KUALA LUMPUR – Obligatory and Friday prayers are allowed at mosques and surau in states that have been placed under the movement control order (MCO), but the congregation is limited to only the committee members.
For mosques and surau in conditional MCO (CMCO) areas, both prayers are allowed, but the number of congregation is subject to the capacity of the building.
In SABAH, Friday prayers at mosques and surau are suspended, and will be replaced instead with Zohor prayers at home during the lockdown period.
In a statement yesterday, the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department said only five committee members are allowed to perform congregational obligatory prayers.
In JOHOR, Friday and daily obligatory prayers are allowed at all mosques and surau, but the number of congregation is limited to 12 people during this period.
In a statement uploaded on his official Facebook page, Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar said the 12 people should be made up of only officers and committee members of the respective mosque or surau.
On solemnisation ceremonies, the ruler said it is allowed to be held only at the district kadi office, and is limited to the bride, groom and wali (guardian) from the same district.
Permission will also be given to couples who have obtained marriage approval before the MCO was enforced.
In PENANG, Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman, who is also Penang Islamic Religious Council president said religious activities involving the public, including Friday and daily obligatory prayers, as well as marriage ceremonies, at mosques and surau have been suspended.
However, he said the call for prayer will continue as usual, while the five daily obligatory prayers will be performed by only five people, comprising the imam, bilal, siak and two committee members of the mosque or surau.
Friday prayers will only be performed with a congregation-limit of 15 people, comprising officers and committee members of each mosque.
In KELANTAN, mosques and surau are allowed to hold Friday and obligatory prayers, with the number of congregation being limited to 50 people during the CMCO period.
Tengku Temenggong Kelantan Tengku Tan Sri Mohamad Rizam Tengku Abdul Aziz, who is also Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council president, said religious activities, such as religious lectures, at mosques, surau and musalla have been suspended.
In KEDAH, all mosques and surau will only be opened an hour before call for daily prayers, and one and a half hours before Friday prayers during the CMCO period.
Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department director Mohd Yusri Md Daud said the congregation limit for daily and Friday prayers at mosques and surau in the state depends on where the building is located (yellow or green zone) and the capacity of its prayer hall.
He added that all worshippers are subject to the one-metre physical distancing rule.
He said for mosques and surau in the orange zone, the number of people allowed to perform the prayers is based on the size of the main prayer hall, after taking into account physical distancing.
In NEGRI SEMBILAN, all mosques and surau are allowed to hold Friday and daily obligatory prayers during the enforcement of the CMCO.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said mosque-goers must adhere to the set standard operating procedures, including wearing face masks, performing ablution at home and bringing their own prayer mats. – Bernama, January 14, 2021
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