The Call for Safe Practices During Ramadan: COVID-19 Nigeria
It was Friday, March 20, 2020, sun-scorched worshippers lined up the street of Alu Avenue through the barren Race Course Field in Nasarawa G.R.A, Kano State. As the worshippers began to disperse after observing Jumu’a (Friday special prayers) led by Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Chief Imam of Alfurqan Mosque, an announcement came through; “ Henceforth, all Ta’aleem (study circles) in the mosque will be conducted remotely/virtually, so participants should follow and watch via the mosque’s YouTube and Facebook pages . This is so we can manage inflow of persons and avoid much contact in an effort to address the risk of contracting or spreading the coronavirus. ” The mosque conducts three different Ta’aleem sessions on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. All sessions record a significant turnout of both men and women. Alfurqan Mosque was neither the first nor only mosque to adopt this measure of curbing the spread of coronavirus among worshippers in Northern Nigeria; Usman Bin Affan ...