Statement from the Muslim Community of Memphis
Congregational Prayers Suspended Temporarily
December 25th,2020
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
Due in combination to the recent update from Shelby County and the Governor of Tennessee implementing a "Safer at Home" ordinance, the expert recommendation of Muslim Physicians across the city, and the recent surge of COVID-19 in the area, the Greater Memphis Area Masjids and religious leadership have agreed to suspend all daily congregational prayers and Friday congregational prayers temporarily during the "Safer at Home" timeframe from December 26th - January 22nd.
Tennessee is currently ranked the worst hotspot for transmission of the coronavirus not only in the nation but the world. Shelby County is experiencing a high number of daily new cases, high positivity rates, and our hospitals are functioning at limited capacity due to those increases. Overall numbers have reached the worst levels since the first wave of the pandemic.
We've seen this pandemic impact us locally as community members have unfortunately suffered from this disease, have been hospitalized, or have lost their lives. Our priority remains the health and safety of everyone. This is a temporary measure at this critical and increasingly difficult time to ensure we protect every life in our community and city at large.
We are also urging our community to do your part and please stay at home for this brief amount of time, to avoid social gatherings, and when in public to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing in all activities. Please reach out to your masjid leadership should you have any questions.
All Islamic Centers in the Memphis Area have supported this position:
Masjid Al-Mu'minun
Masjid Al-Muslimeen
Masjid Al-Noor
Masjid Ar-Rahman
Masjid As-Salam
Masjid At-Taqwa
Memphis Islamic Center
Midtown Mosque
Please read the letter below from Muslim Memphis Physicians, the latest Shelby County Health Directive 16, and latest Governor's Ordinance that were released earlier this week.
