'Limited' Tablighi ijtima commences with Covid-19 SOPs

A three-day annual international Muslims congregation (Tablighi Ijtima) started on Thursday amid strict social distancing in the sitting and sleeping areas of the venue in Raiwaind, near Lahore.

Only 50,000 people from different parts of the country are attending the Muslims congregation this year. No foreign member of the Tablighi Ijtima was invited nor allowed to attend the gathering due to the global pandemic.

Tablighi Ijtima Shura (council) had earlier decided to strictly follow the government’s standard operation procedures (SOPs) and instructions in organising the annual gathering which usually is attended by over a million people from all over the world.

The final supplications (Dua) will be held on November 8, and then the attendees will leave for their respective areas by following Covid-19 SOPs.

The 50,000 participants were selected by elders at the regional Tablighi centres in Peshawar, Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta and Karachi. The participants were allowed to enter the congregation venue after showing permission letters from their regional Tablighi centres.

The elders of the Tablighi Ijtima have requested the general public to not attend as they will not be allowed at the venue for the three-day congregation.

Participants will also be not allowed to leave after entering the large tent city set-up in Raiwind. Food and water is being provided in the common sitting areas while makeshift lavatories and areas for ablution have also been established within the premises.

This year, members of the Tablighi Ijtima will not form preaching groups in the country or internationally. However, the regional centres are allowed to send Tablighi preaching groups locally and abroad. During the three-day congregation, the main Tablighi centre in Raiwind will remain closed.