Health Secretary Praises British Muslims

Health Secretary Praises British Muslims

And said “Ramadan Mubarak”

Dr. Mozammel Haque

British Health Secretary praised the three million British Muslims for following social distancing in Ramadan and said: “Thank you and Ramadan Mubarak”. The British Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, M.P. told at the daily Government’s briefing from the Downing Street, “This Ramadan, many Muslims who serve their country in the NHS and in the armed forces and so many other ways, will not be sharing the joy of this month as they normally do.”

“I know how important the daily Iftar is, how important communal prayers are at night and how important the Eid festival is. “Thank you for making major changes to these vital parts of your practice,” he said.

Health Secretary also said, “And I want to say to you all: Ramadan Mubarak.”

Matt Hancock at Downing Street briefing:

Ramadan Mubarak

Matt Hancock at Downing Street briefing praised three million British Muslims for following social distancing in Ramadan. He said: “Recent weeks have shown that there is something we can all do, and that’s to follow the rules on social distancing.”

He continued: “Something we can all do to continue helping is the follow the rules on social distancing

“I am acutely aware this is very difficult to do, especially as we enter Ramadan, a month that is so vital for so many people.”

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock, M.P. told at the daily Government’s briefing from the Downing Street, “This Ramadan, many Muslims who serve their country in the NHS and in the armed forces and so many other ways, will not be sharing the joy of this month as they normally do.”

I want to say to all British Muslims: Thank you for staying at home.”

“I know how important the daily Iftar is, how important communal prayers are at night and how important the Eid festival is.

“Thank you for making major changes to these vital parts of your practice.”

“And I want to say to you all: Ramadan Mubarak.”

Mr. Hancock added: “Thank you for your service and citizenship, and thank you for your sacrifice.”

Suspension of congregational prayers

and all other activities in Mosques

British Muslims are always loyal and law-abiding citizens of this country. This time, as early as 18 March 2020 they have taken the decision to suspend congregational prayers and all other activities in the mosques. As soon as Ramadan arrives on Friday 24 April 2020, Ramadan messages sent from the Islamic leaders what to do and how to celebrate Ramadan during this suspension of congregational prayers in the mosques. In the midst of Covid-19 pandemic, Muslims across the UK are preparing for drastic changes during the 30 days of fasting.

Ramadan Messages from Islamic Cultural

Centre & the London Central Mosque

Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre & the London Central Mosque made a Ramadan announcement wherein he said, “Let me start by saying May Allah forgive and shower His Mercy upon those who lost their lives during this crisis and may Allah help also those doctors and nurses everybody who is providing service to anybody everywhere in the U.K. and actually around the globe.”

He also mentioned, “Ramadan as we all know is the month of care and the month of generosity. So it is the month we are socially isolating seriously; let everybody to stay at home and to focus, actually to concentrate more care about our family members especially our parents, children, wives, husbands when we are together.”

Instructions from the authority

Dr. al-Dubayan said, “It is also important to remind everybody – Islamically, we are asked to follow the instructions done by the authority everywhere, wherever we are because these instructions are made for protections – and protections of life in Islam is a priority of course. And it is the month that we try to extend help to all those who are around us regardless who they are Muslims or not who needs our help and can give that help during this month and also in any other time – it is really a duty of every Muslim who believe in the Qur’an and also in the Prophet peace be upon him.”

He added, “Now in this month there are some points very important; one of them is, of course, Mosques are closed now, almost everywhere; so that means we are going to do prayer and Taraweeh at home.”

Prophetic ﷺ  Teachings

As early as more than 1400 years ago, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised what to do during the pandemic crisis. These are Quarantine, social distancing, Travel ban, staying home. The followings are his advice and command:

1) *QUARANTINE* is a Prophetic ﷺ advice.*

_“Run away from the leper (the one with contagious ailment) as you would run away from a lion.”_(Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 608)

2) *SOCIAL DISTANCING* is a Prophetic  ﷺ command.

_"Those with contagious diseases should be kept away from those who are healthy."_Bukhari (6771) and Muslim (2221)

3) *TRAVEL BAN* is a Prophetic ﷺ teaching.

_"Do not enter a land where the plague (contagious ailment) has broken out; don’t leave from where it has broken out”_Bukhaari (5739) and Muslim (2219)

4) *DON'T HARM OTHERS*, if you have symptoms.

_The Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not cause harm or return harm.”_Sunan Ibn Mājah (2340)

5) *STAYING HOME* is a Prophetic teaching

_“Those who stay at home to protect themselves and others are under the protection of Allah.”_Musnad Ahmed, Saheeh

6) If necessary, *HOUSE IS A MASJID*.

_The Prophet ﷺ said: “The entire earth has been made a Masjid, except graveyards and washrooms.”_Tirmidhi (al-Salaah, 291)

Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham

It is reported that Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham is usually packed with around 3,000 worshippers a day during the Holy Month. It has been let deserted. The head of welfare services at the mosque, Salim Ahmed said, “It’s very strange. Coming to the mosque is part of our social life as well as worship life. But we have to follow the rules.”

“Ramadan is normally a time for gatherings and socialising, that has to stop now. We need to take safety seriously. We’re making clear messages about staying home and the importance of not going out during Ramadan,” he said.