Ramzan piety quells swine flu fear

Ramzan, the holiest month for followers of Islam, is a period of prayer and fasting, but the outbreak of swine flu cases had threatened to put a dampener on its observance.

However, the Muslim community in Gujarat is carrying out its fasts and prayers undaunted by the number of cases in the state and without implementing any precautionary measures.

“The precautions regarding swine flu have not been well-received and have seen opposition from the public. Nobody wants to celebrate this most significant month of the calendar with their faces covered with masks,” said JV Momin, secretary of the Ahmedabad Tazia Committee.

There is no special arrangement for distribution of masks at mosques in the city despite members of the community arriving in large number to offer prayers. “There is no fear among the people with regard to swine flu. We are remaining enthusiastic and have no worries,” said Maulana Shafi Madni, president of the Jamat-e-Islami.

Khurshid Bano, a resident of Shahpur, agrees with this, saying, “Such a thought has not even appeared in my mind. We are not worried about swine flu at all.” However, some community leaders, keeping in the mind the swine flu fatalities in the city, are mulling over plans of preventing further infection by reducing the amount of time people spend in enclosed spaces.

One option, according to them, is shortening of the duration of the Friday prayers at mosques. “Such gatherings can result in the virus spreading. This year, we are trying to minimise our community meetings during Ramzan as far as possible,” Maulana Salim Khan said.

The threat of the swine flu virus has also prompted certain states of India to place restrictions on the number of Muslims undertakings pilgrimages to holy places in Saudi Arabia during the month of Ramzan.

A meeting of the health ministers of Arab countries recently agreed to ban those under the age of 12 years and over 65 years of age, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions from attending the hajj.

Some Arab states have also imposed restrictions on the Umrah, which can be performed at any time of the year but is especially popular during the last ten days of Ramzan. Health officials have discouraged Muslim pilgrims from making the trip, which is recommended in Islam but not obligatory. The annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s biggest religious gatherings, drawing about two million Muslims every year.