ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) gave a veiled warning to prayer leaders on Thursday against defying the government’s orders not to hold congregations in view of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The CII said in a statement that the clerics’ defiance could lead to a lockdown of mosques and arrests of prayer leaders.

The council, which held a meeting through video link, advised the public and the media to use terms like Shaheed (martyr) or Janbahak (deceased), instead of Halak (dead), for Covid-19 victims.

The council members are currently facing pressure from two sides. The authorities want them to use their influence to ensure that congregations are not organised in mosques, while a large number of clerics have complained that the authorities were treating them harshly.

One CII member said government functionaries had made it clear to the council that coronavirus was spreading mainly through religious circles as many clerics were defying the directive that not more than five persons should take part in congregational prayers, including the Friday prayers.

The CII meeting expressed concern over the situation created by the spread of Covid-19 and endorsed the steps taken by the government.

Dr Qibla Ayaz, the CII chairman, said according to Sharia, saving human life was “Farz” while offering prayers with “Jamaat” was not.

Later, he said at a virtual press conference that the council endorsed the March 25 declaration by ulema which upheld a decree by Al Azhar regarding social distancing and avoiding congregational prayers.

The CII members noted that the public should offer prayers at home in the light of instructions issued by the government.

Qibla Ayaz said that forced closure of mosques was not under consideration, but clerics and prayer leaders should follow the directive to limit the number of people praying at mosques.

At the same time, the CII advised the authorities to negotiate with clerics and prayer leaders instead of making arrests.

The council decried “social media campaigns” against the pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as members of the Tableeghi Jamaat, observing that coronavirus had nothing to do with any profession or community.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2020