The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has successfully
concluded a trial to test the readiness of places of worship and for
worshippers to perform congregational prayers in larger numbers safely.
Since 26 June 2020, Friday congregational prayers have resumed at 65 mosques, accommodating up to 50 congregants at any one time. In the trial, four* mosques implemented Safe Management
Measures (SMM) as prescribed by the Ministry of Community, Culture and
Youth. The success of the trial adds a prayer zone at mosques, resulting in congregational worship of up to 100 persons across two zones.
According to Muis, 26 June-28 August saw approximately 84,000 spaces cumulatively provided for Friday prayers. The organisation noted that worshippers have adapted well to the additional safe measures and behaved responsibly, cooperating with mosque frontline officers to ensure the smooth conduct of daily and Friday congregational prayers.
With the success of this trial, Muis will expand the pilot to allow another 20 mosques to offer two prayer zones for Friday prayers. A total of 24 mosques will now offer praying capacity for 100 spaces (two zones) for three sessions every Friday. Another 10 mosques will also begin offering three prayer sessions. This will provide a total of 13,000 places each week for Friday prayer starting 4 September 2020, a 34% increase spaces available each week.
The original rukhsah** (رخصة, concession), as advised by the Office of the Mufti in its fatwa*** (فتوى, legal opinion) is still in place. Those who have yet to attain a slot for Friday prayers are given the flexibility to replace Friday prayer with the dhuhr (الظهر, mid-day) prayer and are encouraged to tune in to Friday sermons delivered via SalamSG TV.
Details:
View the list of mosques offering more prayer spaces for the first two Fridays of September
Muis will open Friday prayer
registration for more than a week each time, to make it easier for the
public to obtain a slot. Registration for Friday prayer booking for 4
September and 11 September will open on 1 September 2020 at 10 am for
worshippers who have yet to secure a space since 24 July (inclusive).
Registration for congregational prayer slots at all mosques will be open
via the MuslimSG app and via https://ourmosques.commonspaces.sg.
However,
some people have made bookings but failed to turn up, particularly for
the third prayer session. Muis requests that congregants are asked to
cancel their bookings early if they are unable to come for prayer so
that others may have an opportunity to register. Congregants may cancel
bookings at any time up to one hour before the reserved prayer session.
Those who fail to cancel their bookings and do not turn up will be
deemed as having secured a slot in the system and will have to await the
prevailing debarment period before they can reapply. This debarment
period will be reviewed and updated as more spaces progressively become
available.
SMM measures will continue, in the form of
separate entrances and exits for different zones, as well as no
intermingling between zones. All are encouraged to take wudhu (الوضوء, ritual ablutions) before coming to the mosque, bring
their own prayer items (prayer mats and a shoe bag), wear a mask,
refrain from talking and physical contact with other congregants,
maintain safe distancing and use SafeEntry when entering and
exiting the mosques.
Vulnerable individuals (those aged above 60
and those exhibiting symptoms of acute respiratory infection as well as
pre-existing chronic medical conditions) and children below the age of
12 are strongly encouraged to refrain from going to the mosque, Muis
said. They should perform prayers at home instead. Worshippers with
valid prayer slots who are unwell should also cancel their bookings.
*The four mosques are Masjid Assyafaah, Masjid Mujahidin, Masjid Al-Istighfar and Masjid Al-Iman.
**Flexibility, permissibility, an exception to a general law, granted to preserve life or remove hardship.
***Fatwa statement on precautionary measures in dealing with Covid-19 dated 24 March 2020.