MAKKAH — The Secretariat General of the Council of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia on Saturday called on Muslims to follow the Decision No. 246 it issued and stressed that they should perform their five (obligatory) prayers at home and Friday prayer as Dhuhr prayer at home.

The Council of Senior Scholars had issued the Decision No. 246, regarding those who fear they might be harmed or they might harm others due to old age and low immunity or their suffering from chronic diseases amid the COVID-19 pandemic the whole world is witnessing, in order to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Council of Senior Scholars has based its decision on the Prophet’s saying: “Avoid bringing harm to yourself, and don’t cause harm to others.”

Meanwhile, in its decision No. 247, the Council said: “Whoever is prevented from attending Friday and congregational obligatory prayers in the mosque due to some acceptable excuse, is entitled to a full reward.”

The Council based its decision on the Prophet’s saying: “If a Muslim falls sick or embarks on a journey, he will receive full reward for any deed he practices, the way he did when he was at home, healthy and settled.”

The Council advised all to strictly abide by all the directives and instructions issued by the competent authorities including full compliance with precautionary and preventative measures.

It stressed that they should cooperate with the authorities in implementing the measures, in obedience to what Allah Almighty has ordained, as stated in the Qur’anic verse “Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and aggression.” [5:2]