DUSHANBE, May 28, 2013, Asia-Plus – Ten five-time mosques (mosques for daily prayers) in Dushanbe have got permission to conduct the Friday prayers, Solehjon Zavqiyev, the head of the department for religious associations at the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus Tuesday afternoon.

“Several months ago, nine five-time mosques located in Dushanbe got permission to conduct the Friday prayers,” said Zavqiyev.  “To get such a permission, the mosque should meet all sanitary, architectural and fire safety requirements.  The permission is given in order to observe the religious rights of citizens.  Besides, this permission is given in order to ensure safety of citizens during the Friday prayers because a large number of cars can be seen outside the congregational mosques (Masjidi Jome’) on Fridays.”

The term Masjidi Jome’ means “ Mosque of Assembly ” or “ Congregational Mosque .”  Jome’ stems from the root word jam’ meaning ‘gathering’ , as opposed to Jum’a meaning ‘ Friday ’.  However, sometimes these mosques are called Friday Mosques, after the Jum’a or weekly Friday noon congregation prayers of Muslims.

Dushanbe now has four central congregational mosques, nineteen congregational (Friday) mosques and 38 five-time mosques.

In all, 3,982 mosques now function in Tajikistan.

The Law on Freedom of Belief and Religious Organizations regulates registration, size, and location of mosques, limiting the number of mosques that may be registered within a given population area.  Congregational (Friday) mosques are allowed in districts with 10,000 to 20,000 persons; five-time mosques are allowed in areas with populations of 100 to 1,000.  In Dushanbe, congregational mosques are allowed in areas with 30,000 to 50,000 persons, and five-time mosques are allowed in areas with populations of 1,000 to 5,000.  The religion law allows one central congregational mosque per district, and makes other mosques subordinate to it.  The law also restricts Muslim prayer to only four locations: the mosque, cemetery, home, and at holy shrines.