Following discussions between Muslim leaders and senior health officials, important changes were announced for 2021 in Ramadan.
As part of the roadmap out of the lockdown, restrictions will gradually be relaxed and the next step will be on Monday April 12 – just as Ramadan is expected to begin.
April 12th is the start of step 2 of the roadmap. Unnecessary stores, hair salons and tattoo parlors, as well as gyms, outdoor attractions and community centers are reopening here. In addition, more people are allowed to attend weddings and funerals. So what about religious events and festivals?
Places of worship remained open under the national ban. People are allowed to attend services in churches, temples, mosques, gurdwaras, synagogues, and similar places in a manner that complies with government rules.
This means that people from different households (or support bladders) are not allowed to mix when attending a community service – or for a service that is being held in their own four walls.
Due to the guidelines, there will be significant changes for Ramadan observance this year.
Kamran Hussain, executive director of Green Lane Masjid and Community Center (GLMCC) in Small Heath, Birmingham, said they would take new action for the holy month of Ramadan.
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is characterized by daily fasting in daylight as well as special prayers and meals.
The Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham has announced important changes for Ramadan 2021
(Image: GLMCC)
Mr Hussain told Birmingham Live: “For our mosque, we have been in contact with Public Health England and other mosques to arrange security measures for Ramadan. As you know, the mosques closed last Ramadan which was quite a blow for many .
“This year we expect a resurgence, but all mosques will continue to adhere to social distancing and other precautions, which will significantly reduce capacity and numbers.
“We have received ad hoc visits from health inspectors several times over the past month as part of the inspections and preparations for Ramadan, and they have praised our general precautions and prepared for daily prayers.”
A joint statement by the imams resident at the GLMCC said: “The benefits of lockdown and social distancing will bear fruit as we slowly move out of lockdown. We are now seeing infections and mortality rates at the levels of six months ago be aware that we are not harming this progress by sticking to the rules.
“Ramadan is a month of blessing and increasing worship for Muslims. We have a special relationship with the many community activities that take place during this time, from communal iftars (breaking the fast) to taraweeh (night prayers) to outdoor oaths Celebrations at the end of Ramadan In the current situation, none of these practices will be the same this year.
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
“As a community, we have done extraordinarily well, opening our masajid (mosques) safely, staying home, setting up community and NHS support projects, helping the vulnerable, and caring for our elderly.
“Vaccination centers are now opening in Masajid. With all our joint efforts, we can now see a way out of this pandemic. The Muslim community has strengthened itself and is really showing confidence in the practice.
“Given the current circumstances, with the Ramadan approach, GLMCC has been working with fellow masajid and health officials to agree some critical messages for the holy month.”
“The main government message remains unchanged: hands. Face. Space. This has some implications for us in Ramadan.”
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
Against this background, the GLMCC announced significant changes in Ramadan for 2021:
In the joint declaration of the imams resident in the GLMCC, these were listed as follows:
1. Taraweeh / Qiyam (night prayers):
“We will be open to Taraweeh and want to take in as many people as possible. However, we know that due to the rules of social distancing we cannot take in the thousands that we are used to in the years before Covid. We have therefore set ourselves up 2 parishes are held increases every night.
“The advice to everyone is to pray Taraweeh locally and to adhere to a masjid so that you do not pass the virus on to other Muslim prayer participants. We will be accompanied by elderly and vulnerable people this year and we will continue to be committed to protecting everyone. “
2. Iftar (breaking the fast) and suhoor gatherings (eating before dawn):
“In the past Ramadans we usually feed more than 250 people a day for iftar (breaking the fast). We also feed hundreds for Suhoor over the last ten nights. Unfortunately, this will not be possible this year and poses too many hygiene risks.
“Attending iftars (breaking the fast) in each other’s homes is also prohibited during this lockdown period. While we all enjoy social interaction during Ramadan, it would help spread the virus between homes.
“Why not donate the money you would normally spend on an iftar meal to the local food bank or to those in need? Go to www.greenlanemasjid.org/donate for places to donate.”
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
3. Itikaf (spiritual retreat)
“Again, given the current lockdown guidelines, this will not be possible this year.”
4. Eid Al Fitr
“We are all looking forward to our large outdoor Eid gatherings, with tens of thousands attending our annual Eid in the Park events. According to the lockdown rules, we will not be holding the annual Eid in the Park celebration for Eid al Fitr this year.
“However, if we stick to the government’s current path to get out of lockdown, we intend to keep six jamats in the masjid, as we did last year.”
Mosque leaders asked everyone to remember the key rule, “hands”. Face. Space ‘and said when people don’t follow social distancing. Any advances in fighting the virus would soon be reversed, causing a renewed spike in infections and deaths.
“We have a duty to protect ourselves, our families and others,” they said.
Officials cited an important passage from the Qur’an that reads, “If someone were to save one life, it would be like having saved the lives of all humanity.”
They added: “Our dedicated frontline workers, key workers and especially the NHS are doing an excellent job containing and managing the pandemic. Many of them have given their lives in the fight. We must support their work and protect everyone.
“We pray that Allah will allow us to really benefit from the month of Ramadan. May He alleviate the troubles of all and forgive our departed.”
GLMCC is a multi-award winning mosque and has won the British Muslim Award 2019 for Mosque of the Year as well as the Beacon Awards for Best Run Mosque 2019 and Best Covid Response 2020.
Similar rules are said to apply in other mosques in the region and across the UK.
