Jakarta Cilacap.info English">CILACAP.INFO – Istiqlal Mosque grand imam, Professor KH Nasaruddin Umar, urged Indonesian Muslims nationwide to perform Idul Fitri prayer at home rather than at mosques and fields to halt spread of new coronavirus disease.
At a regular press conference of Indonesian Government COVID-19 Task Force in Jakarta on Saturday, Umar stressed that Idul Fitri prayer is not mandatory but instead a “sunnah,” or voluntary act of worship.
“I deem it necessary to remind all that Idul Fitri prayer is ‘sunnah’ while maintaining health of families and ourselves is ‘wajib,’ or a mandatory act of worship,” he noted.
Umar laid emphasis on prioritizing mandatory acts. To this end, he appealed to members of Muslim community to perform their Idul Fitri prayer at home rather than in crowds to stem spread of coronavirus outbreak among members of congregation.
“We are not allowed to be selfish in practicing religious teachings. Perhaps, we are rewarded profusely at mosque. However, while arriving home, we transmit disease to our beloved relatifes and also to our parents, who are vulnerable to contracting infection,” he pointed out.
If they were to contract deadly virus, it would become increasingly difficult to forecast whether they will be able to meet for holy fasting month of Ramadhan again next year. “Let us pray that next year Ramadhan will not be like this year’s,” Umar stated.
Muslims are advised to strive to take decisions that will shape their destiny for better. Thus, performing Idul Fitri prayer at home is highly recommended. The “takbiran” event that features a recital of “Allahu Akbar” (God is great), may also be held at home, he remarked.
Last year, “takbiran” event was held in mass gatherings at mosques and on streets on eve of Idul Fitri celebrations that mark end of Ramadhan.
Since past three months, Indonesia has been battling spread of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The Indonesian government officially announced country first two confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 2, 2020.
This deadly coronavirus surfaced in Wuhan in end of December 2019, but China lack of transparency and goodwill to tell truth of human-to-human transmissions from start has resulted in its spread worldwide.
To stem spread of coronavirus disease, it has enforced large-scale social restrictions and distancing measures in several cities, including Jakarta, Bogor, Bekasi, Surabaya, and Makassar.
In breaking chain of COVID-19 pandemic, East Java provincial government also send homebound travelers arriving from abroad and other parts of Indonesia for a 14-day quarantine at observation centers across province.
A total of 7,387 villages and neighborhoods in East Java have set up observation rooms where homebound travelers can be quarantined for 14 days, according to East Java provincial government. (Antara)
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