A meeting of prominent religious clerics from all school of thoughts was held in Karachi, where they discussed various issues relating to the coronavirus pandemic. Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman read out a joint statement before the media at the end of the meeting.
“All the people [should] perform ablution at home. The sunnahs before and after [the Farz prayers] should also be offered at home,” Mufti Muneeb said.
The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee chairman, however urged the prayer leaders to stop making Urdu speeches on Fridays and keep their sermons short. He further said, “Those suffering from the virus, having cough or fever shall not come to mosques. People above 50 years of age shall also offer prayers at home.”
Mufti Taqi Usmani, another prominent cleric, said that it was obligatory for every Muslim to take precautionary measures against the virus. He said that people needed to consult Allah and apologize for their sins.
The announcement came after the national toll of confirmed coronavirus reached to 1,000. Many Muslim countries, including UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, have already suspended the mass prayers.