Mufti of Chechnya urges to refrain from crowded weddings and wakes

Because of the threat of spread of coronavirus in Chechnya, it is undesirable to organize crowded weddings and commemoration (wake) ceremonies, Salakh Mezhiev, the Mufti of Chechnya, has stated. Locals are trying to avoid crowded events.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 24, Elkhan Suleimanov, the Chechen Minister of Public Health, reported that three resident of the republic had caught coronavirus. The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, accused local residents of violating the quarantine regime.

Mufti Salakh Mezhiev said that during Friday prayers in mosques "Imams should inform their parishioners that it is desirable not to attend public events at this time."

He has emphasized that believers are obliged to protect themselves from the epidemic and cited the example of Caliph Umar bin Khattab, who had refused to enter the plague-struck city.

According to a representative of the Chechen clergy, the point is to bans all the mourning, wedding and other events in the republic.

Ali, a theologian, has emphasized that the Chechen Muftiate has no plans to cancel collective Friday prayers in mosques.

"Restaurants, cafés, fitness centres – everything is closed. At funerals and weddings, only relatives may take part. But during collective prayers in mosques, hundreds and thousands of people gather in one place," said Zaurbek, a local resident.

Earlier, the Russian Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) called to shorten Friday prayers and introduce restrictions on visiting mosques for people at risk. However, the Mufti of Chechnya, unlike other Muslim religious authorities in Northern Caucasus, has ignored these recommendations.