Taking a U-turn to their previous position, renowned religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani on Tuesday said that mosques would remain open in the holy month of Ramazan in Karachi with maximum precautionary measures to refrain from deadly COVID-19.
In a big move, Mufti Taqi said the Urdu language sermon would not be delivered in Juma prayers while all prayers would be offered as per the routine in mosques.
The move came after the incident happened on Friday in which Lady SHO of Peerababd, Orangi Town, in Karachi got injuries while trying to stop the Juma congregation at a mosque.
A joint statement has also been issued demanding the Sindh government to withdraw all FIRs against the clerics. “The Sindh government breached the agreement, not us,” it stated.
Mufti Taqi said people are not implementing the lockdown guidelines. He asked imams and people to wear face masks during their stay at mosques.
Mufti Taqi was talking to media persons after the meeting of religious scholars from all schools of thought in Karachi on Tuesday.
He also urged people to respect the decision of the government and strictly implement the lockdown and asked old citizens and infected people not to visit mosques.
He asked people to pray to the Almighty Allah to end this deadly pandemic.
Mufi Muneeb ur Rehman said from today (April 14) five-time prayers and Juma will be offered as per the normal routine but with precautionary measures. “Mosques would not be included in the lockdown impact.” He said all scholars consented to these decisions.
On Monday, senior clerics of Wafaqul Madaris al Arabia warned the government on Monday not to further the restrictions on congregations in mosques in the name of containing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
More than 53 senior clerics of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, belonging to the Wafaqul Madaris al Arabia held a meeting in Jamia Darul Uloom Zakria, Tarnol Islamabad and warned the government.
Earlier, following the Sindh government's decision to ban all congregational prayers including Friday prayers, Mufti Taqi had urged people to respect the decision. He said people should arrange to pray at their homes as a group or can even pray individually. “Those unable to attend prayers at the mosque are excused by Sharia," the mufti said.