Pir Noor ul Haq Qadri – Minister for Religious Affairs, has announced that the government will consult Ulema on the issue of congregational prayers amid COVID-19 outbreak.
The Federal minister reiterated the government’s commitment to developing a consensus on religious issues in wake of virus threat and any decision on the issue of congregational prayers in the country will be unanimously in nature.
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“Decision will be made after consultation and understanding with the Ulema,” he noted.
Mr Qadri also announced that the religious leaders, scholars, and Ulemas from all schools of thought and parties will be consulted in a meeting scheduled on Saturday which will be headed by President Arif Alvi.
Earlier, on April 14 – Tuesday, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Mufti Taqi Usmani, Allama Rashid Soomro, Maulana Anas Noorani and other Ulema of various schools of thought unilaterally declared that mosques will no longer adhere to lockdown directives and that Friday prayers and Taraaweeh will be offered in congregation.
“Restriction of three or five people at mosques is not proving practical, those who are sick, elderly should not come to mosques,” said Mufti Taqi Usmani.
He further added that mosque administration and the people attending congregational prayers must abide by the healthcare guidelines advised by medical experts. Use of facial masks and hand sanitizers must be ensured.
