“[Places of worship] are good for the community. We don’t want to turn them into places where people get sick,” said Imam Ali Falih Altaie, director of Fondation Internationale Azzahra.
“People love to go to the mosque and pray. This might be the first time in their lives that they have to stay home,” he said.
“We ask God for the good of the society, not just for ourselves.”
Another imam told CTV News the effects of missing evening prayers shouldn’t be underestimated, calling the situation “a disaster.”
“These are essential services,” said Salam Elmenyawi, president of The Muslim Council of Montreal.