Tag: Ramzan

  • Covid-19 protocols for Taraweeh in the Two Holy Mosques

    Covid-19 protocols for Taraweeh in the Two Holy Mosques

    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has approved performing a reduced version of Taraweeh prayers at the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina, with the continued suspension of entry of worshipers, the General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques’ Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

    President of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Abdul Rahman As-Sudais, also said that special night prayers performed during the holy month of Ramzan will be held without public attendance at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

    The statements came amid reports that the mosques had re-opened their doors to the general public and 20 or reduced-to-10 Taraweeh prayers will be held at the mosques.

    While it has been confirmed that the prayers will be shortened to five Tasleemat (i.e. 10 Rak’ahs), claims regarding the mosques being opened for pilgrims have been rubbished as authorities say only limited employees and workers will be allowed group prayers at the two holiest sites of Islam during Ramzan.

    The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has also prepared a comprehensive plan for the implementation of coronavirus precautionary measures during Ramzan, which other than including the continued suspension of allowing worshipers to enter the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, also includes increasing the sterilization processes and thermal testing of every person entering for funeral rites.

    The Ramzan group iftars which were traditionally held in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque were assigned to Mecca and Medina’s provincial authorities to distribute iftar meals while maintaining the necessary health precautions.

    According to the precautionary health measures, there will be no Itikaf [or keeping vigil] inside the Two Holy Mosques.

    The attendance of employees at the Two Holy Mosques will continue to be restricted to the absolutely necessary workers, and operations of maintenance will be conducted depending on priority and in accordance with the precautionary measures.

    Last week, the Saudi government had announced that Taraweeh prayers will be performed at homes during Ramzan as suspension of prayers at mosques will not be lifted due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

    Saudi Arabia had also announced to ease curfews imposed in several cities in order to facilitate people to head out for essential needs.

  • PM Imran to be tested for COVID-19

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will undergo the test for the new coronavirus after Edhi Foundation Chairperson Faisal Edhi, who had met the premier last week, tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day.

    According to the PM’s focal person on coronavirus, Dr Faisal Sultan, the premier has been advised to get himself tested as a precautionary measure after Edhi tested positive days after meeting him to donate Rs10 million to the government’s virus relief fund.

    Edhi is in Islamabad at the moment and had insisted on being tested since he had been on the ground working with patients. His family will also undergo a test for the virus.

    Edhi had traveled to Lahore and then to Islamabad, where he had met the premier and donated a Rs10 million check on behalf of his organisation, Geo reported.

    According to his son Saad Edhi, everyone who had come in contact with him will be tested for the virus, while the social worker remains in isolation and constant contact with his doctor.

    Edhi says he had started experiencing severe headache and fever on April 16.

    Meanwhile, the host and crew of a TV show, where Edhi had made an appearance last week, has already taken the tests and advised to stay at home till results arrive.

    ‘PAKISTAN AN INDEPENDENT NATION, CAN’T STOP WORSHIPPERS’:

    Separately, the premier said the government “will take action” if safety precautions agreed upon by ulema were not followed. 

    He said that Pakistan was an “independent nation” and it could not force worshippers to not pray in mosques. 

    “The war for coronavirus is being fought by the entire country. It will not differentiate between the rich and the poor. It can happen to anyone,” he said, adding that ulema had signed a 20-point agreement with President Arif Alvi, under which mosques will be reopened with special measures in place. He, however, urged people to pray at home. 

    “I would urge my Pakistanis to stay at home and pray,” he said. “Other Muslim countries have urged their citizens to do the same. But if you have to go to mosques, keep this in mind. You will have to obey these conditions,” he added.

    The premier said if people did not follow the safety precautions and cases surged in mosques during Ramzan, the government will have no other option but to take back its decision. “The government will shut mosques if safety precautions are not followed and this was mentioned in the agreement.”

  • Urdu version of ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ to air on PTV in Ramazan

    Fans of the super hit Turkish historical fiction series Diriliş: Ertuğrul, popularly referred to as the Turkish Game of Thrones, can rejoice because the drama serial will be hitting our TV screens in Urdu on the first of Ramazan.

    Senator Faisal Javed Khan made the announcement on social media. According to Khan’s tweet, the drama will air in the Urdu language every day from the first of Ramazan at 9:10 pm on PTV Home.

    PTV also shared a short promo of the drama on their social media channel.

    PTV got the exclusive rights for dubbing and screening it in Pakistan after Prime Minister Imran Khan suggested that Pakistani viewers should watch the series. Reports suggest that the prime minister is a big fan of the series as it promotes true Islamic values.

    Read more – PM Imran requests PTV to air Turkish drama in Urdu

    Diriliş: Ertuğrul is set in 13th century Anatolia, before the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. It illustrates the struggle of Ertugrul Gazi, the father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty.

    Since its premiere on state-run Turkish TV channel TRT 1 in November 2014, the serial has been telecasted in 60 countries and has a huge fan following across the world.

  • PEMRA bans studio audiences for Ramazan transmissions

    PEMRA bans studio audiences for Ramazan transmissions

    The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has banned audiences present in the studios for sehr and iftar transmissions that go live throughout the month of Ramazan on television channels.

    A notification was issued by the authority on Tuesday that read the decision was taken to follow the rules of social distancing that medical experts across the world have called necessary to control the spread of coronavirus.

    The staff engaged in airing the shows have been directed to wear safety kits and regularly disinfect their equipment.

    Channels have been instructed to set up a walk-through sanitizing gate in their studios as well.

    If a show has more than one host then there should be a distance of one meter between them and only one guest can be invited at a time.

    The authority has prohibited displaying cars, bikes and other appliances on the show since many people are suffering from financial issues during the lockdown and showing of such products would be in bad taste.

    Meanwhile, PEMRA has also directed channels not to use language that is against any religion or belief and provokes hatred among people.
    In case of a violation, the transmission will be suspended immediately.

  • ‘Ask me about samosa, pakora prices, not IMF’

    ‘Ask me about samosa, pakora prices, not IMF’

    Former finance minister Asad Umar has reportedly refused to comment on the financial bailout package by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), saying he doesn’t have anything to do with it anymore.

    “Ask me about samosa and pakora prices instead,” he said when questioned about the IMF programme during a recent media interaction.

    The former minister said he was no longer a part of the government and was only a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member. “So whatever is happening, ask about it from advisers and ministers concerned,” he added.

    “What does it have to do with me now?”

    Pakistan and the IMF on Sunday reached an agreement under which the global lender would provide $6 billion to Islamabad over a period of three years. The loan is to help the country make its way out of the prevailing economic crisis.

    Umar had played an important role in negotiating the deal as the finance minister. However, on April 18, he had announced to quit his portfolio after being told to do so by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

  • Ajax player’s on-field Iftar video goes viral

    Ajax player’s on-field Iftar video goes viral

    A video of Ajax football club player’s on-field Iftar from Wednesday has gone viral.

    In the video, defender Noussair Mazraoui can be seen breaking his fast while playing the Champions League semi-final against Tottenham.

    The Dutch-born Moroccan professional footballer was fasting for Ramzan and had to wait until the 24th minute of the game before refueling.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Ajax lost to Tottenham 2-3 in an astonishing comeback for the north Londoners.

    Lucas Moura scored a dramatic last-minute winner to send Tottenham into the final for the first time in its history. The win being secured in Amsterdam — Ajax’s home — was termed as “the cherry on top” by Twitterati.