Updated religious guidance for congregational prayer in mosques

Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures in places of worship

1. The Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) announced recently that Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) will be expanded to more settings, as Singapore anticipate a potential surge in local Omicron cases. From 1 Feb 2021, VDS is required for all congregational worship services, including all Jemaah prayers, whether daily or Friday congregational prayers.

2. All 66 mosques that currently offer congregational and Friday prayer will be implementing VDS to continue safeguarding the community against the current surge. Outside of Jemaah prayer times, congregants can still do their individual prayer at the mosques regardless of their vaccination status.

Updated religious guidance on rukhsah (concession)  

3. In June 2020, the Fatwa Committee issued a fatwa providing guidance to the community on performing Friday prayers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included a rukhsah (concession) to those who are vulnerable and are at a higher risk of contracting the virus, as well as those who are unable to secure a prayer slot at the mosques, to replace their Friday prayers with Zuhur prayers.

4. In line with the latest measures and the pandemic situation, the Office of the Mufti has issued an updated religious advisory (Irsyad) for the community regarding congregational prayer in the mosques. The rukhsah to not attend Friday prayers applies to 2 groups:

• Those who have been vaccinated but are unsuccessful in securing a slot to perform their Friday prayers every week, due to the limited prayer spaces.
  

• Those who are unwell and should protect themselves and others from harm. This includes individuals who are immunocompromised due to (i) a weakened immune system, (ii) suffering from a chronic disease, or (iii) being medically ineligible for the vaccine.

5. It is compulsory for those who are unvaccinated due to health reasons to observe this concession and not attend Friday prayers, as their presence in large gatherings would place themselves and others at risk.

6. Other than these two groups, the Office of the Mufti calls upon all Muslim men to take the necessary steps to enable them to perform their Friday prayers, which include

• completing their vaccination status
  

• registering for a slot for each week’s Friday prayers.

7. This religious guidance is specific to our current situation. Further developments will be closely monitored, and future guidance will be issued where necessary. The full text of the Irsyad can be found here (ENG | MLY).

8. MUIS and mosques will continue to monitor the situation and make further adjustments as the situation allows. We seek the support and understanding of the Muslim community to safeguard public health as we perform our religious obligations in our mosques.

Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura