[see also this earlier, undated guidance]

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh (Peace, Blessings & Mercy of Allah be upon You).

This statement is being reissued on the 22nd of March 2020 at 16:00, and supersedes all previous statements on the subject. These detailed discussions have taken place between Ulamā and Health experts over the last 24 hours and we have explored all possible avenues from many perspectives in reaching this decision. We have also reviewed and considered the guidance of Senior Ulamā reached in their summit on the 21st of March 2020 Jamiatul Ilm Wal Huda (Blackburn).

These restrictions will be reviewed regularly and further guidance will be issued as and when necessary.

This advisory will be updated once the guidance from Public Health England and the subsequent decision of the Ulamā changes.

All Mosques in Britain who chose to follow this advice, must follow it in its entirety and the restriction recommendations. Please DO NOT take these recommendations and apply them partially OR without adequately educating your communities. The Mosque committees need to work at the grassroots level to calm their communities, and educate them on these measures and why they are being taken.

Advisory for Mosques

There has been fundamental shift in the past few days towards self-isolation and social distancing. Muslims (in line with others) in Britain should stay at home and should not emerge unless it is absolutely essential and necessary. When there is a need to emerge, appropriate precautions as advised by Public Health England should be taken.

While we are isolated at homes, it is necessary for our homes to continue to be beacons of light and guidance. In these trying times, it is more necessary than ever to turn towards Allāh Ta’āla in repentance, and strenuously engage in acts of worship, charity and prayers for everyone. In addition, everyone is urged to provide support to each other in the communities so we can all get through these trying times.

We will emerge from this pandemic, but let’s all stand together and face this challenge with unity and discipline while keeping true to the teachings of our religion.

Due to the urgency, the need and strictness of the isolation, it is acknowledged that normal congregational activities within the Mosque cannot continue. Thus the advisory for the Mosque has been revised as follows:

  1. All Mosque activities including public congregations Salāh should be suspended until further notice. However, use the Radio transmitters or the Internet to continue to educate the British Muslim communities. We urge Scholars to increase live interactions using Social Media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc) and other technical aids at their disposal.
  2. Activities relating to children and the Maktab can also continue remotely. We have reviewed several tools which can be used for this purpose.
  3. We advise that due to isolation guidelines, a select few individuals should be designated to continue with congregational Fardh (obligatory) Salāh and Jumuāh (Friday) prayers in the Mosque. The minimum congregation requirement for Jumuāh (Friday) prayers is 4 adult (male) individuals i.e. Imām + 3 (others). Sunnāh and other non-obligatory prayers should be done at Home.
  4. Those who are isolated at home should pray the Dhohar Salāh on Friday instead of Jumuāh.
  5. Continue to call the Adhān for five times daily congregational prayers and the Jumuāh (Friday) prayers with the following change:
  6.  

حي على الصلاة
حي على الصلاة

حي على الفلاح
حي على الفلاح

The following should be proclaimed:

صَلُّوا فِي رِحَالِكُمْ

صَلُّوا فِي رِحَالِكُمْ

Health & Safety Caveat:

Those who volunteer to pray with the Imām should be clear of all symptoms and not be part of Coronavirus (COVID-19) at risk group. They should not be expected to put their own health on the line for the sake of keeping the Mosque open. Those who voluntarily choose to go into ‘Itikāf (Seclusion) should do so for the entire duration of the crisis. Food and provisions will have to be brought to the door. They should not leave to go back to their respective homes.

Congregational Fardh (obligatory) Salāh Procedure:

This is a brief reminder of the Masāil (issues) regarding congregational Fardh (obligatory) Salāh. It should be remembered that Salāh done in congregation is superior to Salāh done individually.

Ibn Umar (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon Him) said: “Salah in congregation is twenty-seven degrees more virtuous than a man’s Salah alone” 1

Congregational Fardh (obligatory) Salāh can be divided into 3 main scenarios when it comes to arranging the rows, as follows:

Scenario 1: Imam and one male adult or minor

Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated that “I stayed overnight with my maternal aunt Maimunah, and the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) got up during the night to perform prayer. So I got up and stood on his left. He took me by the hand and made me stand on his right.” 2

From this Hādith we learn that if there is an Imām and only one male Muqtadi (follower), it is best to stand to the right of the Imām. It is however permissible if necessary, that the Muqtadi (follower) stands either to the left or behind the Imam. 3

It is preferable that the Muqtadi (follower) stands parallel (in line) with the Imām, ensuring that he does not advance the Imām, as advancing the Imām will invalidate the Salāh of the Muqtadi (follower). Alternatively, he may also stand a little behind the Imām in a manner that the toes of the Muqtadi (follower) are in line with the heal of the Imām. 4

Sisters in all cases will stand in the row behind the Imām.

Scenario 2: Imam and 2 males; adults or minors

Samurah bin Jundub narrated that “Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon Him) ordered us when we were three, that one of us (the Imam) should stand forward.” 5

From this Hādith we learn that when there is an Imām and two male Muqtadi (followers), the Imām will stand in front and the two male Muqtadi (followers) behind the Imām.

If due to necessity, for example a lack of space, the Muqtadi (follower) stand to the right and left of the Imām, then this is also permissible. It has been reported that Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) led Alqamah (RA) and al-Aswad (RA) in prayer. He stood one to his right and the other to his left. He then attributed this to the Prophet.

Scenario 3: Imam with two or more males and females

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik, that his grandmother Mulaikah (RA) invited the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) to come and eat some food that she had prepared for him. Then he said: Anas (RA) narrated “Get up and I will lead you in prayer.” Anas (RA) said: “So I got up and brought a reed mat of ours that had turned black from long use, and spread some water on it. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) stood and the orphan and I stood in a row behind him, and the old woman stood behind us, and he led us in praying two Rak’ahs, then he left.” 6

From this Hādith we learn that when the congregation is a mixture of males and females, the order of rows will be as follows: males, then the children and then the females. Children can also be joined with the males due to space restrictions etc.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) at risk group:

  1. Anyone in their 70s or under 70 with the following conditions;
  2. Anyone being seriously overweight, for example with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more.
  3. Anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds.
  4. Anyone with an impaired immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy.
  5. Anyone with diabetes.
  6. Anyone with problems with their spleen, for example Sickle Cell disease or have had their spleen removed.
  7. Anyone with underlying lung conditions or chronic (long term) respiratory diseases such as Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis.
  8. Anyone with chronic heart disease such as heart failure.
  9. Anyone with chronic kidney disease.
  10. Anyone with chronic liver disease such as hepatitis.
  11. Anyone with chronic neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning difficulty or cerebral palsy
  12. Anyone with cancer.
  13. Those living with someone who is in a risk category.
  14. Those who cannot avoid being in contact with someone at risk.

Spiritual Action Plan

  1. All Muslims are urged to turn towards Allāh Ta’āla in repentance and seek forgiveness.
  2. All Muslims are urged to inculcate and adopt the noble and blessed Sunnāh of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) in all aspects of their lives.
  3. All Muslims are urged to be particularly diligent and attentive in their five daily prayers.
  4. All Muslims are urged to set aside some time daily in recitation of the Qurān and engage in Dhīkr (remembrance) and adhkār (litanies and invocations) which are from the Qurān and the Sunnāh.
  5. There are some special and particular Duās from the Sunnāh which should be particularly and frequently recited at this time, they are as follows:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ، لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ شَيْءٌ‏‏

In the Name of Allāh with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of harm in the earth or in the heaven, and He is the All-Hearing and All- Knowing

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allāh from the evil of what He has created

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُنُونِ وَالْجُذَامِ وَالْبَرَصِ وَسَيِّيءِ الأَسْقَامِ ‏

O Allāh, I seek refuge in You from vitiligo, madness, leprosy, and bad diseases.

Position on Mosque, Adhān and congregational Salāh

Mosques are special places where the Mercy and Blessings of Allāh Ta’āla descends upon, enriching those who frequent them. Each and every step taken towards the House of Allāh Ta’āla is meritorious and virtuous. In addition Adhān and congregational Salāh are special salient features and manifestations of Islām which need to be practiced.

أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ بْنِ قُدَامَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا السَّائِبُ بْنُ حُبَيْشٍ الْكَلاَعِيُّ، عَنْ مَعْدَانَ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ الْيَعْمَرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ أَيْنَ مَسْكَنُكَ قُلْتُ فِي قَرْيَةٍ دُوَيْنَ حِمْصَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ مَا مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ فِي قَرْيَةٍ وَلاَ بَدْوٍ لاَ تُقَامُ فِيهِمُ الصَّلاَةُ إِلاَّ قَدِ اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْجَمَاعَةِ فَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُ الذِّئْبُ الْقَاصِيَةَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ السَّائِبُ يَعْنِي بِالْجَمَاعَةِ الْجَمَاعَةَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ ‏

It was narrated that Ma’din bin Abi Talhah Al-Ya’muri (RA) said: “Abu Ad-Darda (RA) said to me: ‘Where do you live?’ I said: ‘In a town near Hims.’ Abu Ad-Darda (RA) said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allāh Ta’āla (Peace be upon Him) say: “There are no three people in a town or encampment among whom prayer is not established, but the Devil takes control of them. Therefore, stick to the congregation, for the wolf eats the sheep that strays off on its own.” (One of the narrators (As Sa’ib) said: “The congregation means the congregational prayer.”) [Sunan an-Nasa’i]

We have to review the latest medical advice and balance it against the teachings and commandments of Islām.