The Muslim community in Singapore can look forward to Ramadhan worship services in mosques this year. Many of the activities were suspended in previous years due to Covid, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has announced. Some safe management measures will remain for the safety of congregants and to reduce the risk of transmission, Muis said.
Muslims are encouraged to break their fast at home and perform their maghrib prayers (صلاة المغرب, sunset prayer) with heir families. They may then proceed to the mosques to perform the 'isha (صلاة العشاء, night prayer) and terawih prayers (صلاة التراويح). The community may also participate in other Ramadhan activities such as recitation of the Quran, night prayers and religious lectures as offered by mosques.
Muis continues to emphasise the importance of a cautious approach as more religious activities resume. "We also note the national posture of observing new developments to pandemic, such as the possibility of new strains and community outbreaks, which may necessitate further calibration and adjustments to religious life," the organisation said in a statement.
"We seek the support and understanding of the Muslim community to continue to be socially responsible, to show compassion and support to mosques’ staff and volunteers and safeguard public health as we perform our religious obligations in our mosques."
Muis guidance for various activities includes:
Breaking of fast
For congregants who are unable to break their fast at home with family due to work commitments, some mosques may have an area - separate from the prayer area - where congregants may break their fast, subject to the prevailing safe management measures. Congregants may then perform their sunset prayers before returning to work. Overall, congregants who are able to are strongly encouraged to break their fast and perform their maghrib prayers with their family members at home.
Terawih prayers
Mosques will be conducting terawih prayers after the congregational 'isha prayers, starting at 8:45 pm. Dedicated spaces for female congregants will be made available at all mosques.
Attendance for both prayers must be reserved online. There will be a single booking window for the month, and congregants may book multiple times throughout Ramadhan. Congregants are advised to plan ahead, and to cancel their bookings if they are feeling unwell and unable to come. Bookings begin on 31 March 2022 at 10 am, with about 60,000 spaces available nightly.
Qiyam (قيام) and other activities
Qiyamullail (night prayers) will also be conducted at selected mosques during the last 10 days of Ramadan. No booking will be required, but qiyam sessions will end at 4:30 am. There will be no sleepover at mosques and pre-dawn meals will not be provided.
Mosques which are able to will also offer other activities such as tadarrus (تادرس القرآن, daily Quran reading), khatamul Quran and daily kuliah (lectures), with adherence to safe management plans similar to the daily prayers at mosques. Selected kuliahs at mosque will adopt a hybrid format, with the session being made available online through via SalamSG TV or mosques’ social media platforms.
To minimise risks of community transmission, as well as to remain within capacity limit for mosques, prayers during Ramadhan and Hari Raya Puasa (Eid) will be conducted within mosque premises, which will ensure proper adherence with the streamlined measures. Prayers previously held during pre-COVID times at void decks and other open areas will not be organised.
Support for low-income families
Zakat (زكاة) - alms - payment and disbursement activities will resume as per previous years at the mosque counters. Muslims are encouraged to continue paying zakat and making donations online. Zakat payment can be made via Zakat.sg, and the community can continue to donate to the centralised donation portal OurMasjid.SG to support mosque operational costs.
Zakat fitrah rates for Ramadan 2022 (1443) are S$5.10 (normal rate) and S$7.60 (higher rate) per person. Zakat fitrah will be collected on www.zakat.sg until 3 May, before the Eid prayer. Mosques will continue to support low-income households who are recipients of zakat assistance during Ramadhan. Social development officers and the network of mosque befrienders will continue to reach out to families on long-term zakat financial assistance. Zakat financial assistance will remain available from the 31 Social Development Mosques island-wide.Safe resumption of religious life
The Office of the Mufti will release Ramadhan FAQs via social media to guide the Muslim community navigate Ramadhan through this endemic period. The social media posts will provide answers on religious queries and guidance as raised by the public such as queries on vaccinations and nasal swab test during Ramadhan.Details:
Visit the dedicated site for Ramadhan 2022