Press Release
Under the Banner of Combating Covid-19 a New Innovation is made to our Deen

The Government through the Inter-Faith Council has re-opened the mosques with stringent guidelines. The fifteen-member group was tasked working alongside the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health and Council of Governors to formulate conditions for reopening places of worship. Among the guidelines to be followed places of worship include the 1.5-metre social distance between congregants, only 100 persons allowed to participate in worshipping, children below 13 years old and adults above 58 years old are prohibited from attending prayers and services to be conducted at most one hour.

In this regard, we in Hizb ut Tahrir / Kenya would like to expound the following:

The whole idea of inter-faith is a secularist idea that has no basis in Islam. This is because it calls for mutual relationships between different religions. It calls for a new fabricated religion which the West want the Muslims all over the world to embrace instead of Islam. The idea itself is intended to make the Muslims abandon their Islamic teachings and make secular concepts as a standard for their own Deen.

Islamic rulings are based on Revelation from Allah (swt) contrary to secular man-made laws which are based on human intellect, so they are enacted and changed according to environment. And here we would like to remind the Muslim scholars who some are members of the council of their responsibility is to explicitly outline the Islamic rulings that are not taken other than from its sources i.e. Quran, Sunna, Ijmaa and Qiyas (analogy). This is a responsibility of the fearfully scholars who truly raise their voice out from fear of any one.

Practicing the congregational prayers has been clearly demonstrated by our Prophet (saw) and therefore it is not a subject of consultation. In this regard, it is compulsory for all Muslims to observe rows while performing the prayer that without leaving a gap between worshiper to the other. Malik bin Al-Huwairithmay Allah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet (saw) said:

«وَصَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي وَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ لَكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ ثُمَّ لِيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَكْبَرُكُم»

“…And offer your prayers in the way you saw me offering my prayers, and when the stated time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce its call (i.e. the Adhan), and the eldest of you should lead you in prayer.”

Ahmad extracted from Abdullah ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

«أَقِيمُوا الصُّفُوفَ فَإِنَّمَا تَصُفُّونَ بِصُفُوفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَحَاذُوا بَيْنَ الْمَنَاكِبِ وَسُدُّوا الْخَلَلَ وَلِينُوا فِي أَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُوا فُرُجَاتٍ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَمَنْ وَصَلَ صَفّاً وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَمَنْ قَطَعَ صَفّاً قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ»

“Set the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be pliant in the hands of your brethren, and do not leave openings for the devil. If anyone joins up a row, Allah will join him up, but if anyone breaks a row, Allah will cut him off.”

It is crystal clear from the above legal evidences compelling worshippers to separate 1.5 meters whether on Friday and congregational prayers for fear contagion especially without pathological symptoms is an innovation (bid’ah) in Islam. Furthermore, a contagious disease is an excuse not to go to the mosque and not an excuse to go and be at one meter a part from the worshiper besides him.

With regards allowing only 100 people to attend prayers in Mosque, barring adults who are above 58 years as well children below thirteen years, this condition does not only further contradict the Islamic teachings rather it is unjust act that displeases Allah (swt). It is of high double standards of leadership to impose such stringent conditions upon the worshippers yet we see roads, offices, supermarkets and other places are filled with people irrespective of their ages! Does it mean that Covid-19 can only be transmitted in mosques, not elsewhere, so mosques must remain closed, or open only to limited number of worshippers!

We reiterate that this pandemic is a serious challenge and test from the Almighty Creator to test His servants which requires us to turn sincerely to Him in repentance and obedience to His Revelation. In light of this, the opening of mosques with stringent conditions which are contrary to the Sharia rulings makes the hearts of the Muslims burn in pain. However, we certainly know by the re-establishment of Khilafah (Caliphate) upon the method of Prophethood in one of the great Muslim countries, soon the Mosques will be raised and the Name of Allah (swt) will be mentioned in the mornings and the evenings.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya