Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif Al-Asheikh stressed on Thursday the importance of implementing the precautionary measures to ensure the safety of worshipers when they return to mosques to perform their prayers.

In an exclusive statement to the Saudi satellite TV channel Al-Ekhbariah, Al-Asheikh said that the ministry has set a mandatory distance of two meters between each worshiper and the other in all mosques across the Kingdom.

He added: “We have issued directives that old people and children should not come to mosques and it is necessary to wear a face mask and wash hands before going to mosques. The suspension of religious lessons and Da’wa programs will remain in place.” He also called on worshipers to bring their own prayer rugs to mosques.

Performing Friday and obligatory prayers in congregation will be resumed on forthcoming Sunday in all the mosques of the Kingdom, except Makkah city, after a disruption of 70 days.

Meanwhile on Friday, Al-Asheikh conducted an inspection tour of a number of mosques situated on the outskirts of the city of Riyadh to assess their readiness to receive worshipers, Saudi Press Agency reported.

All mosques across the Kingdom, except in the holy city of Makkah, are set to reopen on Sunday after implementing a number of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The minister was reassured about the preparations made by the ministry's branch in the region through maintenance and operation companies and the completion of sterilization and cleaning operations and the provision of all the requirements to ensure the safety of visitors of God’s homes when they reopen.

Al-Asheikh stressed during the tour the importance of applying all precautionary measures issued by the Ministry in coordination with the competent authorities to prevent the spread of the pandemic, as well as providing educational materials in several languages ​​in all to educate worshipers to follow procedures and instructions to ensure their own safety.

Al-Asheik was accompanied during the tour by the director of the Ministry’s branch in Riyadh, Sheikh Sami bin Sulaiman Al-Mushaigeh, a number of maintenance and operation officials at the ministry’s branch and a number of media representatives.

It is mentioned that the minister instructed the directors of the ministry’s branches in all regions of the Kingdom to take similar tours to keep a tab on the work of maintenance, cleaning and operating teams that are carrying out operations round the clock to equip mosques with precautionary measures, clean them and sterilize them in preparation for receiving worshipers, according to an integrated work system in line with instructions and procedures approved by the ministry.