The National Chairman Council of Ulama, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Ikamatis Sunnsh (JIBWIS), Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has called on the federal and state governments not to ban congregational prayers at Mosques.
Sheikh Jingir, who made the statements during a press briefing, Friday at his residence in Jos, said: “Coronavirus is a hoax, a propaganda meant to fight Islam and to also execute economic war between China and America.”
Jingir said: “Coronavirus is a lie meant to stop Muslim from prayer and from performing hajj. If not what will make governments to temper with prayers. They said it is a pandemic and it is not in Makkah, it is not in Nigeria.
“I am calling the Saudi Arabian authority to open the grand Mosques in Makkah and Madinah so that Muslims can observe prayers.”
Sheikh Jingir said there is religious freedom in Nigeria and Nigerians didn’t vote their leaders to deprive them of religious freedom.
“We have voted our President, our representatives and governors, all of us the masses, both Muslims and none Muslims, did not vote for them to go and change how we should pray. Therefore, they should not deprive us the right to prayer,” he said.
The cleric, who said the closure of schools would only add to the existing illiteracy in the country, urged the authorities not to close universities because it would lead to illiteracy and chaos in the country.”
Sheikh Jingir charged the media to desist from sensational reportage of the coronavirus, adding that it was instilling panic on the people.
He admonished Muslims to have faith in Allah, believing that he alone can make or mar his servants, even as he admonished them to observing personal hygiene as they do at least 15 times daily.
