Muslims urged to take jab as Ramadhan starts
Monica Kagia and Reuben Mwambingu
Muslims faithful fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan have been advised to continue receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.
According to a number of medical professionals who are also practicing Muslims, there is no reason for why the holy month should stop anyone from getting the jab.
“During Ramadhan, Muslims can receive the jab during the day time and it has no harm on fasting,” explained Dr Jalab Ashraf, a nutritionist and general practitioner in Mombasa.
To deal with side effects, Dr Ashraf who is also a member of Muslims Covid-19 Response Committee in Mombasa advised Muslims to use simple pain killers in the wee hours of the morning during breakfast.
Covd-19 vaccine
Dr Ramadhan Marjan who said vaccines are not new during Ramadhan and therefore Covid-19 vaccine is not special even though Covid-19 is a new virus echoed his sentiments.
“Even Muslims travelling to Mecca are normally vaccinated during fasting period,” said Dr Marjan adding: “As Muslims, we have a duty to preserve life and getting vaccinated is the most effective way to prevent illness and loss of life from the virus.
A lot of hard work has gone into bringing the vaccines to our local communities to protect our most vulnerable…”
He said and added: “We must now stand together and not allow this phenomenal progress to halt during Ramadhan.”
This comes as faithful’s in Mombasa were cautioned against contravening the stipulated Covid-19 regulations as they prepare to usher in the holy month.
Mombasa County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said anybody going against the stipulated rules will suffer the consequences, Ramadhan notwithstanding.
“We are wishing all our Muslim brothers and sisters a happy Ramadhan but they have to know that we expect them to follow all guidelines put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19, especially with the third wave that is being experienced at this time,” said Kitiyo.
Self-regulating
He has urged Muslim leaders and especially Imans leading in prayers to exercise self-regulations in the mosques instead of waiting for police to regulate especially the number of faithful attending prayers.
“As directing we are expecting only a third of the congregation to attend the prayers hence we are encouraging imams to help their faithful to practicing self-regulations, where they will keep social distance, clean and sanitise as advised” added Kitiyo.
In Kiambu, measures instituted by the government recently in five counties including Kiambu has not gone down well with some Muslim faithfuls as they prepare to usher in the holy month of Ramadhan.
Some of the Muslims from Githunguri and Kiambu feel that they will be denied an opportunity to commune together and hold the events associated with the Ramadhan.
Abdi Wako, a Muslim faithful at the Kiambu Law Courts said it was mandatory for Muslims pray five times a day in the mosque.
“Men should go to the mosque while women prayed at home. Ramadhan is a month of fasting and socialisation as well as helping the needy, however, with the pandemic which has been claiming lives of many in the country with containment measures enforced, this means a change of activities have existed since time immemorial,” he said.
Shamim Ali, a resident of Ngewa in Githunguri says: “I feel the government should review these measures, especially during such a holy month.”
