UP swine flu epidemic: 'Greet but don't hug' this Eid, urge Muslim clerics

New Delhi: Keeping the swine flu epidemic in mind, which has claimed 66 lives in Uttar Pradesh till now, the Muslim clerics have advised people to just greet but don’t embrace and hug’ this Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid).

This health advisory has been issued so that people remain safe from the deadly contagious disease.

It will be the first Bakrid in the history of Uttar Pradesh in which people will exchange Eid pleasantries but will refrain from traditional embrace and hug due to Swine Flu scare. The health advisory from prominent Muslim clerics has already been sent to all mosques, madarsas and Muslim leaders across Uttar Pradesh.

On the request of prominent Muslim clerics, all Imams have agreed to make an announcement in this regard from their respective mosques after Friday prayers to follow the health advisory strictly in order to celebrate the festival with all religious fervour but safely. On Friday, Imams will make announcement from mosques advising community members not to hug or embrace one another on Bakrid in the wake of Swine Flu spreading in epidemic form. The Imams will also advise community members to stay away from crowded places and get vaccinated for swine flu protection.

The announcement from loudspeakers will be repeated on Saturday morning and also during the first Azaan on Bakrid. Muslim clerics have also advised community members suffering from Swine Flu to stay back home and use sterilised mask while exchanging Bakrid greetings with their relatives and dear ones.

The contagious swine flu spreads through close physical contacts. The Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh has also claimed that vector-borne diseases spread in monsoon season and claim many lives. “Precaution and protection are the best treatment of diseases like Swine Flu and Encephalitis,” he advised. Over 2650 Swine Flu positive cases have been reported from different parts of the state and it has so far claimed 66 lives .

It was a community-based health initiative by the State Health department which yielded positive response after the department held a meeting with prominent Muslim clerics, office-bearers of Al Quran Heal Foundation and National Unani Doctors’ Welfare Association in Lucknow on late Wednesday evening in a bid to seek their support on checking spread of Swine Flu on Bakrid.

Interestingly, both Sunni as well as Shia religious heads have called it a positive step from the Yogi government to safeguard the community members from Swine Flu. Prominent Muslim cleric and Imam of Lucknow Idgah Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali said that “embracing on Eid is just a tradition and a rule inscribed in Islam.”

“The tradition of embracing one another on Bakrid can be not done away for a year if it saves community members from this deadly disease,” pointed Maulana Khalid Rashid. “Saving lives of people is bigger than any religion or tradition. The health advisory to stay away from embrace or close contact is a welcome step and no one should object to it,” opined Maulana Kalbe Jawwad.

((DNA)