Manama: Bahrain announced it will gradually reopen mosques starting tomorrow, August 28, with only morning prayers (Fajr) daily, according to an official statement.
Mosques are instructed to follow the Ministry of Health’s guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and violating mosques will be shut down immediately, it added.
Worshipers must adhere to social distancing measures by leaving a safe distance of two meters between each other and not to gather and shake hands in any form, Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments said in a press release.
Each worshipper must bring his own prayer rug and it will not be allowed to leave it in the mosque after prayer. Ablution must be performed in the house in addition to sanitizing the hands before coming to the mosque. A facemask will be mandatory when praying at the mosque, it added.
Friday prayers will be limited entry, except for Ahmad Al-Fateh grand mosque. Women and children under 15 are not allowed to enter the mosque and seniors are encouraged to pray at home,
No gatherings at mosque doors during the entry and exit process. Mosque will be open 10 minutes before and after prayers to organize and maintain social distance. Ablution places, bathrooms, toilets, refrigerators and water taps will be closed.
Worshipers are to bring their own Qur’an. The ministry requested the residents to pray at the mosque closest to their houses
The decision was made in accordance with the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) decision regarding the gradual return to the establishment of collective worship subject to the necessary precautions.
Bahrain suspended prayer in all houses of worship including mosques across the country on March 23 as part of the country’s efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Bahrain is the least coronavirus worst-hit country in the GCC. It has a total of 50,393 cases out of a population of around 16 lakhs. A total of 186 people died of Covid -19 in the country, while 47,049 were recovered completely.
