French Muslim Council Urges Mosques to Follow Local COVID-19 Guidelines

"Since the situation is different from one department to another, it is advisable to keep you informed, with the health and prefectural authorities of your department, of the measures to be taken within your place of worship. You can already disseminate and display the attached documents in your place of worship or any place open to the public," can be read in the message sent by the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), addressed to the Muslim community in France and relayed by Saphirnews.

Collective prayers in mosques should be considered as collective gatherings to which the instructions of the health authorities must apply, details the awareness-raising message.

The CFCM calls on imams to be ready to apply these instructions and explain them to the faithful. The CFCM stressed the need to follow the injunctions of the Prophet Muhammad who affirmed that "a person suffering from an infectious disease should not approach a healthy person." And to add that if there is a person in a mosque presenting some of the symptoms of Covid-19, he should call 15 and stay to pray at home, rather than mixing with others.

The CFCM’s message also reminded the faithful of the basic rules to protect themselves, namely: wash your hands regularly, sneeze into a tissue, wear a disposable surgical mask if you are sick, use a disposable tissue and throw it away, avoid shaking hands and prefer oral and distant greetings, avoid frequently touching your eyes, nose and mouth, remove from the ablution areas of mosques, the towels for multiple use and replace them with single-use towels.

As a last resort, imams and mosque officials have been called upon to disseminate all this information and mention it before and after prayers, especially on Fridays, on their media supports, as well as through all social networks. Also, the CFCM has recommended that they pray for a speedy recovery of the sick and the protection of all.