Part 4 - Advisory on azan during mosque closure (English)

1. MUIS Fatwa Committee on 18 February 2020 issued a fatwa allowing the closure of mosques as a measure to curb the spread of the COVID-19. During this period, the suspension of congregational and Friday prayers are permitted.

2. Mosques were closed for the past five days for cleaning and disinfection work. Consequently,all mosque activities were suspended during this period, including the Adhan (call for prayers). Given the current critical circumstances, and as announced by MUIS, mosques will remain closed until 26 Mar 2020. In view of this extended closure, the Office of the Mufti recommends that the Adhan continues to be made in keeping the symbols (syi’ar) of Islam, with some modification to the adhan.

3. During the period of heavy rain, the companion Abdullah bin Abbas r.a. ordered the muadhdhin (caller to prayer) to add the following line in the adhan, “صَلُّوا فِي بُيُوتِكُم (Pray in your own homes)”¹ (reported by Bukhari and Muslim) Therefore, the muadhdhin in making the adhan is asked to add the following line at the end of the usual adhan,²:

صَلُّوا فِي بُيُوتِكُم (2 times)

4. Mosque officers are advised to create awareness among the Muslim community on the meaning behind the above line in the call for prayers. This is so that the Muslim community understands that the call for prayers is informing about the closure of mosques, and that Muslims should pray in their own homes. We pray that Allah s.w.t grants our community and country continuous safety and prosperity.

16 March 2020
Office of the Mufti
Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

[1] Al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, hadith no. 901; See also, Al-Naysabūrī, Muslim bin al-Ḥajjāj, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, hadith no. 699.

[2] It is one of the two opinions in al-Shafi’iyyah. The second opinion is to add the sentence (صلوا في بيوتكم ) after “Hayya ‘Ala al-Falah”. See: Wahbah al-Zuhaily, Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu, 1/ 314.