TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta decided to cancel mass Friday prayer for the next two weeks. The mosque’s Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar said this was done in a bid to prevent the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 contagion from further spreading in the capital.

“On this Friday and the next Friday, we will not hold Friday prayer in Istiqlal,” said Nasaruddin during a press conference published via a Youtube account of National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Friday, March 20.

Nasaruddin explained the mosque management took the decision in consideration of objective and subjective reasons. The mosque objectively complied with the Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) edict or fatwa that recommended not to hold the weekly prayer in areas with a high number of the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 cases.

Additionally, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Jakarta Governor ordered all not to hold mass prayers, including Friday prayer.

Nasaruddin went on to say that Istiqlal Mosque management subjectively reviewed the condition in Iran, South Korea, and Italy as those states are dealing with high coronavirus contagion.

“This is very alarming. To prevent Indonesia from such severe situations [as occurring in those countries], we appeal to all especially regions with high coronavirus infection cases to not hold Friday prayer,” Nasaruddin underlined.

As of Thursday, Indonesia has 309 positive cases of COVID-19. Of that figure, as many as 25 people died, the highest death toll among Southeast Asian countries.

AMIRULLAH