The Islamic principle of ḥifẓ al-nafs (protection of life) and COVID-19 in Indonesia: A case study of nurul iman mosque of Bengkulu city

BACKGROUND: The act of worshipping in mosque is often not only considered to be one of the factors causing the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19), but also a contributing factor to health protocol violations. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this paper is to examine the application of the Islamic principle of ḥifẓ al-nafs (protection of life) in the practice of worshipping at the Nurul Iman mosque as it relates to the prevention of transmission of covid-19.

METHODS: This research uses a sociology of law perspective to the connection and the dynamics between the adoption of the principle of ḥifẓ al-nafs and the implementation of worship at the Nurul Iman mosque. As a case study, the data collection technique used includes interviews, observation, documentation reviews, and triangulation techniques, while the analysis technique used content analysis techniques.

RESULTS: The application of the principle of ḥifẓ al-nafs (protection of life) in the practices of worship at the Nurul Iman mosque have proven to be in accordance with health protocols and at the same time all members of the mosque congregation have been free from the transmission of covid-19. From an Islamic needs framework perspective, in the context of Covid-19 pandemic, the application of the ḥifẓ al-nafs principle at this mosque is a considered primary necessity (ḍarūriyyāt) in that it protects life while providing spiritual continuity of collective religious worshipping, hence integrating the community together within a health and sanctity of life paradigm during this challenging time. Equally important, this research also challenges the thesis of the direct linkage between worshipping in mosque and Covid-19 transmission.

CONCLUSION: the application of the principle of ḥifẓ al-nafs in the practices of worship in mosque has demonstrably shown that the congragants levels of health consciousness has increased and that they have also been kept safe. In essence, the effective contextualization of Islamic principle is able to provide the twin benefits of health and spirituality.