COVID-19: Stop Giving Us Orders, Respect Our Religion - Clerics Warn El-Rufai

Islamic clerics from different sects under the umbrella of the United Muslim Foundation (UMS) converged on Zaria to review the conditions attached to the lifting of the COVID-19 lockdown in Kaduna state by Governor Nasir El-Rufai. 

While pointing out that Islamic scholars are the right people to state the stance of Islam on any pandemic including the Coronavirus, the lamented that El-Rufai never consulted them but was only handing down orders to the religious leaders. 

AllNews recalls that Governor El-Rufai on Tuesday lifted the 75-day long quarantine order earlier imposed on the state to curb the spread of coronavirus. The lifting of the lockdown permitted a significant reopening of the state including religious activities.

He explained that Church services will be allowed only on Sundays and Mosques will be allowed to conduct only Friday Juma’at prayers for the time being, subject to compliance with the safety stipulations in the guidelines.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting that took place at Youth Centre, Tudun Wada, Zaria on Thursday, state chairman of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’iqamatis Sunna (JIBWIS), Malam Tukur Isa said they have agreed to comply with the conditions.

Isa however added that they: "want to use this medium to tell the governor that Islamic scholars are the right people to state the stance of Islam on any pandemic.

“Therefore, the idea of calling clerics and give them orders on what to do is a disrespect to them and the religion they represent. 

“During this period of lockdown, the governor would simply call us and give us orders based on what the medical experts want. We were never consulted but we were given orders.

“As scholars, the governor ought to have sought for religious verdict on issue like this. We are making this known now so that next time, the governor will respect our views, which represent the view of Islamic jurisprudence.” 

On his part, the chairman of the Foundation, Malam Rabi’u Abdullahi, urged the governor to open markets and schools, as their continuous closure is causing what he called “serious hardship” for many citizens of the state. 

Abdullahi urged residents to repent from their sins, saying that pandemics like COVID-19 are caused by the sins of mankind.