Dubai is ready to reopen Mosques with Coronavirus Safety Measures

Dubai is ready to reopen Mosques with Coronavirus Safety Measures

Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department has put up circulars at mosques listing new guidelines ahead of the official announcement. Dubai is getting ready to reopen the doors of mosques (and other places of worship). Although no date for opening the mosques to public has been announced yet by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department. However, it has issued detailed guidelines and precautions for mosques to create awareness for when an announcement is made.

The UAE is home to thousands of mosques, over 40 Christian churches, and a Hindu temple.

Some of the mosques have placed posters of detailed guidelines that worshipers must adhere to when the mosques open.

The guidelines clearly point out that even when the mosques open, the ladies prayer halls shall remain closed until further notice. It also added that people above the age of 60 and children (below 12 years) will not be allowed to come to the mosques for prayers for their own safety.

You must adhere to these new mosque rules when coming to offer prayers:

1. No handshakes are allowed, instead worshipers should just wave and say Salaam from a distance.
2. The worshipers should leave an empty row gap between every two rows.
3. Leave 1.5m gap between every two person.
4. It is mandatory for all worshipers to wear gloves and masks.
5. All worshipers must bring their own Musallah (prayer mat) to the Masjid.
6. The worshipers shall not assemble before or after prayer.
7. No second Jamaah (Congregation) or praying alone separately after the completion of Farz prayer behind Imam.
8. The must leave the Masjid as soon as the obligatory prayer in congregation is over.
9. Those who are in contact with Covid-19 patients should not enter the Masjid to ensure safety of other worshipers.
10. Those who are suffering from chronic diseases or have weak immunity should not come to Masjid for prayers for their own safety.

Age restrictions: Aged people (above 60 years) and children (below 12 years) should not come to the Masjid for prayers, for their own safety.

Rules for prayers in the mosque:

1.  The Masjid shall remain open only for 20 minutes from the time of Azan until the end of  obligatory prayer in congregation that roughly takes 20 minutes
2. Those who are coronavirus patients, or those with chronic disease or weak immunity must not enter the mosque.
3. The obligatory prayer shall be performed immediately after Azan
4. The Majsid will be closed soon after each congregational prayer
5. It is not allowed to leave face masks and gloves at the entrance of the mosque
6. All sorts of distribution, be it food or anything else, is strictly prohibited.
7. The doors of the mosque should be kept open from the beginning of the Azan until the end of prayer.
8. Ladies prayer halls shall remain closed until further notice
9.  Bathrooms and ablution areas will also remain closed and no distributions, food or otherwise, should be held

The UAE first announced the suspension of public prayers in all places of worship on March 16 - a Fatwa was issued to close the Mosques. The National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority and General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIA) said prayers at mosques, churches and temples would be suspended from 9:00pm on March 16 for four weeks, to contain the spread of the coronavirus and protect public health.

On April 9 however, the UAE extended the closure of mosques and other places of worship until further notice.

This year, citizens and residents were told to offer Ramadan, Taraweeh and Eid Al Fitr prayers at home under the #StayHome and stay safe campaign that was started to stop the coronavirus spread by limiting social and public gatherings.

On Tuesday, Earlier Dubai announced the reopening of major facilities. Businesses in the Dubai can resume operations assuring that they adhere to strict Covid-19 precautionary measures, including social distancing, reduced capacity and mandatory use of face masks and gloves by customer and staff.