10:38, 7 April 2020

Coronavirus corrects Ramadan spiritual practices

Folded hands. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the "Caucasian Knot"

Because of the coronavirus, the holy Muslim month of Ramadan may pass without collective prayers and solitude in mosques, but fasting cannot be cancelled, Imams of Northern Caucasus believe. They also made a recommendation not to visit relatives during the celebration of Uraza Bairam.

On April 3, believers of Kabardino-Balkaria, Adygea, Ingushetia and Chechnya held their Friday namaz (prayer) at home in connection with the ban on visiting mosques because of coronavirus. Believers in Dagestan did the same, where the Muftiate recommended to refrain from collective prayers.

In 2020, the start of Ramadan falls on April 24, and the last day – on May 23, Uraza Bairam will be on May 24, the website "Islam-today" reports.

In the conditions of coronavirus, the observance of collective prayers in mosques is not necessary, Imams and Muftiates of Northern Caucasus believe.

"However, Imams cannot hold prayers in mosques without the parishioners present and by means of online broadcasting," said Umaraskhab Arslanaliev, Imam of the Central Juma Mosque of Makhachkala.

Only the Muslims, who have diseases, cannot observe fasting at Ramadan, the interlocutors of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent have stated. According to Imam Arslanaliev, fasting does not reduce immunity, but rather strengthens it.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 6, 2020 at 09:45 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Gor Alexanyan

Source: CK correspondent