Prayers for safety of all on Day 1 of Ramzan

PRAYAGRAJ: It was a low key affair on the first day of the holy month of Ramzan in the Sangam city on Saturday because due to the ongoing lockdown all mosques in the city remained closed and people of the Muslim community offered the five-time namaz within the four-walls of their homes.
Following government directives, the mosques in the city remained closed and barring few caretakers, none was presenr inside them.
“Police officials visited the local mosque last night and discussed at length the steps taken by us for keeping everyone safe. In fact, we had appealed from the public address system, asking the Muslims not to visit the mosque and instead offer namaz at their homes”, said Maulana Ikramul Haq Azhari of Harwara mosque under Dhoomanganj police station. It is the matter of nation’s safety, and in the present unprecedented situation, we all have to defeat the dreaded virus by collective efforts by maintaining social distancing, he added.
Likewise, the district administration had put up notice boards at almost all important mosques of the city wherein the devotees have been warned of punitive action if they visit mosques. Muslims on Friday offered the ‘taravih’ namaz’ at their homes .
“From sahri to iftar, it was a different affair altogether as in the back of everyone’s mind is Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences. In this pious month, we prayed for everyone’s safety, and that the world be freed of the pandemic”, said Shahabuddin, a resident of Mundera.
The city markets too wore a deserted look. Unlike previous years when hundreds of shops, mainly in the Old City areas, used to buzz with hectic activities till late night, Saturday was entirely different.