FatwaTerengganuPrayer (Salah)
Apakah hukum solat yang merenggangkan saf ketika kejadian COVID-19? - Jabatan Mufti Negeri Terengganu
What is the ruling on spacing out prayer rows during congregational prayer in the COVID-19 outbreak?
Short answer
The default position is that closing the gaps in the prayer row is recommended, while spacing out without need is disliked and forfeits the reward of congregational prayer.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Terengganu State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Soal Jawab Agama: Solat
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The default position is that closing the gaps in the prayer row is recommended, while spacing out without need is disliked and forfeits the reward of congregational prayer. However, spacing out is permissible when there is a genuine need, based on the principle that necessity permits what is otherwise prohibited. The need to curb the spread of COVID-19 takes precedence over closing the rows because the disease poses a greater harm to human life.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Oleh itu, harus merenggangkan atau menjarak-jarakkan saf solat seorang makmum dengan makmum yang lain ketika mempunyai keperluan.
Read the full fatwa on the Terengganu website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Terengganu State Mufti Department. “Apakah hukum solat yang merenggangkan saf ketika kejadian COVID-19? - Jabatan Mufti Negeri Terengganu”, 14 August 2025. https://mufti.terengganu.gov.my/bahagian-suk/soal-jawab-agama/bab-solat/224-apakah-hukum-solat-yang-merenggangkan-saf-ketika-kejadian-covid-19. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-spacing-prayer-rows-covid-19/