Maulidur Rasul celebrated modestly amid Covid-19 pandemic
KUCHING: This year’s Maulidur Rasul celebration was held on a moderate scale without the traditional procession due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The celebration was confined to thanksgiving and ‘ berzikir’ (singing of praises) at mosques and suraus to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
Sarawak Islamic Council had on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the state-level Maulidur Rasul Celebration assembly scheduled to take place at the Sarawak Islamic Complex hall yesterday.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs and Kuching City North Commission) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said this year’s celebration had to be adapted according to the new norms to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“We decided to just hold a thanksgiving ceremony and ‘zirik maulid’ at the mosque and surau level to celebrate the
birthday of the Prophet S.A.W.
“Not only that, we also ordered that the district-level celebration be implemented on a small scale to comply with the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He also advised the Muslim community in the state to continue to comply with all SOPs currently set to break the Covid-19 chain of transmission.
Meanwhile, Zikir Group chairman Ar-Rahman Sitam Amin, 63, said this year’s Maulidur Rasul celebration was celebrated in moderation with zikir activities at Surau Darul Ukhwah Phase One Kampung Tanjung Bundong.
“Previously, every year we participated in the Maulidur Rasul procession at the district or division of Samarahan.
“But this year we celebrate modestly at the surau only with a ceremony involving 60 participants in the village,” he said.
He added that the atmosphere was very different compared to the Maulidur Rasul celebration in previous years due to having to comply with the SOP set by the government.
“This procession is a tradition during each Maulidur Rasul celebration, but this year we cannot hold it because of this epidemic. There is a feeling of sadness that we cannot hold the procession but it is not an obstacle for us to celebrate Maulidur Rasul in the new norm,” he said.