The faithful stand at least 2 meters from each other inside the mosque
Riyadh:
The mosques of Saudi Arabia opened their doors to the faithful Sunday for the first time in more than two months, the kingdom, cradle of Islam, easing the restrictions imposed to fight against the coronavirus.
“It is great to feel the mercy of God and to once again call people to pray in mosques rather than at home,” said Abdulmajeed Al Mohaisen, who calls to prayer at the Al Mosque. Rajhi, one of the largest in the capital Riyadh. .
The faithful went to the mosques for the dawn prayers in the midst of strict regulations requiring the use of face masks and personal prayer mats, avoiding handshakes and standing at least 2 meters l of each other.
Elderly people, children under 15 and people with chronic diseases are not allowed. People must perform the ablution rite, the act of washing their face, arms and legs before prayer, at home.
“My eyes filled with tears when I entered the mosque and when I heard the call to prayer. Thank God for this blessing that we are back in places of worship,” said Maamoun Bashir , a Syrian resident in Riyadh.
Saudi officials said earlier this month that the restrictions would be lifted in three phases, culminating in a curfew ending June 21, with the exception of the holy city of Mecca.
Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, which attract millions of Muslims from around the world, remain suspended.
The country, with a population of around 30 million, has reported more than 83,300 infections and 480 deaths from the disease, the highest of the seven Arab Gulf states.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
