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No prayers in mosques, including Ramadan’s nightly Taraweeh, in the Philippines, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, other countries
By EDD K. USMAN
(SDN) — EVERY DAY routines of people across the world have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Add to that religious activitie including, but not limited to, worship in mosques among Muslims.
Performing worship in mosques is a popular routinary activity, such as the daily five times obligatory prayers led by an imam (one who leads a prayer).
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently suspended, all because of the threats of the novel coronavirus which causes Covid-19, prayers in mosques across the Islamic Kingdom. Makkah’s Grand Mosque and Madinah’s Prophet’s Mosque are coming covered by the suspension.
Now as the Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan comes barely a week from today, April 18, Saudi religious authorities have also announced last week the suspension of Taraweeh, the nightly prayers during the arduousKaspersky, Philippines, cybersecurity, hackers, IT tool, workforces fasting season.
Thus, visits to the two holy mosques are banned until further notice. Saudi Arabia suspended group prayers (Jama’ah) in mosques since March 19. Umrah, the optional pilgrimage was also suspended much earlier.
Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Abdul Lateef Al-Sheikh said the suspension is aimed at trying to contain the viral outbreak. He cited instructions from the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Following the Saudi action, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) headed by Secretary Saidamen B. Pangarungan issued on Saturday, April 18, the temporary suspension of Taraweeh congregation prayers in mosques while the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is on effect.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier extended the ECQ to April 30, It was supposed to be lifted April 12.
Pangarungan, former governor of Lanao del Sur, issued a Memorandum Order titled “Temporay Suspension of Taraweeh Prayers in Mosques and Prayer Rooms during Ramadan 2020.”
He this is based on the commission’s advisory dated March 16 and Proclamation Nos. 926 and 929 as well as the “Islamic principle of necessity and emergency.”
He said this Taraweeh suspension in mosques follows what Saudi Arabia did in suspending mosque Tawareeh for Ramadan 2020.
Pangarungan “emphasized the need for the public’s compliance to government guidelines enforced during this state of emergency.”
“Now, therefore, in reiteration of the Commission’s earlier Memorandum Order, the temporary suspension of Taraweeh prayers in mosques and prayer rooms all over the country during the period of community quarantine is hereby enjoined to prevent the further transmission of Covid-19 in our country,” the NCMF head said.
He enjoined his fellow Muslims to perform Taraweeh at home and to stay at home during the ECQ.
Tentative first day of Ramadan fasting is either on April 23 or 24, depending on the appearance and sighting of the crescent moon, a calendar of schedule from the NCMF showed.
Dr. Dimapuno Alonto Datu-Ramos, Jr., spokesman of the NCMF and director of its Bureau of External Relations (BER) made this report.
As of 4 p.m., April 17, the Philippines has registered 5,878 confirmed Covid-19 cases of infections, 487 recovered patients, and 387 fatalities.
Figures are from the Department of Health (DOH). (SDN)