Maulana Saad of Tablighi Jamaat: "Mosque would be the best place to die"- Audio Tape Triggers Storm

Respond to this his audio recording, a Markaz representative, Maulana Abdul Raheem, who said, "This is a sermon we have been saying for 70 years. It is not specifically about coronavirus. Maulana Saad had also asked everyone to go back home and vacate Markaz. We also have a sermon which says, 'Anyone can eat, but god makes only the faithful feel satiated'. Does that mean followers don't eat food? And Tableeghi Jamat is all about gathering at the mosque. All our guests stay at the Markaz. There is nowhere to go but the mosque. Hence, our sermon advocates for people to stay at the mosque."

The Speaker in the video, so far not officially acknowledged by the Markaz to be that of Maulana Saad, is heard saying, "It's wrong to think that illness will spread by gathering in mosque," as people cough in the background. He also says: "If you might die by coming to mosque, that would be the best place to die." He goes on to say, "Only listen to a doctor who fears Allah." The Maulana who has an FIR against him now by the Delhi Police had allegedly said, "If people want to close mosques to stop spread of illness, that's wrong." The date of this recording has not been confirmed yet by the Markaz. Their spokesman said these comments were a general religious sermon and not in relation to the Coronavirus out break.