Conditional permission granted to offer Taraweeh in mosques

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – President Dr Arif Alvi said that they will have to take step to stop the spread of coronavirus during Ramazanul Mubarik. In a consultative meeting with Ulema through the video link on Saturday, he said that the objective of the meeting is to create national harmony. “The people can offer Taraweeh in mosques with a distance of six feet among them. Taraveeh will be offered in the courtyard of mosques,” he said. He said that the nation is looking towards the government and the religious scholars to come up with a consensus policy on the matter. “We have to give a message of unity to the nation to deal with the current situation.” President Dr Arif Alvi said that he had consulted different political leaders over the last few days and sought proposals from the provincial governments with regard to the guidelines to be observed in mosques during Ramazan. He stressed that the message of discipline to cope with coronavirus must emanate from mosques. “We have to follow discipline as per the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).” He said that the government could review the decisions if the precautionary measures not taken. During the meeting, President Dr Arif Alvi and Ulema agreed on the 20-point strategy to offer prayers in mosques. According to the strategy, no carpets will be laid in the mosques and Imambargahs and the prayers will be offered on the floor with a distance of six feet between the people offering prayers. The people are also required to perform ablution at home and wash hands for 20 seconds with soap before leaving for the mosque with masks on their faces. They are also required to observe social distancing and refrain from any sort of gathering after the prayers. There will be no gatherings for Iftar and Sehr in mosques during Ramazan. The floor of the mosques will be washed with chlorine mixed water. Governors, Punjab Auqaf Minister Pir Syed Saeedul Hassan Shah, chief secretaries and the IGPs also attended the meeting. Data Darbar Khateeb Maulana Maqsood Ahmed Chishti, Maulana Hanif Jalanddhari, Tahir Ashrafi, Allama Niaz Hussain Naqvi, Sahibzada Abdullah Mustafa, Allama Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer, Maulana Ghulam Ahmed Sialvi, Pir Habib Irfani.