Over 1.5K mosques in Makkah to reopen Sunday

Welcome Guest! You are here: Home » Coronavirus Outbreak

Over 1.5K mosques in Makkah to reopen Sunday

On Sunday, nearly 1,560 mosques in Makkah will reopen for worshippers starting from the Fajr prayer

Saturday June 20, 2020 3:15 PM, ummid.com News Network

Makkah: More than 1,500 mosques are due to reopen Sunday in the holy city of Makkah amid strict health precautions after three-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.

Except the mosques in Makkah, all other mosques across Saudi Arabia, including The Prophet's Mosque in Madina, reopened on May 31 for congregation prayers as part of a phased plan for gradual return to normalcy.

On Sunday, nearly 1,560 mosques in Makkah will reopen for worshippers starting from the Fajr prayer.

The branch of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Makkah has readied the city's mosques for the planned reopening by putting in place precautions that include the use of personal prayer rugs, and keeping distancing among worshippers.

The Ministry has hired agencies to sterilise and clean up the places of worship during their shutdowns, added the Gulf News report.

Volunteers have worked over the past days in implementing precautionary steps inside Makkah's mosques including pasting signs on carpets showing worshippers distancing while they offer prayers.

Congregation prayers are already being taken place at The Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Makkah Haram, though with restricted number of worshippers to contain the spread of Covid-19 or Coronavirus.

As of Saturday, Saudi Arabia reported a total of 150,292 COVID-19 cases, with 1,184 deaths.

The mosques in Makkah will be opened to worshippers about one and half month before Haj - the annual ritual performed to commemorate the sacrifices of Prophet Ibrahi, his wife Hager and his son Prophet Ismael (peace be upon them).

In the wake of the Coronavirus epidemic when all international flights to and from Saudi Arabia have been suspended, it is most likely that the number of pilgrims performing Hajj this year will be significantly curtailed.

The Kingdom had earlier allowed Traweeh prayers at the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah during the month of Ramadan with only employees and administrative staff in attendance.

For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.