STUDY ON THE METHOD OF SETTING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) FOR MOSQUE AND SURAU ACTIVITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN SELANGOR AND MELAKA

The COVID-19 pandemic, which struck the world at the end of 2019, has changed peoples lives in many aspects including how Muslims pray and worship. The Malaysian government has imposed several Movement Control Orders (MCOs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Malaysians to stop the outbreak from spreading. The prohibition of holding any activities in mosques or surau (smaller designated praying areas where Friday Prayer is not performed),which includes large gatherings of Muslims during this MCO time has sparked a range of responses from the community. Some are dissatisfied with the small limit on the number of people allowed to attend congregations and the inconsistency between different states. Therefore, this study aims to identify the SOP setting method used by two states namely Selangor and Malacca which have significant SOP differences, including in the number of people allowed to attend congregations in mosques and surau. Interviews were conducted with SS mufti of Selangor and Melaka as the main individuals involved in the issuance of fatwas to obtain data for this study. The findings from this study show that there are differences in methods in setting SOPs due to differences in the administration of the religious affairs of the two states. In addition, the difference in SOP is based on the current situation of the infection which is happening based on the level of emergency or masyaqqah that occurs at the time. It aims to prevent harm from spreading further to preserve the maqasid syariah of human life.