“Salafists tried to paint the closing of mosques, which was among measures taken by Moroccan authorities to contain the coronavirus outbreak, as an assault on faith and not as a precaution aimed at saving lives.”
This tendency has appeared in other countries as well, and places more people at risk than the true believers who think this way.
“Moroccans reject Salafists’ ‘irresponsible’ attempt at assailing closure of mosques,” Arab Weekly, March 29, 2020:
CASABLANCA– Salafists tried to paint the closing of mosques, which was among measures taken by Moroccan authorities to contain the coronavirus outbreak, as an assault on faith and not as a precaution aimed at saving lives.
The Salafists’ stance was vehemently denounced as “irresponsible” by many Moroccans.
In a video on Facebook, Salafist Sheikh Abou Naim called on the High Council of Ulemas and the Rabita Mohammedia for Ulemas to worry more about places of gambling, selling alcohol and debauchery where deadly diseases spread instead of talking about mosques.
“It is a scandal! Considering that the epidemic has not reached a dangerous level that requires the closure of mosques. It is not necessary to close the mosques and I warn the ministry and the institutions against this measure,” said Abou Naim.
“The country that closes its mosques renounces its religion. Do not despise the mosque, otherwise God will punish you,” he warned authorities.
Abou Naim was arrested March 17 on charges of inciting hatred and making threatening statements.
“Abou Naim’s remarks contained threats of committing dangerous acts that would lead to disrupting general order,” a police statement said….
Hassan al-Kettani, another Salafist advocate, referred to the opinion of Kuwaiti Sheikh Hakem al-Mutairi, who criticised the closure of mosques and suspending Friday prayers because of COVID-19.
“It would have been possible to take precautions against the disease by imposing a curfew if necessary, and forcing people to stay home without closing mosques,” Mutairi said.”
Mutairi claimed there was “no evidence from the Quran or the Sunnah to ban Friday and group prayers as no one had dared before.” Kettani described Mutairi’s views, which he posted on Facebook, as a “great fatwa.”
Morocco’s High Council of Ulemas on March 16 advised closing mosques despite the clamour by Salafists to keep them open.
“Following a request for a fatwa addressed to the Supreme Council by Amir al-Mu’minin, the Scientific Authority for Fatwas of the Supreme Council advises to close the mosques, whether with regard to the five daily prayers or the Friday prayers,” said the Supreme Council of Ulemas in a statement, adding that the procedure was temporary.
Moroccan King Mohammed VI bears the title of Amir al-Mu’minin — Commander of the Faithful — in Morocco….
Dozens of people marched overnight March 22 in Tangier, Tetouan, Sale and Fez, to plead for God to defeat the coronavirus pandemic. The march was in defiance of a public health state of emergency declared March 20.
“God is great! God is great and alone to be [sic] able to help us defeat the coronavirus!” the crowds chanted, prompting condemnations on social media and calls for sanctions….
Buraq says
Allah is greater than ………. Coronavirus? Seems that he’s isn’t. Allah defeated by a rogue piece of protein sticking to the the faithfuls’ Qur’ans! Clowns!
ELI says
This is the kind of reporting you should be doing. Focusing on the minority of idiots who are creating problems and not extrapolating to “Muslims” or “Islam” (although you kind of do that by referring to “true believers”). As this article makes clear, Muslim Morocco, took measures and those who have problems with those measures are a minority of extremists (a few dozen idiots).
the big test will come with Ramadan, will they dare cancel it?
Sun says
It is good that the King of Morocco took measures to combat the spread of the virus.
It is a fact that the beliefs of the “minority of extremists” is the belief of the majority of Muslims globally.
Even in ‘moderate’ Muslim Morocco, over 80% of Muslims support Sharia as the official law in the country (Pew Research, 2017).
ELI says
So? what does that have to do with the Coronavirus? Saudi Arabia is a full sharia state and implemented a lockdown.
Sun says
My comment has everything to do with your statement:
“Focusing on the minority of idiots who are creating problems and not extrapolating to “Muslims” or “Islam” .
gravenimage says
Funny how large this “tiny minority” of Muslims has turned out to be. ELI wants the filthy Infidels to ignore this, though.
ELI says
“Dozens of people marched overnight March 22 in Tangier, Tetouan, Sale and Fez, to plead for God to defeat the coronavirus pandemic. The march was in defiance of a public health state of emergency declared March 20.”
I guess that’s large to you. Maybe 1 person is large to you since you apparently do not understand that given that there are millions of Muslims in Morocco, a few dozen people are indeed a tiny minority.
Mural says
Eli, everytime you post, you reduce the collective IQ of this forum by a few notches. Allah might have blessed you with this talent. Please keep posting your drivel. In days such as these, we need humour in our lives.
gravenimage says
There have been scores of similar stories, as ELI well knows, but hopes we don’t.
CogitoErgoSum says
Go for it, Muslims
Steven Brown says
They do not share the tenet that God helps those who help themselves.
Rarely says
Hmmm. Pleading with allah to cure the coronavirus, eh? Well, in response, allah said: “Listen to the medical specialists I have given you and follow their instructions. BTW clear the wax out of your ears so you can hear me”.
i.e. stop acting like fools.
Phil Copson says
“…Allah is great and alone is be able to help us defeat the coronavirus!”
—————————————————————————————–
Why would Allah want to defeat the virus that he presumably invented ?
And why would he need any help in doing it ?
Either he invented everything and is all-powerful, or he isn’t – which is it ?
(Correct answer: Neither – he doesn’t exist.)
James Lincoln says
Powerful logic, Phil.
If muslims actually thought it through, heads would explode due to the cognitive dissonance…
gravenimage says
Morocco: “Allah is great! Allah is great and alone is able to help us defeat the coronavirus!”
……………..
How many places have we seen pious Muslims act just like this, all over the world?
Here’s India:
“India: ‘You are asking us to close the house of Allah…What if we close his house and he closes our house?'”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/04/india-you-are-asking-us-to-close-the-house-of-allahwhat-if-we-close-his-house-and-he-closes-our-house
“Coronavirus Is for Infidels: Some Toronto Mosques Stay Open Despite Pandemic”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/03/coronavirus-is-for-infidels-some-toronto-mosques-stay-open-despite-pandemic
We’ve also seen this happening in Cameroon, Germany, Pakistan, Iran, Nigeria, and Turkey. Likely just the tip of the iceberg.
ELI says
How about in your own backyard? It is likely that this is the tip of the iceberg
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-29/louisiana-church-defies-covid-19-order-holds-sunday-services
https://nypost.com/2020/03/19/jewish-prayer-group-defies-nyc-social-distancing-orders/
Time for you to do your best to ignore this and insult the poster. Go ahead, I can see this is your MO
Del says
Leave the mosques open. They can get treated at the Toronto Muslim Hospital. The Jewish Hospital is for Canadians.
OLD GUY says
Just another case of stupid. Muslims and followers of Islam do not have to live in non-muslim controlled countries. If their islamic belief is so strong they should follow their love for Allah and move to countries that totally support islam. As a christian I would never live in an Islamic country and try to change their laws and rules to mine. So that raises the question why in the hell are you islamics in my country if you don’t like it here to begin with? Oh yea you want to convert us to Islam or enslave us to work for you and kill us if we don’t.
I hate islam! I know as a Christian I should not hate but it is better then KILLING.
gravenimage says
I don’t think that it is wrong to hate an evil ideology, OLD GUY.
ELI says
“There have been scores of similar stories, as ELI well knows, but hopes we don’t.”
There are lots of stories of idiotic non-Muslims but you ignore and refuse to extrapolate. A few dozen Muslims and in country of 35 Million is not small minority to you. That is simply moronic, it’s basic math.
ELI says
From what I can see, here is how your brain works:
1. Muslim country orders total lockdown
– ignore –
2. Two dozen Muslims protest the lockdown
– Many if not most Muslims around the world want to spread the virus as a form of jihad in line with Islamic teaching. –
3. US pastor keeps church open despite lockdown
– ignore –
Sun says
Calm down, ELI.
The name of the blog states clearly “Jihad Watch” and not “US Pastor Watch”.