LAHORE: The Pakistan Ulema Council on Friday appealed to the philanthropists and the wealthy to pay Zakat to the needy before the month of Ramazan as daily-wage earners were facing a financial crunch due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Friday congregations all over the country were arranged in accordance of the directives of the government of Pakistan in view of the pandemic.

The clerics made the appeal to the philanthropists during their Friday sermons, saying that in view of coronavirus pandemic, daily-wage earners and laborours were the most affected financially. Therefore, they said, the philanthropists should pay their Zakat to the needy early.

Earlier, Darul Afta of Pakistan Ulema Council announced that the suspected patients of coronavirus should avoid going to mosques. It said teachings of the Quran and Sunnah had directions against endangering the faithful, specifically during any pandemic.

The JUC leadership, including Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, led Friday sermons and noted that victims of the Covid-19 were rising alarmingly and the entire nation should ensure implementation on directives of the government to defeat this pandemic.

The clerics lauded efforts of the ulema council for refusing possible lockdown of mosques in the country. They also underlined that mosque administrators were seeking possible precautionary measures to ensure safety of the people against coronavirus in mosques.

The clerics also stated that to contain the coronavirus pandemic, we should seek assistance from teachings of Shariah and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They also urged the public to keep check on the elements spreading panic in the society in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2020