The Fiqh (Jurisprudence) of Pandemics

20 August 2020

Worldwide, COVID-19 has caused more than 14 million confirmed cases of infections, and over 600,000 deaths. This virus has impacted our lives socially, financially, mentally and spiritually. Mosques (and other places of worship) were closed or re-opened with strict social distancing conditions, Ramadan tarweeh prayers were suspended, and hajj was cancelled except for 1000 local Saudis. It is agreed by Muslim scholars that Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) is flexible and capable of responding to changes of circumstances in any given time and place. Therefore, what does fiqh say about pandemics?

Are the closure of mosques, restrictions of prayers in mosques and cancellation of hajj for millions of Muslims consistent with fiqh? Is social distancing in mosques acceptable? Should worshippers with signs of any illness go to the mosques? What is the difference between acts of ‘ibada (worship) and following one’s hawa (desire)? And, can congregational prayer (salat al-jama’a) be performed online because of COVID-19? These questions and more will be addressed in this timely and important webinar.

Professor Mohamad Abdalla AM