Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: The Muslim community in Japan will see a different Ramadan this year with all of the activities and gatherings of Iftar, Suhoor, Taraweeh and Qiam-al-lail being canceled or reduced to staff at Masjids, and family members at home.

"With COVID-19 infections surpassing the 10,000 mark in Japan, more than 50 Muslim representatives from various organizations and individual Islamic scholars and scientists gathered via Zoom online platform to discuss and analyze from Islamic viewpoints as well as scientific background the issues related to the virus," a statement made by the group said.

Based on the opinion of the majority of participants requests, the statement requested all Masjids, Musalla and Muslim organizations in Japan to cooperate with the Japanese authorities’ request to avoid large gatherings at Masjids such as Iftar and Taraweeh prayers in order to protect all people from the spread of the virus.

The statement cited the Quran's Verse 195 from Surrah Al Baqarah as saying "don't put yourselves into destruction".

The statement also requested Muslim followers in Japan to "Stay Home for Iftar, until COVID-19 situation improves, and to conduct Taraweeh prayer at home," to avoid congregational Taraweeh at Masjids for the public, although Imam, Muahdin and staff who stay regularly at Masjid may pray there.

The group encouraged the Imam and other responsible individuals to conduct “online classes” for Muslims during Ramadan.

The group included Japan Muslim Association, Islamic Center Japan, Hokkaido Islamic Society, Osaka Islamic center, Kyodo Central Masjid, Muslim Student Association Japan, Tokyo University Islamic Cultural Society, and the Arab Community in Japan, and over 30 other Masjids and Islamic organizations all over the country.

Arab and Muslim sources in Tokyo told Arab News Japan that gatherings usually held in Ramadan at the personal initiative by enthusiastic Muslims are also canceled for Iftar at various restaurants in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.

Japanese government said on Wed. April 23 that while many people avoided outing since the emergency declaration made over 2 weeks ago, it has yet to confirm whether contact among people has been reduced to 80%, a target set by the government calling for minimum movements among people.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said compared to the days before the spread of infections the number of people going out in urban areas has gone down more than sixty percent on weekdays and more than seventy percent on weekends.

He said the goal is to reduce human contact by 80% and efforts are needed by everyone asking the public to think twice before going out and to help attain the 80% reduction goal and increase social distancing.

Japanese official sources told PanOrient News the annual Iftar events hosted by the Prime Minister and Tokyo government are not planned at the moment. Representatives of Islamic organizations and heads of Islamic embassies are usually invited.

Muslim diplomatic sources in Tokyo also said they have no plans to hold Iftars, and Tokyo Masjids issued statements canceling Ramadan activities.

The group said they will meet again online in the week of May 5, to discuss the development of the situation. This is the date when the emergency steps expire in Japan but the government will evaluate the situation to decide if to extend it.