Gujarat wakf board forbids Ramzan gatherings

Kapil Dave | TNN | Updated: Apr 21, 2020, 09:36 IST

The board appealed to the people to follow the lockdown and social distancing rules and perform all religious observances of Ramzan at home. (File photo)

The board appealed to the people to follow the lockdown and social distancing rules and perform all religious ...Read More

GANDHINAGAR: Following guidelines issued by the Union ministry of minority affairs, the state wakf board issued directions to more than 10,000 mosques and other organizations, to strictly avoid any kind of gatherings during the month of Ramzan, which begins later this week, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had a video conference with the various state wakf boards recently.
I R Mansuri, chief executive officer (CEO), Gujarat wakf board, said, “Following the government of India guidelines as a precaution against the Covid-19 virus, we have issued an appeal to more than 10,000 mosques and trusts under the wakf to avoid any kind of crowding to prevent the spread of the virus people may gather during Ramzan. We appeal to people to stay home.”
The board appealed to the people to follow the lockdown and social distancing rules and perform all religious observances of Ramzan at home.
Muslim clerics also appealed to the community to not insist on offering the special extra namaz with the night prayers during Ramzan – the taraweeh – and certainly not in a congregation. Tanzim Ulama-e-Ahmedabad has appealed to Muslims to follow the government’s guidelines and the advice of doctors, and stay away from offering prayers at mosques. It also urged people not to pray in groups, on terraces or in parking lots.
Meanwhile, for the duration of the lockdown, the Gujarat high court ordered the state government to strictly prohibit the gathering of people and congregations at religious places. This order is to remain in force at least till May 1, when the HC is to hear the case further.