“Faith and religion teaches you discipline and guidance”
Today, I was asked by the Chairperson of the Muslim Professional Forum to share my views as a Muslim on the current government lockdown restrictions and how I felt local mosques and worshipers should act under these current circumstances with regards to keeping local places of worship open during the lockdown. You can read my views on this issue and how I addressed this matter in more detail below.
Worshipping during a lockdown
In the spirit of Human Rights and our right to practice freedom of religion in the UK, the ability to express our faith as Muslims is a very large and important part of our lives. In the UK, we are privileged that the British legal system affords us these basic rights to express our faith openly and freely without conditions being placed on us.
Keeping the faith
Currently, Muslims across the UK are facing a conflicting conundrum of weighing up our daily religious practices with the current health advice issued by the government and the health authorities. I personally believe that as important as prayers are for the Muslim community, the preservation of life is just as important a factor for us to consider.
Zeshan Khawaja at Badshahi Mosque, Lahore I Image from the Khawaja family
Therefore, it is a collective obligation for all of us to ensure we are practicing safe methods of worshipping in these testing times. It is also very important to understand that no less reward is afforded to us by refraining ourselves temporarily by not visiting our places of worship.
Follow the guidelines
I am therefore of the belief that practicing our faith from the safety of our homes until the government’s restrictions are lifted, are the best way forward. This will not only protect us and our loved ones from catching any of the symptoms related to coronavirus, but also assist the NHS and other health professionals to control the rise of coronavirus infections in the country.
Fluqe Empire 