At a time when Muslims are unable to visit their mosques due to the coronavirus outbreak, many are going virtual for their spiritual needs.
Adhering to the British government guidance, religious institutions have closed to the public, including mosques across the country, and this has affected the daily routine of many Muslims who attend mosques regularly to pray.
To help Muslims self-isolating at homes, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has begun airing Islamic reflections and prayers on 14 local radio stations as mosques remain shut amid the coronavirus pandemic, Leicester Mercury reported.
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Every Friday morning at 5:50 am, a different imam will lead the broadcast. The aired reflection would include verses from the Qur’an, or saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), followed by a minute of prayer.
Imam Qari Asim MBE, a senior imam from Leeds, led the first service on Friday, April 3.
“Local radio is all about connecting communities and we hope these weekly reflections will go some way to helping Muslims feel a sense of community while they are isolating,” Chris Burns, head of BBC Local Radio, said.
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The reflections are available to listen to afterward on BBC Sounds.
The COVID-19 pandemic has infected 1,213,192 and killed other 65,600, according to the latest estimates by WorldOMeter.
The UK is grappling with over 41,000 confirmed cases of the new virus. The kingdom has reported 4,313 deaths so far.