Lockdown: Congregational Prayers in Mosques not Proof of Muslims’ Piety–Sheikh Gumi

A prominent Islamic cleric, Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has stated that though many Muslims cherish participating in congregational prayers with massive crowd of worshippers in mosques, doing so, still, is not a true reflection of the level of their piety.

The firebrand and popular religious scholar, pointed this out at a Tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) session which he anchored at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna on Tuesday.

According to Sheikh Gumi, frequently going to a mosque to observe prayers or perform other spiritual activities is not an indicator of how pious or God-fearing a Muslim is.

Hear him: “It is not. Rather, having Imaan (piety) entails following the entire traditions of the Holy Prophet. And then, we must also be conscious of our Creator and seek his infinite mercies at all times. So, it is not by having many people congregate in mosques for prayers.”

During the religious propagation session, Gumi, who spoke in Hausa, further quoted the Prophet as saying that “a time will come when Mosques will be populated by worshippers and filled to the brim, yet finding a single righteous and devoted believer among the congregations will be difficult.”

On the reactions trailing the closure of mosques across the State, which has impaired the Muslim faithful from observing their five congregational prayers, the renowned Islamic preacher, described as “wicked” persons who are condemning the preventive measure of closing worship centres to forestall the community transmission of Coronavirus, across the country.

Defending both the Federal and Kaduna State Governments’ lockdown order, Dr. Gumi, explained that the closure of mosques and churches was not driven by the need to satisfy government’s vested interest.

He said: “The decision to shut down our Mosques is guided by pure wisdom and decency. It is not because someone does not want Muslims not to pray in congregation at mosques. “People were only told to go and pray at their homes, together with their family, still in congregation.

As a matter of fact, praying at home, especially as the country is battling COVID-19 is even more rewarding, one. This is because you prayed in congregation with your family members and also practiced the teaching of the Holy Prophet.

“Again, if someone is a devoted worshiper who regularly observes his prayers in the mosque, Allah will still reward him despite the inability to do that now because of Coronavirus. Why? Because, Allah is aware of the prevailing tribulation the entire mankind is passing through now.”