Pakistani Ulemas say Mass Gathering are planned with WHO recommendations: BUT NOT REALLY

[UmarJustice]

Pakistani ulemas are suggesting that their preparations for prayer gatherings during Ramadan are under WHO recommendations and have been agreed upon by the President of Pakistan.

But here is why ulemas are not really following WHO's directions. According to WHO report on "Key planning recommendations for Mass Gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak", the first point in the report states during the planning phase, event organizers (Ulemas) should liaison with the health organizers in the country. However, health organizers of the country have already advised that they will be unable to handle the number of patients related to covid infections due to lack of resources and its infectious nature. It is important to note most countries in the world have shut down mass gatherings, be it for religious purposes or what not. Including Saudi Arabia which hosts the most sacred mosques in the entire world.


WHO SAYS -
1. Liaison with local and national public health authorities.
 Event organizers should establish direct links with local and national public health authorities. This should include the local provider of health services for the event.  There should be a nominated liaison person in the organizing team and also one in the designated public health agency. Contact information should be shared, and contacts should be available 24 hours a day.  Regular contact should be maintained throughout the planning period to share information, risk assessments, and plans.  Channels of communication between agencies and organizers and with the public should be agreed in advance.

2. Risk assessment
The decision to proceed with a mass gathering or to restrict, modify, postpone, or cancel the event should be based on a thorough risk assessment. Event planners should undertake such an assessment in partnership with local and national public health authorities. For highly visible or particularly large events, WHO may provide advice and technical support to the host country to help with assessing the public health risks associated with the event.

Ulema-govt agreement on Ramadan measures in line with WHO recommendations: Mufti Taqi Usmani

Mufti Taqi Usman. Photo: File
KARACHI: Prominent religious leader and vice president of Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi, Mufti Taqi Usman, on Friday said that the agreement signed with the government by religious leaders is in line with the coronavirus recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“We are proud of our doctors and there’s no doubt on their hard work, abilities and intentions but on coronavirus, WHO’s advisory is similar to those healthcare professionals who have endorsed our Ijmah agreed with the president," he said in a statement on Twitter.

The statement from the cleric comes after top Pakistani doctors appealed that the government and religious leaders review the declaration under which mosques have been allowed to hold Taraweeh prayers under certain restrictions.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1253405894332878849

“Allowing congregational prayers in larger numbers will have fatal outcomes amid a rising number of COVID-19 patients in the country,” the doctors warned in a letter earlier this week.

Read also: Sindh mosques to hold taraweeh prayers in limited capacity: CM Murad Ali Shah

They requested the authorities and the business community practice patience and keep the markets and non-essential shops closed, allowing home deliveries only.

In an interview with Geo News, President Arif Alvi said the agreement with the religious scholars was Ijma-e-Ummat [consensus of the Muslim community] and that its violation would "be categorised as a sin".

Sindh decides to restrict prayers
Meanwhile, the Sindh government has decided to restrict congregational prayers in the province during Ramadan.

In a late night video statement, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that Taraweehprayers throughout the province will only be observed by the mosque's administration (4-5 people) in the mosque premises.

Shah said taking such "difficult decisions" is a government's responsibility and the decision was taken especially keeping in mind doctors' recommendations.

The chief minister further stated that he has talked to the president on the matter as well.

"The president said it is up to the provincial government to decide," said Shah.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1253332601714012163

As seen above, the President maybe sending mixed signals and endangering the public by highlighting a note below stating "Ulemas and President is urging people to stay home".

WHO report: https://www.who.int/publications-de...-the-context-of-the-current-covid-19-outbreak

 

[Indos]

Jumah prayer can be replaced with Dhuhur prayer if we are in the long traveling. So by this logic, replacing jumah prayer with Dhuhur due to Covid 19 pandemic has more basis and urgency in order to contain the spread of the outbreak that can harm us, our old parents, and society as a whole.

 

[Shabi1]

Pakistani ulemas are suggesting that their preparations for prayer gatherings during Ramadan are under WHO recommendations and have been agreed upon by the President of Pakistan.

But here is why ulemas are not really following WHO's directions. According to WHO report on "Key planning recommendations for Mass Gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak", the first point in the report states during the planning phase, event organizers (Ulemas) should liaison with the health organizers in the country. However, health organizers of the country have already advised that they will be unable to handle the number of patients related to covid infections due to lack of resources and its infectious nature. It is important to note most countries in the world have shut down mass gatherings, be it for religious purposes or what not. Including Saudi Arabia which hosts the most sacred mosques in the entire world.


WHO SAYS -
1. Liaison with local and national public health authorities.
 Event organizers should establish direct links with local and national public health authorities. This should include the local provider of health services for the event.  There should be a nominated liaison person in the organizing team and also one in the designated public health agency. Contact information should be shared, and contacts should be available 24 hours a day.  Regular contact should be maintained throughout the planning period to share information, risk assessments, and plans.  Channels of communication between agencies and organizers and with the public should be agreed in advance.

2. Risk assessment
The decision to proceed with a mass gathering or to restrict, modify, postpone, or cancel the event should be based on a thorough risk assessment. Event planners should undertake such an assessment in partnership with local and national public health authorities. For highly visible or particularly large events, WHO may provide advice and technical support to the host country to help with assessing the public health risks associated with the event.



As seen above, the President maybe sending mixed signals and endangering the public by highlighting a note below stating "Ulemas and President is urging people to stay home".

WHO report: https://www.who.int/publications-de...-the-context-of-the-current-covid-19-outbreak

Looking at History of Pakistan, unfortunately we have people who use deen for politics. Context and welfare of people doesnt matter to these people they are looking for a way to inflame a situation and in return culture defiance to challenge the government. Apni dukaan chamkana. Alot of the madrasas and mosques get donations in Ramadan which forms a major portion of their funding, so they are ready to give a fight instead of showing reason and no shortage of people ready to exploit their apprehensions.

Remember COVID-19 situation will take months to ease and Government can not battle or force people for this long. Under the circumstances I think this was a very well calculated move. Government has allowed the religious leaders to carry out their processions if SOPs followed and at the same time have gotten them to agree that this permission will be withdrawn if they make the situation worse. Yes there is a risk that opening things will make things worse but if this happens it also gives a opportunity to end the argument on this matter and give the government the high ground to curtail public religious gatherings in the longer run.

Again COVID-19 situation will last several months at least so we need consensus and support of everyone, forcing a lock down is not practical for such extended periods.

 

[TNT]

In the past week i realized ppl are totally oblivious to this pandemic, some even say its fake. You cant hammer in common sense. Molvis saying its yahoodi saazish, if the govt had asked us not to stay at homes they would again say its yahoodi saazish. I say let nature take its course, let natural selection do its work.

 

[OldenWisdom...قول بزرگ]

Islam has no ordained ministry... no one can or should be allowed to play with peoples safety, their lives. This is exactly why it is important that the plurality is aware of Islamic jurisprudence and take it away from vested interests and sectarian one upmanship...
I hope people take these as lessons why they should have first hand knowledge and not take someone's word for it...

 

[PradoTLC]

Pakistani ulemas are suggesting that their preparations for prayer gatherings during Ramadan are under WHO recommendations and have been agreed upon by the President of Pakistan.

But here is why ulemas are not really following WHO's directions. According to WHO report on "Key planning recommendations for Mass Gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak", the first point in the report states during the planning phase, event organizers (Ulemas) should liaison with the health organizers in the country. However, health organizers of the country have already advised that they will be unable to handle the number of patients related to covid infections due to lack of resources and its infectious nature. It is important to note most countries in the world have shut down mass gatherings, be it for religious purposes or what not. Including Saudi Arabia which hosts the most sacred mosques in the entire world.


WHO SAYS -
1. Liaison with local and national public health authorities.
 Event organizers should establish direct links with local and national public health authorities. This should include the local provider of health services for the event.  There should be a nominated liaison person in the organizing team and also one in the designated public health agency. Contact information should be shared, and contacts should be available 24 hours a day.  Regular contact should be maintained throughout the planning period to share information, risk assessments, and plans.  Channels of communication between agencies and organizers and with the public should be agreed in advance.

2. Risk assessment
The decision to proceed with a mass gathering or to restrict, modify, postpone, or cancel the event should be based on a thorough risk assessment. Event planners should undertake such an assessment in partnership with local and national public health authorities. For highly visible or particularly large events, WHO may provide advice and technical support to the host country to help with assessing the public health risks associated with the event.



As seen above, the President maybe sending mixed signals and endangering the public by highlighting a note below stating "Ulemas and President is urging people to stay home".

WHO report: https://www.who.int/publications-de...-the-context-of-the-current-covid-19-outbreak

what retards


the thing is when they get infected with virus they will be the first to demand treatment....


i never seen the ullema people speak about ills of our society (barring a except few) or even try to educate people on good principles..