MANAMA — Worshipers performed Fajr (morning) prayers in mosques across Bahrain amid stringent coronavirus precautionary measures for the first time after collective prayers were suspended on March 23 due to the outbreak of the pandemic, Bahrain News Agency reported. Mosques were reopened in Bahrain after the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments last Wednesday gave a nod to conduct only Fajr prayers daily, effective Friday. The ministry has set strict mandatory guidelines to ensure people's safety. Bahrain's Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) also announced the gradual reopening of mosques for collective prayers amid precautionary measures. The ministry banned gatherings and crowding at the gates of mosques during entry and exit, and imposed a minimum two-meter distance between people to avert infections. The mandatory guidelines also include the opening of mosques 10 minutes before the prayer, setting five minutes between the muezzin's call and praying, closing mosques 10 minutes after performing the prayer and worshipers have to vacate the premises gradually and orderly, without any delay or overcrowding. Under the ministry's strict guidelines, worshipers have to leave the mosque after praying and perform Sunnah prayers (optional additional prayers) at home. Worshipers have been urged to perform prayers in mosques closest to their homes, while sick people, women, and children aged below 15 have been prevented from entering mosques and the elderly advised to perform prayers at home. People who feel certain that their presence in the mosque will make them or others fall sick should be denied entry to the mosques and clear and deterrent penalties put in place to ensure compliance with the precautionary measures. The ministry has also directed to shut the ablution places, bathrooms, toilets, refrigerators and water taps completely, urged worshippers to perform their ablution before heading to mosques, bring their own prayer rugs and then take them home after praying. Worshipers must at all times wear face masks and have their temperature checked before entering mosques to ensure they are free of COVID-19 symptoms. The guidelines make it mandatory to use hand sanitizers and disinfectants for clothes before entering, leave doors of the mosques open before and after prayers to ensure easy access and exit, and to prevent human contact as much as possible, with the handles being regularly sterilized after each prayer. The ministry has also banned the use of copies of the holy Qur'an and instructed worshippers to read verses, using their own copies or cell phones, and avoid shaking hands. Mandatory physical distancing has to be maintained between worshippers, in addition to sterilizing chairs and limiting their number to the minimum necessary.
