The umbrella body of Nigerian Muslims has described Islam as a safeguard against Ebola Virus Disease.

Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI) in a statement issued today in Kaduna by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, noted that obedience to the tenets of Islam would offer protection from Ebola as they take care of the causative factors.

JNI said in the statement: “Nigeria has now joined the league of West African Nations with the deadly Ebola outbreak. Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia were reported as taking the lead. The Nigeria Ebola case was first reported with the arrival of a Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer with the disease in Lagos and subsequently died at a Lagos hospital.

“As confirmed by medical experts, the disease was first discovered in monkeys and contacted by those who eat monkeys and other bush meats. Alas, in Islam eating of monkeys had already been discouraged (Makruh), according to many scholars of Islamic jurisprudence. Thus, we should continue to uphold this verdict as it also serves as a preventative measure.

“The culture of personal hygiene as well as proper sanitation must always be emphasized. Thus, Islam is a religion of cleanliness. “Cleanliness is half of faith”, as reported in a sound Hadith. Therefore, we call on Imams and Ulama to continue sensitizing their respective followers on the dangers of the disease and the preventative measures they are supposed to imbibe.

“More so, our MASAJID (Mosques) managers must maintain high level of sanitation for the teeming congregation of worshipers. Worshipers on the other hand, must cooperate in maintaining the sanitary condition of the MASAJID (Mosques). Most specific areas where the sanitation and or preventive measures are needed are the surroundings of the MASAJID (Mosques), the toilets/bathrooms and above all, funeral/burial of our dead ones must be conducted with caution.

“Symptoms of the disease include fever, sore throat, muscle pains and head-aches. Often nausea, vomiting and diarrhea follow along with severe internal and external bleeding in advanced stages of the disease. It is therefore, worthy to note that the entire World is taking stringent proactive steps as well as preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus; therefore the Nigerian Muslims should not be left out in taking proper measures of protecting itself.”

•Photo shows Ebola patient receiving medical attention.