The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) on Thursday advised Nigerian Muslims to conduct this year’s Eid prayers with members of their families or alone for those without family members. JNI’s counsel is in compliance with federal government’s ban on large gatherings including for religious purposes to check the spread of the virus.
The JNI, which is led by Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar IV, the Sultan of Sokoto, however warned Muslims in states that have relaxed the ban on large gatherings so as to allow Eid prayers to hold to abide by “medical experts advice, strictest measures of distancing, face masks and sanitizers be taken to protect worshipers,”. The states of Bauchi and Kano on Wednesday relaxed the ban to allow the Eid prayers to hold.
This year’s Eid prayers, which is traditionally held on open grounds and attended by thousands of Muslims in each community at the end of Ramadan fasting, is expected to be held either on Saturday or Sunday across Nigeria depending on the day the new moon is sighted.
“Eid-el-Fitr congregation in the outskirts of towns and cities should be temporarily suspended.
“The said ‘Eid-el-Fitr Prayer be observed at home with family members or alone in case there isn’t anyone with him or her, at home,” the JNI stated in a statement by Shaykh Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, its Secretary-General.
The full statement:
PRESS RELEASE:
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE JNI FATWA COMMITTEE ON OBSERVANCE OF RAMADAN 1441AH EID-PRAYER
Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, Sultan of Sokoto and President-General JNI, in a mandate to the JNI Fatwa Committee, under the leadership of Sheikh Sheriff Ibrahim Saleh Alhusainy, CON, to come up with FATWA regarding the year 2020 ‘Eid-el-Fitr Prayer, and the committee after due consultations, as well as considerations of the current state – COVID-19 pandemic and the serious threat it poses to life, reached the following decisions:
1. ‘Eid-el-Fitr congregation in the outskirts of towns and cities should be temporarily suspended.
2. That, the said ‘Eid-el-Fitr Prayer be observed at home with family members or alone in case there isn’t anyone with him or her, at home.
3. That the ‘Eid-el-Fitr Prayers is two RAKA’AT. Seven (7) TAKBIRAT to be pronounced in the first RAKA’AT, including the opening TAKBIR. Then SURATUL FATIHA is read and any other SURAH, preferably SURATUL A’ALA.
3b. While in the second RAKAH, five (5) TAKBIRAT be pronounced. Then SURATUL FATIHA is read and any other SURAH, preferably SURATUL GHASHIYAH.
4. In the case of praying at home, as it may be, the KHUTBAH (sermon) is suspended.
5. All above mentioned are based on the Hadith of Anas Bn Malik in Sahih al-Bukhari and Maliki School of law decisions, in MUKHTASAR, as explained by Al-Kharshi and Al-Munah al-Jalil.
6. However, in states where Governments have reached concrete decisions to observe the ‘Eid-el-Fitr prayer, based on their medical experts advice, strictest measures of distancing, face masks and sanitizers be taken to protect worshipers. In this case neighbourhood mosques can be utilized if it becomes necessary.
7. Ulama should fear Allah, the Most High and be matured enough in guarding their utterances and actions for the overall interest of the DEEN and the Ummah.
Nigerian Muslims are therefore called upon to reflect their minds to the good virtues of the month of Ramadan and keep to its teachings all through their respective lives, as the Lord of Ramadan, is still and shall remain The Lord of other months, above all keeps the records of our actions and inactions. More so, Muslims are reminded to keep to the ordinances of the Glorious Qur’an, for the prestige of the Muslim Ummah.
JNI wishes all Muslim faithful an accepted Ramadan Fast and successful ‘Eid-el-Fitr. In the same vein, Muslims are urged not to forget the Sitta-Shawwal, i.e. the six-days recommended fasting, that follows Ramadan Fasting as recommended by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
While wishing us all Allah’s pardon in these sacred days and after, we pray fervently for an accepted Ramadan Fasting as well as the Eid.
Shaykh Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu
Secretary–General, JNI
