Idul Fitri Prayer at Home Allowed, Says MUI

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Thousands of Muslims attend the Eid Al-Fitr Prayer in Purwokerto Square, Banyumas, Central Java, on Wednesday (6/5/2019).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS— The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued a fatwa, allowing Muslims to perform Idul Fitri prayers on Syawal 1, 1441 Hijriah at home. The decision was made through a virtual meeting of the MUI Fatwa Commission in Jakarta on Wednesday (13/05/2020). This fatwa is also in line with the earlier appeal of Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi.

In comparison, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it was reported that the local Interior Ministry has issued a regulation, banning people from leaving the house for the whole day during the Idul Fitri holiday. The ban will continue until the fourth day after Idul Fitri, which is expected to fall on May 24 2020.

In Jakarta, MUI Fatwa Commission secretary M Asrorun Ni\'am Sholeh explained that the MUI allowed people to perform Idul Fitri prayers at home, in areas where the spread of Covid-19 is still beyond control. The aim is to ensure the safety of Muslims so that they do not become infected and prevent the transmission of the new coronavirus.

"Performing Idul Fitri prayers at home is no different from performing the prayers in a field or a mosque. Sermons can be held if there are at least four people in the house," he said. If there is no congregation, Idul Fitri prayers can also be performed alone (munfarid).

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Asrorun Ni\'am Sholeh

In its fatwa, MUI did not rule out the possibility of Idul Fitri prayer being performed in a congregation at the field or mosque. However, Asrorun continued, performing prayers at mosque or field is possible if it meets a number of conditions. First, the Covid-19 transmission rate in the area must have dropped significantly, among others conditions, marked by the easing of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) policy based on the opinions of experts and competent officials.

Second, the area where the prayers will be performed is under control and it is believed that there is no epidemic transmission. For example, in rural areas without movement of people, or in a homogeneous housing complex without a confirmed case of Covid-19. "The congregational prayer must follow the health protocol," Asrorun said.

Curbing the spread of Covid-19

Similar to MUI, the government has also called on the public to perform Idul Fitri prayers at home.

Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi, in a statement to the media, expressed hope that all Muslims would perform the Idul Fitri prayers at home with their nuclear family. Idul Fitri prayers, just like the example set by the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, should not be left behind or ignored. He expressed appreciation for the ulema, including the MUI and Muslim organizations, which gave the public an understanding of the law and procedures for performing prayers at home. "This explanation is needed by the public," he said.

The circumstances are not expected to reduce the joy of Idul Fitri.

This year, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Muslims cannot easily carry out the tradition during Ramadan and Idul Fitri in the form of face-to-face meetings, such as halal bihalal (forgiving ceremony), mudik (exodus) and Idul Fitri prayers in open fields. The circumstances are not expected to reduce the joy of Idul Fitri.

In Saudi Arabia

Idul Fitri in Saudi Arabia will also be celebrated without Idul Fitri prayers at mosques. The Interior Ministry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued a ban, prohibiting people from leaving the house all day during the Idul Fitri holiday.

The Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia announced the ban on Tuesday evening (12/05/2020) in Riyadh or Wednesday morning in Indonesian western time. Some Saudi media, such as Arab News, Asharq al-Awsat and the Saudi Press Agency, reported that the order to stay at home the whole day applies together with a curfew on the last day of Ramadan. The prohibition will last until the fourth day after Lebaran/Idul Fitri. At present, the curfew in the country is enforced from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.

STR/AFP

A picture taken on April 24, 2020, shows sanitation workers disinfection the area arround the Kaaba in Mecca\'s Grand Mosque, on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, amid unprecedented bans on family gatherings and mass prayers due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The new order followed a surge in the number of Covid-19 infections. On Tuesday, the Saudi Health Ministry announced 1,911 new cases, or the highest increase so far. With the addition of new cases, Saudi Arabia recorded a total of 42,925 Covid-19 cases, or nearly three times the number of confirmed cases in Indonesia.

After easing

The surge in infections occurred after Riyadh eased restrictions on movement of people in a number of cities and provinces. The curfew hours also started to be reduced from previously 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Only in Mecca and Medina is there no easing of the curfew.

Next week, the easing will be canceled. During the Idul Fitri holiday, which is set for five days, a full 24-hour curfew will be applied. Everyone is prohibited from leaving the house. There are no Idul Fitri prayers at mosques, nor the tradition of visiting each other.

During Ramadan, the government of Saudi Arabia also closed the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet\'s Mosque in Medina. With the new order, the closure of the two mosques and many others will continue.

During total isolation, Riyadh will assess the infection rate of Covid-19. The Saudi Health Ministry reminded the citizens of the potential for transmission through gatherings outside the house. This has forced many mosques to be closed to the public since March. During Ramadan, the government of Saudi Arabia also closed the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet\'s Mosque in Medina. With the new order, the closure of the two mosques and many others will continue.

Besides Saudi Arabia, an order of isolation was also issued by Algeria. Considering that contagion might increase during the Idul Fitri holiday, the Algerian government ordered its residents to stay at home until May 29. Now, there are 5,891 confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection in the country. (AP/REUTERS/ADH)