Chairman of the Muslim Social and Cultural Foundation Inshan Ishmael says it is not necessary to shift the curfew time beyond 9 pm to accommodate Ramadan prayers. While officials of the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat (ASJA) and the Trinidad Muslim League (TML) have called for the time to be extended to 9.30 pm or even 10 pm, Ishmael expressed a different view. "The prayer that is being affected is not compulsory and is also considered a personal prayer so praying at home will still reap great rewards," he said. "Yes, it may not be as rewarding as praying in congregation but God knows your heart. "Also several options are available, one does not have to read the entire Qur'an in this month-shorter recitations can be done in the interest of time."
Ishmael said Muslims who were staying the last ten nights of Ramadan at masjids throughout the country did not have to worry about sustenance, since many of them break fast with those who attend the Iftars."I can tell you as a matter of fact, Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago have no problem with getting food, especially during this period," he said. "Also, there is ample time to provide food, actually a huge window. If the food gets cold just microwave." Ishmael expressed the view that the curfew from 9 pm to 5 am did not interfere with Muslim beliefs and freedom to practise. He said some of the largest congregations made adjustments to their times and were finished by 8.30 pm.