New Delhi: Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, prominent Muslim organisations and leaders have urged people to take precautionary measures while doing the sacrifice of animals and adhere to social distancing norms amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Mohammed Salim Engineer, Secretary-General, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said, "Qurbani is not merely a ritual or custom, it is obligatory. If Muslims are unable to do the Qurbani despite their desire and requisite efforts because of government restrictions and other impediments, then they should try to get their Qurbani done at a different place."
He further added that Qurbani is the most cherished deed in the eyes of Allah, but if this is not possible then after the 'days of sacrifice', they should give sadaqah (charity) to the poor of an amount equivalent to the cost of sacrifice.
Secretary-General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said along with this all precautionary measures like social-distancing and proper sanitisation must also be exercised concerning Qurbani in the light of the conditions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Noted Islamic scholar Dr Hussain Madavoor said, "If any person can not sacrifice his Qurbani and distribute its meat in a proper way by following precautions to avoid the spread of Covid-19, then it is better to avoid Qurbani itself in this lockdown period."
He said that "we have closed our masjid and didn't perform compulsory Juma namaaz even in the holy month of Ramadan, and suspended pilgrimage of Umrah and Hajj because of coronavirus. There is no alternative for Qurbani."
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"But still we can help poor people in our neighbourhood suffering from lockdown, by giving food and other essential commodities. It may be more useful and rewardful in this time," he added.
Meanwhile, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, Imam of Lucknow's Aishbagh Eidgah wrote a letter to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and asked the state government for opening of goat markets at pre-designated spots across the state.
The cleric also sought his permission for Eid namaz and stated, "If the risk of infection in this pandemic is controlled, then permission for Eid with 50% of the capacity of the mosque or Eidgah should be given."
The Eid-ul-Azha or Baqra Eid is scheduled to be celebrated on July 31 across India. In the Islamic calendar, celebrations for the festival begin on the 10th day of the 12th and final month, known as Dhul Hijjah or The Month of the Pilgrimage.
