Anthony Iwuoma
Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, and governors of some states in the North are set for a showdown over the observance of this weekend’s Eid-el-Fitr prayers.
Eld-Fitr marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fast and prayers are likely to hold on Saturday or Sunday, depending on when the sighting of Shawwal moon.
However, whereas the Sultan, who is the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has directed the Muslim faithful to observe the prayers at home in deference to the COVID-19 protocols and to stem further spread of the virus, some of the governors have eased the lockdown in their domain and permitted Muslims to participate in congregational prayers.
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For instance, the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, had earlier in the week announced that Muslims would be free to participate in the Jumat and the Eid prayers tomorrow.
Other states like Bauchi, Gombe, Zamfara, Yobe, Borno, and Jigawa have also said mosques should be opened for congregational worship.
NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General, Prof. Salisu Shehu, in a statement on Wednesday, said: “As the month of Ramadan is gradually coming to an end and the Eid-el-fitr is approaching, it is crucial to reiterate that we are living in unusual times when almost everything normal has become abnormal, including social gatherings and large congregational prayers.
“Therefore, Muslims are enjoined to note that Eid-el-fitr is not a compulsory religious activity (fard) 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.
“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.
“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 Chief Imam of Uthman Bn Affan Mosque in Ilorin, Kwara State, Mallam Yusuf Alfulani-Abdullah, affirmed the Sultan’s admonition and asked all Muslims in Kwara State to observe the Eid-el fitr prayer in their homes.
In his Ramadan Tafsir on Wednesday, Abdullahi disclosed that Islam, as a religion, made alternative provisions in times of situations such as the one being experienced now.
“Muslims can say the Eid prayer at home with family members, though traditionally the prayers are usually done with large congregations in mosques or open ground, but either ways Allah will hear the prayers,” he said and urged the Muslim faithful to continue observing the physical distancing in order to curtail the spread of COVID-19 virus.
Also, in a statement on Wednesday, the Executive Secretary of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Prof. Muslih Yahya, urged Muslims to pray at homes during the Eld-il-Fitr.
He said: “From the look of things, it is not likely that the current social distancing regulations put in place by governments in the Southwest, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic would be relaxed by Eid Day. Consequently, it is not likely that observance of Eid prayers at the Eid Prayer grounds would be possible.
“However, all Muslims are urged to put on their best dresses on the Eid Day as recommended by authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad but stay safe at home to mark the Eid Day with their family members.”
However, mosques shall remain shut in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to the FCT Minister Muhammad Bello, who insisted yesterday he would not yield to pressure to reopen them ahead of the festival
Bello explained to Muslim and Christian leaders, who met with him that the FCT authorities were guided by advice from medical experts and guidelines of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in its decision not to reopen places of worship.
Part of the statement by minister’s spokesman, Anthony Ogunleye, said: “Based on the guidance of medical experts and consultations with highest authority, the Presidential Task Force gave a decision and communication on the fact that all the measures approved two weeks ago be extended for another period of time to enable organisations, individuals and all of us plan for a gradual opening up of the society.
“The leaders of the religious organisations have agreed to work towards the eventual opening up of worship places at a time to be determined by the PTF.”