Mosques & Suraus In Federal Territories Are Open, Hajj Is Closed, Says Minister
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Malaysian Muslims will be allowed to attend communal prayer and other religious activities at mosques and suraus during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period, beginning June 12.
Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zulkifli Al-Bakri said that masjids and suraus in green zones within the federal territories will be open for communal Friday prayers and other mass prayer sessions with attendance being limited to one-third of each prayer hall’s maximum capacity.
This means that if a mosque or surau has the capacity to fit 1,000 people, only 333 people would be allowed to attend prayer.
(Credit: Facebook/Buletin TV3)
The minister outlined several other guidelines in accordance with the reopening of mosques and suraus across the federal territories which would presumably be adapted by other state religious authorities accordingly;
- Mosque and suraus would only be open to the public an hour before the call to prayer and closed after prayers are concluded.
- Attendants must enter and exit the mosque in an orderly fashion.
- Mandatory temperature checks and sanitation procedures must be conducted before entering a mosque or suraus and the recording of attendance is mandatory.
- Communal prayers are to be coordinated according to social distance measures where attendants must remain 1 meter apart during prayer.
- Those in attendance are required to bring their own prayer mats and wear face masks.
- Those in attendance are required to perform their Wudu (ritual cleansing) at home or at designated areas marked by mosque authorities.
- Those in attendance are prohibited from physical contact with each other, specifically no salam-menyalam after prayers have concluded.
- Any gathering inside or outside the mosque is strictly prohibited.
- Women, children above 12-years-old and the elderly are allowed to attend prayer.
- Those who are sick, showing symptoms of illness, or have chronic diseases are prohibited from joining religious activities.
- Subuh and Magrib sermons are to be allowed on a limited time frame of 30 minutes.
- Banquets and makan-makan at mosques or suraus are strictly prohibited.
- Solemnization or akad nikah at masjids are now allowed.
- Foreigners are still prohibited from entering and attending religious activities.
Zulkifli also added that the public is allowed to enter mosques and suraus to perform prayers on their own apart from communal prayer sessions.
The minister also reminds the public to abide by Covid-guidelines when praying at prayer rooms and prayer facilities in public spaces such as offices, malls, rest stops, and petrol stations.
Meanwhile, the minister also mentions that the 2020 hajj season for Malaysian pilgrims is effectively suspended.
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