KUALA LUMPUR: The updated ruling and standard operating procedures (SOP) for congregational Friday prayers began today at all mosques and surau in Selangor.
Checks at Masjid Dato Haji Kamaruddin in Seksyen 51A, Petaling Jaya, saw more congregants allowed to enter the mosque to perform prayers.
Previously, the mosque allowed a maximum of only 500 people for Friday prayers. The quota would usually be filled up even before the 'azan' or call to prayer sounded.
A spokesperson from the mosque said now they have now opened up extra spaces by the side of the main prayer hall to allow more people to pray.
"Throughout the lockdown period, we had limited it to 500 people. Now, we have set up prayer mats outside the main hall to allow people to pray there as well.
"We still enforce other SOP including maintaining a distance of at least one meter, scanning MySejahtera app, as well as requiring people to bring their own prayer mats," he said.
Khuzairy Abd Rahman, 41, expressed delight that larger congregations are now allowed even though they are not allowed to pray close to each other.
He believed this was the right step before the government eventually relaxes other SOP and enable a return to pre-lockdown measures.
"Previously, people had to come really early or else they might not be able to enter.
"Alhamdulillah, they have now allowed more people to come in and pray," he said.
The situation at another mosque, Masjid Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Pendidikan Islam Jalan Maktab at Bandar Baru Bangi, was similar.
A mosque spokesperson said they used to have an entry pass system where the attendees can enter on a first-come-first-serve basis.
"From today, we are no longer doing that because we are utilising other areas for Friday prayers.
"We can estimate an increase of 30 per cent of attendees coming for prayers today compared to before," he added.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) earlier this week issued new rulings which included the full use of the main prayer area and other available spaces in all mosques and surau for Friday prayers.
The space between congregants is still fixed at one meter apart.
Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj recently gave his consent to the new SOP.