The closure of mosques island-wide following the discovery of Covid-19 cases at several of them dampened many Singaporeans’ spirits.
More inconvenient perhaps was the suspension of Friday prayers and the unavailability of prayer spaces for those who need them.
Understanding the public’s plight, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will be opening parts of 19 mosques as prayer spaces to workers in the different vicinities.
Starting tomorrow (23 Mar), workers can use these spaces within a set period of time and following certain guidelines.
The facilities will be available until mosques officially reopen on Friday (27 Mar).
Workers such as taxi, private hire or delivery drivers and food delivery riders who don’t have an office space often visit mosques to perform their prayers.
Knowing that the closure affects them most, MUIS is implementing a temporary measure. They announced it in a Facebook post today (22 Mar).
Besides designating a small area only, MUIS will put in place precautionary measures for the usage of the space.
All visitors will have to declare their travel history, provide contact details for tracing and take their temperature before entering.
A maximum of 20 people can be in the space at any one time, and they’ll have to keep a 1-metre distance all around themselves. There’ll be no congregational praying as the space is meant for individuals only.
Everyone will also have to bring their own prayer items such as prayer mats and garments for the ladies.
The prayer spaces will be available in several areas around Singapore, for easy access.
The mosques in the following areas will open prayer spaces between 1.15pm and 6pm on 23 to 26 Mar:
Workers from the office buildings or industrial areas in the East will surely be thankful. Likewise for those in the far West.
Mosques in the North closer to residential areas will also provide prayer spaces.
Though Masjid Al-Istiqamah was among the mosques visited by Covid-19 patients, the premises have undergone thorough disinfection and should be safe for use.
While the regulated prayer spaces will be a different experience than usual, the move is still very much welcomed by many Muslims in Singapore.
Those who need a conducive space to pray in can now have options, while those who miss visiting the mosques can drop by if they have to.
With mosques set to reopen on Friday (27 Mar), we’ll have to see what other measures MUIS has in place and whether they will affect congregational prayers.
Featured image adapted from MUIS on Facebook and AF.Xpress on Twitter.
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