No to mass prayers

With the COVID-19 pandemic showing very little signs of respite, and the number of positive cases is increasing, several Islamic religious groups and organizations have come forward to support the government's call for saying No to mass prayers on Eid. The culmination of the month-long fasting of the followers of Islam is likely to end on Saturday or Sunday, and it has become very important to ensure that people don't come out for mass prayers to mark the Eid celebrations. It is very heartening that the followers of this faith have shown extremely praiseworthy responsible behaviour during the on-going month of Ramzan by not assembling in mosques. This has happened despite attempts by certain fundamentalist groups to defy the lockdown and the social distancing norms. The Tablighi Jamaat's story, for instance, will go down in the history of public order in the country as a dark chapter for so blatantly flouting the government's directives intended at arresting the spread of COVID-19 at an early stage. Several individuals and organizations of the Islamic community have appealed to the community members to hold Eid prayers indoors with family members. They have also asked the people not to crowd in markets in the name of Eid shopping and not to confine fitra only among the Islamic community. Leading the campaign is the Upper Assam Imam Parishad president Maulana Harun Rashid Kashimi and senior advocate Rameez Rahman of the Gauhati High Court, who have also urged the community members not to be misled if any maulana or mufti instigate them to hold mass prayers at Idgahs. It is crystal clear that in the current situation arising out of coronavirus, it is necessary to obey the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the government and to maintain social distancing, at all cost.