Covid-19: Muslims abide by govt’s rules at Jumat

By Edith Igbokwe

Second week into the reopening of worship centres, the Muslims at Ajumoni Central Mosque, Oshodi and other Mosques have continued to maintain the government’s directives on the measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

One of the measures is the reduction of the number of worshipers which was seen in the mosque during the Jumat service last week as observed upper week.

There was adjustment of ‘safuu’ (lining up) positions for the prayer to abide by the social distancing order as the congregants kept five meters apart from each other, the practice unusual of the Islamic congregation.

In his sermon during the Jumat swevice, the Chief Imam of the Centra Mosque, Imam Adeyemo Rabiu Adeleke, stressed the need to keep the rules of the government as the next authority to Almighty Allah, admonishing the worshippers not to be far from the presence of Allah.

He advised that the government should keep up with the protection of lives and properties of the citizens as he prayed for all the dead victims of COVID-19 while enjoining the living to take precautions against the pandemic as directed by the government.

Prior to the commencement of the Jumat service, the Mosque Committee chairman, Alhaji Hon. Saheed Animashaun summoned all the executive members to put the necessary measures in place as directed by the government before the service commenced.

Part of the measures taken includes fumigation of the mosque , provision of washing hand taps, sanitizer and adjustment of safuu positions to accommodate social distancing while praying.

Most importantly, no worshiper was allowed into the mosque for the Jumat service without the use of the nose/face mask.

In the same vein, the Chief Imam of

Allahu Lateef Central Mosque, Aimasiko Street, Charity Oshodi, Imam Abdulqudiri Abdulkareem, said inability to meet up with the requirements stated by the state government deprived them the opportunity to hold Jumat service upper week but they held it last week Friday having met up with the requirements.

His words: “I am happy we  were able to hold Jumat service last week. The necessary requirements that deprived us upper week especially the thermometer and the demarcation needed to create spacing for social distancing have been taken care of.”