Friday prayers held as usual in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, March 20 (IANS) Friday congregations at mosques in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana were held as usual but at some places imams cut short their Urdu speeches.

There was no impact on the turnout of the worshippers at historic Mecca Masjid or other major mosques across Hyderabad. At some mosques, the managing committees did not make arrangements for prayers on abutting road or open places to avoid large gatherings.

The incharge for Mecca Masjid had appealed to people to offer prayers at the mosques in their neighbourhoods but there was no apparent fall in the number of worshippers at Mecca Masjid located near Charminar.

The turnout was normal at Shahi Masjid at Public Gardens, Azizia Masjid in Mehdipatnam, Jamia Masjid Secunderabad and other mosques in the city.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had on Thursday appealed to places of worship of all faiths not to allow devotees as a precautionary measure to contain spread of Coronavirus.

The state has so far reported 16 COVID-19 positive cases. A group of Muslim leaders led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had Thursday assured the chief minister that they will extend all cooperation with the government for the measures being taken to contain spread of the disease.

The imams at several mosques cut short their Urdu speeches and after Arabic sermon and ‘namaz’ advised the people to offer non-obligatory part of their prayers at home.

Majority of people avoided ‘wadu’ (ablution) at the mosques and had come prepared from home. They also took some precautionary measures like avoiding shaking of hands after the Islamic greetings.

At some mosques, the management committees and volunteers provided hand sanitizers to the worshippers.

The imams in their speeches at majority of the mosques exhorted people to take all necessary precautions in view of the threat posed by Coronavirus. They said non-obligatory part of the prayers can be offered at home. Similarly, the meetings to mark ‘Shab-e-Meraj’ may be cancelled. ‘Shab-e-Meraj’, which marks Prophet Mohammad’s ascension to heaven, falls on the night of March 22.

The imams also advised the old people and children to offer prayers at home. “Those sick should also take the precautions and avoid coming to mosques till they fully recover,” said Moulana Abdul Rahman Al-Azhari at Masjid-e-Shujat in Janaki Nagar colony of Toli Chowki.

He said during his speech that namaz in mosques continued despites epidemics like plague during the times of Prophet Mohammad as those healthy used to offer regular prayers. He said it is unfortunate that in some countries namaz is not being offered in mosques due to fear of Coronavirus.

“This is the time when you should seek the blessings of Allah and make supplications. The very foundation of Islamic belief is that no one will die before the time fixed by Allah. A Muslim should have no fear because nothing can harm him if Allah wants to save him. The holy Quran, the word of Allah, has the power to cure. We should turn to Him and at the same time we should take all necessary safety measures and precautions,” he said.

–IANS

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