Position of Islam on mosque closure over COVID-19

In Islam, Muslims are encouraged by the Prophet (pbuh) in authentic traditions to observe their prayers at home if there are reasons for that, such as heavy downpour, wind and any genuine reasons that may prevent them to observe prayers in the mosque. However in many narrations of Imam Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) asked Muslims […]

In Islam, Muslims are encouraged by the Prophet (pbuh) in authentic traditions to observe their prayers at home if there are reasons for that, such as heavy downpour, wind and any genuine reasons that may prevent them to observe prayers in the mosque.

However in many narrations of Imam Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) asked Muslims not to come close to his mosque if they consumed garlic or any harmful substances. A clear tradition indicated that there were outbreak of epidemic in Madinah (Prophet’s city) during his lifetime and the noble prophet closed the entrance of Madinah and commanded those in the city not to move out as precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the sickness.

The closure of mosques is justified under Islamic rulings based on the concept of protection of life and human dignity. Precaution is the basic channel taught by prophet as process of curtailing epidemic. If there is outbreak of epidemic in a particular state or country, the citizens are not allowed to move out and also those coming in are not allowed to come in until the pandemic is over.

So for those who criticise the closure of mosques, they are ignorant and do not understand rules of interpretation. It was a wide consultation by worldwide erudite Islamic scholars before arriving at the decision of mosque closure.

I felt very amazed when I read an online comment by one commentator from Nigeria criticising mosque closure. Half-baked knowledge of Islam is a complete havoc.

Those with authority, renowned scholars met with medical experts and thoroughly discussed their findings before arriving at the final decision of closing mosques due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a precautionary measure pending on when everything will come back to normalcy.

Nayashi Mansur Salis, Lokoja, Kogi State