Ruling On Praying With Gaps Due To Fear Of Catching COVID-19

Facing our life to survive in this difficult situation can be hard tough includes a ruling pray. In Islam, there is a rule in praying that must be followed by every worshipper. In praying, we should make forming tight rows and completes the first row. This means that the row must be complete without leaving gaps for the devils. This claims as to the importance of praise Allah in Islam.

But, facing this situation that we have struggled the most with the Coronavirus diseases makes it impossible to do. We should keep our social distancing so that the rule of gaps during pray in the mosque made. But, is that lawful to do?

What the Islamic Law Say?

During the pandemic, everything changes include the way we have to pray. If having a pray on the mosque will make a crowd and can be the reason for the virus spreading so that the rules need to change. For a good reason, it keeps us from the infection and less harm because of it.

Even though forming tight rows while praying in the mosque is obligatory, during the pandemic it is permissible if we get the gap on it. It is sunnah to do and according to Ibn Taymiyah from the Majmoo Al Fataawaa (23/406), mentions that it is permissible to leave the gaps to prevent the virus spread.

While the rule for pray in the mosque has changed, it doesn’t mean we can’t pray there anymore. The pray still can be held but with keeping a social distancing way. This rule not only useful for ourselves but also for all people around us. That is why, while we keep the social distancing when praying in the mosque, there is some rule that we should follow.

Here we have some rule on our pray with gaps in the mosque due to face our fear of catching the coronavirus disease. Don’t forget to make Dua for hardship in Islam for the best wish to Allah.

1. Keep Your Distance

Keep your distance between others with a minimum 6ft away. Distance is one of the most important things to reduce the spread of Coronavirus diseases. Even though congregational prayer in the mosque is important for Muslims, keeping away your distance is permissible during the pray.

2. Make A Good Line

Even though we can’t do the tight line during the pray in the mosque, we can still manage the line tidily. Keep the distance with a consistent distance such as keep them in 6ft away from one to another. So that the line will keep tidy and still permissible in Islamic law.

In the Quran surah As Saff verse 4 mentions about this.

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِيْنَ يُقَاتِلُوْنَ فِيْ سَبِيْلِهٖ صَفًّا كَاَنَّهُمْ بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوْصٌ – ٤

“Verily, Allah loves those who fight in His path in an orderly fashion, as if they were a solid structure.” (QS 16:4)

3. Cleanlines Is A Part Of Faith

It mentions that keep the cleanliness is a part of our faith towards Allah. That is why we need to keep it clean as much as we can. In line with our pray habit in the mosque, we should keep it clean. At least, wear clean clothes and praying tools. Wash your hand regularly before and after go to the mosque.

Because we should do a wudhu before pray, Insyaallah it will keep us clean. In the Quran surah, Al Mudasir verse 4 mentions about this.

وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْۖ – ٤

“and clean your clothes” (QS 74:4)

In the Quran surah Al Baqarah verse 222 also mentions about cleanliness.

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ – ٢٢٢

“Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and like those who purify themselves.” (QS 2:222)

4. Adapting The New Social Rule

As we try to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus disease so that the new social rule comes. The government decided to make some protocols that everyone should obey for our kindness. This protocol also comes to the rule to pray in the mosque. There are some social distancing rules, wash your hand regularly, and don’t wear other people tools prayer.

Instead, we are being selfish keep do the generous thing to another. It doesn’t mean we should avoid people who need help. We have no idea what others need, so it will be better if we ask them. But, still, keep our distance from them. Some people may hate us, so we can do a prayer for those who hate you the most in this difficult time.

In the Quran surah, An Nahl verse 90 mentions about this.

 اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْاِحْسَانِ وَاِيْتَاۤئِ ذِى الْقُرْبٰى وَيَنْهٰى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاۤءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُوْنَ – ٩٠

“Verily Allah commands (you) to act justly and do good, give help to relatives, and He forbids (commits) abominable acts, Munkar, and hostility. He teaches you so you can take lessons.” (QS 16:90)

5. Be Patient

Muslims believe that everything comes from Allah so that we can take some lessons from them. That is why we need to be patient-facing these difficult times. It is hard to not going to the mosque for daily prayer or Friday prayer. But, with a patient, we can pass through this difficult time. The more we try to the patient the more we can find some ways to avoid hypocrisy.

Fighting this pandemic will make us more close to Allah and we should rely on everything towards Allah. In the Quran surah, Al Baqarah verse 153 mentions about this.

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوا اسْتَعِيْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الصّٰبِرِيْنَ – ١٥٣

“O, believers! Ask for help (to Allah) patiently and offer prayers. Truly, Allah is with those who are patient.” (QS 2:153)

So, there are some acts we can do to facing the rule of praying with gaps due to our fear of catching the coronavirus diseases. Don’t forget to make some ways to do Sabr in Islam. I hope we can pass through all this difficult time together.