Dhaka, APR 13 (V7N)– The Islamic Foundation (IF) of Bangladesh has issued a nationwide directive instructing all mosque authorities across the country to offer the Zuma (Friday) prayers at the unified time of 1:30 PM. The notification, released today, aims to resolve the existing discrepancies in prayer timings across different mosques, which often cause confusion and difficulties for worshippers, particularly travelers.

"Islamic Foundation (IF) today issued a notification asking all mosques' authorities across the country to offer the Zuma (Friday) prayers simultaneously at 1.30pm," the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported.

The Islamic Foundation highlighted that the current practice of offering Zuma prayers at varying times in different mosques creates inconvenience for devout worshippers, especially those who are traveling and may find it challenging to ascertain the correct prayer time in a new location.

"The notification read that Zuma prayers are offered at different times in different mosques. Due to variation in timing, devout worshippers-especially travelers-often face confusion and difficulties to attend the Friday prayers," BSS noted.

To address this issue and ensure the convenience of worshippers throughout Bangladesh, the Islamic Foundation has mandated a uniform time of 1:30 PM for the commencement of Zuma prayers in all mosques nationwide.

"'To resolve this issue and for the convenience of worshippers across the country, the Islamic Foundation called for offering the Zuma prayers simultaneously at 1.30pm in all mosques across the country,' the notification said," BSS quoted the directive.

The Islamic Foundation has also instructed its directors and deputy directors at the divisional and district levels to take the necessary steps to ensure that all mosques within their jurisdictions adhere to this unified prayer time of 1:30 PM for the Friday prayers.

"The directors and deputy directors of the Islamic Foundation have been asked to take necessary measures to ensure that Zuma prayers are held at 1.30pm in all mosques within their respective divisions or districts, it read," BSS added.

This directive from the Islamic Foundation is expected to bring greater uniformity and ease for Muslim worshippers across Bangladesh in observing their Friday prayers.

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