The government has urged Muslims in the country to offer only obligatory (Farz) prayers at the mosque and perform Sunnah at home to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Despite being asked to avoid public meetings and gatherings by the government, people attended the Jummah prayer at the national mosque as usual amid coronavirus pandemic on Friday.
Meanwhile, The Saudi Arabian government, in line with many other Muslim countries, has suspended daily prayers and the weekly Friday prayers inside and outside the walls of the two mosques in Mecca and Medina.
Many Muslims in the country do not agree with the government’s direction to limit mosque gatherings.
After the Jummah prayer, a Muslim said Allah has sent a punishment (Ajab) because of our sins and we need to repent for our sins.
Another person said: “Allah has given the disease, Allah is the master of healing, and so Allah will cure it.”
However, the Khatibs and Imams around the country offered special prayers (doa) to Allah for all Muslims and the rest of the people of the world to be cured and remain safe from the coronavirus.
They have also discussed and given guidelines on how to stay safe from coronavirus to the people during the “Khutba” of Jummah prayers.
The Islamic Foundation (IF) advised returnees from abroad, persons suffering from fever, cough and cold and coronavirus-like symptoms, to avoid going to mosques and public gatherings to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
This was stated in a press release issued by the Islamic Foundation on Friday.
IF also requested Muslims to do wudu or ablution and offer Sunnah prayers at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
It urged the Muslims to come to the mosque to perform the obligatory (farz) prayers only.
IF said that Jummah prayers should be performed in this manner until further instructions are given.
Earlier, another notification issued by the Islamic Foundation on March 19, urged everyone concerned not to conduct any religious gathering in light of the current situation.
