Some mosque in the UK are preparing for reopening on June 15 with strict regulations after three-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The preparations follow the British government’s decision to allow places of worship to host in-person services amid the coronavirus crisis.
Many Muslim leaders expressed concerns earlier, saying the plans fail to take into account that prayers at mosques almost always take place in groups.
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However, mosque leaders in Burton have welcomed the move and feel “it’s a step in the right direction”.
“We are hoping by the 15th of June, we have worked out how we will be opening the mosque and be able to comfortably allow daily prayers to happen,” Tariq Hussain, spokesperson for the Central Jamia Masjid Rizvia, Uxbridge Street, told Derbyshire Live.
“We have a meeting with the trustees to see how we come up with suitable measures to maintain the safety of the public.”
The Central Jamia Masjid Rizvia, on Uxbridge Street (Image: Facebook)
New Guidelines
Mosque leaders and imams have instituted guidelines for anyone who enters the mosques.
“We will still be abiding by the social distancing rule and will ask worshippers to bring their own prayer mats, along with PPE equipment such as gloves and masks.
“We will be providing hand sanitizer at the mosque, but worshippers will have to perform wudhu (ablution) at home.
He added, “we have a lot of room in the mosque and have the benefit of extra rooms to allow more people to pray and maintain social distancing from one another.
“Starting larger congregational prayers, especially Friday prayers, when sometimes we can have over 700 people at the mosque is something we are still debating.”
Shaid Hussain feels mosques opening is a step in the right direction (Image: Shaid Hussain)
Other mosque leaders are also preparing for the reopening in June 15.
Shaid Hussain, spokesperson for Parker Street felt the opening of mosques was a step in the right direction.
The 46-year-old said: “We will be having a meeting with other representatives of the mosque to see how we can look into ways how the mosque can operate safely.
“It is good news and seeing mosques opening again is a good sight for all Muslims across the country.
“Prayers are normally in a congregation, and we are not as big as other mosques in the town so we have to discuss safety measures and may have to limit how many people we allow in at one time.”
Leaders of the Jamia Masjid Hanfia Ghausia, Princess Street, and York Street Masjid, York Street, also welcomed the reopening.