Islamic Scholars and Muslims Have an Important Role in Preventing the Corona Virus Spread
By: Ismail) *
Corona virus or Covid-19 in fact indiscriminately attacks anyone, the spread of the virus has become a global pandemic and disaster. Muslims are also invited to play an active role in preventing the spread of Pandemic Covid-19 by conducting worship, work, and learning from home, especially before the coming of the holy month of Ramadan.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has called on all Muslims in Indonesia to restrict worship such as tarawih prayers in congregation and iftar together to prevent the spread of covid-19 during Ramadan.
Secretary of the MUI Fatwa Commission, Asrorun Naiam asked the people to take part in helping to suppress the potential for dissemination. One of them is by limiting these two religious activities.
Asrorun explained that Muslims in the red zone or areas with high corona transmission potential were asked not to do joint opening and tarawih prayers in public spaces.
Asrorun emphasized that the MUI did not intend to eliminate worship altogether. MUI only makes a plea that Muslims avoid the potential of being exposed to corona during worship.
Meanwhile, the circulation of a corona virus spread prevention protocol whereby residents had to abolish activities involving crowds, made PBNU’s chairman, Kiai Said Aqil Siroj, cancel a number of event invitations.
Kiai Said’s personal assistant, Muhammad Sofwan, said the schedule for Kiai Said’s visit either outside the city or inside the city, which involved many people, was postponed. Kiai Said is reportedly also implementing work from home work from home. This is a preventive measure for the common good.
According to Sofwan, currently Kiai Said is still preoccupied with the coordination and consolidation of the organization through virtual meetings, especially how NU responded to co-19. Some important decisions have also been generated from virtual meetings, such as protocols within the NU office environment at the central, regional, branch, educational institutions and pesantren levels.
Through social media, Kiai Said is more proactive in providing education and understanding as well as encouraging Nahdliyin on how to properly respond to the covid-19 outbreak and an invitation to further increase the piety of Allah SWT.
The PBNU also appealed that Kiai Said Aqil’s Al-Tsaqafah students had been returned to their parents’ homes. Nevertheless it still controls online learning activities.
Although negating the activity by involving the masses, Sofwan claimed to be Kiai Said’s companion, there was no fundamental change in his busy schedule. All forms of responsibility before and after this outbreak still remain the same.
Sofwan admitted that at this time the hard thing for Kiai Said was the obligation to reject guests and explain to the congregation. It all requires approach and patience.
Certainly Kiai Said Aqil Siraj wants to serve the people. However, difficult conditions like this require us to look after each other, and maximize friendship through other media without having to meet face to face.
In addition, the Central Leadership (PP) of Muhammadiyah decided that the Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah Congresses which were originally planned for July 1-5 were postponed to 24-27 December 2020.
This was revealed by General Secretary (Sekum) PP Muhammadiyah Abdul Mu’ti through written statements.
Abdul said the decision was taken after heeded input from doctors and epidemiologists. Including paying attention to the safety, health and cheerleading of the 48th Conference.
Muhammadiyah PP Chairman Anwar Abbas expressed his concern, because mutual blasphemy should not occur when all resources are mobilized to deal with the corona virus.
Anwar warned, the corona virus did not only cause patients and their families to scream. The doctors and medical staff were also almost helpless because they were exhausted. The number of patients continues to grow and flow, while the number of medical personnel remains the same.
Therefore, Anwar reminded all parties to unite and work together to overcome the corona virus pandemic. The role of all parties is very important to overcome the problems facing the people and nation. The result is that life can return to normal and return to normal.
PP Muhammadiyah also issued an appeal for Muslims and Muhammadiyah residents to replace the Friday Prayers to Dzuhur Prayers in their respective homes.
The appeal was immediately signed by PP Muhammadiyah Chairperson Haedar Nashir and PP Muhammadiyah Secretary General Abdul Mu’ti in Yogyakarta. Even the appeal was directly uploaded by Nasir hahir through the account @ HaedarNS.
Muslims as a majority in Indonesia must unite against and prevent the distribution of corona, all worship rituals that have the potential to create crowds must be canceled to prevent the spread of the virus.
) * The author is a citizen, active in United Muslim Millennial studies
