IPOH – Perak's Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah has consented to Friday prayers, as well as general mass prayers and funeral prayers, to be held in all mosques and surau in the state with a maximum of 40 congregants starting tomorrow and throughout the movement control order (MCO) period.
The ruler also advised all mosques and surau to hold solat hajat (prayer of need) every day for the end of the global Covid-19 pandemic so that life can return to normal soon.
Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council president Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini said the congregants allowed to attend the mass prayers are limited to only male Malaysian citizens aged between 16 and 70, and that the number did not include members of the mosque or surau committee.
“Friday prayers can be held at all mosques and surau, including surau in office buildings, universities, colleges, companies and factories, to enable more people to perform the prayers,” he said in a statement today.
He said religious lectures are also allowed to be held in the mosques and surau, but only between the Maghrib and Isyak prayers.
However, Annuar said events or ceremonies inside or in the compound of mosques or surau are not allowed.
Stricter regulations to maintain physical distancing among congregants will be implemented, especially mechanisms to ensure smooth flow of congregants while entering and leaving the premises.
During the conditional MCO period, which began on November 10 last year, Friday prayers and general mass prayers in all mosques and surau in Perak were allowed, with the number of congregants limited according to red and yellow zones.
All religious activities and lectures, as well as tahlil and doa selamat, were either allowed or postponed based on the colour of the zones.
Annuar said Sultan Nazrin gave the consent after taking into consideration a proposal made by MAIPk on the advice of the Perak Fatwa Council, Health Ministry (MOH) and state National Security Council.
“The state’s Islamic Religious Department has been entrusted to issue the complete guidelines to all mosque and surau committees, and also to monitor compliance to the guidelines.”
He said while the sultan understood the wish of Muslims to perform prayers in a congregation, he remained concerned about the threat to their health.
The ruler also sympathised with healthcare workers and expressed his highest gratitude to all staff of the MOH, police, Rela and other agencies involved in ensuring compliance with the MCO in the state. – Bernama, January 27, 2021
