Guidance on safe religious practice for Muslim communities during the coronavirus pandemic

The highly infectious nature of the novel coronavirus has led religious authorities around the Muslim world to issue guidance and fatwas on the obligation for Muslims to adapt and change their religious practice in order to preserve life. Islamic Relief Worldwide is issuing this guidance to communities who are at risk from this deadly disease. The advice is based on guidance developed and concurring within all the major schools of fiqh (jurisprudence) within the Sunni Muslim tradition and intended for use by Islamic Relief field offices and other aid organisations seeking to engage Muslim faith communities in the global fight against coronavirus.

Many governments have banned major public gatherings to curb the spread of coronavirus and religious gatherings have been cited in several cases as having contributed to mass spreading of the disease. Most countries in the Muslim world have taken the unprecedented step to cancel congregational and Friday prayers, while some religious authorities have also suspended normal burial and bereavement practices. These measures are inevitably impacting Muslim communities, specifically mosques, madrasas and community centres in the run-up to and during the month of Ramadan.