The 10th of Muharram, the day of Ashura, falls on August 30 this year. Condolences will not be held in mosques and shrines in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.
This is stated in the appeal of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO) on the beginning of the month of Muharram.
"For months, the coronavirus pandemic has plagued the world, hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives to this terrible scourge, and millions of people are struggling between life and death in hospitals. The world community is working hard to eliminate this serious threat to human health, which is still a deadly threat.
Thankfully, our state is taking all necessary measures to eliminate the disease, and our people are surrounded by attention and care. Thanks to the leadership and attention of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and the First Vice-President, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, preventive measures are being taken for the health of our citizens, and modular hospitals are being opened in Baku and other regions. "Local doctors are showing selflessness in the fight against the disease, foreign doctors are also involved in the process, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers is taking necessary measures to prevent the spread of the disease, protect the health of the population," he said.
The Caucasus Muslims Office has decided to suspend worship in all mosques and shrines in the country in order to prevent coronavirus infection after detailed consultations with the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers from the first days of quarantine. The main purpose of taking this mandatory step is to protect the life and health of our citizens.
Mandatory isolation measures during the pandemic period are associated with an increased risk of the virus in crowded indoor and outdoor environments. The fact that all parts of the world are isolated in one way or another, the suspension of the holy pilgrimage of Hajj, which is one of the important conditions of Islam, as well as the sacred rites of other religions, is already a reality of our time. The Ashura ritual, which is so popular that it is impossible to ensure social distance, can pose a great threat to people in terms of the possibility of an increase in the number of infections. In view of this fact, the Council of Judges and authorized representatives of the Caucasus Muslim Board state that according to the decision of the Operative Staff, condolence ceremonies will not be held in mosques and shrines during the Muharram period this year. The local CMB judge, authorized representative and imams should convey these recommendations to the believers.
The most appropriate example of mourning is the donation of blood in memory of the martyrs of Karbala for medical needs, which was initiated by the Caucasian Muslims Office during the Muharram period in recent years and is appreciated by our people. We hope that this year, continuing the humanist tradition, our believers will donate blood not in mosques due to the pandemic, but in the capital and regional branches of the Blood Bank of our country. The addresses of these places are posted on the official website of the Caucasian Muslims Office (www.qafqazislam.com).