When Iftar and Taraweeh return

After a gap of two years, night congregations called Taraweeh prayers and Iftars with friends and extended relatives are back to make Ramadhan nights fruitful. "It is glad news that the special prayers can be conducted inside the mosques with strict observance of Covid rules and we welcome the Supreme Committee announcement," said Ali al Ghafry, Head of Awqaf at the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

Prominent Islamic scholars asked everyone to get vaccinated against Covid-19 ahead of the holy month of Ramadhan and continue to observe safety measures during the festivities to protect themselves and their loved ones from as many countries are reporting a spike in coronavirus.

As per the SC announcement, anyone who has taken their two doses of vaccines can pray Taraweeh in mosques while children below 12 are not allowed to enter the masjid as their vaccination is yet to begin.

The Supreme Committee has reiterated that everyone who shows any respiratory symptoms should avoid attending group prayers and gatherings of all kinds in view of protecting himself and the members of the society. It urges citizens and residents to receive the booster dose of the Covid 19 vaccine for those who have completed six months of taking the second dose with a view to enhancing individual and societal immunity.

At a virtual panel discussion with the Islamic Advisory Group (IAG) co-organised by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies last week which included eminent scholars from the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) in Saudi Arabia and Al Azhar Al-Sharif in Egypt, scholars advised all believers across the world to follow Sharia in protecting the health of individuals and communities in Ramadhan during the pandemic,

“Ramadhan is an occasion to take care of our health. We have to make sure we are respectful of Islamic teachings by protecting one’s health," Professor Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary-General of the IIFA, said adding that the protection of life is one of the five main objectives of Sharia in Islam.

“The academy has called on Muslims across the world to abide by the instructions of health authorities regarding the use of Covid-19 vaccines and to observe public health and social measures,” he added.