Selangor mosques opened for Friday prayers starting July 3

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has decreed that all mosques and suraus be opened for Friday prayers (solat) beginning this Friday (July 3), according to a statement from the Selangor Royal Office.

“All mosques and suraus in Selangor will be opened again to carry out solat fardhu five times

(daily) as a congregation by adhering to the standard operating procedure (SOP) set, ” said the statement signed by private secretary to the Sultan of Selangor Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani.

He said in a statement on Wednesday (July 1) that the approval will take effect on Friday.

However, Mohamad Munir added that the Selangor Ruler has decreed that the number of worshippers who can carry out the Friday prayers and solat fardhu at any one time at three mosques in the state must not be more than 1,000 people.

This does not include the mosques’ officers and committee members.

The mosques are Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in Shah Alam, Masjid Tengku AmpuanJemaah in Bukit Jelutong, and Masjid Raja Haji Fi Sabilillah in Cyberjaya.

The number of attendees for the Friday solat and solat fardhu in all other mosques is limited to 500, not including the mosques’ officers and committee members, depending on the mosques’ capacity.

As for suraus, the number of worshipers allowed to carry out the Friday solat and solat fardhu is set at 40, not including the suraus’ officers and committee members.

Mohamad Munir also said that the Selangor Sultan has also decreed that every member of the congregation must adhere to the SOP set by JAIS, especially on taking the wuduk at home, bringing one’s own prayer mats, wear face masks in mosques and suraus as well as practise social distancing, he said.

“For those who are not well, they are not allowed to carry out solat in mosques and suraus at all, ” he said.

“The Selangor Sultan will follow the developments and adherence to the SOP from time to time before making any further decision on the number of believers attending mosques and suraus in Selangor, ” added Mohamad Munir.

Mohamad Munir said that this decree came following a briefing on new developments relating to Covid-19 by the Selangor state health director, the Selangor Religious Council (MAIS), the Selangor Mufti Department and the Selangor Religious Department (JAIS).

He also said that the Selangor Sultan had also decreed that the animal sacrifice (ibadah korban) for Hari Raya Aidiladha be carried out only in mosques.

However, suraus that had planned for the korban practice can carry it out at the nearest mosques.

The Selangor Ruler agreed that all mosques and suraus be allowed to open for Friday prayers

All detailed implementation and administrative matters with regards to this latest announcement by the Sultan of Selangor will be issued by JAIS director as well as mosques and and suraus related committees, said Mohamad Munir.