Mosques in Singapore will reopen in progressive phases from 2 June 2020. They will offer limited spaces for individual prayer to cater to the needs of mobile essential workers. Congregational and Friday prayers will remain suspended until further notice, announced the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).
Muis noted that while mosques were closed, workarounds were found. Mosque services such as Islamic learning have been moved online, while other services traditionally conducted at mosques such as congregational prayer and communal activities were suspended and carried out at home instead. Zakat beneficiaries continued to receive financial and developmental assistance, and the mosques continued to be the channel for charitable works and doing good during Ramadhan with its key support for the SGUnited Buka Puasa initiative.
Under the first phase of easing of circuit breaker restrictions, Safe Reopening, Muis will introduce maximum precautionary measures to minimise the possibility of a second wave of community infections, and consequently having to close mosques again.
In Phase 1:
From 2 to 7 June – mosques will open from 1 pm to 6 pm. Preschool services at 15 mosque-based kindergartens reopen for K1 and K2 classes.
From 8 June – most mosques will allow individual worship for the five daily prayers; some mosques will continue to offer limited operating hours. N1 and N2 classes to reopen.
Islamic education and religious query services will continue online.
Check-ins with zakat beneficiaries will continue via phone, but urgent face-to-face sessions may be conducted on a needs basis.
During Phase 1, mosques will not organise congregational prayers, including Friday prayers, in line with the national guidelines for places of worship. These will instead be organised in later phases when the overall situation allows.
In addition to regular disinfection of common spaces, mosques have also put in place a physical checking, temperature taking and Safe Entry system*. Mosques will also implement safe distancing measures in terms of distinct zones or marked spaces for worshippers from different households. Mosques will limit the number of persons able to perform worship, in line with national guidelines.
Individuals visiting the mosques must abide by these practices and also bring along their NRIC or scannable personal identification documents for the Safe Entry system. They must adhere to the necessary precautionary measures, including donning masks, bringing their own personal prayer items such as prayer mats, avoiding intermingling with others at the mosque (including no handshakes) as well as avoiding coming to the mosque if they are unwell.
Limited prayer spaces will be provided for the community to perform private worship. In line with the national guidelines, up to five prayer zones will be demarcated, with each zone able to accommodate up to five individuals from the same household.
The community is urged to give priority to individuals performing essential services and who, due to the nature of their work, are unable to perform prayers at a fixed workspace. This will include mobile delivery drivers and riders as well as drivers of personal hire vehicles and taxis.
"We also urge other members of the community who can perform their worship at home to continue to do so," said Muis, highlighting that the elderly and the young are discouraged from performing prayers at the mosques for the time being, in line with the overall guidance to stay at home.
As the rate of community transmission eases, and Singapore moves into the next phase of reopening, Safe Transition and then to Safe Nation, mosques will also gradually ease protective measures to allow for an increased but safe number of mosque users as well as more activities, including congregational prayers. However, measures may also be tightened if the situation worsens, Muis said.
Muis said: "...We urge the community to work closely with mosque leaders to continue to curb the spread of the virus by adopting the necessary precautions when visiting our mosques, and to visit mosques during this period only when necessary. At the same time, our mosques are committed to continuing to serve the socioreligious needs of the community with mosque services continue to be available to the public during this period, including via online channels."
*Safe Entry software tracks the date and time that a person has visited a venue for contact tracing purposes.