Published Wednesday 5 May 2021 at 13:27
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Lancashire Council of Mosques are offering advice to Muslim residents on keeping themselves safe while observing Islamic traditions of visiting the cemetery.
Laylat al-Qadr, the 27th night of Ramadan, falls on Saturday 8 May / Sunday 9 May. Traditionally on this special night Muslims offer extra prayers and spend more time reading the Quran. It is also traditional to visit the graves of loved ones during this night.
Sayyed Osman, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s Strategic Director of Adults & Health, said:
We would like to thank our local Muslim community for their support and co-operation in making visits to the cemetery as safe as possible on these important dates in the religious calendar.
Together with our Public Health colleagues, we considered carefully whether night-time visits to the cemetery on the night of Laylat al-Qadr are appropriate this year.
We feel that as it is still early in our Covid-19 recovery, it is in the public safety interest to close the cemetery as normal at 10pm.
This allows for cemetery visits between the normal opening hours of 8am to 10pm.
Similarly, on Eid-ul-Fitr, which will fall on Wednesday 12 May / Thursday 13 May, the normal cemetery opening hours will apply.
Sadly, we will not be operating a Park & Ride as we have in previous years due to Covid-19. Vehicles will not be allowed into the main cemetery for ‘Eid visitors’ due to the volume and inability of the infrastructure to cope with demand safely.
We would encourage the Muslim community to park in the main Pleasington car parks and walk to the cemetery as per last year.
We will have staff and volunteers supporting with marshalling. Please give them your support. We will make exception for people with disability or specific mobility problems.
As Eid falls during the week, on working days, it is important for everyone to respect that there will be organised funerals from all communities taking place that will need safe and uninterrupted access.
We would urge all our Muslim communities to spread the times of Eid prayers and also to stagger visiting to the cemetery where possible to help manage flow throughout the day.
The Council and Lancashire Council of Mosques has issued reminders of the current government restrictions:
- Meet outdoors in groups of six only, or two households
- Travel to the cemetery with members of your household/support bubble only
- Maintain social distancing with other groups visiting the cemetery.
Maulana Rafiq Sufi, Chair of Lancashire Council Mosques, said:
We appreciate that it is important to our Muslim residents to pay respects to loved ones at the graveside on Eid day. This Eid in particular will be more poignant for those families who have tragically lost loved ones during the pandemic.
Please continue to follow the government rules around gathering in groups of six outside, and keep cemetery visits focussed on praying for loved ones in the most respectful way to allow everyone to visit in a safe and secure manner.
Anyone who plans to visit the cemetery on Eid day should consider avoiding busy periods, ideally visiting after 5pm when funerals will not be taking place.
For more information about the latest safety guidance, visit www.blackburn.gov.uk/coronavirus.