The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Muslim faithful to pray at home with their families during the Ramadan period.
He declared that there would be no Ramadan lecture sessions and congregation prayers in Mosques as Muslims begin Ramadan fasting this week.
The Sultan who made this known in a statement issued by the Secretary-General of JNI, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu noted that the decision is because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
He recommended that Muslim faithful should in addition to the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, listen to Ramadan lecture through the internet and other virtual means.
Sultan Urges Muslim To Pray At Home
The statement reads: “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, felicitates in advance with the Muslim Ummah on the forthcoming month of Ramadan.
Unequivocally, Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an, the month of Du’a (supplication) and Dhikr (Allah’s remembrance), the month of Zakah and Sadaqah (giving reduced 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, the Ummah’s enthusiasm needs to be reinvigorated as against what obtains of palpable fear over the pandemic outbreak.
“It should be made known that all Salawatun-nawafil (optional and nonobligatory prayers), including Taraweeh, are initially preferred to be observed at home, even though it is mustahabb (desirable) to observe it in the congregation.
“To sum it up, there will not be the annual Tafsir sessions and no congregational Taraweeh in mosques, until when the 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 hatred 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.“
Speaking on the economic effects of the lockdown on the fasting Muslims, Sultan called on the wealthy Muslims to increase their generosity during the Ramadan and extend hands to those in need, to reduce their sufferings by providing them with food and other necessities.
According to the Sultan, most Muslim countries have unanimously agreed to suspend public religious congregation, to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said, in actual sense is in tandem with the teachings of the Prophet.
