Muslims Needn’t Attend Friday Prayers If Feeling Unwell, Says MUIS Amid Wuhan Virus Outbreak

MUIS Urges Muslims Who Are Unwell To Avoid Public Places As More Wuhan Virus Cases Are Confirmed

The Wuhan coronavirus has taken the world by storm, and Singapore is no exception.

As of 29 Jan, Singapore had 10 confirmed cases.

In light of the current situation, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has issued a religious advisory on how devotees can manage the recent Wuhan virus outbreak.

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Devotees told to be cautious & careful

MUIS emphasised that Islam teaches devotees to “place great importance to the community’s interest and well-being”.

Hence, devotees are urged to practise good personal hygiene and observe their own health by:

• Making it a habit to wash hands with soap
• Cover mouth and nose with tissue paper when coughing or sneezing
• Put on a mask when we have fever, cough, cold or breathing difficulties

They also noted that as a responsible Muslim, any travels to infected areas such as China should be delayed.

But if this can’t be done, Muslims should take necessary steps such as avoiding contact with live animals, and don’t consume raw, undercooked meat.

Do not attend Friday prayers if unwell

If one feels unwell, they should also avoid public places that are crowded. MUIS added that Islam provides flexibility to those who are sick and are facing their own difficulties.

The Prophet s.a.w. once forbade a sick individual from leaving his house.

The prohibition is to prevent the virus from spreading to other individuals. If necessary, they should self-quarantine for the sake of their family and society as a whole.

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Thus, Muslims who are unwell or in quarantine are not required to attend Friday prayers. Instead, they should do Zohor prayers in its place.

Stay updated on current conditions

MUIS also encouraged the Muslim community to “always ensure the validity of any news”.

Unverified news that can cause confusion should not be shared.

You can read the full advisory here.

Hope everyone can stay healthy

While this message was mainly targeted at the Muslim community in Singapore, the message is universal.

We hope that everyone can be responsible so as to curb the spread of the Wuhan virus.

Featured image adapted from Facebook.