Coronavirus is real, Islamic scholar tells Muslims

Warns against deceptive clerics
Popular Kaduna State-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, has told Muslims not listen to any cleric that argues that Coronavirus is fake, asserting that the pandemic is real.

Gumi, in a video clip he released online yesterday, affirmed that the disease had claimed so many lives.

He advised Muslims to abide by the government’s stay-at-home order, as non-compliance could lead to spread of the disease.

“Don’t listen to any scholar quoting Qu’ran verses to discourage you from staying at home or not following government’s order. Your stay at home is obedience to God.

“Even America that is controversial is preaching safety and return to God. Smokers, musicians and gangsters are preaching; so why shouldn’t we Muslims follow commandments of Allah?” he wondered.

The Islamic scholar told his audience in Hausa language that during disease outbreak, “it is sunnatic (good/healthy) for people to remain wherever they are, in order not to spread or contract the disease.

“When one person contracts the virus, his family and employees will be quarantined and watched for any symptom.”

He urged them to call the toll-free lines should they notice any difference in their health.

“This disease could be treated with early discovery, but it requires a lot of medical attention which is very expensive. Those who will attend to patients must be wearing protection gears – and that we cannot afford in this country. That is why staying at home and avoiding social gathering is good.

“Even rich countries could not contain the disease. As of yesterday, 600 persons died in Italy. When they were advised to take precautions, they were among the European countries that were complacent,” he added.