This Ramzan will be without mass prayers, iftar parties

GURURAJ JAMKHANDI | TNN | Updated: Apr 26, 2020, 12:35 IST

DHARWAD: Members of the Muslim community in Dharwad district have decided to follow the Covid-19 lockdown guidelines and offer namaz at homes during the holy month of Ramzan which began on Friday.
The leaders of Anjuman-e-Islam in the twin cities said mass prayers, tarawih prayers and iftars will be held in mosques. Iftar meets and mass dinner are also banned in houses. Except for the Imam, Muzzain and mosque administration committee member, nobody is allowed to perform prayers at mosques.
A religious leader said there is permission for alerting people before sehri and iftar. Azan and other announcements will be made in low decibel. Anjuman committees have circulated guidelines of the Wakf Board through social media platforms to ensure that lockdown is not violated during Ramzan.
Jamat-e-Ahle-Sunnat Karnataka general secretary Moulana Mufti Mohamed Ali Qazi and joint secretary Maulana Niyaz Alam Shaikh have urged the community members to adhere to the directions given by the Wakf Board and district administration. They asked people not to form crowd under the pretext of giving alms.
After the moon sighting, Muslims offered special prayers on Friday night and observed the first roza (fasting) on Saturday. There are nearly 3.5 lakh Muslims and 300 mosques in the district.