ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that Muslim public health perceptions had immense influence on the way Zimbabwe Muslims coped with COVID-19 restrictions. Such perceptions are centred on the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet; with the central maxim legalizing lockdowns coming from the hadith stating: “When you hear about a break of plague in any area, do not enter there and when it has broken in a land where you are, then do not run away from it [and spread elsewhere].” This and other sacred texts helped Muslims comprehend restrictions barring them from prayer houses during the invaluable Ramadan. They were equally enabled to accept science and anthropological research works barring them from their religious shrines, where they touched and kissed parts of the shrines. They understood the decrees of the religious laws proscribing them from being in areas where their presence could exacerbate epidemics. It was easy to take the results from Shia shrines, because history had a number of plagues in the holy shrines. Funeral rites appeared to be the only challenges for Zimbabwe Muslims, as elsewhere. The spontaneity and outpouring grief could not be contained leading to disregard for social distancing. The need to prove the social media wrong, as well as religious competition worsened the chances for breaking the law, even in the face of strong religious morality. Since funeral rites have the tenacity to resist regulation, which endangers the whole community, state security agents should work closely with religious leadership and the health sector during funerals.
