Shab-e-Meraj meetings postponed
Scholars from Islamic seminaries are against mosque closure
Most public meetings on the occasion of Shab-e-Meraj (the night when the prophet ascended to the Heavens) have been postponed in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
However, scholars from various Islamic seminaries are against the closing of mosques and said mosques should remain open for congregational prayers and should adopt the necessary precautions in a proportionate manner to manage the risks. Many organisations that hold public meetings on Shab-e-Meraj in different parts of the city have decided to postpone the meetings this time as it is not obligatory.
State president of the Jamiat Ulema Hind, Moulana Hafiz Peer Shabbir Ahmed, said, “We should follow the virus protocol promulgated by the Union and state governments. It is our responsibility to keep our houses and surroundings clean, particularly the places of worship.”
He has requested the managing committees of the mosques to maintain cleanliness and has asked people not to use the caps and towels kept in the mosque as they may be contaminated. He urged the public to say Sunnah prayers (optional but spiritually beneficial) and Nafil (supererogatory) at home and go to the mosque only to say Farz prayers (obligatory). Moulana Shabbir said he has asked the managing committees of 104 mosques to educate the people about precautions in the Juma.
Moulana Mohammed Hussamuddin Saani Jafar Pasha Ameer Amarat-eMillat-e-Islamia said he will not address the Shab-eMeraj meeting to be held on March 21 at Jamia Masjid, Mahboob Chowk.
He said the Ulema have urged people to perform Wudhu (ablution) at home. They also asked the sermonizer to deliver only Arabic sermons on Friday and Imams (prayer leaders) to shorten the Juma prayers as well as daily prayers.
Moulana Abdur Raheem Khurram Jamai said instead of closing down the masjid for prayers it is better to maintain cleanliness and adopt precautions. He said the management of Masjid-e-Tawheed, situated near Qutub Shahi Tombs has removed the carpet and is sanitizing the mosque with Dettol after every prayer. These measures will minimise the risks.
Mujtaba Hasan Askari of Helping Hand, which works with the weaker sections at the grass roots level in the public health domain, said in the light of the prevailing situation in the city and across the country, and with the government taking proactive measures to shut educational institutions, gyms, clubs, and other large gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus, it is only prudent to request the authorities to stop the Friday congregation in all masjids across the state as a proactive preventive measure.
He said the economically weaker sections living in slums do not understand the risk and have poor hygiene and therefore it becomes imperative to discourage all mass gatherings, including the Friday congregations for prayers in the slums and other areas of the city.