ONLINE TAHLIL FOR COVID-19 VICTIMS
Malay community in the UK join online prayers led by imam from London mosque
THE Malay community in the United Kingdom last night gathered “virtually” to offer prayers and remember members who had succumbed to Covid-19, currently ravaging the country.
The live online programme called “Solidariti Masyarakat Melayu UK”, led by Sofa Mosque London chief operation officer and imam Ustaz Mohd Zaki Ismail, was followed by members from all over the UK, from here, Luton and right up to Edinburgh.
“When we are in a situation of a lockdown, quarantine, and selfisolation, we are here to say that we are still with you,” Zaki told his online congregation.
Sofa Mosque London, the first Malay mosque in the UK, was established in 2016. It offers services to the Malay community from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand.
Services and programmes provided include conducting marriages, performing burial rites and counselling. It also offers silat and Quran classes for adults and children. However, with the Covid-19 pandemic, the building in Acton in west London is closed for Friday prayers, Quran classes and other activities to help curb the spread of the killer disease.
Since the lockdown, some programmes, such as talks, are being conducted online.
The management of Sofa Mosque London, after learning of the deaths of three old members of the Malay community here last week, decided to take the proactive step to hold tahlil prayers online, assuring the deceased’s family members that they are not alone during their hour of need.
Zaki said he was informed of the deaths by some family members and from messages that he received. When Prime Minister, Boris Johnson announced the lockdown, which started on March 24, gatherings are not allowed.
During the burial of Husin Long, 75, on March 22, only 10 people were allowed to attend. The gathering for prayers usually done after a burial is banned because of the risks of further spread of the disease, which to date has claimed more than 1,000 lives in the country.
Husin’s death was quickly followed by the passing of Lajis Bador and Maimunah Mohamad, both in their 70’s.
“We would like the community to know that we are here for them and we will do whatever is possible for our community, be it during times of peace or hardship. So we are using the online platform to offer our prayers,” he said.
Sofa Mosque London had opened its doors for not only Friday prayers, but also during Ramadan and Hari Raya.
It is registered under the Suffa Educational Trust UK under the patronage of Datuk Muhammad Fuad Kamaludin, who is also the patron and adviser of Yasasan Sofa Negri Sembilan. Its Sofa Travels recently took a group for umrah.