Use Masjid committees to reach masses: Padmashri Dr Ilias Ali

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Padmashri Dr Ilias Ali has appealed to the State government to reach out to the common Muslim masses and make them aware of coronavirus through the masjid committees and masjid infrastructure like loudspeakers and office-bearers.

Talking to The Sentinel, Dr Ali condemned the recent attack on the police by some people who had assembled at a masjid at Naoboicha for prayers, violating the lockdown rules. He said, "Such incidents shouldn't recur. Rather masjids and their infrastructure should be used for creating awareness among the common Muslim masses.

"Every masjid has a managing committee that appoints an imam and a muazzin. While the imam conducts the namaz and advises the masses on religious matters, the muazzin chants the azan from the minaret of a masjid. Each local Muslim community with a masjid as the epicentre, is guided by the masjid committee, not by the imam who doesn't do any social activity without permission from the managing committee.

"For creating awareness on corona among the Muslim masses, the State government should collect the telephone numbers of all masjid committee office-bearers like presidents, secretaries and imams; talk to them; conduct awareness training on corona at block levels and entrust them to create awareness on virus among the masses.

"Such a public welfare practice can't be anti-Islamic. Even Prophet Hazarat Mahammed did advise masjids to ensure that faithfuls pray indoors at the time of disasters like floods and storms. The outbreak of coronavirus is indeed a disaster."

Dr Ali has further said that the Goalpara district administration has already taken such a move. "It has teamed up with the masjid committees to create awareness on coronavirus and the COVID-19 guidelines. All other district administrations in the State should follow suit."

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