COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: No protocol leniency condoned in mosques

Abu Dhabi: The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs has issued fresh instructions to officials of mosques across the Kingdom after detecting some laxity in implementing protocols to stem the spread of coronavirus.

In a circular, issued by Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al Sheikh, the ministry drew attention to the leniency on the part of some officials of mosques, including preachers, imams and muezzins and some of the worshipers, in adhering to the protocols.

The ministry reiterated the need to follow up on the implementation of these protocols with all accuracy and care.

It also instructed the ministry observers to directly report any violation on the part of mosque officials and to take legal action against the violators.

The ministry’s instructions included strict implementation of the earlier protocols, such as bringing prayer rugs by worshipers; wearing masks, ideally a cloth mask; open mosques one hour before Friday prayer and closing it 30 minutes after the prayer.

In addition, keeping physical distance of 1.5 meters between two worshipers; continue keeping copies of the Holy Qur’an in appropriate places without allowing worshipers’ access to them; ensuring good ventilation in mosques and leaving windows and doors open from the time of worshipers’ entry till the end of the prayer.

The protocols also call for removing all water coolers and refrigerators and any kind of food or drink in the mosque; and urging worshipers to adhere to the precautionary measures and not to allow crowding when entering and leaving the mosque.

In the circular, the ministry urged mosque officials to check all mosque protocols at the the ministry’s website and to follow up their updates.