Singapore's Office Of The Mufti has issued guidance for Muslims in Singapore to follow response to the Wuhan coronavirus (2019-NCOV) situation.
The organisation said that the Singapore Muslim community shares the responsibility of minimising virus transmission. "Islam teaches us to place great importance to the community’s interest and wellbeing. We have a collective responsibility to safeguard the public’s health," the Office of the Mufti said in a statement displayed on the Islamic Council of Singapore's Facebook page.
Its advice includes:
- Being cautious
This covers personal hygiene such as monitoring one's health, washing hands regularly with soap and covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
If symptoms of illness such as fever, cough, cold or breathing difficulties are experienced, individuals should put on an appropriate face mask and seek medical attention.
The Office of the Mufti also said that as responsible Muslims, unnecessary travel to China should be postponed. "If travel is unavoidable, we should ensure that we take necessary precautions, such as avoiding contact with live animals and avoiding consumption of raw and undercooked meat," the statement said.
- Avoiding public places if unwell
According to a hadith narrated by Imam Muslim, the Prophet s.a.w. once forbade a sick individual from leaving his house. This shows that there is precedence to avoid crowded public places to prevent the virus from spreading, the Office of the Mufti said.
"We should also follow the advice of healthcare professionals. This includes putting ourselves in quarantine if necessary for the wellbeing of our family and society," the organisation added.
Islam also provides flexibility to a sick person in managing illness. The Office of the Mufti quotes surah al-Fath, verse 17 of the Quran(48:17)
“There is no blame upon the blind, nor any blame upon the lame, nor any blame upon the sick”
"If you are feeling unwell, Islam has provided you with the flexibility of not attending Friday prayers, as mentioned by al-Nawawi in his book, Rauḍah Al-Ṭālibīn. Instead, you are to pray the Zohor prayer in its place," the organisation advised.
- Stay updated with the latest news through valid sources
The Office of the Mufti also cautioned that news should be verified before sharing, quoting Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 6 of the Quran (49:6):
“O you who believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm people out of ignorance and become regretful of what you have done.”
"In addition, it is important for us to ensure that we do not form opinions and make judgements without care or consideration, such as attributing any unfortunate incident to be a result of committing a wrong/sin. Allah knows best the reason behind every incident. What has been commanded to us by Allah is to pray and rely upon Him, combined with our efforts in ameliorating the situation," the organisation noted.