Lack Of Information Is The Cause There Are Still Congregational Activities At Friday Prayers

Implementation of Zuhr prayer in place of Friday prayer at Istiqlal Mosque (Achmad Basarrudin / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued a fatwa calling on them not to carry out congregational worship, including Friday prayers. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government also urges this, for Friday prayers today and next week.

This appeal is to prevent the spread of the corona virus or COVID-19 which has taken many lives. But, in reality, there are still mosques in Jakarta that hold Friday prayers today.

Jakarta MUI Chairman Munahar Muktar said the reason why there are still many mosques that do not follow the MUI fatwa Number 14 of 2020 is due to the lack of information about the spread patterns and dangers of the Corona virus or COVID-19. This keeps them from carrying out their worship activities in congregation.

Even so, a number of mosques perform disinfectants and provide hand sanitizers during Friday prayers.

"Even if there are still some who continue to carry out (congregational worship) it may be because they lack information on the dangers and how the spread of COVID-19 is," Munahar told VOI, Friday, March 20.

As a further step so that there are no congregational worship activities, Munahar will provide an understanding of the dangers of the virus to mosque administrators.

"We are trying to provide understanding with approaches and convey about the dangers of spreading COVID-19," he said.

Sociologist from the University of Indonesia, Imam B Prasodjo, said that currently no one knows who carries or has the potential to be infected with the virus. So, MUI's appeal must be followed so that the virus does not spread when many people gather.

"Therefore, we don't know in a situation like this, whether we are infected or not, that's why we try to protect other people, and other people must also take care of themselves," he said.

He is worried that the spread of this virus will become more widespread when this appeal is not implemented. When activities like this are carried out, the best way is to maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.

"If we don't do this too, and then it plagues everyone, then imagine what will happen. Instead of that, it hasn't happened now. So what should happen first so that everyone is aware of the danger," said Imam.

Infographic (Ilham Amin / VOI)