PUTRAJAYA, May 15 — From today, Friday and congregational prayers are allowed to resume at mosques, Friday surau and selected surau in the Federal Territories in stages, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.
The following is a list of SOP for the implementation of Friday, congregational, tarawih and Aidilfitri prayers which mosques, Friday surau and selected surau in the Federal Territories, and four states under the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as head of Islam, must comply with.
- Implementing social distancing inside and outside the mosque;
- Distance between worshippers is one metre and face mask is compulsory;
- Entering and leaving the mosque must observe turn by queueing up and observing distancing;
- Those with chronic diseases, senior citizens of 70 years and above and children under 15 years are not allowed for congregational prayers at the mosque;
- All worshippers present must perform ablution at home and bring along their own prayer mat to the mosque;
- Worshippers must disperse in a calm manner;
- Gathering inside or outside the mosque is not allowed, after prayers.
In the meantime, Dr Zulkifli Mohamad also outlined additional recommendations to the religious authorities in the states, namely:
- Having a counter at a reduced number of entrances to check body temperature, have hand sanitisers and attendance records.
- Sanitising the prayer area, surrounding areas including toilets and ablution areas before and after prayers;
- Use of toilet must be limited following the number of toilet cubicles available at any one time;
- Congregation members must bring along their identity card failing which they must be told to go home;
- Attendance is recorded in the attendance book;
- The door of the mosque is opened an hour before azan (call to prayers) and would be closed soon after the congregational prayers.
— Bernama
