‘Follow social distancing norms, celebrate Eid at home’

LUCKNOW: Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, chairman of Islamic Centre of India and imam of Aishbagh Eidgah, has appealed to Muslims to avoid crowd and celebrate the upcoming Eid festival at their homes while following social distancing and other norms issued by the Centre in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

“I have requested the community to avoid ‘Alvida namaz’ (prayer offered on last Friday of Ramzan) at mosque this year in view of the pandemic. Only five persons, who live in a mosque, would perform ‘namaz’ in it while others who have family of four can perform the ‘Alvida namaz’ at home while who don’t have a family of four can offer prayers of ‘Zuhar’ as usual,” he said.

The cleric further urged Muslims to skip traditions like hugging and embracing one another this Eid to check spread of SarsCov-2 virus. “Mass prayers were banned in mid-March after the lockdown was announced. Despite stern steps taken by the government, more than 90,000 people are infected with Covid-19 in the country’s biggest outbreak. More than 250 people are affected in Lucknow alone and under such circumstances we can celebrate Eid with a difference this year,” the imam said.

“Everyone can exchange Eid greetings online or over phone rather than hugging or embracing. Handshakes should also be avoided as the virus is very communicable . One should follow the rules of lockdown and social distancing on the day of Eid also. At the same time, we must focus on offering ‘zakat’ (donation) to the poor and the needy so that they can also celebrate the festival like others,” he said.

“I have appealed to all Muslims to pray for the development and progress of country and eradication of corona virus from India,” Farangi Mahali added.

Meanwhile, Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad as also appealed to members of the community to follow the lockdown on Eid.

CLERICS URGED MUSLIMS TO SKIP TRADITIONS LIKE HUGGING AND EMBRACING ONE ANOTHER THIS EID