Devotees offer Jum'a prayers at mosques after a month

FE Team | Published: May 08, 2020 23:01:49

Many Muslims in the capital took part in Jum'a prayers at mosques on Friday, a month after the restriction on congregations was withdrawn subject to abiding by necessary medical advice, reports UNB.
Offering prayers at mosques had largely been restricted in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus or Covid-19.
Muslims were seen offering prayers at different mosques in the capital wearing masks and maintaining distance.
Mufti Mizanur Rahman, senior Pesh Imam of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, said, "Muslim devotees offered their prayers maintaining distance and following the government's health advice. The floors of the mosques were disinfected before the prayer and the devotees allowed to enter the mosque after they sanitised their hands."
After the congregation, the mosque was disinfected again, he said.
Abu Hena Mohammad Russel, who offered prayer at Nurani Islamia Mosque at Mirpur-2, said, "We offered prayers maintaining distance and entered the mosque after washing our hands."
The Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a notification on Wednesday allowing people to offer prayers, including Tarabi, at mosques from Thursday's Zohr prayers subject to following health guidelines.
On April 06, the ministry had directed all to avoid mosques and offer prayers at home to prevent the transmission of fast-spreading coronavirus.
It had asked people to offer Zohr prayers at home instead of Jum'a on Friday.
Saying prayers five times a day is one of the 'five pillars' of Islam and the Friday prayer, which is done in congregations, is the most important one among them.
The minister also asked the people of other religions to offer prayers at home instead of congregating at religious institutions.
On April 23, the ministry had decided that only 10 Muslim devotees and two imams would be allowed to offer Tarabi prayers at mosques during the holy month of Ramadan.