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[PICTURES] How Muslims have adjusted to Covid-19 lock-down during Ramadan & Eid
- Thread starter prakash
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Muslims in India and Bangladesh celebrated a subdued Eid al-Fitr on Monday, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.
The three-day holiday that begins with the sighting of the moon is usually a time for travel, family gatherings and feasts after weeks of dawn-to-dusk fasting.
But this year, Muslims were praying at home, their celebrations quieter and touched with worry about the virus and the effect of the lockdowns and other restrictions put in place to try and curb the spread of COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Outside New Delhi's iconic Mughal-era Jama Masjid, closed as part of a ban on religious congregations, security officers patrolled the streets and almost all shops were closed barring a sweets shop.
India eid
Police made rounds on motorbikes and a mini police camp stood just outside a gate.
"It's been 1,400 years since the Islam religion was founded ... even our elders could never imagine that we will have to celebrate Eid in such a way," businessman Shehzad Khan told The Associated Press news agency.
He said money typically spent buying new clothes to wear for Eid was sent to the poor, who have lost livelihoods due to the virus and the measures taken to contain it.
"That money we have given them so that they too can celebrate Eid with us," Khan said.
'We never felt like this'
In Bangladesh, authorities asked people to avoid mass prayers in open fields, which normally draw tens of thousands. Devotees could join prayers at mosques by maintaining safe distances.
On Monday morning, those praying in the country's more than 300,000 mosques wore masks, and many wore gloves as well.
In the capital Dhaka's main Baitul Mokarram mosque, thousands joined the prayers in phases as authorities allowed them to enter in groups and prayers were held every hour.
Many waited in lines for more than an hour to enter the premises.
"This is a new experience. We never felt like this," government official Abdul Halim told The AP news agency after attending the prayer.
"I did not bring my two sons for the prayers, they are staying home. My family could not visit my parents this time," he said.
Across the two countries, government and religious leaders appealed to Eid celebrants to follow lockdown norms and maintain a safe physical distance.
India has climbed to among the world's largest coronavirus outbreaks with more than 138,000 cases and 4,000 deaths.
It has eased its strict lockdown in recent weeks, including allowing domestic flights to resume starting Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to Muslims.
"Eid Mubarak!" Modi tweeted. "May this special occasion further the spirit of compassion, brotherhood and harmony. May everyone be healthy and prosperous."
New cases and deaths from COVID-19 are rising in Bangladesh, which has confirmed 35,585 cases and 501 deaths.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina offered Eid greetings but stressed the need to maintain health guidelines and for individuals to stay safe.
"Your safety is in your hands. Remember that if you remain safe, you are also keeping your family, neighbours and the country safe," she said in an address to the nation.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...adesh-coronavirus-crisis-200525141747164.html
The three-day holiday that begins with the sighting of the moon is usually a time for travel, family gatherings and feasts after weeks of dawn-to-dusk fasting.
But this year, Muslims were praying at home, their celebrations quieter and touched with worry about the virus and the effect of the lockdowns and other restrictions put in place to try and curb the spread of COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Outside New Delhi's iconic Mughal-era Jama Masjid, closed as part of a ban on religious congregations, security officers patrolled the streets and almost all shops were closed barring a sweets shop.
India eid
Police made rounds on motorbikes and a mini police camp stood just outside a gate.
"It's been 1,400 years since the Islam religion was founded ... even our elders could never imagine that we will have to celebrate Eid in such a way," businessman Shehzad Khan told The Associated Press news agency.
He said money typically spent buying new clothes to wear for Eid was sent to the poor, who have lost livelihoods due to the virus and the measures taken to contain it.
"That money we have given them so that they too can celebrate Eid with us," Khan said.
'We never felt like this'
In Bangladesh, authorities asked people to avoid mass prayers in open fields, which normally draw tens of thousands. Devotees could join prayers at mosques by maintaining safe distances.
On Monday morning, those praying in the country's more than 300,000 mosques wore masks, and many wore gloves as well.
In the capital Dhaka's main Baitul Mokarram mosque, thousands joined the prayers in phases as authorities allowed them to enter in groups and prayers were held every hour.
Many waited in lines for more than an hour to enter the premises.
"This is a new experience. We never felt like this," government official Abdul Halim told The AP news agency after attending the prayer.
"I did not bring my two sons for the prayers, they are staying home. My family could not visit my parents this time," he said.
Across the two countries, government and religious leaders appealed to Eid celebrants to follow lockdown norms and maintain a safe physical distance.
India has climbed to among the world's largest coronavirus outbreaks with more than 138,000 cases and 4,000 deaths.
It has eased its strict lockdown in recent weeks, including allowing domestic flights to resume starting Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to Muslims.
"Eid Mubarak!" Modi tweeted. "May this special occasion further the spirit of compassion, brotherhood and harmony. May everyone be healthy and prosperous."
New cases and deaths from COVID-19 are rising in Bangladesh, which has confirmed 35,585 cases and 501 deaths.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina offered Eid greetings but stressed the need to maintain health guidelines and for individuals to stay safe.
"Your safety is in your hands. Remember that if you remain safe, you are also keeping your family, neighbours and the country safe," she said in an address to the nation.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...adesh-coronavirus-crisis-200525141747164.html
Abdullah719
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Coronavirus: German Ikea car park used for mass Eid prayer
An Ikea store near Frankfurt in west Germany handed over its car park to a local mosque for socially-distanced mass prayers and won praise online.
Around 800 Muslims prayed in the large outdoor space to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Sunday.
"The closing prayer with all Muslims in Wetzlar was like a reward for us," a mosque chairman told BBC News.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52759511
An Ikea store near Frankfurt in west Germany handed over its car park to a local mosque for socially-distanced mass prayers and won praise online.
Around 800 Muslims prayed in the large outdoor space to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Sunday.
"The closing prayer with all Muslims in Wetzlar was like a reward for us," a mosque chairman told BBC News.
Places of worship have reopened in Germany but they must follow rules to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Pictures of the Eid prayer posted on social media have been widely shared, with many complimenting the mosque for finding a safe way for the community to pray together.
Looking for an alternative space to accommodate many people practising social distancing, the chairman of a Wetzlar mosque, Kadir Terzi, approached Ikea last week.
He told BBC News he wasn't hopeful he would receive a positive response.
"But the store manager didn't hesitate for a second and said 'yes, you can pray'. I was surprised and happy at the same time," Mr Terzi explained, who then organised the prayer along with Ditib Wetzlar mosque.
The mosque invited worshippers to bring their prayers mats and face masks to the Ikea car park, but reminded them of the German coronavirus rules that children under 12 should be left at home and people must keep physically apart.
After a shaky start with some crowding at the entrance, a video shows hundreds of people lying down their prayer mats at a distance from each other, aided by stewards.
With the iconic blue and yellow Ikea storefront in the background, people wearing masks performed their prayers and listened to a sermon by the imam.
Mr Terzi said the prayer was particularly important because many worshippers felt isolated during Ramadan due to coronavirus restrictions.
Ordinarily the month of fasting is a busy time when families and communities gather nightly to break their fasts and organise charity work.
"It was a completely different Ramadan month, without contacts, without visits and without breaking the fast together," he explained, adding that the chance to pray together was very valuable.
The decision was praised widely on social media. Canadian journalist Carly Agro posted "this is the love and kindness the world needs right now".
"What a lovely gesture. A true sign of hope in these difficult times," wrote another Twitter user.
"This is what finding solutions together and staying by each other through this crisis can look like!" added another.
Pictures of the Eid prayer posted on social media have been widely shared, with many complimenting the mosque for finding a safe way for the community to pray together.
Looking for an alternative space to accommodate many people practising social distancing, the chairman of a Wetzlar mosque, Kadir Terzi, approached Ikea last week.
He told BBC News he wasn't hopeful he would receive a positive response.
"But the store manager didn't hesitate for a second and said 'yes, you can pray'. I was surprised and happy at the same time," Mr Terzi explained, who then organised the prayer along with Ditib Wetzlar mosque.
The mosque invited worshippers to bring their prayers mats and face masks to the Ikea car park, but reminded them of the German coronavirus rules that children under 12 should be left at home and people must keep physically apart.
After a shaky start with some crowding at the entrance, a video shows hundreds of people lying down their prayer mats at a distance from each other, aided by stewards.
With the iconic blue and yellow Ikea storefront in the background, people wearing masks performed their prayers and listened to a sermon by the imam.
Mr Terzi said the prayer was particularly important because many worshippers felt isolated during Ramadan due to coronavirus restrictions.
Ordinarily the month of fasting is a busy time when families and communities gather nightly to break their fasts and organise charity work.
"It was a completely different Ramadan month, without contacts, without visits and without breaking the fast together," he explained, adding that the chance to pray together was very valuable.
The decision was praised widely on social media. Canadian journalist Carly Agro posted "this is the love and kindness the world needs right now".
"What a lovely gesture. A true sign of hope in these difficult times," wrote another Twitter user.
"This is what finding solutions together and staying by each other through this crisis can look like!" added another.
gazza619
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I find it is easier to be a good muslim during lockdown
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