Ramadan 2020 Moon Sighting LIVE: Ramadan is considered to be the time when people come closer to God. (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
Muslims in India will begin fasting from Saturday as they welcomed the holy month of Ramzan amid the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. The Ramzan moon was sighted on Friday evening.
Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari and Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri mosque Mufti Mukarram Ahmed appealed to Muslims to perform all prayers and rituals at home while adhering to the norms of social distancing.
ALSO READ | Ramadan 2020: Date, Sehri & Iftar Timings, Prayer Time Table, Significance and Fasting Rules
Ramadan is considered to be the time when people come closer to God, and one of the main reasons behind observing it is to remember the many sufferings of the underprivileged and less fortunate people. During the holy month, Muslims also donate alms to the poor.
After the month of fasting is over, Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated, which the community observes with great joy and fervour. They put on their best clothes and meet and greet their loved ones. But this year, the celebrations are likely to be different due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Ramadan 2020 Moon Sighting LIVE: People offer prayers and fast. (Photo by Reuters)
The “tarabi” is generally held in mosques in the evenings, and is attended by most Muslim men. For the first time, it won’t happen because of the lockdown imposed to contain the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Read more here
Wishing everyone Ramdan Mubarak, a woman shared the cute video that has not only garnered over 1 million views on the original clip, it has even spread on other social media platforms as well, leaving netizens in splits. Read more here
Ramadan is the holiest of months and the most important festival celebrated by the Muslim community around the world. One of the key practices — besides good spirits and cultural bonhomie — is to fast. Read more here on the foods to eat and avoid.
The basic ingredients of phirni – milk, rice, sugar – are available to almost anyone anywhere. And, it’s summer, so it had to be mango phirni. Read more here.
May this Ramadan bring endless moments of joy and happiness in your life. On this auspicious occasion, you can wish your loved ones and make it even more special. Here's wishing a lovely and beautiful Ramadan! Read more here
President Ram Nath Kovind Friday greeted citizens on the occasion of Ramzan and hoped that the pious month of fasting will inspire all to be compassionate and kind towards other, especially those in need. "Ramzan Mubarak to all. May this pious month inspire us to be compassionate and kind towards others, especially those in need," he tweeted, adding, "On this occassion, let us resolve to defeat COVID-19 through our collective determination and discipline.Ramzan Mubarak to all. May this pious month inspire us to be compassionate and kind towards others, especially those in need. On this occasion, let us resolve to defeat COVID-19 through our collective determination and discipline.— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 24, 2020
A day before the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, DGP Chandigarh police Sanjay Baniwal visited the Sector 20 Jama Masjid to thank the Tricity residents for deciding to observe the one-month long fasts and the ritual prayers of Taraweeh (namaz) at homes.
DGP Sanjay Baniwal also handed over around 800 packets of dry fruits and jaanamaz (prayer mat) to the head maulvis of the Tricity’s prominent mosques. The maulvis were invited to the Sector 20 Jama Masjid and given the dry fruit packets to distribute them to the other devotees further. Officials said that social distancing norms were strictly practiced.
The Tricity is home to about 1.50 lakh people of the Muslim community and at least three dozen mosques in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali have already conveyed to the devotees to observe this year’s Ramzan at their homes. While the devotees will observe fasts for one month till May 25, the first roza (fast) will be observed on Saturday.
Imam of the Jama Masjid-20, Maulana Mohammed Ajmal Khan said, “I am 70-year-old and have been observing the Ramzan rozas since my youthful days. It is for the first time in my life that we are urging people to observe Ramzan at homes due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We have decided to stay at home and had closed the doors of the mosques around a fortnight back. We have urged people to observe the Taraweeh namaz (which is specially offered during Ramzan) at homes. These days, we keep the doors of the mosques closed on Fridays as well.”
Mufti Mohammed Anaz of Sector 26 mosque, Tari Shamshed Ali of Sector 45 mosque, Maulana Mohammed Imran of Mani Majra Mosque and Haji Noor Mohammed of Tabligi Jammat were present at the occasion. Police officers, including DIG Omvir Singh, SSP Nilambri Vijay Jagdale, DSP Ram Gopal and DSP Charanjit Singh Virk were also present there.
DGP Baniwal said, 'Social distancing has become the need of the hour. Administration has already banned the large scale gathering of people at public, religious and private places.'
With the start of holy month of Ramzan,the Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday ordered reopening of bakery shops and allowed home delivery of dry fruits in the entire Union territory.
These steps were taken on directions of Lieutenant Governor Girish Chander Murmu following the inclusion of these two businesses in the list of permitted business in the government of India notification. As per an official order issued by the government of India Secretary Simrandeep Singh, J&K administration issued direction to UT's all districts' deputy commissioners to permit above two businesses.
"In continuation of instructions and SOPs issued by the state executive committee, I am further directed to convey to you that following items may also be permitted to function, subject to the condition of maintaining social distancing and after obtaining passes from deputy commissioners", he said in a directive to DC on Friday.(PTI)
The Delhi Minorities Commission said it has received reports that policemen had told mosques in some areas to stop azaan during the lockdown and urged LG Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to not ban the call for prayer.
In a letter to the LG and the CM, the commission's chairman Zafarul Islam Khan said the reports have come from areas like Dwarka and South districts and urged them to not ban azaan.
He said mosques across Delhi are "meticulously" following the coronavirus-related restrictions and no congregational prayers of more than four persons are being held in any mosque. "The issue of azaan from mosques is very pressing due to the beginning of the month of Ramzan (beginning Saturday)when Muslims fast and break their fast on hearing the azaan at sunset," he said. (PTI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday greeted the Muslim community on the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan and appealed to them to offer prayers at home in view of the lockdown imposed to control the spread of coronavirus. The chief minister said people should follow the guidelines issued by the government and should avoid organising roza and iftar parties. He said maintaining social distancing is necessary to stay protected from coronavirus, according to a release.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended Ramadan wishes to the country. "Ramzan Mubarak! I pray for everyone’s safety, well-being and prosperity. May this Holy Month bring with it abundance of kindness, harmony and compassion. May we achieve a decisive victory in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and create a healthier planet," PM Modi tweeted. Meanwhile Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also extended his wishes. "Ramzan Mubarak to each and every one of you. I wish you peace and good health in this month of Ramadan," he tweeted.
Residents of Old Delhi look out for the moon by the illuminated Jama Masjid on the eve of Ramadan on Friday. (Express Photograph by Tashi Tobgyal)
An illuminated view of the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
Delhi's Jama Masjid has been illuminated ahead of Ramadan, which starts in India tomorrow.
The president of Markazi Chand Committee, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi, Imam Eidgah Lucknow announced that the moon was sighted on April 24. The first day of Ramadan in India will therefore be on April 25, 2020.
The National Commission for Minorities chairperson Syed Ghayorul Rizvi has requested for the availability of fruits and other essential items during Ramadan.
Actor Emraan Hashmi wishes, says "may God bless you with health and happiness."
"50,000 Ramzan food/essentials kits ready for dispatch" says Shahid Choudhary, District Magistrate, Srinagar.
50,000 Ramazan food/essentials kits are ready to be dispatched says Shahid Choudhary, District Magistrate, Srinagar.
"Azaan should be offered as per guidelines of National Green Tribunal. Please do not venture out of your homes during lockdown" said the Delhi Police PRO
The actor shared the following statement.
People say," we will pray for the COVID-19 pandemic to end soon."
Given people are stuck at home and are unable to be with their family and friends, they are focusing a lot on online chatting apps like WhatsApp. So why not send Ramadan special WhatsApp stickers to your loved ones and make them happy. Know all about it here.
"This month, we will be celebrating old traditions in a new world, requiring us all to make changes and compromises for the sake of our health and the health of our communities and loved ones," says WHO's Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari.
The holy month of Ramadan or Ramzan, during which Muslims across the world observe a fast or roza from dawn to dusk, begins today. Worshippers eat a meal before sunrise after which they abstain from eating or drinking water until after sunset when they have the Iftar meal with their families. The celebrations may be restrained this time owing to the lockdown, but you can always add some extra flavours to your day by trying new recipes. To help you, we have put together some recipes that will make for a loving feast after a full day of fasting. Check them out here.
The Imam of the mosque said that people should offer prayers at their homes and not visit mosques.
Thiruvananthapuram's Vazhuthacaud mosque and Palayam Juma mosque are closed.
As the fasting month begins, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, one of the foremost Islamic scholars in the country and founder of Centre of Peace and Spirituality, International, advises Muslims to continue to offer tarawih prayers — albeit indoors, and not in mosques or any other congregations outside — as he emphasises that the Prophet would have practised the same. Tarawih refers to an additional ritual prayer, performed daily in the month of Ramadan. These prayers are observed after the Isha’ prayer at night where a section of the Quran is recited. During the course of the month of Ramadan, the entire Quran is recited in the tarawih prayers. While these prayers are considered optional — sunnah — they are strongly recommended during Ramadan because they become a source of deep reflection on the Quran and contemplating on its wisdom. Both men and women may choose to offer the tarawih prayers — either in congregation or individually. Read more
Canadian Prime Miniter Justin Trudeau wishes everyone celebrating a peaceful Ramadan, and shared the following statement.
Actor Anupam Kher extended Ramadan greetings on Twitter. In his message he wished "love and peace" to everyone.
The Islamic Centre of India on Thursday said it would hold daily recitation of the Quran live on Facebook during Ramzan, which begins Saturday, as an alternative to the “tarabi”, or the recitation of all 30 chapters of the Quran during the holy Islamic month for those not able to read them. The “tarabi” is generally held in mosques in the evenings, and is attended by most Muslim men. For the first time, it won’t happen because of the lockdown imposed to contain the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The idea behind the recitation on Facebook live is to help people get to hear the recitation of the Quran the way they usually did during the month of Ramzan,” said Sufyan Nizami, spokesperson of the Darul Uloom Firangi Mahal. “This recitation will ensure that they are satisfied and won’t violate the lockdown.” The Islamic Centre of India said two chapters of the Quran would be read daily at 8 pm, and can be viewed on its official Facebook page. The centre’s president and prominent Sunni cleric Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali also issued a statement on social media, urging people not to leave their homes during Ramzan. Several other clerics have also issued similar appeals in the last one week. READ MORE
As the days of the holy month of Ramadan usually coincide with her children’s summer vacations, Arshi Khan was planning to celebrate this year’s Ramadan and Eid with her parents and in-laws, who live in Odisha. But now, amid the nationwide lockdown, her family will be celebrating Ramadan at home.
“This is the time we look forward to every year, when we all come together as a community. It will be different this year as we will not be able to congregate for prayers, iftaar, sehri and other customs. Men will not be able to go out for the tarawih, the communal prayer during Ramadan. We will break our rozas and do our prayers together in our home, as this is what will keep us safe now,” said Khan. READ MORE
Even as Ramzan, a holy month for the Muslim community, has begun, the Panchkula administration said, it has no plans to facilitate the fast of more than 120 persons who had attended the Jamaat congregations and are at quarantine centres.
“We cannot be expected to provide food as early as 4 am or 5 am for several days. There are many people we have to take care of and there are set timings when the food is received by us, from the various charity organisations. There are several people in the quarantine facility who follow Hinduism and even they have several fasts which we will not be able to facilitate. So, the administration has decided not to do anything special for Ramzan,” said a official of the administration.
The Deputy Commissioner remained unavailable for a comment. Meanwhile, about the facilities for Ramzan at shelter homes which too have several Muslims, MC Commissioner Sumedha Kataria said, “If someone asks for it, we will make arrangements for them.” READ MORE
Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management has announced partial easing of restrictions on public movement in the emirate starting from Friday amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The announcement is in line with the decisions of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), a statement released late on Thursday said. The move, which coincides with the start of the fasting month of Ramzan, will allow increased freedom of movement while ensuring the continuation of strict precautionary and preventive measures, the statement said.
The Committee has also outlined a new set of guidelines on movement and a list of exempted commercial activities and vital sectors, it added. The decision to reduce restrictions on movement in Dubai follows a careful assessment of the current situation and analysis of reports from various authorities working to combat the pandemic, the committee said.
Underlining the emirate's success in countering the spread of the virus, it said that stringent measures undertaken over the last three weeks have significantly helped to mitigate the crisis. It further stressed that despite the partial easing of restrictions on movement, people will not be allowed to hold public or private gatherings and those who breach the guidelines will face legal action.
The need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community cannot be underestimated, the Committee stressed. "Despite the difficult circumstances the world is facing today, the UAE has set an example for dealing with the crisis. This was also made possible through the commitment of all individuals and institutions both in the private and public sector,” the committee said in the statement. “All measures undertaken by the country have been driven by the objective of safeguarding everyone's safety and wellbeing,” it added.
Public transport (bus and metro), restaurants and cafes (except for buffet and shisha), retail sector (malls, high-street outlets and souqs), wholesale sector and maintenance shops will be allowed to operate under certain conditions, it said. Shopping malls, markets and commercial outlets will be open daily from 12 pm to 10 pm. Restaurants and shops are allowed to operate at a maximum of 30 per cent capacity at shopping malls, it said. Malls and retail outlets are not allowed to hold entertainment events to avoid congestion and crowding, it added.
Restaurants and cafés too have been allowed to operate but are not permitted to serve shisha and buffet. Dine-in customers are allowed but should occupy only a maximum of 30 per cent of the outlet's capacity and only single-use cutlery can be used at restaurants and cafes, it said. However, family entertainment facilities, cinemas, changing rooms and prayer rooms will not be allowed to operate. Hotels will be allowed to operate without opening pools, gyms, sauna and massage parlours.
A maximum of 30 per cent of the workforce of all organisations will be allowed to work from their offices while the rest will be required to work from home. As part of the first phase of easing of restrictions, the stringent curbs on public movement will now be limited to the period between 10 pm to 6 am. During this period, the public will be allowed to leave their homes only for medical emergencies. Individuals will be able to leave their homes between 6 am and 10 pm without a permit.
The public will be required to strictly follow precautionary measures which include maintaining physical distance from others as per guidelines and wearing a face mask. Those who do not wear a mask will be subject to a fine of AED 1,000. Members of the public have also been allowed to exercise outside their homes provided they do not leave their area of residence. They can undertake activities such as walking, running or cycling for 1-2 hours each time. Only a maximum of three people can exercise at the same time. Permission has also been granted to allow visit first and second degree relatives as long as gatherings are restricted to not more than five people. However, visiting high-risk individuals (individuals above 60 years and those with underlying medical conditions) should be avoided. (PTI)
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen supremo addressed an online public meeting at the onset of the holy month.
As Muslims around the world will be observing “a very different” Ramzan amid a devastating COVID-19 pandemic, UN chief has said the Islamic tradition of hospitality and generosity is a “remarkable lesson” at a time when people in conflict zones and vulnerable populations face dire consequences. Ramzan is the holiest month in Islam, when devout Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. It will begin this week, depending on the sighting of the moon.
“This will, of course, be a very different Ramzan. Many community activities will naturally be affected by measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday in his Ramzan message. READ MORE
Actor Sonak Kapoor has extended Ramadan wishes to "my brothers and sisters"
The football club Liverpool has extended Ramadan greetings "to everyone celebrating".
In the United Kingdom, 10, Downing Steet has extended Ramadan greetings to Muslims, while also urging people to stay home and save lives.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison conveyed Ramadan wishes to Muslims in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has wished Muslims from around the world on this very special occasion. The holy month has already begun and the Muslim community will be observing fasts while also maintaining social distancing.
He has a special wish for people who are celebrating the festival; watch here:
The actor wants people to feed and help those who are less privileged. Watch what he said:
Here is what the office of the Chief Minister of Punjab tweeted on the occasion:
View this post on Instagram They are saying Saturday is the first Roza !! Ramadan is almost here !! Praying for everyone in these difficult times ... Shared compassion, service, and support for one another is the need of the hour. May god bless us all ! And a special dua for all those fighting for us at the frontlines of this pandemic u2764ufe0fud83dude4fud83cudffb Everyone please stay at home and stay safe ! Pray from Home ! prayer #love #compassion #love #ramadan #dua #socialdistancing #quarantine #stayhome #oldphoto #throwbackA post shared by Huma S Qureshi (@iamhumaq) on Apr 23, 2020 at 7:20am PDT
Many among us know about roza as an essential practice among Muslims during Ramzan, did you know there are many other rituals that are followed as well? This ranges from e'tikaaf (a form of seclusion) to taraweeh (a special prayer at the end of the day).