File Photo by Abdul Basit © The Peninsula
UPDATE: The report updated with comments from officials
Doha: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has announced the lifting of social distancing during five daily and Friday prayers.
The announcement came following the state’s plan to relax COVID-19 restrictions to return gradually to normal life. The Ministry in a statement said that the new changes will come into effect from October 3, 2021. The statement was posted on the social media account of the Ministry.
The new changes include cancelling social distancing during five daily and Friday prayers, maintaining a distance of one metre between worshippers during Friday sermon (Khutbah) and reopening toilets and ablution places in the mosques in non-crowded areas.
The mosques holding Friday prayer will be closed after completing the capacity of worshippers inside with one metre distance among them.
The Ministry called upon mosquegoers to adhere to and abide by the precautionary measures, in order to ensure the safety of worshippers and members of society. The measures which are still in place in mosques are showing Ehteraz app for entrance, bringing each person his own prayer rug and taking care to wear a mask, said the statement.
Meanwhile, Medical Director of Hamad General Hospital, Dr. Yousef Al Maslamani, explained the decision on easing some restrictions in mosques.
Speaking in a Qatar TV programme yesterday, Dr. Al Maslamani said that it was agreed with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to remove social distancing between worshippers during prayers in mosques.
“A distance of one metre will be maintained during Friday sermon but during the prayer the rows will be straight (without any distance between worshippers),” said Dr. Al Maslamani.
Giving the reason, he said that Friday prayer has only two Raka’as which is offered in short time, compared to the sermon. “I think this short time will not have any impact in spreading the infection of COVID19,” said Dr. Al Maslamani.
Speaking in the same programme, a prominent Islamic scholar from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Mahmoud Al Mahmoud said that the social distancing was implemented on medical grounds when it was assessed that proximity of people was harmful. “The decision which has been issued to remove social distancing during prayers will augur well for worshippers to return gradually to normal prayer,” said Sheikh Al Mahmoud. He said that reopening of toilets and ablution places in mosques means that life is gradually returning to normalcy “but it does not mean relaxations in behaviour in adhering to the preventive measures which are still in place.”
Explaining the new rules of wearing masks under the state’s decision to lift some COVID-19 restrictions issued yesterday, Dr. Al Maslamani said wearing masks is mandatory in closed places such as commercial complexes, working places and assembly (Majlis).
“Masks is also mandatory inside campuses of schools, universities, mosques and hospitals and at their entrances,” said Dr. Al Maslamani.
