UNS – Nurul Huda Mosque Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta decided to suspend the Friday Prayer today, Friday (20/3/2020) considering the decision from Surakarta government has set the Extraordinary Event (KLB) related to Covid-19, since last Friday (13/3/2020).
Based on the Circular Number: 022/NH-UNS/B/III/2020, the management of Nurul Huda Mosque stated several points about the suspending prayers in Nurul Huda Mosque UNS in the situation of the Covid-19 outbreak. These points are among others Friday Prayer in Nurul Huda Mosque UNS will be suspended since the circular is published. Adzan as the five times daily prayer call will still be echoed in Nurul Huda Mosque UNS by switching the “hayya ‘alaassholah and hayya ‘alal falah” with “ash-sholaatu fii buyuutikum” which means praying at your own home as a form of appeal to the community in preventing Covid-19 by staying at home.
The next point is all activities that involve a large number of people are not allowed. Friday prayer as an activity that involves a large number of people will continue after KLB status is revoked. The management of the mosque also requested worshipers who are experiencing coughs, fevers, flu-like symptoms to carry out a prayer at home until they recover. Worshippers are also requested to bring their own praying supplies (sarong, praying robe (mukena), prayer rug).
Even though Friday prayer is suspended, if there are worshippers who come, daily prayers will still be conducted but people are suggested to perform it at home.
“We still conduct it (daily prayer). From the start, we have asked people to pray at home. But, for example, there are people who want to pray in the mosque, we will facilitate it according to our health protocol,” explained the Head of Daily Operation Executive Nurul Huda Mosque UNS, Suwarto, Friday (20/3/2020) to uns.ac.id.
Suwarto added that the health protocol among others is soap and hand sanitizer. “We provide soap in the bathroom and ablution (wudhu) room, we provide hand sanitizer at each entrance, we reduce the number of open entrances. Worshippers are requested to bring their mukena and rug. We clean the praying hall before performing daily prayer, we spray disinfectant,” added Suwarto. Humas UNS/Zalfaa
