Fears that the religious discourse will be affected by the closure of mosques in the Sultanate of Oman

Sumaya Al Yaqoubi - Muscat

Since last April, the Omani authorities approved the extension of the closure of mosques in the country until further notice, in addition to banning all forms of Ramadan gatherings, including mosque sessions, religious seminars and various gatherings, to coincide with the country's measures to limit the spread of the Corona virus, while the role of mosques was limited to raising Azan via loudspeaker only.

These decisions, which were approved by the Supreme Committee in charge of dealing with developments in the spread of the Corona pandemic, came at a time when the number of infections is increasing to nearly 3,000 thousand in various regions of Oman.

Preachers' anxiety
A number of preachers and researchers interested in religious sciences fear that this closure will affect religious discourse, especially preaching in the country, especially with the role that mosques have played in expanding this discourse and its multiplicity in the month of Ramadan, and the people's continued interest in staying in mosques, especially ahead of a date the breakfast.

The preacher, Nasser Al-Sawafi, believes that the epidemic created a reality that differs from what he used to practice from advocacy in mosques and religious seminars, where meeting with people is of great importance to him.

The preacher, Ahmed Al-Nawfali, said that "the communication was great and usual in the mosques, especially in the circles of science, reading the Qur’an and religious lessons, and the closure of mosques affected the continuation of these activities."

Al-Nawfali adds to Al-Jazeera Net that there are some preaching practices prevalent in Oman today that find resonance among the interested people, among them sending preachers for WhatsApp messages between groups and individuals, as well as recording some audio clips or videos that contain Quranic verses, fatwas, sermons and advice.

The impact of technology Al
-Nawfali considers that technology has contributed to a significant change, as preaching speech today is spreading in Amman in multiple languages, including English and Urdu, which are appropriate for the residents of the country, in addition to interest in religious TV and radio programs.

On this side, the researcher in Islamic affairs, Badr Al-Abri, says that there is no doubt that the mosques lost an important preaching value due to the closure and the stopping of gatherings, especially as these gatherings used the method of direct speeches.

"For this reason, a number of preachers of their individual efforts have turned to virtual communication, such as exploiting YouTube, WhatsApp and various video chat programs," Al-Abri added in his interview with Al-Jazeera Net.

As for Al-Nawfali, it is noted that people's concerns regarding fatwas and questions did not change much from before the epidemic, they are interested in prayer that was affected by the closure of mosques, and many people ask about the ruling on reading supplications through loudspeakers or Tarawih prayer in congregation at home, and congregational prayer with the wife, Or ask about the amounts of Zakat in light of the closure of specialized stores.

In his turn, Al-Sawafi says in his interview with Al-Jazeera Net that "preaching activity depends on the methods of dumping and influencing the public and the diversity in the topics presented, which is not available in social media platforms, whatever we try to resort to ... For me, I touch the social aspect and free communication with the public in my work, Indeed, today we are obliged to live with a new style, although I do not suffer from any barriers to the use of modern means to spread awareness and education. "

Da`wah Institutions
The Hebrew refers to the poor performance of Da`wah institutions during Ramadan this year, and justifies the matter that preaching activity in Amman is an effort related to the job, and with the presence of quarantine, the preacher may see that he is entitled to the rest of the employees as a rest, calmness and lack of work, and does not usually continue in this preaching activity Except those who see the matter as a message or a substitute for a direct platform.

As for Al-Nawfali, he believes that "preaching work may be interrupted, but the advocacy and social practice between humans and the need for preaching continue, and social networks today have an important role in moving us to a new stage of preaching."

On the connection of religious and preaching discourse with the developments of the epidemic, he says, "What happened in China since the early days of the spread of the Corona epidemic formed an issue raised between preachers and scholars, so the promotion among Muslims that the epidemic is torture from God at the beginning of its spread in China was a matter of great difference, until it moved This epidemic to Muslim countries, so mosques and schools were closed, so that the content of the speech changes and becomes between torture and affliction that requires patience and supplication. "

He added, "Everyone has learned an important lesson and realized that it is the Sunnah of God alone in the prevalence of this epidemic and its impact on everyone, which leads to deep reviews in the popular discourse."

Regarding the benefits that have been achieved with the epidemic in connection with the advocacy practice in Oman, Al-Sawafi says, "We have generated new opportunities for interaction and communication through the use of social networks, and there are online broadcast tools that facilitate access to people from all regions."

The competent committee to manage the Corona epidemic has not set a date for announcing the opening of mosques, especially at a time when cases of disease increase and the number of deaths reaches 13 deaths. It is estimated that there are more than 16,000 mosques in the Sultanate of Oman, according to statistics published by the government in 2018.