COVID-19: We won’t reopen Unilorin mosque now–Muslim community

The University of Ilorin Muslim Community says the time is not yet ripe for the reopening of its mosque for religious activities.

Prof. Nasir Abdusalam, the Chief Imam of the mosque, said this in a statement on Monday in Ilorin.

The cleric said that the decision was in line with the general consensus of the leadership of the university’s Muslim community.

He said the decision was reached after a careful study of the release from the Kwara State Council of Ulama authorising the reopening of mosques in the state.

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Abdusalam said that the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic was not showing any sign of abating.

Citing the reality of COVID-19 pandemic infection in the state, the cleric said that the institution’s Muslim community believed that the coast was not yet clear enough.

“The daily statistical figures of patients that tested positive are increasing geometrically in the state,” he said.

Abdusalam also said that after a meeting with religious leaders on June 17, the government team declined to offer free fumigation of religious houses across the state.

“Deductions from the bitter experiences of Saudi Arabia, Korea, Israel, Lagos and Oyo States where they rushed into easing out restrictions but quickly had to reverse the order serve as a lesson.

“There is the need to be cautious and not to be careless with the lives of worshippers.

” A choice must be made between human life and religious demand,” he said.

He said that the University of Ilorin was currently not in full academic session and there were alternatives for the few staff on essential duty, adding that reopening of the mosque remained on hold till further notice.

“This is a painful decision to take but we cannot be careless about our lives.

” Only the living will worship Allah,” he said. (NAN)