SHAH ALAM: Selangor has extended the suspension of congregational prayers at mosques and surau state-wide until June 30.
This follows an order by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
In a statement today, the ruler's private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, said the continued ban on Friday and five-daily prayers at mosques and surau was a tough and heavy decision for His Highness to make.
"His highness also understands the (heartache) of the people who have been unable to perform their prayers for the past 12 weeks at mosques. However, the decision has to be taken to ensure the spread of Covid-19 could be curbed and controlled.
"The Sultan of Selangor is closely monitoring the latest data on the spread of Covid-19, including the latest infections in Selangor, which is showing a downtrend," he said.
Munir added that following a drop in infections in the middle of last month, the Ruler, on May 14, gave his consent for Friday prayers to be performed at 39 chosen mosques, with the congregation number limited to 12 people, made up of officers and committee members of each mosque.
"However, Sultan Sharafuddin is still worried that in the event control measures are loosened, it would lead to people's lives in the state being threatened.
"Thus, with great sadness, he decided that the ban on Friday prayers and five-daily prayers at mosques and surau would be extended until June 30, with the exception of the 39 mosques previously allowed to perform Friday prayers with the limited congregation numbers," he said.
Munir said a revision on the decision will be made in the first week of June, and in the event the Covid-19 outbreak sees a further reduction, consideration will be given to increasing congregation numbers at Friday prayers; and also for more mosques to be opened earlier than scheduled to perform Friday prayers gradually, in areas categorised as green zones.
Munir added that though the ban has been extended, in fulfillment of the obligatory Fardhu Kifayah (legal obligation), the call of the azan during prayer times will continue to be made and the five daily obligatory prayers will be performed by three people comprising the bilal, imam and siak at mosques as well as surau.
He also explained that programmes in the form of religious lectures will be continued through social media platforms.
"The Sultan of Selangor has urged the people to continue practicing social distancing, wearing masks and obeying directives and guidelines issued by the Health Ministry and JAIS (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) ," Munir added.