Ebola: JNI Tasks Imams, Ulama’s On Sensitization Of Muslims

By Lawal A. Dogara, Kaduna
An Islamic body, Jama’atul Nasril Islam, JNI on Tuesday tasked the Imams and Ulama’s on the need to ensure proper sensitization of muslim ummah on the dangers of the deadly disease, Ebola as well as preventive measures to adopt.
JNI in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar and made available to Journalist in Kaduna , emphasized on the need for personal hygiene as well as proper sanitation.
According to it, “Thus, Islam is a religion of cleanliness. “Cleanliness is half of faith”, as reported in a sound Hadith. Therefore, we call on Imams and Ulama to continue sensitizing their respective followers on the dangers of the disease and the preventative measures they are supposed to imbibe.
“More so, our MASAJID (Mosques) managers must maintain high level of sanitation for the teeming congregation of worshipers. Worshipers on the other hand, must cooperate in maintaining the sanitary condition of the MASAJID (Mosques). Most specific areas where the sanitation and or preventive measures are needed are the surroundings of the MASAJID (Mosques), the toilets/bathrooms and above all, funeral/burial of our dead ones must be conducted with caution.
The umbrella body of muslims also cautioned against the eating of monkey saying Islam had already discouraged it.
“As confirmed by medical experts, the disease was first discovered in monkeys and contracted by those who eat monkeys and other bush meats. Alas, in Islam eating of monkeys had already been discouraged (Makruh), according to many scholars of Islamic jurisprudence. Thus, we should continue to uphold this verdict as it also serves as a preventative measure.
“Symptoms of the disease include fever, sore throat, muscle pains and head-aches.Often nausea, vomiting and diarrhea follow along with severe internal and external bleeding in advanced stages of the disease. It is therefore, worthy to note that the entire World is taking stringent proactive steps as well as preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus; therefore the Nigerian Muslims should not be left out in taking proper measures of protecting itself,” the statement said.