Global Pandemic Event 201

[BIAD]

...It seems that the muslims dont like been told what to do and see it as a plan of the infidels to try and control them,
so in France they just do as they want.
Fun times ahead

Here in the UK...
23rd March 2020.

London coronavirus: Why the city's busiest mosque is still open for prayers.

Whitechapel's East London Mosque is as full as ever but they are taking steps to protect visitors



'Despite the government advising Londoners to avoid unnecessary social contact, an East London Mosque
and London Muslim Centre spokesperson confirmed today that it is open to the public.

The holy call to prayer will continue to fill the halls of London’s busiest mosque this morning (Tuesday, March 17),
as it has done since it opened in 1985. On a normal day, some 10,000 worshipers from all over East London
attend the Whitechapel site across five daily prayers.

The mosque has now broken from its traditional schedule to protect its large and elderly congregation from
coronavirus while still offering a space for spiritual respite. Prayers have been cut short with people being
asked to go home promptly afterwards and not gather beforehand.

Although Islam teaches that group praying reaps richer spiritual rewards, the mosque is asking people to perform
the last prayer of the day at home. Congregants have also been asked to do their ablutions - ritual cleansing- at
home while the mosque’s holy carpets are being cleaned more regularly.

Addressing the mosque last week, Imam Shaykh Mohammed Mahmoud told the congregation not to panic and
trust in Allah. “But this resilience,” he said. “Goes hand in hand with taking sensible measures.”

Staff and visitors explained last week (Friday, March 13) why the mosque is staying open for now and what is
expected of Muslim congregants in times of collective struggle. 'It’s something that we’ve never faced in our lifetime'

Head of Assets and Facilities Assad Jaman, 52, has the unenviable task of overseeing the three prayer halls,
visitors centre, schools, and care home that make up the large complex on Commercial Road, Whitechapel.

As well as visitors following the now familiar protocol of washing hands more frequently, he explained that the cleaning
schedule has been increased in the prayer halls where worshippers touch their heads and hands to the carpet.

Older people are being encouraged to sit on the chairs that line the left side of the main hall, and the points where
people make contact with the holy carpet are being sprayed with chemicals, on top of a full clean after each mass.

Assad has just bought a batch of 150 cotton cloths to use a rewashable makeshift-prayer mats to limit the virus
spreading on the thick pile mats they traditionally use. He had considered encouraging people to bring their own,
but realised this would only lead to germs being taken home with people.

The mosque is now taking the unprecedented step of cutting the length of the Friday prayer, which attracts up to 7,000
congregants, by 15 minutes and restricting the time members of the public can spend in the building.
Speaking on Friday (March 13) he said: “The idea is that people are not coming in early, gathering early,or staying
here longer than they need to."

Congregants are asked to carry out their daily prayers at home after being “psychologically encouraged” by Imams
telling them they will reap the same reward as coming to the mosque, given the circumstances.

By opening at midday instead of 10am and asking people to leave as quickly as possible and complete the last
prayer of the day at home, he hopes to limit the time worshippers spend in a large group. With Ramadan due to start
on April 23, Assad is concerned that by that time, government advice on mass gatherings will completely change
the way the festival is celebrated.

If the three international reciters who are ready to travel to Whitechapel to lead the Ramadan prayers next month
can’t fly in, they will “make do” with Imams from home. But they will have to find a way to “curtail the congregation
size as much as possible” should it come to it.

“If the government says that a gathering of more than 100 or 200 is not allowed, then we’ll close the mosque,” he said.
For now, Assad is hoping for the best case scenario but planning for the worst. He explains that the although he will be
hugely disappointed if they do have to close the mosque entirely, Islam is a way of life that in its nature must adapt to
the situation it finds itself in.

“A few, a very few, will criticise us for doing so,” he said. “But the majority will accept the decision because those who
know the actual teaching of Islam know it’s for the greater good of society and the community.
“It’s not for anyone’s personal gain or achievement.” He added: “It’s something that we’ve never faced in our lifetime
but as the saying goes, there’s always the first time for everything.”

'We take our precautions, I've been doing that all my life'
Shaheb Yusuf Muhammad, 31, has cycled the five miles from Plaistow to East London Mosque every day for 15 years
and the coronavirus hasn’t stopped him so far. He explained that the combination of exercising, eating well and his faith
have given him confidence in accepting all kinds of eventualities.

“By staying healthy, I feel that we are preparing ourselves for the inevitable - like corona,” he said. "We take our precautions,
I've been doing that all my life." Although praying with the community is an important part of his religion, he echoed Assad’s
beliefs that Islamic teachings about selflessness justify praying at home should the mosque have to close.

He said: "We learn from the traditions of the prophet that praying in congregation gives you more reward, but if you are
forced to pray at home God is kind and will give you that reward anyway. “By praying at home you're doing it for the greater
good."...'

My London:


But later the same day...

London coronavirus: Whitechapel mosque cancels prayers for the first time in 35 years.
Link: