ghazi52
PDF THINK TANK: ANALYST
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Messages
- 103,045
- Reaction score
- 106
- Country
- Location
Justice Isa says stopping congregations in mosques justified in Islam
By Hasnaat Malik
April 22, 2020
https://tribune.com.pk/story/220448...opping-congregations-mosques-justified-islam/
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa says that keeping oneself and everyone safe is a religious duty, therefore, during the coronavirus pandemic one must not stop praying but only stop congregational prayers in mosques to minimise the danger of spreading the disease.
In a letter to Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, regarding stopping congregational prayers on the Supreme Court premises, Justice Isa says that he has not yet read any contrary view based on Quranic references, which stated that “irrespective of the danger to life”, prayers in mosques should continue.
As congressional prayers on the Supreme Court premises continued, Justice Isa approached the chief justice to stop this practice till the prevalence of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Responding to Justice Isa’s letter, the CJP asked him to give ‘religious basis’ for his proposal.
In his second letter to the CJP, Justice Isa responded that he had not yet read any contrary view based on Quranic references, which stated that irrespective of the danger to life, prayers in mosques should continue.
He stated that the matter was best addressed on the basis of the opinion of experts and doctors. “As far as I know, this community is also unanimous in stating that people should not congregate and should not attend places of worship,” he added.
Preservation of life
Justice Isa says that an invisible virus, the dreaded Covid-19, revealed much in 2020, raised quite a few theological questions: “During the subsistence of the virus should people congregate? During this pandemic should Muslims pray in mosques, and followers of other religions in their places of worship?”
The SC judge says that experts suggest that the virus spreads from one person to another due to proximity and it can kill. In mosques during prayer, “we often touch strangers and do repeatedly touch our forehead to the floor, which many before have touched and breathed upon, and many after will do so. In the time of this virulent pandemic let us turn to the Holy Qur’an for guidance”.
The judge believes that knowledge, including scientific knowledge, is amongst the foundational structures of the Islamic faith and Almighty Allah repeatedly mentions the importance of knowledge and the need for understanding.
“He grants knowledge/wisdom (hikmath) and whoever has been granted hikmath then certainly he has been granted an abundant good and none remembers except those with understanding” (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 269), Justice Isa’s letter says.
He notes that creating difficulties in religion and putting believers at risk is also addressed by Almighty Allah. “Will you instruct Allah about your religion?” (Surah Al-Hujurat (49) verse 16). We made for them hearing and vision and hearts but they did not avail their hearing their vision and their hearts” (Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) verse 26).”
The SC judge says that in Islam there is no place for excessiveness or extremism and stresses that Islam is a religion of balance and moderation. “Allah is the One Who sent the Book in Truth and the Balance (Meezan)” (Surah Ash-Shura (42) verse 17),” he says.
He further argues that believers are required to be “persons possessed of balanced good sense prohibiting mischief in the earth” (Surah Hud (11) verse 116) and must “not transgress the balance” (meezan) (Surah Ar-Rahman (55) verse 8).
The SC judge says that Muslims must practice the middle way and be moderates. “We made you a community of the middle way (ummatan wasatan) so that you will be witnesses over mankind” (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 143).”
Justice Isa believes that It is a religious duty to keep everyone and oneself safe. The virus has come knocking, we must not embrace or let it in. He then refers to Surah Ar-Ra’d (13) verse 11, which says: “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves.”
In addition to maintaining physical distance doctors and experts mandate the frequent washing of hands. “Significantly, cleanliness is an integral part of Islam, the SC judge says. He adds that congregating at a time when the virus is prevalent exposes oneself to infection, which one may take home and spread further afield; the resultant sickness, for which there is still no cure, and possible death. Such a situation may be categorised as one of extreme hardship and danger.
“But it is made clear that ‘Allah intends for you ease and does not intend hardship’ (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 185). ‘On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear’ (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 286). Our Creator tells us, that He, ‘has not placed upon you in religion any difficulty/discomfort’ (Surah Al-Hajj (22) verse 78). And, ‘Allah desires to lighten things for you’ (Surah An-Nisa (4) verse 28),” the judge says.
The SC judge says that during this pandemic one must not stop praying but only stop congregational prayers in mosques to minimise the danger. Homes can be made places of worship, he adds, referring to Surah Yunus (10) verse 87, which says: “And We revealed to Musa and his brother to settle your people in Egypt and make your homes places of worship and establish regular prayer (salatah).”
“Wherever you turn there is the Face of Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Encompassing (Wasi’un) and All-Knowing (Alimun) (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 115). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘the (whole) earth has been made a mosque (or a place of prayer) and means of purification for me, so wherever a man of my community (Ummah) may be when the time for prayer comes, let him pray’ (Sahih Bukhari, 335, see also Sahih Muslim, 521).”
The SC judge concludes his letter to the chief justice, writing: “I seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah if I have misunderstood His Message.”
By Hasnaat Malik
April 22, 2020
https://tribune.com.pk/story/220448...opping-congregations-mosques-justified-islam/
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa says that keeping oneself and everyone safe is a religious duty, therefore, during the coronavirus pandemic one must not stop praying but only stop congregational prayers in mosques to minimise the danger of spreading the disease.
In a letter to Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, regarding stopping congregational prayers on the Supreme Court premises, Justice Isa says that he has not yet read any contrary view based on Quranic references, which stated that “irrespective of the danger to life”, prayers in mosques should continue.
As congressional prayers on the Supreme Court premises continued, Justice Isa approached the chief justice to stop this practice till the prevalence of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Responding to Justice Isa’s letter, the CJP asked him to give ‘religious basis’ for his proposal.
In his second letter to the CJP, Justice Isa responded that he had not yet read any contrary view based on Quranic references, which stated that irrespective of the danger to life, prayers in mosques should continue.
He stated that the matter was best addressed on the basis of the opinion of experts and doctors. “As far as I know, this community is also unanimous in stating that people should not congregate and should not attend places of worship,” he added.
Preservation of life
Justice Isa says that an invisible virus, the dreaded Covid-19, revealed much in 2020, raised quite a few theological questions: “During the subsistence of the virus should people congregate? During this pandemic should Muslims pray in mosques, and followers of other religions in their places of worship?”
The SC judge says that experts suggest that the virus spreads from one person to another due to proximity and it can kill. In mosques during prayer, “we often touch strangers and do repeatedly touch our forehead to the floor, which many before have touched and breathed upon, and many after will do so. In the time of this virulent pandemic let us turn to the Holy Qur’an for guidance”.
The judge believes that knowledge, including scientific knowledge, is amongst the foundational structures of the Islamic faith and Almighty Allah repeatedly mentions the importance of knowledge and the need for understanding.
“He grants knowledge/wisdom (hikmath) and whoever has been granted hikmath then certainly he has been granted an abundant good and none remembers except those with understanding” (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 269), Justice Isa’s letter says.
He notes that creating difficulties in religion and putting believers at risk is also addressed by Almighty Allah. “Will you instruct Allah about your religion?” (Surah Al-Hujurat (49) verse 16). We made for them hearing and vision and hearts but they did not avail their hearing their vision and their hearts” (Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) verse 26).”
The SC judge says that in Islam there is no place for excessiveness or extremism and stresses that Islam is a religion of balance and moderation. “Allah is the One Who sent the Book in Truth and the Balance (Meezan)” (Surah Ash-Shura (42) verse 17),” he says.
He further argues that believers are required to be “persons possessed of balanced good sense prohibiting mischief in the earth” (Surah Hud (11) verse 116) and must “not transgress the balance” (meezan) (Surah Ar-Rahman (55) verse 8).
The SC judge says that Muslims must practice the middle way and be moderates. “We made you a community of the middle way (ummatan wasatan) so that you will be witnesses over mankind” (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 143).”
Justice Isa believes that It is a religious duty to keep everyone and oneself safe. The virus has come knocking, we must not embrace or let it in. He then refers to Surah Ar-Ra’d (13) verse 11, which says: “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves.”
In addition to maintaining physical distance doctors and experts mandate the frequent washing of hands. “Significantly, cleanliness is an integral part of Islam, the SC judge says. He adds that congregating at a time when the virus is prevalent exposes oneself to infection, which one may take home and spread further afield; the resultant sickness, for which there is still no cure, and possible death. Such a situation may be categorised as one of extreme hardship and danger.
“But it is made clear that ‘Allah intends for you ease and does not intend hardship’ (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 185). ‘On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear’ (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 286). Our Creator tells us, that He, ‘has not placed upon you in religion any difficulty/discomfort’ (Surah Al-Hajj (22) verse 78). And, ‘Allah desires to lighten things for you’ (Surah An-Nisa (4) verse 28),” the judge says.
The SC judge says that during this pandemic one must not stop praying but only stop congregational prayers in mosques to minimise the danger. Homes can be made places of worship, he adds, referring to Surah Yunus (10) verse 87, which says: “And We revealed to Musa and his brother to settle your people in Egypt and make your homes places of worship and establish regular prayer (salatah).”
“Wherever you turn there is the Face of Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Encompassing (Wasi’un) and All-Knowing (Alimun) (Surah Al-Baqarah (2) verse 115). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘the (whole) earth has been made a mosque (or a place of prayer) and means of purification for me, so wherever a man of my community (Ummah) may be when the time for prayer comes, let him pray’ (Sahih Bukhari, 335, see also Sahih Muslim, 521).”
The SC judge concludes his letter to the chief justice, writing: “I seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah if I have misunderstood His Message.”
