Many Muslims, Christians and Jews around the world say that they have not witnessed religious seasons similar to what they are experiencing these days, in light of the spread of Corona pandemic and precautionary measures that have changed many of the religious rituals and rituals of religious people of different religions.

For many centuries, Muslims prayed and prayed in mosques and made pilgrimages and pilgrimages in Mecca, and Christians long celebrated the "Good Friday" day preceding the "Sabbath of Light" or what is known as "the Resurrection", followed by glorious Easter, where Christian sects celebrate it next Sunday. But what happened this year seems very different, as people did not rush to places of worship at the time of adversity as usual.

The British newspaper "The Economist" said it was impossible to perform the religious duty rituals on Christian Easter and on Good Friday this year, and instead, the Pope of the Vatican Francesco walked in the empty square of St. Peter.

Two days later - specifically on April 12 - and instead of announcing the "Resurrection of Christ" to the public, the Pope will do so almost alone in vast basilica, millions can view the event, but only electronically.

The newspaper added that previous emergencies from periods of stagnation and wars called on people to find a new meaning in acts of worship, but the pandemic made gatherings of worship a general danger, and various governments took preventive measures, and the reactions of religious people ranged from compliance, response, and blatant challenge.

Mixed responses
The American newspaper pointed out that it is difficult for some religious and religious leaders to comply with the pandemic prevention measures. On March 29, the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill declared: "I was preaching for 51 years. I hope you understand how difficult it is to say: Refrain from visiting churches."

On the other hand, the followers of Eastern Christianity will not accept to do so, as the clergy in Georgia - for example - continued to offer bread and wine to the faithful, insisting that this would not harm anyone.

The newspaper pointed out that some American evangelists - including supporters of US President Donald Trump - were categorically refusing to recognize the virus.

Rodney Howard Brown - a preacher in Florida - was briefly arrested on March 30, after he insisted on mobilizing people to worship, and insisted that he could neutralize the virus. Two days later, state governor Ron Desantes listed religious activities as "essential services" that could continue without crowds despite the closure.

The newspaper reported that the anger of secular groups has increased since the spread of the pandemic was linked to "religious recklessness."

In South Korea, hundreds of members of the Shinchongji underground church were infected and spread the virus, and the government complains that the church has not cooperated in tracking down the infected.

On the other hand, a major religious meeting in Malaysia last February helped spread the virus in the predominantly Muslim country of East Asia.

Elsewhere, liberal clerics, rabbis, and imams responded to calls for the suspension of rallies, but it seems that stopping rituals dear to the common people and religious people is a dark conspiracy for them, as slogans rejecting these decisions rose in Eastern Europe, including the slogan "Even the Communists did not completely prevent Easter celebrations. "

As for those who condemn Judaism, many of them responded to the claim of non-assembly, yet the religious Jews of Israel known as the "Haredi" rejected the matter strongly, and the Haredi stronghold in Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv was a focus of the spread of the Corona virus, they insisted on gathering to pray. Holding weddings and funerals, and defying the closing procedures.

Major challenges
On the other hand, the newspaper considered that in Iraq - where the state controls religion in general as is the case in the Gulf states - people complied with orders to suspend Friday prayers, and the Saudi authorities asked the pilgrims to postpone any plans for the pilgrimage this year (in July), but when it will start Ramadan In late April, there will be challenges related to gathering for Iftar and Tarawih prayer.

In Iran, which is one of the first countries that were infected with the virus and the most affected by it, the religious authorities have absolute power, and it should be noted that liberal and secular opponents criticized the decision of the Iranian authorities taken on March 16, to suspend the visit of “holy places” and considered that it was late Extremely.

The newspaper stated that India is one of the many places where politicians should cooperate with religious forces. In the city of Ayodhya, which is claimed to be the birthplace of "God Rama", officials attempted to limit celebrations of the Hindu deity, but eventually it was left to Hindu organizers to encourage residents to abide by their homes, who reluctantly obeyed orders.

The report of the American newspaper says that the reaction of the Catholic Church seems very different from the old reaction that previously persecuted astronomers, but some critics - including conservative American Catholics - believe that the "patient" response to this political entity shows the weakness of the church.

Islamic Fiqh
The newspaper pointed out that the steadfastness of religions may ultimately depend on finding a way to explain to its followers - in its own words - why their spiritual duty now is to suspend rituals.

On a related matter, researcher Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institution notes that Islamic jurisprudence accepts the priority of preserving human survival over other standards, as a Muslim can eat pork instead of starvation.

For his part, the radical Catholic priest James Allison proposes an unusual solution, encouraging families to practice (Christian) worship at home.



In his article on Middle East Eye which titled "Corona Virus and Islam ... How Can Muslims Coexist with the Epidemic?", Professor at the University of Toronto Law School Muhammad Fadel pointed out that Muslim jurists have established specific rules in emergency situations that aim to protect lives and reduce Economic losses.

He stressed the need for Islamic countries to take it upon themselves to strengthen ties of mutual solidarity in this difficult period, through the exchange of experiences, personnel, equipment and financial assistance in the area of ​​public health.

Fadel concluded his article that this epidemic will not end soon, and that the global Islamic community and its political leaders should follow policies that give priority to saving lives over profit, while emphasizing the value of the joint economic sacrifice, "And God willing, the Islamic world can reduce the inevitable losses that will result from this epidemic." .