The deadly coronavirus has killed several thousands of people around the world in a short time.

Ghana has confirmed 1,042 COVID-19 cases out of 68,591 tests.

The government, in order to prevent further spread of the disease, has placed a ban on all social gatherings including mosque and church services and urged the public to adhere to precautionary measures such as regular washing of hands with soap under running water or using alcohol-based hand sanitisers and avoiding touching one’s face, eyes, nose and mouth, as well as wearing nose masks, and also practising social distancing.

Washing of hands with soap under running water is one of the ways to prevent one from contracting the virus. As a practising Muslim, I see the importance of washing hands with soap under running water before performing the ablution to prevent a spread of the virus.

In my neighbourhood, Nima, to be precise, I have noticed that almost all my Muslim brothers and sisters do not wash their hands with soap under running water after entering the washroom to clean themselves before ablution.

Salat (Prayers) is one of the five (5) pillars of Islam. Before praying, ablution is performed since it is one of the most important things to consider before thinking of standing before your creator (Allah).

The practice of ablution allows one to touch the face, mouth, nose, eyes and even the ears, where we are advised not to touch in these COVID-19 times.

Our hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick. So, the importance of washing hands with soap under running water before ablution cannot be overemphasised.

As a practising Muslim, I encourage every Muslim to wash their hands with soap under running water before performing the ablution for their own protection, especially in the period of Ramadan, which is four days away.

Let us also remember our dear country, Ghana, in payers in this holy month where all our prayers are answered. And, also, continue to adhere to the directives of President Nana Akufo-Addo, especially the closure of all mosques and the need to observe social-distancing protocols in our communities to help prevent the spread of the virus.

If you’ll not heed my advice, heed that of Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who shares my opinion.

Dr Bawumia gave a similar suggestion during a Muslim Breakfast Meeting at the Jubilee House in Accra on Friday, 20 March 2020.

Wash your hands with soap and water and save a life.

By Ahmed Kollene

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