KOTA BARU: Muslims are encouraged to perform special prayers to seek God's protection against the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.
Kelantan mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said prayers were channels for Muslims to ask for Allah's help against the outbreak and other diseases.
"As a Mufti, l can only give my advice to the people. But, it is not within my jurisdiction to order them to perform the special prayers.
"As a Muslim, we should know that a ‘doa’ is a medium for the Muslims to seek for Allah's protection. This is why we should always do so," he said.
Mohamad Shukri also believed the virus was a test from God on the people in various countries, including those in Malaysia.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri´ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had recently ordered all mosques in the country to hold the special prayers and the ‘doa selamat’.
To date, eight people in Malaysia, all Chinese nationals, were tested positive for the 2019-nCoV.
On Saturday, China’s National Health Commission said nearly 12,000 people have been infected by the 2019-nCoV.
Outside mainland China, foreign media reported that there had been more than 100 infections reported in more than 20 countries.
The World Health Organization has declared an international emergency over the outbreak.