Press Releases Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
| Statement from the Salem Muslim Community Suspension of Congregational Prayers |
| March 16th, 2020 This past weekend, in consideration of the public safety and containment of the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the greater Salem Area Masjid and leadership met with a panel of Infectious and Respiratory Disease experts. The expert physician panel presented up-to-date information on the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation and the summary recommendations of global healthcare experts and the CDC. The expert panel strongly recommended aggressive and immediate proactive measures to be taken in order to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community. These measures included a suspension of the five daily and Friday congregational prayers, as well as cancellations of all teaching and social programs and activities of the Masjids until further notice. Based on guidance and evidence from The Qur’an and Sunnah and in order to preserve the life and the well-being of the community, our religious leadership unanimously agreed on the permissibility of suspending daily congregational and Friday prayers during a pandemic. The suspension also covers all regularly scheduled khatiras, classes, and other daily/weekly programs as previously announced. Our Masjid volunteers are working on scheduling live (remote) broadcasting of weekly halaqas. All community members are being asked to practice extreme social distancing in day-to-day activities, especially non-essential ones, in order to stop the growing trajectory of COVID-19. We ask Allah, the Lord of the worlds, to protect each and every one of us and to protect and preserve our community and the nation. Please continue to review the latest information here: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Info Page Sincerely, Salem Islamic Center |
