Part 8 - Advisory on Friday Prayers and Hari Raya Prayers on the Same Day in a Pandemic (English)

IRSYAD (RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE)

FRIDAY PRAYERS AND HARI RAYA PRAYERS ON THE SAME DAY IN A PANDEMIC

1. This year, Hari Raya Aidiladha, 10 Zulhijjah 1441H, falls on Friday 31 July 2020. Therefore, there are 2 main congregational prayers that will take place in Singapore mosques: Hari Raya prayers in the morning and Friday prayers thereafter. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation, there are still limitations on prayer spaces in mosques due to precautionary measures which are in place to reduce the risk of infections.

2. Taking into consideration these limitations, the main priority at this time is to provide opportunities for as many members of the Singapore Muslim community as possible to perform Friday prayers, especially those who have not been able to perform them since the resumption of Friday prayers in mosques after the lifting of COVID-19 circuit breaker measures.

3. Therefore, the Office of the Mufti advises members of the community who are able to secure places to perform Hari Raya prayers that they are not obligated to perform Friday prayers on that day. This is also in accordance with the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad – peace and blessings be upon him – as found in the hadith narrated by Zaid bin Arqam – may Allah be pleased with him – in which he said:

صَلَّى النَّبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم العِيدَ – ثُمَّ رَخَّصَ فِي الجُمعةِ، فَقَالَ : مَنْ شَاءَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ فَلْيُصَلِّ

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, offered the 'Eid Prayer, and then gave permission for (people to miss) Friday prayers, saying, "Whoever wishes to pray, let him do so.”[1]

4. Although the majority of scholars from the Shafiee[2], Hanafi[3] and Maliki[4] schools of thought are of the opinion that Friday prayers is still wajib (compulsory) upon those who have performed Hari Raya prayers on the morning of the day, this opinion is best applied during normal situations where space and other similar limitations are not an issue.

5. For those who have tried to register for Friday prayers but were unsuccessful in securing a place, they are still given the same rukhsah (permission) as those who were able to perform Hari Raya prayers in mosques. It is wajib (compulsory) upon them to replace Friday prayers with Zuhr prayers at home, as decided by the Singapore Fatwa Committee on 16 June 2020.[5]

6. For those who did not manage to secure a place to perform Hari Raya prayers in mosques, they can perform it at home with their families as during the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri. May Allah s.w.t. accept all our sincere efforts and deeds in this blessed month.

Office of the Mufti

Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS)

24 July 2020