Lucknow Islamic Seminary Issues Fatwa On Eid Hugs, Calls For Low-Key Celebrations

Ramzan is the most precious month in the Islamic Calendar. During this 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 for the same. But with the coronavirus pandemic, all of these age-old rituals have come to a grinding halt.

IANS

An Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Farangi Mahal in Lucknow, issued a fatwa stating that Muslims should offer Eid Namaz and Alvida Namaz at home if the lockdown extends beyond May 17.

The fatwa was signed by four clerics ¡ª Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahli, Maulana Nasrullah, Maulana Naeemurrahman Siddiqui and Maulana Muhammad Mushtaq on behalf of Darul Ifta Farangi Mahal, reports TOI.

This year, there will also not be any Eid hugs or handshakes to mark the occasion except with family members at home.

Reuters

The fatwa that was issued in response to a query, further said, "For Alvida and Eid namaaz, the Imam and muezzin (person who gives out the azaan) of the mosque and only three other people, should offer the prayers in the mosque. This count should not exceed beyond five people following social distancing norms."

Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, a well-known Sunni cleric, said that instead of buying new clothes, people should wear clean and good clothes that they already have.

DNA/Reuters

He asked people not go out of their homes to congratulate others on Eid, but to call up friends and family to share the happiness of the festival.

He asked people not to embrace each other - as is the custom - and maintain social distancing. He said that people should do maximum amount of charity and help those in need on Eid.

Shia cleric and senior vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, has also said, "Eid should be celebrated with utmost simplicity this year and people should stay safe at their homes and not go outside. The budget earmarked for Eid should be cut down and the money be donated to the poor who are suffering because of this pandemic."

The Islamic Centre of India had announced that it would live stream 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 across the globe.

Clerics and religious leaders around the world have already urged and issued various appeals to people urging them to pray inside their houses and follow lockdown guidelines during Ramzan.