No congregational prayers due to 20 point strategy to fight Coronavirus

No congregational prayers can be held due to 20-point strategy to fight Coronavirus.

According to Federation of Shia Islamic Seminaries, Islamic requirements for congregational prayers cannot be met due to the 20-point strategy regarding COVID-19.

The 20-point strategy requires 6-feet distance between worshippers’ lines in columns at mosques. And if Muslims keep a distance of 6 feet during prayers, that goes against Islamic requirements.

No congregational prayers can be held

Hence, if they observe the precautionary measures regarding Coronavirus, Muslims cannot meet Islamic requirements for congregational prayers

That means Muslims can offer prayers individually and congregations in columns.

Therefore, Allama Afzal Hyderi of Wifaqul Madaris al Shia or Federation of Shia Islamic Seminaries has asked congregational prayers leaders to refrain from in view of current situation.

Wifaqul Madaris secretary general Allama Afzal Hyderi sent this recommendation in a letter to managing bodies of Shia Islamic seminaries and those clerics who lead congregational prayers five times a day or on Friday.

He informed them that Wifaqul Madaris issued declaration in accordance with health officials’ recommendations and decrees of qualified Islamic jurisprudence.

Moreover, Allama Syed Riaz Hussain Najafi, Allama Sajid Naqvi, Allama Mohsin Najafi, Allama Qazi Niaz, Allama Hyder Ali Javadi, Allama Juma Asadi, Allama Ramzan Tauqeer and other senior Shia Islamic scholars also endorsed the declaration.

But Allama Afzal Hyderi clarified that they can hold religious congregations of other sorts where they can observe precautionary measures regarding Coronavirus.

He further clarified that congregational prayers (namaz ba jamaat) requirements don’t apply on other congregations.

Shiite News adds:
That means, Shia Muslims can organize and attend Youm-e-Ali and Bibi Khadijatul Kubra death anniversary congregations. Similarly, they can attend celebrations on birth anniversary of Imam Hassan (AS).

They can hold congregations at Qadr nights and they can stage Quds Day rallies as well.

Because, in these programmes, they can strictly act upon 20-points discipline which President Dr Arif Alvi had announced after consultation with Ulema and health specialists.

However, government and non-Shia people must not forget that Shia Muslims offer p[prayers at mosques and hold majlis at Imam Bargahs.

In the areas, where Shia Muslims have no Imam Bargahs, they also hold majlis at mosques during non-prayers timings.

Likewise, Shia Muslims may offer prayers at Imam Bargahs also.

That don’t mean that Imam Bargahs enjoy status of mosques because mosques discipline remains limited to mosques and Imam Bargahs discipline somehow remain different.

For example, Shia Muslims cannot offer funeral prayers in mosques as per Islamic decrees.

Shia Muslims can maintain six-feet distance during majlis and rallies on 21st Ramazan or any day but they cannot offer congregational prayers while staying six-feet away from one another.