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The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has directed muslims to observe the Eld-el-Fitr celebration in their homes in order to prevent the spread of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.
Sultan Abubakar, who is the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs NSCIA gave the directive on Wednesday despite some governors, especially in the north, announcing the decision to lift ban on religious gathering and allowing congregational prayers, though with some follow up protocols to contain the spread of the virus.
Northern states like Kano, Yobe, Jigawa, Gombe, Borno and Zamfara have all opened their mosques for congregational worship. The latest being Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed who on Wednesday announced the decision to lift the ban on religious gathering in the state at a stakeholders meeting held with traditional rulers, religious leaders and security agencies, held at the Banquet Hall, Command Guest House in Bauchi, the state capital.
According to Mohammed, the decision was taken after considering the recent declaration by the World Health Organization, WHO that the disease may not go soon and the fact that other states in the Northeast have lifted their ban, Meridian Spy reported.
Given the decision by the northern governors, Muslim residents in their various states will now be opportune to celebrate the Eld-el- Fitri celebrations and also attend Jumu’at prayers on Friday.
But the Sultan, in a statement on Wednesday by NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General, Prof. Salisu Shehu, stated that the “Eid-el-Fitr is not a compulsory religious activity” and at no point should it be observed if doing so will undermine the fundamental purpose of Shari’ah: security, a multifaceted concept which includes personal, community, national, environmental and health components, among others.
He said Muslims should observe their Eid prayers while still taking necessary safety measures regarding personal hygiene, facial masks and social distancing.
“It is even advisable that in such places, massive gatherings at one Eid ground in a big city should be avoided. Rather the Eid could be performed in area-Mosques to avoid unmanageable crowds,” Sultan Abubakar further stated.
“However, in places where the ban on large congregational prayers and socio-religious gatherings is still in force, Muslims are directed to be law-abiding while appreciating that intentions supersede actions and actions are judged on the basis of intentions, as Prophet Muhammad said (Buhari and Muslim).
“Muslims are advised to be law-abiding in all circumstances while praying to Allah fervently in their various homes, if that is what the situation requires, to forgive our sins and heal the world from destructive and disruptive diseases like Coronavirus. Certainly, people all over the world at large and Nigeria in particular are under intense pressure and the sooner the pandemic is over, the better for us all.”
The Eid-el-Fitri is an islamic celebration. It signifies the end of the one-month Ramadan fast. The prayers are likely to hold on Saturday or Sunday depending on when the Shawwal month is sighted, according to The Nation.
