Mosque, surau activities in 7 Kedah districts suspended

Friday prayers and religious activities have been suspended at mosques and suraus in Covid-19 risk areas in Kedah.

ALOR SETAR: All religious activities at mosques and suraus in Covid-19 risk areas in the state were suspended as of yesterday.

Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department director Mohd Yusri Md Daud said the mosques and suraus involved were from seven districts: Kota Setar, Kuala Muda, Kulim, Baling, Yan, Kubang Pasu and Padang Terap.

The directive involved one mosque in Kota Setar, 30 in Kuala Muda, six in Kulim, six in Baling, three in Yan, six in Kubang Pasu and three in Padang Terap, as well as several suraus which were ordered to be shut down.

“Friday prayers at the mosques involved have been suspended and replaced with Zuhr obligatory prayers at home while religious activities such as lectures, study classes, Yasin reciting ceremonies and so on are not allowed. Marriage ceremonies are also not allowed,” Yusri said in a statement here last night.

However, he said obligatory congregational prayers at the mosques are allowed with a maximum number of three people including the imam, mosque officer or committee member in accordance with SOPs.

“Regulars at the mosques involved should replace Friday prayers with performing Zuhr prayers at home, and performing other obligatory prayers in their respective homes,” he said.

Funeral prayers and funeral arrangements at the mosques and suraus involved are also not allowed and should be performed at home with only the presence of mosque officials and immediate family members.

Yusri said any mosque or surau whose congregation members are found positive for Covid-19 should be disinfected with operations completely stopped until 14 days after the disinfectant process.

“The directive will be effective until the latest official directive is issued,” he said. - FMT