Eighty-seven (87) Masjids in General Santos City heed the Fatwa (religious order) suspending congregational prayers amidst the community quarantine imposed by the local government to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVD-19).

The Darul-Ifta of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) issued on March 19 Fatwa No. 05 wherein it was agreed to suspend Friday prayers and all congregational prayers in small and big mosques.

Fatwa is defined as a legal opinion or decree handed down by an Islamic religious leader (Meriam Webster). 

The action was also in compliance with the guidelines imposed by the local government of General Santos City prohibiting mass gatherings that includes holding religious services in churches or mosques to help contain the virus.

In support of the call of the Darul-Ifta, the General Santos City Muslim Religious Advisory Council, an organization of Ulama (Muslim religious scholars) and the Council of Imams of General Santos City, have issued an advisory on March 19 to all Muslims in the city urging the suspension of all congregational prayers in mosques.

The announcement also enjoined the Muslim constituents of the city to heed the guidelines of the authorities on staying home, observing social distancing and proper hand washing in a bid to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The chairman of Council of Imams this city, Ustadz Ebrahim Sandigan and the Division Head of City Mayor’s Office-Indigenous Cultural Communities Affairs Division, Jocelyn Lambac-Kanda, expressed their gratitude to the Muslim leaders and their jama’ah who followed the fatwa.

To date, April 3, 2020, the Department of Health reported that there are 3,018 COVID-19 cases in the country with 136 deaths.