''Quarantine policies are established and practiced in Islam''

The Friday prayer sermon of today has called on the public to take preventive measures against fast spreading diseases such as the Coronavirus.

The sermon, read in mosques all over the country, noted that the Maldives was a country visited by a lot of guests and the importance of heeding to the advice of relevant authorities at a time when diseases such as the Coronavirus has been identified in nearby neighboring countries. The sermon also called on the public to not to travel to these countries as the authorities have advised.

Referring to Prophet Muhammed’s hadiths and verses from the holy Quran, the sermon quashed the perceptions held by some people that quarantine policies are against the religion and the will of Allah. These policies were enforced and advised in the religion of Islam, according to the sermon.

"If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place."   The Prophet (peace be upon him) said.

The sermon called on the public to adhere to the safety and cleanliness standards prescribed in the religion such as covering the face when sneezing or coughing and avoid bad habits such as spitting in public. The sermon ended once again advising the citizens to adhere to the safety standards issued by the authorities and stressed the importance of procedures such as vaccinations.