Will Muslims of Maharashtra defy lockdown in Ramazan?
Defiance of traders
and Muslims of Maharashtra against lockdown ahead of festive season stresses
the need to reconsider strategy to deal with the pandemic
New Age Islam Staff Writer
11 April 2021
As the holy month of Ramadhan is approaching,
Muslims of the country, especially of the state of Maharashtra fear another
lockdown during Ramadhan.
Picturcourtesy: ANI
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Last year, the Muslims the world over had decided
to comply with the WHO advisory to impose lockdown as a preventive measure
against Covid-19. Many Islamic countries including Saudi Arabia had closed
mosques and advised the Muslims to offer namaz at home. Friday prayers were not
held in many countries. Iran, Bahrain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh and
Pakistan had partial lockdown. Saudi Arabia allowed only local people in
limited number for Hajj and Umrah in view of the pandemic.
In India religious seminaries like Darul Uloom
Deoband and Nadwatul Ulema advised Muslims to offer namaz at home. Jama Masjid
Delhi and Fatehpuri Masjid Delhi also advised Muslims to offer namaz at home.
File Image (For
representational purpose only)
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During the month of Ramadhan too, Muslims of India
followed lockdown guidelines and offered namaz and taraweeh at home. Eid
prayers were also held at homes in small groups. Though this was painful for
them but they followed government directives in the larger interests of
humanity.
As the number of Covid-19 cases started to drop
and life gradually came to normal, by November the government eased
restrictions on places of worship and people started visiting mosques and
temples.
A market in Islamabad,
the capital, on Tuesday.Credit...B.K. Bangash/Associated Press
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But since March this year, a second wave of
Covid-19 in western and north western states of Maharashtra, Gujarat,
Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh compelled the respective
governments to once again resort to lockdown. Night curfew and weekend lockdown
was imposed in these states including Mahatashtra. Maharashtra also imposed
restrictions on malls, markets and shops. This caused huge loss to businesses
and jobs well before the festival season. Therefore, the lockdown started
causing frustration and anxiety among the people. This resulted in violence in
some places.
On March 30, Sikhs of Nanded in Maharashtra
clashed with police outside Huzur Sahib Gurudwara because the police did not
give them permission to take out a procession on the occasion of Hola Mohalla
celebrations. At least 3 policemen were injured and some vehicles were damaged.
Another incident of violence occurred in Sahasram
in Bihar where students protested against closing of coaching institutes due to
Covid-19. They clashed with the police compelling them to fire tear gas shells.
A dozen police personnel were injured in the clash. The students alleged that
the government was spoiling their career by closing educational institutions.
Next in the line were the traders of Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture, a body of 800
trade associations announced that they will defy the lockdown and will open
their shops and stores as they cannot afford to lose business this festive
season again. The Maharashtra government is contemplating to impose a 15-day
full lockdown in a couple of days. Since the holy month of Ramdhan is also a
couple of days away, the lockdown may start with the onset of Ramadhan. This
has caused concern among the Muslims of Maharashtra.
Those who attended the
procession were seen ignoring the government’s advisory on social distancing
and the majority of them were without masks.
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Therefore, over a dozen representatives of religious
and political bodies of Malegaon in the state of Maharashtra on 10th April held
a meeting and unanimously decided that during the month of Ramadhan this year,
all the mosques will remain open and five times congregational prayers and the
prayers of Taraweeh will be held in mosques in the city. Muslims have been
advised to offer congregational prayers in mosques and at the same time they
have been advised to take all precautionary measures against the epidemic and
obey government guidelines to prevent the disease. The written resolution
adopted in the meeting also says that prayers of Eidayn( Eid-ul-Fitr and
Eid-al-Adha) will be held in open places. The resolution advises Muslims not to
gather in public places after the prayers and mike should be used only for
calling the Azan. The resolution also urges Muslims not to bother about any
action that may be taken and show courage and determination while obeying
religious ordainments.
The resolution has been signed by the
representatives of Malegaon branches of Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, Jamat-e-Islami,
Ahl-e-Hadith, AIMIM and Janata Dal Secular among others.
From the behaviour of different sections of the
society with regard to the lockdown in recent days it seems that the people
have become averse to the year-long lockdown. Students, businessmen and
labourers are bearing the brunt of the lockdown the most. The minorities have
also begun to feel that only they are expected to sacrifice their religious
duties for the sake of the country. The religious congregations of the majority
community are held without any obstacles. The defiance of the traders of
Maharashtra, the violent protests of students of Bihar, the violent behaviour
of the Sikhs of Nanded and the decision of the Muslims of Malegaon to offer
congregational prayers in mosques in Ramadhan without bothering about actions
are only an indication of the public mood and underlines the need to reconsider
strategy to deal with the pandemic keeping in view the economy and the
faith-based issues of the society at large.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/will-muslims-maharashtra-defy-lockdown/d/124679
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