The Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NCSIA has called on all Muslims to prepare to hold their prayers in private as the coronavirus pandemic spreads in the country.
The Council also urged Muslims to comply with all government guidelines on the prevention and control of the Coronavirus, including a directive against religious gatherings
This is contained in a release signed by the Deputy Secretary General of the Council, Professor Salisu Shehu after a media briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The directive is coming amid the suggestion by authorities in Lagos State that religious gatherings should be discouraged after recording fresh cases of the disease.
The statement reads, “It is very likely that governments and appropriate agencies would start putting social distancing measures in place very soon, depending on the severity of the situation. This could mean that major public gatherings are closed. This will inevitably have a significant impact on the Muslim community, specifically our mosques, schools, study groups, madrasas and Islamic centres, especially with Ramadan just a few weeks away, and we fervently pray to Allah in His Glorious Names and Attributes not to allow the pandemic to last that long”.
The NCSIA encouraged the Muslim faithful to cooperate with the government and fully comply with the measures which are in the public interest of all.
“Should it become necessary to suspend congregational prayers in the mosques, the Prophetic example in this regard is for the caller to prayer to announce “Pray in your dwellings!“”
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
