T

he Religious Affairs Ministry has issued prayer and worship guidelines for Ramadan, asking people not to hold gatherings and adhere to the physical distancing policy to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Ramadan, expected to start on April 23 and end May 23, traditionally includes gatherings, such as breaking-of-the-fast, or iftar, dinners and tarawih (Ramadan night prayers), usually held at mosques.

“These worship guidelines can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect Muslims in Indonesia from the risk of contracting the disease,” Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi said in a statement on Monday.

The guidelines, issued in the form of a circular, have been distributed to the ministry’s regional offices throughout the archipelago.

As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the globe with more than 1.2 million infections and 70,000 deaths, the ministry has advised Muslims not to hold joint iftar events and pray at home instead.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Indonesia recorded 2,738 COVID-19 cases spread over 32 of the country’s 34 provinces, with 221 deaths.

The ministry also advised Muslims not to perform i’tikaf (seclusion in a mosque).

“Halal bi halal [post-Ramadan gatherings] can be held through video conference or social media platforms,” the circular said.

“Besides containing guidelines for Ramadan and Idul Fitri prayers, the circular also gives directions on zakat [alms] collection and distribution,” Fachrul said.

The ministry recommends that officials collect zakat door-to-door.

It also advises that officials regularly clean their offices, practice physical distancing as much as possible and wear masks when collecting and distributing zakat.

Previously, the country’s second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, issued a circular advising Muslims to perform tarawih at home should the COVID-19 pandemic show no sign of improving in the coming month.

The organization had also suggested that the Idul Fitri prayers, usually performed in congregations at mosques or in open fields to mark the end of Ramadan, should not be held during the health crisis.

Muhammadiyah highlighted in the letter that such prayers were not obligatory, but rather sunnah (a voluntary act of worship).

“If the COVID-19 situation remains [until the end of Ramadan], the string of events marking the Idul Fitri festivity shall not be organized, including the mudik [exodus],” according to the circular signed by members of the Muhammadiyah central executive board’s lawmaking and reform councils on March 21.

The suggestion came a week after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on all Indonesians to engage in social distancing, also known as physical distancing, by working, studying and worshipping at home to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Islamic organization reiterated that daily prayers should be done by Muslims at home rather than at mosques. “The Friday prayer can also be replaced with dzuhur [midday prayer] at home.”

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, had also suggested Muslims living in COVID-19 red zones to temporarily stop engaging in mass prayers at mosques to flatten the infection curve.

“It’s prohibited to perform mass prayers in red zones,” NU executive council said as quoted by nu.or.id.