GEORGE TOWN: From Friday onwards, Penang will allow more people for Friday and daily congregational prayers at its mosques.
Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said for Friday prayers, the group will be made up of 40 people, including mosque committee members and locals living near the mosque (anak qaryah).
For the five daily prayers, each one is only limited to 15 people, made up of mosque committee members.
"The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) remain. They have to perform ablution at home, register when entering the mosque and also bring their own prayer mat. Social distancing and hand sanitising must also be done.
"InsyaAllah (God willing), the number of congregation can be added in the future in phases," he said in a text message today.
He also said that respective mosques can manage the attendance for Friday prayers.
"Let's say this week 40 people came. Next week, the mosque can arrange for a different group of 40 people for Friday prayers," he explained.
Congregational prayers were suspended and mosques were closed to the public since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced on March 18 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Under the Conditional MCO, the first Friday prayers were allowed statewide on May 22.