Cairo: The Dhuhur prayers were allowed again inside mosques in Bahrain today for the first time in nearly eight months.
The step comes more than two months after the Fajr prayers were resumed in the kingdom’s mosques under a gradual plan amid strict precautions against the coronavirus.
The Sunni endowment department said in a recent circular that allowing the Dhuhur prayers does not include reopening mosques for the congregational Friday prayers or for performing the Dhuhur there on that day.
The duration between the call to prayer and the start of prayers should not exceed 10 minutes while observing all precautions against COVID-19, the department added.
Bahrain had closed mosques on March 23 as part of a set of measures adopted by authorities to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
In late August, the Fajr prayers were allowed initially in the kingdom’s mosques.
Worshippers have been urged to keep distancing for at least two metres among each other. Mosques are opened 10 minutes before the prayer timing, with crowding banned on entry and departure.
Worshippers are also prohibited from staying inside mosques after prayers.
Sick people, women and children aged below 15 are are barred from going to mosques. Old people are advised to worship at home.
Worshippers are required to perform pre-prayer ablutions at home before heading to mosque as toilets remain closed in places of worship.
Worshippers in mosques are also required to wear face masks and use their personal prayer rugs.
