Coronavirus: UI Muslim community leads the fight, suspends Jumu'ah prayers indefinitely
- The UIMC has suspended the Friday congregational prayers until further notice over coronavirus scare
- Professor AbdulRahman Oloyede, the chief Imam of the university, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Thursday, March 19
- According to him, the suspension would start on Friday, March 20
The Muslim community of the University of Ibadan has announced the suspension of its weekly Friday (Jumu'ah) prayers effective from March 20, in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus popularly called COVID-19.
Legit.ng's regional reporter in Ibadan, Ridwan Kolawole, reports that the chief Imam of the institution, Prof AbdulRahman Oloyede, in a release he personally signed and made available to Legit.ng, noted that the governing board and the executive of the University of Ibadan Muslim community considered the official disclosure that Ekiti state index of the pandemic was in Ibadan for 14 days before taking the step.
He said: "The governing board and executive council of University of Ibadan Muslim community, having considered the recent global occurrences around the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the official revelation that the Ekiti state index case stayed in Ibadan for 14 days, hereby announce the suspension of weekly Jum'ah prayers and any other mosque events that will create a gathering of up to fifty people.
"In effect, Jum'ah prayers starting from tomorrow March, 20, are suspended until further notice. This announcement will help us in the UIMC to proactively respond to the COVID-19 virus and prevent its spread. Members are encouraged to pray in their homes and observe personal hygiene while they continue their adhkar for Allah to put a halt to this deadly plague."
Source: Depositphotos
The UI chief Imam who regretted the decision, however, assured the ummah that it was taken in the interest of the generality of Muslims.
While praying for Allah to have mercy the community and humanity in general, Prof Oloyede directed members to constantly recite Chapter 2, verse 255 of the Qur'an.
It would be recalled that hundreds of worshipers from within and outside the University of Ibadan come to UI mosque to observe Friday prayers.
The community is the first religious group in Oyo state to declare the suspension of congregational service.
Earlier, University of Ibadan had suspended international conference holding in the institution.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that in spite of the threat posed by the coronavirus, more than twenty government officials of Yobe state travelled to United Arab Emirate, UAE amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was reported that their journey abroad sparked apprehension in the state as residents of Damaturu called for their quarantine in Lagos or Abuja before they arrive Damaturu and other parts of the state.
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Source: Legit.ng