The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) directed the closure of mosques and the suspension of all congressional prayers including the obligatory five prayers and the Friday prayers, starting from the noon prayer Tuesday, until the condition of safety and tranquility for the worshippers is met, as part of the precautionary measures taken by Qatar to prevent and contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a statement today, the Ministry said that this is in compliance with the highest purposes of the Sharia, the most important of which is souls preservation, and protection for worshipers and society from any harm posed by the virus spread.

Awqaf directed the closure of mosques and suspension of all congressional prayers, including the obligatory five prayers and Friday prayers, until the condition of safety and tranquility for the worshipers is met, as part of measures to prevent and contain Coronavirus. #QNA

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) March 16, 2020

The decision is aimed at contributing to empowering the Ministry of Public Health, which is the competent authority to combat the spread of the virus, the statement said adding that the decision was guided by a fatwa issued by the Ministry's Sharia Committee, which reads:

"In the event that the health authorities acknowledge that there is an epidemic and that the possibility of its spread in public places is certain, and that its danger is real, the gatherings can be prevented."

The statement added that calls to prayers (Adhan) will continue to be made in all the country's mosques. In the meantime, the Ministry will continue to communicate with the competent authorities to reopen the mosques as soon as the threat of the virus spread is over.

Source: Awqaf and QNA

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Nabeela

Content Writer

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