Islam during the Time of Pandemics: Islamic Arab Scholars’ Framing of covid-19

Abstract

Abstract In the Arab countries, restrictions on events and gatherings due to covid-19 have as elsewhere affected religious practices. Mosques and churches have been closed temporarily and religious authorities have taken part in public discussions about the meaning and way of dealing with covid-19. In this context, the article explores the interaction between state and religion by analysing the arguments used by Muslim authorities to legitimize or challenge the Arab states’ politics towards covid-19 in the spring 2020. The scientific and secular arguments of the states are met by three positionings among Muslim authorities: Those who based on religious dogma agree with and confirm the states’ approach to covid-19; those who argue that religion gives all the answers; and those who discard and distrust the states’ motives and dealings. Accordingly, handling the covid-19 in the Arab countries repeats frequent positions in the continuing discussion on religion in Arab societies.