As millions of people have been infected globally of the deadly coronavirus, some countries like Germany have tried to ease the lockdown by allowing worship centres to resume their activities but by adhering to the strict measures outlined by World Health Organization and other health agencies.
The end of the Ramadan fast marks the celebration of Eid-l-fitr festival, and Muslims are supposed to observe a congregational prayer to mark the celebration. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government outlined principles that must be adhered to by the worshippers while praying in the mosque.
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The strict adherence to the 1.5 metres social distancing rules and also wearing of face masks made it difficult for the mosque, Dar Assalam in the city’s Neukölln district and other mosques to accommodate worshippers for the Ramadan prayer, but they received help from an unexpected church, which allowed the Muslims to use their church for prayers.
Muslims were seen trooping into the Martha Lutheran church in Kreuzberg to observe the prayer and they were wearing face masks and maintaining social distance in adherence to one of the guidelines of avoiding the coronavirus pandemic.
The Muslim community was grateful to the Christians for allowing them to have access to the Ramadan prayers at once and relieving them of the stress of holding prayers in batches of 50 people which the mosque can accommodate at once based on the guidelines.
“It is a great sign and it brings joy in Ramadan and joy amid this crisis,” the mosque’s imam told Reuters. “This pandemic has made us a community. Crises bring people together.”
He further said, “These associations happen because of solidarity. The church saw how Muslims were suffering and asked us: ‘Do you need space to pray?’ That is an amazing sign of solidarity in these times.’’
The pastor of the church that showed the kind gesture to the Muslims said it was a community decision “to do the best in terms of coronavirus.”
“This has brought us closer. Whether this partnership will go on and how it will go on, that is still open, but I think getting to know each other and what we have experienced together in this time is strengthening for whatever may lie ahead,” she added.
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News Hub Mag! reports that the Ramadan is a yearly fast observed by Muslims and it is often a sacred time when throughout the month-long fast, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk.
Normally families and friends would gather to break their fast and attend communal prayers. This year’s celebrations have been affected by the pandemic and everyone has adjusted to the ‘New Normal.’
