Senior scholars and Muftis from the UK have released new advice and guidance for mosques to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.

The guidance comes today during a week when mosques in some areas kept their doors open during Jummah (Friday) prayers, with restrictions.

Others shut their doors completely and asked for ALL prayers to take place at home following advice from the Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM) and the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).

Manchester Central Mosque - Victoria Park was the first mosque regionally to call for a suspension of Jummah prayers.

This latest meeting was held at Jamiatul Ilm Wal Huda in Blackburn (March 21) and was attended by a number of scholars and jurists from across the UK as well as specialist doctors and scientists. The summit explored coronavirus and its implications.

The advice states, “As the deadly virus has spread quickly and is easily passing from person to person, there is an urgent need to take further measures to stem the spread. Therefore, it would be justified to perform Salah in one’s own home. However, a limited group (four or five) of appropriately selected individuals should continue to undertake five times Adhan and Salah at the Masjid.

“Those performing Salah at home should set aside specific times for Salah and be punctual. It is sufficient to perform Zuhr Salah in lieu of Jumu’ah Salah.

A full Masjid closure should be avoided, unless the Government requires us to do so (Statutory advice and guidance).”

The advice also asks for “Muslims to turn to Allah Almighty, repent and seek forgiveness, give charity and supplicate. Tahajjud Salah is encouraged, and Islamic practices should be implemented within the home environment.

“In the interest of maintaining unity in the community and the gravity of the subject matter, everyone should respect each other’s opinions in this regard and should not belittle the opinions of others.

“Those with elderly parents or vulnerable members of the family should consider it an honour to take care of them whilst taking the necessary social isolation and safety precautions.

“Imams should continue with their advices and lectures via the Masjid transmission system and other broadcasting mediums. They should communicate the sensitivity of the current situation as well as encourage complete reliance upon Allah Almighty.”

There is also a message for Muslims not to share fake news, It adds, “If anyone receives messages regarding this disease, they should refrain from forwarding on without investigating their accuracy. Furthermore, one should abstain from making jokes about the virus or any illness.”

The letter is signed by:

Mufti Sulaiman Lasania, Islamic Dawah Academy Leicester
Mawlana Saeed, Darululoom Bradford
Mufti Umar Faruq, Darululoom London
Mufti Muhammad Saleh, Masjid Nurul Islam, Blackburn
Mawlana Fadhl Haq, Jamiah al-Kauthar, Lancaster
Mufti Shabbir Ahmad, Darululoom Blackburn
Mufti Zubair Butt, Darul Ifta Bradford
Mufti Saiful Islam, Jamiah Khatamun Nabiyyeen, Bradford
Mufti Ikramul Haq, Darululoom Blackburn
Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam, Darul Ifta Leicester
Mawlana Margoob Ahmad Lajpuri, Masjid Bilal Dewsbury
Mufti Yusuf Sacha, Darul Ifta Batley
Mufti Siraj Ahmad, Darululoom Blackburn
Mawlana Abdurraheem Limbada, Raheemi Academy Bolton
Mufti Muhammad Tahir Wadi, Darululoom Bury
Mufti Muhammad Ali Falahi, Darululoom Blackburn
Doctor Mufti Abdurrahman Mangera, Darul Ifta London
Mufti Abdussamad, Darululoom Blackburn
Mawlana Rafiq Sufi, Muslim Youth Centre Blackburn
Mawlana Yusuf Shabbir, Islamic Portal Blackburn
Mufti Zakariyah Akoodi, Madinah Masjid Batley
Mufti Siraj Saleh, Masjid Quba Bradford
Mufti Hanif Yusuf, Darululoom Blackburn
Mufti Ibrahim Raja, Darululoom Bury
Mufti Zubair Patel, London
Mawlana Yunus Dudhwala, Head of Chaplaincy
Mufti Ismaeel Bhayat, Islamic Dawah Academy