As religious places have been thrown opened in J&K from Sunday, Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid (AAJ) said that it has decided to reopen the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar for prayers from Tuesday, August 18.
Jama Masjid, like all other major msoques, has been closed for the last nearly five months in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement on Sunday, the AAJ asked the people to take precautions and strictly follow health regulations and guidelines by the medical fraternity.
“A ‘new normal’ for conducting daily activities is evolving worldwide as lockdown restrictions are easing and services are resuming. So AAJ after consultations and suggestions and observing the precepts being followed by Muslims world over, is re-opening the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar for prayers from Tuesday Aug 18th inshallah,” it said in the statement.
It said that health regulations and SOPs need to be strictly followed by those visiting the mosques.
“AAJ strongly suggests that vulnerable community members i.e elderly those who are sick, and children should stay away from coming to the mosque for prayers. Young children should not be brought along to the mosque,” it added.
AAJ said that the international guidelines and protocol while visiting mosques in view of the Covid 19 pandemic should be strictly adhered to.
“Worshipers should not greet each other by hugging, shaking hands or any other physical contact and should maintain a physical distance at all times. Worshippers will leave a distance of 2 meters between them and a space of one row between two rows.
“The use of fountain for ablution inside the mosques will not be permitted. All worshippers should mandatorily wear a face mask and bring their own prayer mats and their own copies of holy Quran with them. Ablution should be done at home and worshippers should ensure that they keep a safe distance from others when leaving or entering the mosque,” AAJ added.
