Ebola in Nigeria: NSCIA Urges Muslims to Stay Vigilant, Avoid Stigma
Islamic council calls for stronger public-health awareness through mosques and religious gatherings after confirmed FCT case
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has urged Muslims across Nigeria to remain vigilant and follow public-health precautions after the Federal Government confirmed an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a public health advisory issued on Wednesday, the Council asked Chief Imams, Islamic scholars, State Councils for Islamic Affairs and Muslim organisations to intensify awareness about the disease through Friday sermons, religious gatherings and community engagements.
The advisory followed the confirmation by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, on Tuesday that laboratory tests had confirmed an Ebola case in the FCT.
The NSCIA, under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, commended the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) for their response.
It called on federal and state authorities to intensify surveillance, contact tracing, public enlightenment and preparedness in healthcare facilities, while ensuring adequate protection for health workers and timely dissemination of accurate information.
The Council urged Nigerians to remain alert to possible symptoms, which include fever, severe headache, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and sometimes unexplained bleeding.
It advised members of the public to practise regular handwashing, avoid direct contact with suspected cases and their bodily fluids, promptly report suspected infections to health authorities and cooperate with contact-tracing efforts.
The NSCIA also warned against spreading unverified information or stigmatising affected individuals and their families.
Muslims urged to take precautions
The Council specifically advised people suspected of infection to refrain from attending congregational prayers pending medical assessment.
It further urged anyone who develops symptoms that could be associated with a serious infectious disease, particularly where there has been possible exposure, to seek medical attention promptly, avoid close contact with others and follow the instructions of health professionals regarding movement and treatment.
The NSCIA linked its public-health guidance to the Islamic principle of preserving life, known as Hifz al-Nafs, which it identified as one of the fundamental objectives of Islamic law.
It cited Qur’an 2:195: “And do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction,” while also referring to the Prophet Muhammad’s guidance on restricting movement in and out of areas affected by infectious disease.
The Council stressed that religious faith and medical precautions should work together in protecting lives.
“Faith, prayer and appropriate medical care are complementary rather than contradictory,” it said.
The NSCIA said it was ready to deploy its nationwide network of mosques, Islamic organisations and community leaders in support of disease prevention and public-health education.
It called on Muslim leaders to use their platforms to provide accurate information, encourage responsible behaviour and support the efforts of health authorities to contain the disease.
The Council urged Nigerians to remain calm, act responsibly and cooperate with public-health authorities as investigations and containment efforts continue.
It also prayed for the recovery of those affected, the protection of healthcare workers and the safety of the country and wider humanity.
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