Journal of Contemporary Issues in Business and Government

Abstract

The five-time prayer is the essence of religion that must be performed daily. The impetus of
prayer to Muslims is to assure that human relationship with God is always close and hinders
one from performing sinful and evil acts. This fard (obligatory) prayer will be more
meaningful if performed in the congregation because of its abundant rewards instead of
individual prayers. Besides, congregational prayer can educate people to become human
beings sensitive to the sense of life as servants and absolutely in line with Maqasid Syariah’s
requirements. Nevertheless, currently, the whole world is hit by COVID-19 pandemic. Thus,
almost all Islamic countries’ governments must administer proactive steps by introducing
Movement Control Orders (PKP) to adjourn all religious activities, including mosque and
surau activities. This research aimed to analyse the need for congregational prayer in the
mosque or at home.Accordingly, it explained the rational arguments of the adjournment of all
worship houses’ activities during the pandemic. This study adopted a descriptive qualitative
method of literature review and document analysis. The outcomes revealed that although the
pandemic of the COVID-19 epidemic affects Islamic practices, its teachings persists through
mosques or surausin the form of a call to prayer every prayer time. Each state’s muftis must
deliver proactive steps in issuing fatwas to achieve the maslahahof life preservation from the
COVID-19 virus. Congregational prayers can continue but performed in their respective
homes. It is to ensure that the transmission of the COVID-19 outbreak is controlled and its
chain is broken.