Combating coronavirus: Muezzins call people to pray at mosques once again

Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah.

The wordings of the call to prayer (Azan) here in the UAE were amended once again on Wednesday morning after over three months, as the Muezzin replaced the phrase "as-salatu fi buyutikum" (pray in your homes) with "hayya alas-salah" (come to prayer).
This was done in accordance with guidelines issued by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) that sent out its latest circular to all the 770 mosques that opened their doors to welcome worshippers today.

Friday prayers will remain suspended in all the mosques until further notice, the circular stated.
Highlighting some important points that mosque-goers need to keep in mind, the circular said: "The gap between Azan and Iqaamah will be five minutes for every prayer, except for Fajr prayer, for which the gap will be 10 minutes. The doors of the mosques will be closed soon after each congregational prayer and the total time period for which the mosque will be open will be just 20 minutes."
The circular, a copy of which Khaleej Times has studied, also stated that mosque management must remain vigilant and create awareness amongst the worshippers about the importance of bringing their own prayer mats (Musallahs) while coming to the mosques and not leaving them there after the prayer.
It further said the mosque imams must also create awareness among worshippers about the importance of wearing face masks during the time of prayer in the mosque.
Some of the activities that will remain suspended until further notice even as the mosques reopen include lessons and lectures at mosques and janazah (funeral) prayer. Water coolers and dispensers will also remain unavailable until further notice, the circular said.
saman@khaleejtimes.com