The Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof Ishaq Akintola, has cautioned Muslims not to rush to their graves.
Akintola was speaking against the backdrop of some state governments given the green light for the opening of mosques.
He described the decision as “unwise.”
According to him, Nigerians must be on the side of caution regarding the dangerous virus whose cure has not been found.
He said: “Muslims should not rush to their graves. We suggest that mosques should remain closed until the Federal Government declares the country safe from the pandemic. We know that lockdown hurts. But so does it hurt everywhere else. We urge Muslims to exercise patience. Those who die can never be seen again. Neither can they be part of a safer and better Nigerian society when the lockdown is finally lifted. We must join hands with the rest of humanity to defeat COVID-19. No single community, group or country can fight the battle alone.
“Reopening mosques at this time can be interpreted as withdrawing from the battlefield and leaving the rest of the country to face the fight alone. It may also be interpreted as disobedience to FG’s restriction on crowding.”
MURIC reminded the governments and people of Borno, Gombe and Zamfara states of fundamental right to life.
The right, he said, should not be violated through any hasty yet wrongful policy decision.
He said: “The pattern of congregating in mosques may even be more prone to infections than some other places. Unlike others who assemble for worship once in a week or once in a year, Muslims congregate five times daily for the five daily prayers, once weekly for jumu’ah prayer and twice annually for the festivals. It is noteworthy that the last three draw crowds.
