Ramzan is the most precious month in the Islamic Calendar. Duringthis month, Muslims go to the mosque five times, to pray. Every evening, an extended prayer called Tarawih takes place in mosques around the world, and they are filled with worshippers during this time.People break their fast with a meal referred to as Iftar and have guests over forthe same. But with the coronavirus pandemic, all of these age-old rituals havecome to a grinding halt.
An Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Farangi Mahal in Lucknow,issued a fatwa stating that Muslims should offer Eid Namaz and Alvida Namaz athome if the lockdown extends beyond May 17.
The fatwa was signed by four clerics — Maulana Khalid RashidFarangi Mahli, Maulana Nasrullah, Maulana Naeemurrahman Siddiqui and MaulanaMuhammad Mushtaq on behalf of Darul Ifta Farangi Mahal, reports TOI.
This year, there will also not be any Eid hugs or handshakesto mark the occasion except with family members at home.
The fatwa that was issued in response to a query, furthersaid, "For Alvida and Eid namaaz, the Imam and muezzin (person who givesout the azaan) of the mosque and only three other people, should offer theprayers in the mosque. This count should not exceed beyond five people followingsocial distancing norms."
Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, a well-known Sunnicleric, said that instead of buying new clothes, people should wear clean andgood clothes that they already have.
He asked people not go out of their homes to congratulateothers on Eid, but to call up friends and family to share the happiness of thefestival.
He asked people not to embrace each other - as is thecustom - and maintain social distancing.?He said that people should do maximum amount of charity andhelp those in need on Eid.
Shia cleric and senior vice president of the All IndiaMuslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, has also said, "Eid shouldbe celebrated with utmost simplicity this year and people should stay safe attheir homes and not go outside. The budget earmarked for Eid should be cut downand the money be donated to the poor who are suffering because of thispandemic."
The Islamic Centre of India had announced that it would livestream the recitation of the Quran during the month of Ramzan. It is doing Facebook live streams every day during the holy month, from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm on its official page, which can be accessed by anyone acrossthe globe.
Clerics and religious leaders around the world have alreadyurged and issued various appeals to people urging them to pray inside theirhouses and follow lockdown guidelines during Ramzan.