Bridging Faith and Health: The Role of Muslim Religious Leaders in Disseminating COVID-19 Information in Norway.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore how Muslim religious leaders in Norway handled COVID-19 information dissemination. A total of six religious leaders were interviewed from two Norwegian municipalities. Interviews were analyzed using the Graneheim and Lundman content method. The religious leaders played crucial roles in disseminating information, using religious justifications to reinforce public health messages and combat misinformation. Trust between religious leaders and authorities is vital for effective collaboration. Religious leaders should be included in emergency plans as bridges between authorities and communities. Insights from this study suggest including religious leaders in emergency plans during health crises.