Jombang Muslim thoughts on Mosque Closure During Covid-19 Pandemic To Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus Disease from the Perspective of Islamic Theology

Abstract

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indonesian government suggests closing worship places, including mosques, to prevent Coronavirus infection. This article discusses the thought of Muslim society in Jombang, East Java, an area with ferventlyreligious citizens, about the government's regulation of mosque closure during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study is qualitative. The data was collected in Jombang through observation, interview, and documentation. This study shows that Muslim society in Jombang, East Java, has various opinions about the government's regulation of mosque closure during the Covid-19 pandemic. All mosques in this study remain open during the Covid-19 pandemic; only the Baitul Mukminin mosque has ever cancelled Eid alFitr prayers. The reason presented is that the mosque implements health protocols, so it is safe for worship. In addition, they believe that diseases come from God, so they must get closer to Allah by worshipping in mosques and mosques as places of da'wa. During the Covid-19 pandemic, mosque income decreased. From the worshipper's perspective, they worship at mosques because mosques implement health protocols or because residents do not believe in Covid-19, so they continue to worship as usual. Worshippers who worship at home assume to maintain health and feel uncomfortable worshipping in the mosque because it is complicated to comply with health protocols. From the perspective of Islamic theology, the policy of mosque ta'mirs in Jombang not to close mosques during the Covid-19 pandemic, and residents who are still active in going to mosques is according to QS. At-Tawbah 9: Verse 18 is about prospering mosques. To prevent the spread of Covid-19, they implement health protocols. Meanwhile, those who do not go to the mosque obey the government's recommendation to worship at home because they are in emergency conditions and because of the benefit of maintaining the soul so as not to transmit/contract Covid-19.