On a shocking statement, Asaduddin Owaisi said that those who died due to COVID-19 should get the status of martyrs in Islam and the burial of martyrs does not need ‘ghusl’ (bath) or ‘kafan’ (shroud).
Coronavirus victims – Martyrs
The head of AIMIM and MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi said that the person who died due to coronavirus should be called a martyr. His statement has also been shared with the party’s official Twitter handle.
He adds that there is no need to arrange shroud for those killed by the coronavirus. At least in the presence of people, the dead body should be delivered. Owaisi said that a person whose death is due to the epidemic, his status in Islam is that of a martyr.
Those who die as a result of COVID19 are martyrs. Burial of martyrs does not require kafan (shroud) or ghusl (cleansing). One must immediately offer janazah and carry out the burial with a few people. – Barrister @asadowaisi pic.twitter.com/ImgzAapr0p
— AIMIM (@aimim_national) April 2, 2020
”namaz-e-janazah’ of the martyrs should be offered immediately and the burial should be carried out in the presence of few people.’ he said.
Jis insaan ka inteqaal waba ki wajah se hota hai, Islam mein uska darja shaheed ka hota hai. Shuhadah ko ghusl aur kafan ki zaroorat nahi hoti aur unhein jald se jald dafan kiya jaana chahiye https://t.co/lmQJxf30cZ
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 2, 2020
Tablighi Jamaat congregation
According to the sources, all the nine casualties in Telangana had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi last month. The bodies of the deceased are not being given a bath, nor are they being clothed before burial.
Earlier, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) had issued a circular clarifying that all victims of COVID-19 irrespective of their religion should be cremated to avoid the spread of infection. However, the order was revised later.
Meanwhile, people who wish to conduct the burial would be permitted if the burial ground is big enough to avoid the spread of coronavirus in the neighborhood.
Further, Owaisi also blamed media for giving the coronavirus crisis a “communal” angle due to Tablighi Jamaat Markaz and called it shameful.
Blaming #Muslims for #coronavirus is a shameful act!
#AsaduddinOwaisi #islamphobia pic.twitter.com/4i9hkjuriP— ?SHEIKH ADNAN (شیخ عدنان مشتاق) (@SheikhAdnanMus1) April 2, 2020
“I condemn that Islam is being blamed for the situation in the country now. Disease or plague has no religion, but some media outlets which blindly defend the government, BJP and Prime Minister have given coronavirus a religion,” he said, defending the event at Markaz Nizamuddin.
His statement has been criticized by BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. He said, “Is this a new definition of martyrdom?” Is this a way to encourage those who have returned from the Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin? ”