TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of the Jakarta region has issued an edict or fatwa stating that Friday prayer can be carried out in two groups during the coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic as the city will enter a new normal era.

The regional council head KH Munahar Muchtar said the fatwa is released to abide by the physical distancing order, in which a mosque's capacity must be at 40 percent from its normal capacity at maximum. Thus, the council fears people could not attend the mass weekly prayer.

“It is permissible to be applied in an emergency period (mosques can no longer accommodate congregations). But mosques in Jakarta have a large capacity, they also have vast fields,” said Muchtar to Tempo on Wednesday, June 3.

In addition, Friday prayer can be offered in praying rooms or mushalla, halls, fields, and other appropriate places in order to divide congregations who normally flock in large mosques. “We refer to four mazhab (Islamic schools of thought),” said Muchtar.

Even though the location for the prayer is eased, Muchtar reminded the prayer’s main requirements such as sermons and the number of congregations should be at least 40 people.

Muchtar added that MUI Jakarta has notified the fatwa to the city administration, hoping the upcoming Friday prayer can be held at mosques.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH