KEPALA BATAS – Mosques and surau in Penang have been advised to conduct nightly tarawih prayers for no more than 45 minutes during the month of Ramadan as part of measures to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infections, Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman announced today.
Zakiyuddin, who is state Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman, said the time limit has been set as part of the public health guidelines for religious activities during the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
Apart from the time limit, Zakiyuddin said, only pilgrims not showing symptoms of illness between the ages of seven and 70 will be allowed to attend prayers in the spaces for worship.
“For tarawih prayers, 20 rak’ahs are allowed to be performed,” he said. “To ensure that the congregation period is not too long, each mosque or surau can perform up to eight rak’ahs with the number of pilgrims according to the capacity of the premise (mosque or surau).
“Tazkirah (sermon) sessions during tarawih prayers are also not allowed and invited imams from outside the area are not encouraged,” he told a press conference here today.
Zakiyuddin had earlier launched the state’s integrated operations programme for Ramadan, which starts next week, at the Ibadur Rahman Mosque here.
On April 1, the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department had announced that it would allow activities at mosques and surau in the state during Ramadan, including tarawih prayers during the implementation of the conditional movement control order (CMCO).
Meanwhile, Zakiyuddin said the task force for the implementation of the integrated operations for the holy month will help ensure traders at Ramadan bazaars open for business only after 3pm.
He added that the task force will address complaints and grievances against any food traders who deliberately take the opportunity to sell food and beverages from the early morning of Ramadan.
“I call on Muslims in Penang to be more concerned and respect the sanctity of Ramadan by not doing things that are contrary to Islamic teachings such as eating and drinking in public, and practicing an unhealthy lifestyle,” he said.
On March 16, Senior Minister (Security), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, announced that the government will allow Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars to open this year, following the drop in daily Covid-19 cases. – The Vibes, April 6, 2021
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