Largest mosque in Southeast Asia, Istiqlal Mosque cancels Friday prayers

Istiqlal grand mosque in Indonesia's capital, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, which is usually packed with thousands of Muslims during Friday prayer, decided to cancel mass prayers for the next two weeks to curb coronavirus spread.

The mosque's Imam, Nasaruddin Umar, says the decision was made following a nationwide ruling or fatwa issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council, the country's highest religious authority on Monday, allowing Muslims to temporarily skip mass prayers in regions where the virus has spread "uncontrollably" until the situation returns to normal.

"Prayers in congregations will be suspended in Istiqlal for the next two weeks, including Friday prayers," Umar said in a video statement televised nationally in the world's most populous Muslim country.

"We appeal people not to hold mass prayers in other region where the coronavirus had spread until the danger for the contagion disappears," he said.

His appeal following orders from President Joko Widodo to the people in the world's most populous Muslis nation to curb mass religious gatherings to contain the coronavirus.

The move came as Indonesia reported 25 deaths from COVID-19, the most in Southeast Asia, and its biggest daily jump of 82 cases to 309.

On Friday, there were still a few people in Istiqlal. Instead of Friday prayer, they held the noon prayer congregation by practicing social distancing of one meter (yard) apart between worshippers.

Most mosques in cities and districts remained out of red zones of coronavirus outbreak, are holding Friday prayers which commonly believed to be obligatory for Muslim men. They are holding prayers with a shorter sermon and the congregation to bring their own prayer mats.