French Muslims Adjust Prayer Times as Nationwide 6 PM Curfew Takes Effect

The new curfew schedule set at 6 p.m. in France interferes with the last two prayers of the day, Al Maghrib and Al Icha, much further west than east. For example, on January 16, 2021, the Al Maghrib prayer is at 5:08 p.m. in Strasbourg; at 5:25 p.m. in Paris; and at 5:54 p.m. in Bordeaux. On January 31, 2021, the same prayer is at 5:31 p.m. in Strasbourg; at 5:49 p.m. in Paris and at 6:04 p.m. in Bordeaux, the CFCM said in a statement.

Thus, the CFCM calls on the faithful to take into account the times of these prayers and the travel time between their home and the mosque, in order to respect the curfew time. "The advancement of the El Icha prayer to the time of the Al Maghrib prayer, to perform them successively, is authorized by certain jurists. However, this solution is only feasible if their cumulative durations do not put the faithful in difficulty with the curfew time limit," said Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the CFCM, in the statement.

The CFCM also urges mosque officials to inform the faithful and call on them to take the necessary measures to return home before 6 p.m., stressing that it is essential to continue to respect the health measures including the wearing of masks, the permanent use of hydroalcoholic gel, physical distancing, the individual prayer mat and others, concluded the statement.