prayers if authorities don’t allow in view of covid-19 situation.
It also suggested small prayer gatherings in intervals with each turn to be held at a different spot and be led by a different Imam.
Darul Uloom Deoband has also asked people to not turn up to the Madrasa compound for Eid prayers.
Given that religious congregations are proving to be super-spreaders and the subsequent communalisation of such events, Muslim community leaders have been appealing for extra cautions urging people to follow all the SOPs while performing prayers.
