Muslims Join Jum’a Prayers at Mosques after a Month

Many Muslims in the capital took part in the prayers at Jum'a in the mosques on Friday, one month after the lifting of restrictions on congregations, according to the necessary medical advice.

To a large extent, offering prayers at mosques was restricted in the effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19.

Muslims were seen offering prayers at different mosques wearing masks and maintaining distance in the capital.

Mufti Mizanur Rahman, senior Pesh Imam of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, said, "Muslim devotees offered to keep their prayers at a distance and to obey the government's guidance on health. The floors of the mosques were disinfected before the prayer, and the devotees were permitted to reach the mosque after they had sanitized their hands.

After the congregation, the mosque was disinfected again, he said.

Abu Hena Mohammad Russel, who offered prayer at Nurani Islamia Mosque at Mirpur-2, said, “They offered prayers after maintaining distance and entered the mosque after washing their hands.”

The Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a notification on Wednesday allowing people to offer prayers, including Tarabi, at mosques from Thursday’s Zohr prayers subject to following health guidelines.

On April 6 last, the ministry had directed all to avoid mosques and offer prayers at home to prevent the transmission of fast-spreading coronavirus.

It had asked people to offer Zohr prayers at home instead of Jum’a on Friday.

Saying prayers five times a day is one of the ‘five pillars’ of Islam and the Friday prayer, which is done in congregations, is the most important one among them. 

The minister also urged the people of other faiths to give services at home instead of congregating in religious establishments.

On April 23, the Ministry decided that only 10 Muslim devotees and two Imams would be allowed to offer Tarabi prayers in mosques during the holy month of Ramadan.

Source: UNB