Religious Minister on Eid al-Fitr Mudik Ban: Prioritizing Safety is Obligatory

INDUSTRY.co.id - In a bid to protect the community from further spread of COVID-19, the Indonesian Government has decided to impose the ban on the 2021 Eid al-Fitr mudik (annual exodus), Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said.

“So, the ban is imposed because the Government wants to protect its people from COVID-19 transmission,” the Minister said in a press statement, in Jakarta, Monday (19/04).

The Minister also stated that maintaining the safety and health of oneself, family and surrounding environment is mandatory.

“We have strong grounds, mudik is at best a sunnah (encouraged), while maintaining our own health, maintaining family health, maintaining the health of our environment is obligatory. So, don’t let that of an obligatory nature be cancelled by that of a sunnah,” he said.

In the meantime, the Minister also stated that the implementation of the Ramadan sunnah worship in a mosque or mushala (prayer room) is allowed provided that its safety is prioritized.

“Sunnah prayers in the month of Ramadan such as tarawih prayers (evening prayers during Ramadan), iktikaf (staying up at night to pray), are allowed but with a limitation of 50 percent of the capacity of the mosque or mushala. Even then, it can only be done in the green and yellow zones, for the red and orange zones there is still no relaxation,” he said.

“Takbir keliling (a parade in which the participants recite praises to Allah on the eve of Eid) is not allowed, do recite the praises in a mosque or mushala. This is an effort to protect us from the spread of COVID-19. Once again, prioritizing safety is mandatory, it must take precedence over pursuing a sunnah,” the Minister said.

The Minister also expressed belief that through the cooperation between the Government and all elements of society in combating the pandemic, the pandemic will soon pass.