PETALING JAYA: More mosques throughout the country have been allowed to hold Friday prayers and the congregational obligatory prayers starting today under a set of strict rules.
Also allowed to hold Friday prayers are surau with the special permission to conduct the prayers subject to the same rules.
The rules include limiting the worshipers to one-third of the prayer hall capacity or 40 people in certain places, wearing face masks, performing ablution at home and bringing their own prayer mat.
In Klang, Selangor announced that 39 mosques in the state that were allowed to hold Friday prayers and the congregational obligatory prayers with a maximum of 12 worshippers during the conditional movement control order (MCO), could now accept people.
Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani said a congregation of 40 people, excluding mosque officials and committee members, could perform the prayers in selected mosques.
He said cards would be issued to the 40 people who would be attending the Friday prayers.
Mohamad Munir said Sultan Sharafuddin, after taking into consideration all information and advice related to the status of Covid-19 in Selangor, consented to mosques and surau in the state to be opened in stages.
He, however, said all surau, including those allowed to hold Friday prayers, were not allowed to open yet.
In Putrajaya, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said mosques and community surau in the Federal Territories’ Covid-19 Green Zones would reopen for the congregational Friday and obligatory prayers.
He said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had given his consent.
“The mosques and surau can only accommodate one-third of the prayer hall capacity.
“The committees may appoint volunteers among the congregation to assist in controlling the crowd before and after prayers.
“It is up to the committees to decide on any appropriate method or rotation system to be fair to others wanting to perform congregational prayers in the mosque or surau,” he told a press conference.
Zulkifli said the number of worshippers would be increased in stages, as advised by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council.
Johor, Perak and Penang have allowed mosques and selected surau to hold Friday prayers and the congregational obligatory prayers.
The Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, however, urged Muslims in the state to remain patient as currently only those aged 19 to 59 were allowed to pray in congregation at the mosque.
“Be patient as patience is part of the faith. The decision made is in the best interest of the people to prevent this outbreak (Covid-19) and one day, the decision to allow everyone to pray in a congregation will be announced (when the outbreak ends),” he said during the swearing-in ceremony of state executive council members at Istana Arau yesterday.
Also allowed to hold Friday prayers are surau with the special permission to conduct the prayers subject to the same rules.
The rules include limiting the worshipers to one-third of the prayer hall capacity or 40 people in certain places, wearing face masks, performing ablution at home and bringing their own prayer mat.
In Klang, Selangor announced that 39 mosques in the state that were allowed to hold Friday prayers and the congregational obligatory prayers with a maximum of 12 worshippers during the conditional movement control order (MCO), could now accept people.
Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani said a congregation of 40 people, excluding mosque officials and committee members, could perform the prayers in selected mosques.
He said cards would be issued to the 40 people who would be attending the Friday prayers.
Mohamad Munir said Sultan Sharafuddin, after taking into consideration all information and advice related to the status of Covid-19 in Selangor, consented to mosques and surau in the state to be opened in stages.
He, however, said all surau, including those allowed to hold Friday prayers, were not allowed to open yet.
In Putrajaya, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said mosques and community surau in the Federal Territories’ Covid-19 Green Zones would reopen for the congregational Friday and obligatory prayers.
He said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had given his consent.
“The mosques and surau can only accommodate one-third of the prayer hall capacity.
“The committees may appoint volunteers among the congregation to assist in controlling the crowd before and after prayers.
“It is up to the committees to decide on any appropriate method or rotation system to be fair to others wanting to perform congregational prayers in the mosque or surau,” he told a press conference.
Zulkifli said the number of worshippers would be increased in stages, as advised by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council.
Johor, Perak and Penang have allowed mosques and selected surau to hold Friday prayers and the congregational obligatory prayers.
The Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, however, urged Muslims in the state to remain patient as currently only those aged 19 to 59 were allowed to pray in congregation at the mosque.
“Be patient as patience is part of the faith. The decision made is in the best interest of the people to prevent this outbreak (Covid-19) and one day, the decision to allow everyone to pray in a congregation will be announced (when the outbreak ends),” he said during the swearing-in ceremony of state executive council members at Istana Arau yesterday.
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