COVID-19: How 3,000-capacity Ogun Mosque coping with FG’s social distancing directive
Razaq Bamidele
The 3,000 capacity mosque of the Zawiyatul-Sofwatur-Rahmatil-Islamiyyat (ZASRAM), in Ota, Ogun State, has been under locks for the third week running in compliance with the Federal Government’s social distancing directive aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.
When The Nigerian Xpress visited the mosque mid-day Friday, the usual weekly activities around the popular mosque was absent as the premises was deserted.
An old woman, who approached our correspondent, while taking the picture of the mosque volunteered that, “For the last three weeks, we have not been observing Juma’at Salat (Prayer) here because our Imam has asked us to keep off this premises until further notice.”
According to her, the Chief Imam, who said the reason was about a disease that is killing people around the world (apparently referring to Coronavirus) also “advised us to observe some rules that would keep us safe from contracting the deadly ‘sickness.’ ”
On normal Fridays, the mosque’s vicinity used to be crowded with worshippers trooping in from far and near to pray and listen to the sermon of the Chief Imam Founder/Chief Missioner (Worldwide) of the Islamic Organisation, Sheikh Abdur-Razaq Abdul-Hameed Onaolapo Animashaun Kasolayo.
When contacted for comments, the Chief Imam, who lives not too far away from the mosque, confirmed the submission of the old woman reminding that, “the mosque, in addition to observance of normal daily and weekly Salat (Prayers), is also an avenue for dissemination of vital information for the well-being of humanity.”
Sheikh Kasolayo, quoting from the glorious Qur’an said, “It is a divine revelation that people should obey God, his noble messengers (Prophets) and those in the authorities if their instructions are in line with divine commandments from the almighty Allah.”
The Osun State-born Arabic/Islamic scholar said, “COVID-19 is real and the preventive measures rolled out by the government are also reasonable for the wellbeing of the citizenry and so, must be obeyed to the letter.”
He, therefore, reinforced his instructions to his followers to obey all the preventive measures of social distancing, regular washing of hands, keeping indoors and observance of all hygienic attitudes, asserting that, “there is nowhere we worship and pray to God that He would not accept our Ibadah (worship) and answer our Du’ah (prayers).
He however condemned some extremists who are always confrontational with the law enforcement personnel who sacrifice their comfort for the welfare of the citizenry, describing them as, “ignorant people who are not Islamically-knowledgeable enough to understand the good intentions of the government on the trending issue.”
Going down memory lane, Kasolayo reminded that, “there were instances during the time of Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him), when he instructed his followers to keep away from the mosque and observe their Salat at home.”
While praising the governments, Federal and States for their efforts at seeing to the end of Coronavirus monster, Kasolayo beseeched the Almighty Allah to “forgive our misdeeds and save the whole world from the hand of the fearful disease.”
