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View of the empty streets are pictured following procedures done by the government to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Doha, Qatar May 22, 2020 in this picture obtained from social media.Image Credit: Reuters

Congregational prayers to remain suspended in Qatar

Ministry: Prayers at mosques across Qatar will continue to remain suspended

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Dubai: Prayers at mosques across Qatar will continue to remain suspended, the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs said on Friday.

In a tweet, Awqaf clarified that some infographics being circulated on social media about the safe practices in the mosques are intended to foster awareness about the preventive and precautionary measures against Covid-19, when the circumstances become conducive to reopen the mosques.

Mosques in Qatar were closed temporarily in April as part of measures to combat the Covid-19 outbreak. The call to prayer is made and people are expected to pray at their homes.

Most of the GCC countries have suspended the weekly Friday and daily congregational prayers as part of their efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus. However, just recently Saudi Arabia announced it is going to reopen mosques for Friday prayers this week as the Kingdom relaxes measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs said mosques will be open to the public for the weekly prayers from May 31 until June 20, except in Makkah.

A circular issued to mosque staff by Sheikh Abdullatif Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al Asheikh, the Islamic affairs minister, said windows and doors must be open at all times and copies of the Qur’an must be temporarily withdrawn.

“Worshippers must keep two meters apart and leave a row of space empty between each row,” he said.

“They must also wear face masks at all times, bring their own prayer mats and perform ablution at home.”