Faizel Patel – 17/09/2020

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa has issued a statement on the congregational prayers under Level One of the COVID-19 Lockdown

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday announced that the country will move to level 1 of the COVID-19 lockdown from midnight on Sunday, 20 September.

Statement by Jamiatul Ulama South Africa 

We express our gratitude to the Almighty Allah for easing the plight of the pandemic that has been in our midst in the recent months. The lowering of the lockdown to risk Level One which has come as a result, has paved the way for allowing a maximum of fifty percent of the capacity of a masjid to congregate.

JUSA would like to commend the community for adhering to measures that have helped in the containment of the novel coronavirus, with the Permission of Almighty Allah.

It is an opportune time to rekindle our attachment to masaajid with greater earnest, under the now more favourable circumstances. In addition to the five daily Salaah, Jumu’ah Salaah is one of our important communal obligations. Allah exhorts us in the following words: “O you who believe! When the call to prayer is proclaimed on Friday, hasten for the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is much better for you, if you but know…” (Noble Qur’an, 62:9)

As we emphasize the virtues of frequenting to masaajid, it is important to note that the risk of infection still remains, albeit at reduced levels. Several countries have experienced a second wave of infections after having seemingly contained the epidemic. Necessary precautionary measures have to be taken into consideration in order to ensure a reasonable degree of safety, not only for ourselves but also for those around us.

It is however important that we do not allow differences of opinion in Fiqh (jurisprudential) issues around the implementation of these precautionary measures to become a matter of contention and dispute within our communities and in masaajid. To this end, an accommodation of different views should be taken into account in taking decisions concerning the holding of congregational prayers.

We pray to the Almighty Allah to grant comfort to the families that have lost their loved ones, grant full cure to those still suffering from Covid-19 and its side effects. May Almighty Allah protect all of us and join our hearts as one. Aameen.