Reopening responsibly: UAE mosques reopen with socially-distanced dawn prayers

Top Stories

Embracing the bright side: A guide on how to cultivate optimism

The power of solitude: Why you should go on a solo trip

How to get your kids to read: Essential tips for parents

UAE, mosques, reopen, call to prayer, Azan, muezzin, Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, coronavirus, Covid-19

Al Farooq Omar Bin A; Khattab Mosque in Dubai.

Dubai - Places of worship reopened 107 days after they were closed to keep the faithful safe from the spread of Covid-19.

By Sahim Salim

Published: Wed 1 Jul 2020, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Jul 2020, 10:12 AM

The UAE's first socially-distanced prayers were offered on Wednesday, July 1, as mosques across the country reopened at 30 per cent capacity.
Places of worship reopened 107 days after they were closed to keep the faithful safe from the spread of Covid-19.
As the dawn call for the Fajr prayer was given out at 4.03am, worshippers in face masks and gloves made their way to mosques carrying their own prayer mats.

#UAE mosques reopen with socially-distanced dawn prayershttps://t.co/Jf3xtqkzpQ pic.twitter.com/19a5UMKOt4
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 1, 2020

After over three months, the call for prayer did not have the phrase 'As-salatu fi buyutikum (pray in your homes)' introduced to encourage the faithful to not go to the mosques for their own safety.

Worshippers at the mosques could be seen adhering to strict precautionary guidelines laid out by the authorities to curb the spread of Covid-19.

#Indian worshipper expresses his joy after #mosques in #UAE reopen: https://t.co/Jf3xtqkzpQ pic.twitter.com/jvulVaf6Lp
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 1, 2020

Every second row at the mosques were left empty, while those offering prayers left a 3-metre gap between each other as guided by bright floor stickers.

Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in #Dubai reopens with #coronavirus safety measures: https://t.co/EIGEVWp5AF pic.twitter.com/UZxCI9n2ML
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 1, 2020

The usual 25-minute gap between the call for prayer and the actual Fajr prayer was cut down to 10 minutes, with the prayer beginning at 4.13 at the 770 mosques that opened in Dubai on the day. The post-prayer rituals, which would run into several minutes, were curtailed to the basics as worshippers left the mosques within five minutes after the prayer.

Al Rahama Mosque, Karama, #Dubai reopens with #coronavirus safety measures. Photos by Muhammad Mustafa Khan: https://t.co/EIGEVWp5AF pic.twitter.com/80OE5YynvE
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 1, 2020

A customary exchange of niceties among worshippers after prayers outside the mosques did not happen on the day, with authorities having discouraged this practice to prevent gatherings.
Some mosques in industrial areas, labour residential areas, shopping malls and public parks will remain closed until further notice. Friday prayers will remain suspended.

#Worshippers, keeping a safe distance from one another, perform prayer at a #mosque in #AbuDhabi. Photos by Ryan Lim/ Khaleej Timeshttps://t.co/Jf3xtqkzpQ pic.twitter.com/Y2xnoDn9cN
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 1, 2020

The UAE first announced the suspension of public prayers in all places of worship on March 16, which was extended until further notice on April 9.
sahim@khaleejtimes.com

Al Rahama Mosque, Karama, Dubai.

Worshippers, keeping a safe distance from one another, perform prayers at a mosque in Abu Dhabi after UAE authorities reopen mosques and other places of worship at 30 per cent capacity on Wednesday July 1, 2020.