Shia Dawoodi Bohra community offer prayers for covid-19 patients feeling their pain, staying at home in Ramzan or Ramadan 2020
Shia Dawoodi Bohra community will keep their first ‘Roza’
today commemorating the month-long ‘Ramzan’ that began from Wednesday evening.
Following Islamic prayer timing, Ramzan began from Maghrib prayers.
The entire community has decided to seek blessings of Allah
and pray that the country becomes free from coronavirus. This is the first time
in 95 years that there will be no mass gathering and prayers offered in the
month of Ramzan.
A 95-year-old senior member of the society Hassan Ali
Saadiwala Sahab said, “There are spiritual rewards of fasting multiples during
the month of Ramzan. Besides refraining from food and beverage, all the
followers of Islam must shun tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful
behaviour. They devote themselves to the recitation of the Quran and immerse in
charitable deeds.”
Talking about the month-long fasting, community coordinator
Johar Manpurwala said, “This month-long devotion commemorates Muhammad’s first
revelation and its annual observance is considered as one of the Five Pillars
of Islam.” He added that this month that connects humans to the spiritual
power.
“Where we pray is not important, this year, we all must urge
Allah to help us in beating covid-19 and save lives,” Manpurwala said.
Community representatives Mazhar Hussain Sethjiwala and Ali
Asghar Bhopalwala said, “While hungry and thirsty throughout the fasting day,
Muslims have a constant reminder of the suffering of the poor in less fortunate
parts of the world. Staying at home during this holy month is a reminder for us
of all the people, who are fighting covid-19 in hospitals.”
Sehri, i.e. the morning meal eaten by followers of Islam before
the sun has come up during Ramzan, will be eaten at 4:45 am on Thursday.
Further, Iftar, i.e. evening meal eaten by the followers, will be done at 6:50
pm on Thursday.