Half baked scholars

This is absolutely misleading. It lacks an in-depth understanding of the core teaching of Sharia and it's objectives!

I urge members to promote, encourage and support efforts of the government because we are all stakeholders!

This pandemic is real, therefore such ideas of these half-baked scholars must not be given way to public. The stoppage or suspension of congregational prayers or similar religious gatherings, especially in this month of Ramadan, has no any evil intention. It purely meant to serve as preventive measure against the disease. It is indeed in line with the measures of Sharia during epidemic/pandemic.

The closure of Masajid and allowing markets to operate, are not the same; even though, the ideal practice is to shut down all places of gathering; religious and none religious ones, as recommended by the experts and practiced by many countries including some states in Nigeria. In my opinion, Allah knows best, some governments have not made adequate arrangements for the stay of people at home they have ordered by providing them with daily basic needs, such as water, electricity, medicine, basic food, security, etc, such governments, inevitabily have to compromise on the account of it's citizens lives. That is the plain truth of the whole matter. Going by the above, some differences can be noted as follows:

✓ Going to Masjid is compulsory upon every legally responsible male Muslim, while going to market is not. One may stay two three months without visiting market and is okay. As for Masjid one must go 5 times daily so long as he is healthy.

✓ Those that attend congregational salat daily are more than those go to market everyday.

✓ Our Foods and drinks are in the markets. If closed, people dieing of hunger will be much much higher than those die with of Covid 19. We have stories of such incidents from some states. But no body is reported to have died because Masjid was locked down.

✓ Suspending congregational prayers is done in the best interest of Muslims and for their absolute benefit based on the advice of the experts and leaders.

✓ Yes agree there are benefits in congregational salat, but the expected harm outweighed the benefits. Because here we talk of sicknesses and lost of lives, which Sharia has come purposely to protect.

✓ Obeying leaders is part of obeying Allah and His Messenger. It is not just salat and Siyam that are ibadah. Allah instructed us to obey Him and His Messenger as well as leaders so long as they ordered with good. Is an act of sin to disobey leader!

✓One of the main objectives of Sharia is to protect lives. Without Muslims existing healthy no congregational prayer is going to take place. Therefore, their well being first before discharging the duties upon them. Anything that hinders the contiuinty of human life and it's well being, shari'a makes sure that, it is softened, even if doing it is compulsory, or permitted even if doing so is Haram as a matter of necessity.

✓ One may enter market and gets out at his own discretion, unlike congregational prayers one has to stay until discharged by the Imam.

✓ Market places are open and usually wide, unlike most of our Masjid that have no or title ventilation and congested. Even they are adequate provision of that, congregational salat was suspended. Due to our attitude, people care not to abide by the safety measures even if provided.

✓One can still get jam'i by praying congregationally with his family. In addition to that, he has taken protective measures, and rewarded for obeying leaders.

✓There is nothing to worry because you prevented from attending salatul Jama'a. On the authority of Abu Musa RA, I heard the Prophet SAW not once or twice saying, if a servant is doing a righteous deed, then he fall sick or travelled, he will be rewarded just as he was healthy at home. Collected by Abu Dawud and others. It was graded as sound.

عن أبي موسى قال: سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم غير مرة أو مرتين يقول: (إذا كان العبد يعمل عملا صالحا، فشغله عنه مرض أو سفر، كتب له من صالح ما كان يعمل وهو صحيح مقيم) أبو داود وغيره، وحسنه الألباني

So, since one has that intention, but was prevented because of a necessity, he will be certainly rewarded insha Allah.

✓No government prevented Muslim from praying, what they ordered is to avoid gathering, because according to medical experts, this disease spreads through gatherings of any kind not only those of Masjid.

✓ Some say, we should be allowed to perform congregational salat so that, by our gathering, we do du'a. Scholars like Ibnu Hajar mentioned in his book Bazlul Majhood fii fadli Ta'un, that, an epidemic broke out in Misr/Sham sometimes in their time, some scholars ordered their followers to gather in an open ground, where they mingled in order to offer special prayers for what they were undergoing. After going back to their homes, the death toll raised, people died in thousands daily. This was because, Allah knows best, they did not know that, the disease was transmitted through intermingling. This is exactly our case. People have to read so as to reflect. Our case is not exceptional. And this is not first in the history where Masjid included Ka'aba and Hajj were suspended.

✓ To sum up, Islamic scholars should submit that, this area of public health is not theirs. Is purely others profession. They are not authorities or who have the final say as to whether people should resume their normal gatherings or not. They should base their fatwa on the outcome of what the experts said and concluded by the authorities. This is the Justice that Allah has ordered them to do in Suratul Nisa'i, 4, Aya 58.

This is just a reminder I intended to put forward. May Allah SWT in His infinite Mercy bring an end to this trial, forgive the departed, heel the sick and protect the healthy ones. Wallahu A'alam.