Congregational prayers

E-Paper | March 13, 2026

THERE appears to be some apprehension over a possible clash between the state and clerics regarding the issue of congregational prayers in mosques in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this week, at a press conference in Karachi, some of the leading scholars from the Deobandi, Barelvi and Ahle Hadith schools of thought had announced they were ready to resume daily and Friday prayers in mosques.

However, considering that such an edict would allow for mass gatherings in mosques to resume in these perilous times, the state swung into action, with the federal religious affairs minister contacting some of the clerics involved in making the announcement, in the hope of convincing them to rethink their plan.

The efforts seem to have paid off for now at least as Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, who was at the Karachi presser, said on Thursday that a “road map” on congregational prayers would be discussed with other clerics. It is hoped other senior ulema take a cue from Mufti Muneeb’s welcome change in stance.

Indeed, freedom of worship is a constitutional and human right.

But at a time when a highly contagious pandemic is ravaging the planet, freedoms need to be exercised with some caution.

Considering the fact that the faithful would be in close contact with each other inside mosques, the state made the right decision to temporarily suspend congregational prayers.

This should not be seen as an affront to religion; rather, it is an attempt to save the lives of the general public.

After all, the Tableeghi Jamaat went ahead with its ijtema in Raiwind despite government advice against holding the gathering.

The result has been that hundreds of suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases have been linked to the religious outfit.

Other Muslim states, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey among them, have also suspended congregational prayers, including Juma prayers, so clerics in Pakistan have no justification to flout the ban.

To prevent the outbreak in this country from getting worse, clerics need to work with the state.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2020

Newspaper

Delicate balance

Soaring costs

Perilous lines

Toni

Apr 17, 2020 06:52am

Thank you for showing the Common Sense Path, when that is the only Face saving path left for Ulema; they were perhaps feeling irrelevant, afraid of losing the masses, but... what were they thinking?

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Arif Ahmad Mir

Apr 17, 2020 07:38am

Wonder why these people are given so much space in Pakistan , these people should not be allowed to challenge the writ of the state .we are in the middle of a huge public health emergency globally ,the medical experts have advised for social distancing and avoiding of congregations . Ulemas have become a state within a state ,the mosques and Madarass Which they controll are like their business enterprises. Ramzan is few days away , they will eat up large donations given to these Madrassas and Mosques as sadakas and zakat .This runs into thousands of crore ,one has to see the life style of these Molvees to understand where this money goes __how can they maintain multiple wives ,houses and imported cars. This is the time to get rid of this nuisance as dangerous as the virus it self. They should all be arrested and tried under the stringent laws.when there is no Namaz in Harmain sharefain ,why this problem in Pakistan.

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Amir Ali Khan

Apr 17, 2020 08:16am

In absence of any vaccine or an effective treatment, social distancing has so far proved to be the only way to contain this deadly virus throughout the world.Gathering of any kind is bound to increase chances of infection and possible death.So why take risks? More than 100 people have already lost their life.

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SATT

Apr 17, 2020 09:11am

Modi dealing with Mullahs very properly in India.

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Tahir A

Apr 17, 2020 10:02am

This editorial represents the thinking of every rational human being. Every right is trumped by the right to life. Any personal freedoms, including the freedom to practice religion, cannot be exercised at the risk of loss of life.

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Justice

Apr 17, 2020 10:39am

If these are "scholars", they should have minimum common sense about the global pandemic and its serious consequence if experts' advices are not followed.

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Dr Tarik

Apr 17, 2020 10:52am

So called religious leaders should follow the advice of real Scholars like Doctors.

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Dr Tarik

Apr 17, 2020 10:52am

Blind leading the Blinds!

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Sane Voice

Apr 17, 2020 10:55am

Mullahs listening to Modi govt is not a big deal actually. They are in minority. What is nice is that Hindu religious leaders towing the govt line and closing temples etc. Unfortunately in Pak the religious leaders of the majority are not listening to the elected leaders.

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hassan

Apr 17, 2020 10:55am

If these misguided faithful insist on praying in the mosque, quarantine them in the same mosque so that they can keep on praying for the salvation of Muslim Ummah.

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King_Singh

Apr 17, 2020 10:56am

You are right. This is what everyone needs to understand.

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Sharlone

Apr 17, 2020 10:57am

I agree with the editorial fully. One should talk to these Mullahs and convince them that congregations should stop and resume when things go normal in a few month's time. Afterall science is better than fairy tales.

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Surya Kant

Apr 17, 2020 10:59am

Religion should be a private affair.

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Mansur Ul Haque

Apr 17, 2020 11:16am

Don't mess with religious issues. It can take you any where . He so talk negatively on this issue will take grave risk of--_.

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Qamar

Apr 17, 2020 11:31am

Churches were open on the eve of Easter. Why. And many other events are going on. No ban. While the ulemas are asking people to follow SOPs.

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Qamar

Apr 17, 2020 11:33am

@Surya Kant , then why India is killing the Muslims in the name of hinduvta

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Akbar Khan

Apr 17, 2020 11:58am

What clerics want is importance and holding power by such types of tactics. They want to be in limelight and remain relevant.

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Chris Roberts

Apr 17, 2020 12:19pm

Clerics, from whatever faith tradition, have to take stock of what is going on out there, and act accordingly.

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Hassan

Apr 17, 2020 12:23pm

The clerics are experts at playing the religious emotions of the publics against common sense.

Recommend 0

Apr 17, 2020 12:28pm

Please tax this sector of the economy.

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Parmanand Pandey

Apr 17, 2020 01:01pm

Very sensible advice.

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Chris Dann

Apr 17, 2020 01:28pm

Another courageous editorial by Dawn. A complete obedience to the law enforcement agency should not even be dared to be questioned,what to talk about high-handedly illegal intentions of these mullahs. This is the time to enforce the law in letter and to tell these mullahs that firstly they are the citizens and need to abide the law.

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Jeyaraj

Apr 17, 2020 01:32pm

Instead of complete lock down of the very special religious affair, it can be permitted with regulations like number of participants, timing etc. It will give win win to all stack holders and faith is also protected.

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Chris Dann

Apr 17, 2020 01:33pm

@Sane Voice , Do not compare India and Pakistan unnecessarilly. The article is about Pakistan. If you have a brain of your own- come forward with some constructive suggestions or just sit back and read an article about India,malhandling Muslims in Dawn of today.

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Jjacky

Apr 17, 2020 01:50pm

@Surya Kant , its their matter, they will handle carefully.

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MT Reddy

Apr 17, 2020 03:33pm

Chinese help should be sought by President Alvi to takle these people. They have experience in dealing UIGHURS

Recommend 0

Apr 17, 2020 03:45pm

The absence of a vaccine is a very challenging blessing in disguise. Some people are not made to face such challenges and the resulting changes. They could, however, make good leaders.

Recommend 0

Apr 17, 2020 03:46pm

AJK is a testing ground and already we know who is the winner

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Iqbal hussain PHD

Apr 17, 2020 04:14pm

science won over our religious duty, very dangerous for pakistan

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Sam

Apr 17, 2020 04:16pm

Very sensible editorial. Applicable for both the neighbours.

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Nathuram

Apr 17, 2020 04:33pm

This pandemic will end only if two things happen. Either develop a vaccine or build herd immunity. A vaccine is at least 2 years away. Congregations allow for building herd immunity. It maybe a good thing. Weekly once Friday congregational prayers has the potential to slowly build immunity within the population without making everyone sick.

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Tzaman

Apr 17, 2020 04:40pm

@Arif Ahmad Mir, Why they have these powers. It us because of us, the people. Boycott them, and see the result.

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Ibrahim S

Apr 17, 2020 07:16pm

Dear Author, If we pull a string in opposite directions, it always breaks . Don't we have 6th century and 21st century pulling public in opposite directions

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Feroz T. Jhantawala

Apr 17, 2020 07:38pm

Indeed, freedom of worship is a constitutional and human right. You said so yourself. State needs to get the hell out of enforcing its stupid ideas. Let people pray together and invite blessings.

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Riaz khan

Apr 17, 2020 07:54pm

Cleric the brain washer of Pakistan Since Pakistan came into being, religious personalities not all but most of them overtaken the psycho of Pakistani community, strange , what the logic behind, still a myth, reason may be illetracy but more probable flawed education system having lack of critical thinking. Strange behaviour of Pakistan clerics in the epidemic reveal that religious mind people going beyond and putting the lives of innocent people in danger only just to supercharge the govt and remain to be once powerful entities. Now a time come, Pakistan should remove the irrelevent acters from its law and order which directly effect govt policies , the sheer step will make Pakistan a successful idealogical state.

Recommend 0

Dr. Doctor

Apr 17, 2020 10:28pm

PMIK should provide PPE to all attendees since he thinks he has been able to avert the debt for now due to his efforts!

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Ayaz Malik

Apr 17, 2020 10:35pm

the take home being, its a matter of common sense.

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Expat (usa)

Apr 18, 2020 12:27am

"Indeed, freedom of worship is a constitutional and human right" Reminds me of the 2nd amendment in the US constitution, the right to bear arms. 25,000 people are victims of gun violence every year. Sometimes you have to save people from themselves. Coronavirus doesn't understand constitutional rights.

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Masood

Apr 18, 2020 01:25am

Turkey is not muslim state by law, it is secular state. I

Recommend 0

Apr 18, 2020 01:51am

The sensible editorial has been kind and respectful to the 50 prominent and ignorant so-called religious leaders. These self-appointed leaders of Islam somehow have come to believe that they are not only above the law but are the law. The government should take stern action against all those imams who break the lockdown and charge them with assault and murder should any of the congregants get sick or die of the coronavirus.

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M.Jan

Apr 18, 2020 05:48am

Mullahs must not be allowed to challenge the writ of the state. The government needs to regulate them with minimal formal qualifications requirements, compliance to a mandatory code of conduct and regular audits of their finances.

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Shakeel Pasha

Apr 18, 2020 06:49am

congregational prayers,

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Rahim

Apr 18, 2020 08:08am

Law of the land must be respected by anyone and everyone without exception.

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Hassan

Apr 18, 2020 01:59pm

Ramzan is around the corner, i wonder how that will play out.

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