No Ramadan lectures, congregational prayers this year, Sultan declares

As Muslims begin Ramadan fasting this week, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared that, there will be no Ramadan lecture sessions and congregation prayers in Mosques.

The Sultan told Nigerian Muslims that, this year’s Ramadan is one with a difference, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, hence everyone should pray at home with their families, as Muslims cannot afford to be reckless with their lives.

Sultan in a statement issued through the Secretary-General of JNI, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, therefore, recommended that Muslim faithful should in addition to recitation of the Holy Qur’an, listen to Ramadan lecture through internet and other virtual means.

While noting that, most Muslim countries have unanimously agreed to suspend public religious congregation, in order to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said, in actual sense is in tandem with the teachings of the Prophet, Sultan said, “As Muslims, we are not however oblivious of the fact that death is inevitable, but we must not be reckless with our lives, Q2:195 is a clear testimony to that effect.”