Call for simple Eid, help to Covid patients

Ludhiana: With the second wave of Covid-19 going on, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to be a low key affair in Ludhiana with most community members deciding to keep celebrations simple. Eid is likely to be celebrated in the city either on Thursday or Friday, depending on appearance of the crescent.
“We have already asked the people to celebrate the festival in a simple manner and avoid unnecessary expenditure. Also, we have asked them to help Covid patients in these testing times and provide monetary support to them. We have also told them to ensure that they support the poor as many don’t have work,” said Shahi Imam, Punjab, Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman Saani Ludhianvi.
Naib Shahi Imam Maulana Usman Ludhianvi said they had asked the deputy commissioner to change timing for lock down from 5am to noon as the present timing is not suitable for Eid shopping. He added that though they would have Eid prayers, but the same would be with 20-50 persons that too by following social distancing, wearing of masks and body temperature of each person would be checked before the prayers.
In the neighbouring Malerkotla, which has a sizeable Muslim population, Mufti-E-Azam Punjab Irtekaul Hassan has asked the community members to follow social distancing during Eid prayers.
“Namaz will be offered, but with social distancing. Earlier we would have prayers at 4-5 places, but now we will be holding Eid Namaz at 20-50 places so that very less people gathered at each spot. We have asked people to say Eid prayers in open spaces, vacant plots and in their own streets,” said Mufti-e-Azam Punjab.
Community members have said that since Covid-19 was at its peak, so they had decided to keep celebrations simple.
“Earlier we would say Eid prayers in big gatherings and meet people and visit our relatives, but this time we will offer such prayers in open spaces. Also we are not going to visit relatives and they too might not come in view of Covid surge. We are not allowing children, who would normally go out on Eid to celebrate, out as the fear of Covid looms large,” Muhammad Mushtaq, a businessman from Pakhowal Road, said.
Meanwhile, messages are doing round on social media asking the community members to do charity on Eid and help those affected with Covid directly or indirectly.