SINGAPORE, April 3 — For about 30 years, Mr Samat Aripin has been going to the same void deck near his house in Simei to perform congregational tarawih prayers — a special...
SINGAPORE, April 3 — For about 30 years, Mr Samat Aripin has been going to the same void deck near his house in Simei to perform congregational tarawih prayers — a special prayer performed by Muslims only during the fasting month of Ramadan.“The initiative was entirely ground up, with neighbours chipping in to their best ability. Some bought the prayer mats, others set up the sound system and so on. My late father was one of the imams who led the prayers,” said the 60-year-old.
“It takes about half an hour to reach the mosque from here. It’s really challenging for the elderly, to have to switch buses and so on,” said Tampines resident and qaryah committee member Baithullah Ahmed Hassan, 62. But on March 15, a week before Ramadan, Muis rescinded the letters, citing “sufficient prayer spaces”, though it was also announced then that congregants still needed to book slots at “mosques with high demand”.“We thought this year would be a good year to finally resume void deck tarawihs, given that we have lifted pandemic restrictions. So we were very disappointed,” said a qaryah member in Woodlands who declined to be named.
“I am glad that after discussions with Muis, we have come to an understanding, and Muis has been able to allow many qaryah groups to proceed with their original plans,” said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Facebook.understands that there were a few other qaryahs that were given approval, but could not proceed with organising the prayers as the eventual approval was given too late.
“Qaryah-organised tarawih allows the community of neighbours to get involved in setting up the area for prayers, preparation of post-prayer treats or drinks, and as a consequence get neighbours to foster better ties with each other,” said Marsiling resident Fairuz Jaafar, 26. Such groups perform other functions too, including holding kenduri for special occasions, forming kompang or marhaban groups and even sepak takraw teams, qaryah members and residents said.Communal tarawih prayers were not allowed in 2020 due to Covid-19. In 2021, mosques began to resume organising these prayers, with a limited capacity of about 9,500 to be shared among more than half a million Muslim residents.
“The past three years with no void deck tarawih, I didn’t go to the mosque, I just did my prayers at home with my family,” said a 65-year-old retiree who gave his name as Abdul Rahman, who walks around with the help of a walking stick.‘Extremely good work’ helping people
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