In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appealed to Muslims in the country to pray at home during the Holy month of Ramadan.
In his eighth televised address to the nation on April 26, President Akufo-Addo, told Muslims to hold their individual prayers just as the Holy Prophet Muhammad admonished them to, during adversities.
“It is my understanding that in the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Allayhi Wa’Salam, anytime there was heavy rain, he admonished the faithful, through the Azan, to stay in their houses and pray, rather than going to the mosques,” he said.
He added that “In Bukhari’s collection of the Hadith, Book 13, Hadith No. 24, Ibn Sirin reports that Ibn Abbas said to his muezzin, and I quote, “after saying ‘I testify that Muhammad is Allah’s messenger’, do not say, ‘come for the prayer’, but say, ‘pray in your houses’…It was done by one much better than I…” (that is the Prophet).”
According to the President, “through analogical deduction, Muslim scholars agree that ‘rain’ represented danger, and, therefore, the prescription for Muslims to stay at home and pray in times of heavy rain is applicable to all life-threatening situations,” calling on “all Muslims to heed this prophetic admonishment to pray at home, so we can protect ourselves from the danger of COVID-19.”
Each year, during Ramadan, Muslims are obligated to fast from dawn to sunset for the whole of the lunar month – either 29 or 30 days – as part of the ritual of dedicating oneself to contemplation and prayer.
Practising Muslims are also admonished to religiously honour the five-times-a-day prayer. But with a ban on religious activities in force, some Muslims entreated the President to relax the rules and ease restrictions so they can fast and hold congregational prayers during their annual Ramadan ritual.
Source: Newswatchgh.com
