The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has backed the position of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), asking Muslims to observe their Eid prayers at home due to the Coronavirus lockdown.
Recall that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III had, on Wednesday, said the Eid-el-Fitr was not a compulsory religious activity (fard), if observing it would undermine the fundamental purpose of Shari’ah.
He listed security, a multifaceted concept which includes personal, community, national, environmental and health components, among others, as reasons for avoiding congregational prayers.
JNI’s Fatwa Committee, in a statement by its Secretary General, Sheikh Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, noted that the restriction would be in states where there was lockdown on Eid day, while in the states where movement was relaxed, Muslims could say their prayers at the Eid ground.
Also, the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaimon Abou-Nolla and Muslim leaders in Delta State have thrown their weight behind the call for Muslims to observe the Eid prayers at home.
This, they said, would flatten the curve of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Sheikh Abou-Nolla, at a briefing, on Thursday, in Lagos State, said the present situation did not warrant congregation prayers.
Delta State Information Commissioner, Charles Aniagwu, said Muslim leaders agreed to celebrate the Sallah at home because of the huge crowd being expected at the Eid praying ground.
