The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is a serious problem for the UK and beyond. It is particularly dangerous because it is highly contagious and has a high risk of being fatal for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. We pray to Allah (SWT) to protect us all and the wider community and society from this virus.
At City Jamia Masjid, we are advising our congregation to follow the advice and guidance from Wifaqul Ulama with regard to masjid attendance for congregational salah. The current guidance (18th March 2020) is posted below. However, this is a fast-changing situation and we request that you keep checking the Wifaqul Ulama website for daily briefings.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) daily briefing for Mosques
This statement is being reissued on the 18th of March 2020 at 19:00 with updates to advisories 5, 9 & 10 and supersedes all previous statements on the subject. It will be updated daily at 19:00.
This advisory will be updated daily at 19:00 after reviewing the latest medical and legal briefings.
All Mosques in Britain who chose to follow this advice, must follow in its entirety and particularity the restriction recommendations. Please DO NOT take these recommendations and apply them partially OR without adequately educating your communities. The Mosque committees need to work at the grassroots level to calm their communities and educate them on these measures and why they are being taken.
ان شاء الله روزانہ شام سات بجے علماء اور مسلمان اطباء کورونا وائرس کے بارے میں برطانیہ میں واقع مسجد کیلئے ہدایات جاری کریں گے
ستصدر هذه الاستشارة حول فيروس كورونا يوميا للمساجد في بريطانيا بالتشاور مع العلماء والمتخصصين الصحيين في الساعة 7 مساء إن شاء الله
ઇંસ્લામી ઓલમા અને તબીબી નિષ્ણાતોની બનેલી કમિટી ઇંશાઅલ્લાહ દરરોજ રાત્રે 7 વાગ્યે કોરોના વાયરસ વિષે નવી આવેલી અપડેટ્સ આને માહિતી તમને આપશે.
ইনশাআল্লাহ্, ইসলামী বিষয়ে অভিজ্ঞ আলেম ও অভিজ্ঞ চিকিৎসকদের সমন্বয়ে গঠিত একটি কমিটি করোনা ভাইরাস বিষয়ক সর্বশেষ তথ্যের আলোকে মসজিদের ব্যাপারে আপনাদেরকে পরামর্শ প্রদান করবেন প্রতিদিন সন্ধ্যা ৭ঃ০০ টায়।
10 Step advisory for Mosques
This section is a summary of the advice, but all readers are requested to review the article in full.
- Greet each other with “As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh” and refrain from shaking hands and hugs. While in the Mosque, avoid touching each other.
- Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds frequently and particularly before and after eating and before exiting and after returning home. Think and Plan your journeys appropriately. Mosques are strongly advised to make Hand Sanitisers available and all those coming to Mosque should sanitise their hands after entering and upon exiting the Mosque.
- Use your sleeve or a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when sneezing/coughing and then dispose of the tissue it appropriately. DO NOT touch your face, nose, mouth, or eyes with your hands.
- All activities relating to children in the Mosque should be seriously considered depending on the size and nature of the activity against the risks posed by the Coronavirus. Children may not be affected by the virus, but that does not mean that they cannot pass it on.
- All activities other than congregations Salāh in the Mosque should be suspended. However, use the Radio transmitters to continue to educate the British Muslim communities. We urge Scholars to increase live interactions using Social Media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc) and other technical aids at their disposal. Ghusl guidelines from National Burial Council should be followed and the Janazāh (funeral) prayer should be performed at the cemetery and not at the Mosque at this time.
- Since congregational Salāh is not an obligation for Sisters, they are advised to pray at home. Most Mosques do not have the means or financial resources to deep clean and sanitize multiple prayer areas.
- Senior Muslims over the age of 60 are strongly advised to pray at home. All Muslims who have underlying health conditions or at risk (see section below) are strongly advised to pray at home. All Muslims suffering from or showing cold and flu symptoms are advised to diligently follow NHS guidance.
- All Muslims who are genuinely afraid and apprehensive of contracting COVID-19 have the scope to pray at home at this time.
- Continue to call the Adhān and perform the Fardh (obligatory) congregational Salāh in the Mosque. However, shorten the length of the congregational Salāh and restrict it to maximum of 15 minutes. Sunnāh and other optional prayers should be done at home. When coming for Salāh to the Mosque, use the Toilet and perform your Wudhu at home. Bring a prayer mat to the Mosque or place a tissue or face cloth to at least cover the point of prostration during Salāh. After the prayers, those in the congregation should disperse quickly. The Mosque doors should be opened 10 or 15 minutes before the start of the Fardh (obligatory) congregational Salāh and then closed 10 or 15 minutes thereafter, depending on the size of the Mosque. Those coming for Salāh should maintain a safe distance while waiting, make the rows (saff) just in time for Fardh (obligatory) congregational Salāh, disperse immediately after praying and then leave the Mosque.
- Mosques should have multiple Friday congregational prayers to balance the numbers and Jumuāh should be restricted to Khutbāh and obligatory prayers, restricted to a maximum of 15 minutes. Sunnāh and other optional prayers should be done at home. When coming for Salāh to the Mosque, use the Toilet and perform your Wudhu at home. Bring a prayer mat to the Mosque or place a tissue or face cloth to at least cover the point of prostration during Salāh. After the prayers, those in the congregation should disperse quickly. The Mosque doors should be opened 10 or 15 minutes before the start of the Fardh (obligatory) congregational Salāh and then closed 10 or 15 minutes thereafter, depending on the size of the Mosque. Those coming for Salāh should maintain a safe distance while waiting, make the rows (saff) just in time for Fardh (obligatory) congregational Salāh, disperse immediately after praying and then leave the Mosque.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) at risk group:
- Anyone in their 70s or under 70 with the following conditions;
- Anyone being seriously overweight, for example with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more.
- Anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds.
- Anyone with an impaired immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy.
- Anyone with diabetes.
- Anyone with problems with their spleen, for example Sickle Cell disease or have had their spleen removed.
- Anyone with underlying lung conditions or chronic (long term) respiratory diseases such as Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis.
- Anyone with chronic heart disease such as heart failure.
- Anyone with chronic kidney disease.
- Anyone with chronic liver disease such as hepatitis.
- Anyone with chronic neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning difficulty or cerebral palsy
- Anyone with cancer.
- Those living with someone who is in a risk category.
- Those who cannot avoid being in contact with someone at risk.
Spiritual Action Plan
- All Muslims are urged to turn towards Allāh Ta’āla in repentance and seek forgiveness.
- All Muslims are urged to inculcate and adopt the noble and blessed Sunnāh of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) in all aspects of their lives.
- All Muslims are urged to be particularly diligent and attentive in their five daily prayers.
- All Muslims are urged to set aside some time daily in recitation of the Qurān and engage in Dhīkr (remembrance) and adhkār (litanies and invocations) which are from the Qurān and the Sunnāh.
- There are some special and particular Duās from the Sunnāh which should be particularly and frequently recited at this time, they are as follows:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ، لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ شَيْءٌ
In the Name of Allāh with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of harm in the earth or in the heaven, and He is the All-Hearing and All- Knowing
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allāh from the evil of what He has created
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُنُونِ وَالْجُذَامِ وَالْبَرَصِ وَسَيِّيءِ الأَسْقَامِ
O Allāh, I seek refuge in You from vitiligo, madness, leprosy, and bad diseases.
Position on Mosque, Adhān and congregational Salāh
Mosques are special places where the Mercy and Blessings of Allāh Ta’āla descends upon, enriching those who frequent them. Each and every step taken towards the House of Allāh Ta’āla is meritorious and virtuous. In addition Adhān and congregational Salāh are special salient features and manifestations of Islām which need to be practiced.
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ بْنِ قُدَامَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا السَّائِبُ بْنُ حُبَيْشٍ الْكَلاَعِيُّ، عَنْ مَعْدَانَ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ الْيَعْمَرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ أَيْنَ مَسْكَنُكَ قُلْتُ فِي قَرْيَةٍ دُوَيْنَ حِمْصَ . فَقَالَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ “ مَا مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ فِي قَرْيَةٍ وَلاَ بَدْوٍ لاَ تُقَامُ فِيهِمُ الصَّلاَةُ إِلاَّ قَدِ اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْجَمَاعَةِ فَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُ الذِّئْبُ الْقَاصِيَةَ ” . قَالَ السَّائِبُ يَعْنِي بِالْجَمَاعَةِ الْجَمَاعَةَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ
It was narrated that Ma’din bin Abi Talhah Al-Ya’muri (RA) said: “Abu Ad-Darda (RA) said to me: ‘Where do you live?’ I said: ‘In a town near Hims.’ Abu Ad-Darda (RA) said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allāh Ta’āla (Peace be upon Him) say: “There are no three people in a town or encampment among whom prayer is not established, but the Devil takes control of them. Therefore, stick to the congregation, for the wolf eats the sheep that strays off on its own.” (One of the narrators (As Sa’ib) said: “The congregation means the congregational prayer.”) [Sunan an-Nasa’i]
We have to review the latest medical advice and balance it against the teachings and commandments of Islām.