The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared that there will be no Ramadan lecture and congregation prayers in mosques during the 2020 Ramadan fasting which kicks off this week.
The Sultan, who told Nigerian Muslims that this year’s Ramadan is one with a difference, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, urged everyone to pray at home with their families, as Muslims cannot afford to be reckless with their lives. He however, urged that announcement of the beginning and ending of the Ramadan fast should be left for the Sultanate.
Speaking on Monday in a statement issued by JNI Secretary General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the Sultan tasked Muslim faithful to apart from reciting the Holy Qur’an, listen to Ramadan lecture through internet. He said Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries have unanimously agreed to suspend public religious congregation to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in tandem with the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH).
“As Muslims, we are not oblivious of the fact that death is inevitable, but we must not be reckless with our lives, Q2:195 is a clear testimony to that effect. Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an, the month of supplication and Dhikr (Allah’s remembrance), the month of giving poor dues and charity, and the month of Qiyamul-Layl (standing in the night for prayers).
“But due to the overwhelming eruption of the novel COVID-19 pandemic, it should be made known that all Salawatun-nawafil (optional and non obligatory prayers), including Taraweeh, are originally preferred to be observed at home, even though it is Mustahabb (desirable) to observe it in congregation.
“There will not be the annual Tafsir sessions and no congregational Taraweeh in mosques, until when situation permits. We should therefore pray with our families at home and stay safe.
“Medical experts and mid-course Ulama’s advice on Covid-19 should be religiously adhered to. We must collectively shun the vituperations of extremists in thoughts and actions on any matter, as warned by the Prophet (PBUH).
“Most often, extreme position on matters of religion creates more dissent views and counteractions, which in the final analysis generates acrimony and animosity rather than solutions, and for all intents and purposes that isn’t the essence of the Islamic faith!
“Despite the challenges of physical and social distancing, Tafsir and other religious teachings could continue using various information technology (IT) platforms, such as Facebook, Skype, YouTube, Zoom, etc. to live stream preaching sessions. Reliable information and communication technology (ICT) professionals could be consulted for proper guidance.
“It is on this basis that JNI calls on the ulama to as usual make the fear of Allah their watch word, bearing in mind that knowledge is a trust from Allah and shall be accounted for on the day of reckoning, thus it should be handled with the utmost caution it deserves.
“Muslims should fervently pray for an end to the myriad challenges bedeviling the world and Nigeria in particular, and to also seek Allah’s interventions for better well-being and prosperity.” Sultan said.
“This is a Ramadan with a difference as most people will be under lockdown. Hence, they will certainly be in dire need of assistance, because of the economic realities and the attendant suffocating inflationary trends. Our spirit of generosity should be fully activated in higher proportion to ameliorate the sufferings of the poor in our midst by providing them with food and other necessities.
“In this regard, the JNI calls upon those who have since planned for this year’s Umrah (lesser pilgrimage), to channel those resources to help the less privileged as the Umrah cannot be possible in the current global pandemic reality.”
