By Lamin Njie
Chief imam of Masjid Omar in Serrekunda Imam Abubacarr Gaye has said the imams that accepted the decision of governments around the world to shut down mosques will be questioned by God on the day of judgment.
President Adama Barrow mid-last month ordered all mosques across the country shut to stem the spread of coronavirus.
While imams under the banner of Supreme Islamic Council have accepted the president’s move, some imams have been balking at the idea. At least three imams have been arrested as a result after they continued to flout the president’s proclamation.
Top Imam Bakawsu Fofana had insisted the government was wrong in closing down mosques.
Imam Abubacarr Gaye has joined Imam Fofana in saying the shutting down of mosques was a serious issue.
The imam told The Fatu Network: “Closing mosques is happening for the first time and it’s happening in our time. So the Ulamas have a huge responsibility to explain this. For us to just sit and they straight away shut mosques.
“They should have taken out steps other than just flying and closing the mosques like a store that’s being shut, like a hotel that’s being shut, a one restaurant that’s being closed. Houses of God are not like that. So it’s a big responsibility on us and we will explain it on the day of judgment. It’s the Ulamas (Islamic scholars) of today that will be asked because they are the people that are educated.
“During the time of the Prophet, disasters like this were happening but he didn’t close mosques. Closing down mosques is a very serious issue. It’s just for the first time in our time and God will ask the Ulamas that witnessed it and accepted it
“Ramadan is coming and I want to call on the government to open mosques in order for people to go to, to pray. The crowd in a mosque is different from the crowd that you find in a bar, garage or hotel.”
