CIMIC Release on Covid-19 and Friday (Jumu’ah) Services- March, 12th-2020
As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center has consulted the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department to develop guidelines for our religious services. The last thing we want to do is suspend or disrupt the practice of our religion, but at this time we are following the precautions provided by experts in the medical field.
For Jumu’ah prayers, we are recommending either of the following.
Option 1 (Strongly Recommended):
- Gather small group of individuals (3 people)
- CIMIC will publish a short written khutbah on website and social media
- Prayer leaders can read this to their group and lead them in 2 raka’ah of Jumu’ah prayer
Option 2:
At this time, CIMIC will have limited Jumu’ah services, with the following modifications:
- Max of 40 people.
- If you are 60 years or older or have underlying health conditions, please stay home.
- If you have symptoms of cough, fever or shortness of breath, it is not permissible for you to come.
- We will hold the first Jumu’ah prayer only, at 1:05 p.m.
- The khutbah will last 5 minutes
- There will be no lunch served afterward.
- Stay 3 feet away from others
- Bring your own prayer mat, if possible
These guidelines will be in place until at least May 15. Please stay tuned for further developments.
Q&A:
Is this compliant with shari’a?
- Based on the AMJA (Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America) fatwa, it is permissible to limit or suspend prayers on the recommendation of public health officials.
- Imam Ousmane Sawadogo is also standing behind this ruling.
If you have any further questions, please reach out to CIMIC Facebook, Twitter or Brother Waleed Jassim 217-819-8112