Don’t eat bush meat, Sultan warns Muslims

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, on Tuesday warned the Muslim ummah (community) against the consumption of monkeys and bush meat to avoid contracting the dreaded Ebola virus.

Abubakar noted that since it was first confirmed medically that the disease was discovered in monkeys and fruit bats, it would be reasonable for Muslims to avoid such, including other bush meat.

A statement on behalf of the Sultan by the JNI’s Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar in Kaduna on Tuesday said, “As confirmed by medical experts, the disease was first discovered in monkeys and contacted by those who eat monkeys and other sources of bush meat. 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.”

He also urged Muslims to abide by all health tips for the prevention of the disease seriously, noting that the culture of personal hygiene as well as proper sanitation must always be emphasised

According to him, Islam is a religion of cleanliness, adding that as reported in a sound Hadith, “Cleanliness is half of faith.”

Therefore, the Sultan called on Imams and Ulama to continue sensitising their respective followers on the dangers of the disease and the preventive measures they are supposed to imbibe.

He added: “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”