Coronavirus: UAE mosques ask people to pray at home

The decision applies to all places of worship like temples and churches.

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The step was taken as a precautionary measure to avoid large gatherings that could aid the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).(Photo: Abdul Karim Hanif/KT)
Foremost among the list of instructions that was issued by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (Awqaf) to all mosques across the country, was the change in the words of the azaan where the Muezzin ( the one who gives the azaan) was required to say ‘pray in your homes’ instead of ‘come to prayer’. The words ‘pray in your homes' were repeated twice at the end of the Azaan.(Photo by Shihab/KT)
At mosques, only the Azan will be given out to alert worshippers about prayer times for the next four weeks.(Photo by Ryan Lim/KT)
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Mosque doors will remain closed, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE) stated. It add that ablution halls at mosques will also be closed.(Photo by Ryan Lim/KT)
Congregational prayers, including those offered on Friday, have been suspended across all mosques in the UAE for a period of four weeks.(Photo by M. Sajjad/KT)
The authority said late on Monday that the decision was taken to avoid the spread of Covid-19 and protect public health.(Photo by M. Sajjad/KT)
The GAIAE appealed to all mosque-goers and worshippers to comply with the directive and offer their five daily prayers at home.(Photo by M. Sajjad/KT)
The decision applies to all places of worship like temples and churches.saman@khaleejtimes.com
Saman Haziq

Published: Tue 17 Mar 2020, 5:12 AM

Last updated: Tue 17 Mar 2020, 12:39 PM

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