Muslim clerics appeal to offer Shab-e-Barat prayers from indoors, graveyards to remain closed

In view of the coronavirus pandemic, Muslim clerics have urged the community to celebrate the auspicious night of Shab-e-Barat by staying away from the commemorations and perform their rituals inside their homes.

New Delhi:Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune and forgiveness, will be observed on Thursday. On this auspicious night, people pray to Allah and visit the graves of their near and dear ones to offer prayers and light candles. But, amid fears of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, government and Muslim clerics have urged the community to stay away from the commemorations and perform their rituals inside their homes.

''Allah almighty grants forgiveness to all those who repent on this virtuous night but due to the coronavirus pandemic Muslims should not visit the graveyards but pray for their departed relatives while staying at home by reciting the Holy Quran and doing ''zikr'' and ''du'a''," said Maulana Mufti Muhammad Mukarram, Shahi Imam, Masjid Fatehpuri, Delhi.

Shahi Imam also urged parents to see that their children don't get out of homes during this night and pray along with them.

The holy night is observed by Muslims during the intervening night of 14 and 15 Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police has put up posters across the city urging Muslims to stay indoors and follow lockdown restrictions on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat.

The police sought cooperation from religious leaders in maintaining lockdown, stating that unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated and strict action to be taken against violators of lockdown.

On Tuesday, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi appealed to Muslims to perform the coming Shab-e-Barat prayer from their homes for countering the challenge posed by Novel COVID 19. "The whole country is observing a lockdown and any carelessness on our part can increase the problems for our family, society and the nation," he said.

The Karnataka State Waqf Board, Uttar Pradesh Shia and Sunni Central Waqf Boards have officially announced to close down all graveyards on Shab-e-Barat in view of the lockdown imposed due to coronavirus outbreak in the country.