On Thursday, the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques announced that worshippers can offer Taraweeh prayers (special night prayers) during the holy month of Ramadan amid preventive and precautionary measures.
Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais who is the president of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, said, “Taraweeh prayer will be performed in the Prophet’s Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan along with the obligatory prayers.”
He disclosed that the plans include programs, targets, alternatives, emergencies, and crisis management for the months of Shaaban and Ramadan as well as for Eid Al-Fitr holidays.
“Plans were meticulously drawn up while taking into account the impact of the latest directives on the programs and targets and the intensity of the movement of visitors and worshippers in the Prophet’s Mosque,” Sheikh Al-Sudais added while announcing the presidency’s plans for the holy month.
“The season this year is exceptional amid the COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by the presence of worshipers in the Prophet’s Mosque in certain numbers, in line with the precautionary measures.”
Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais
The plans indicated that, the Prophet’s Mosque will close for half an hour after the Taraweeh prayer and will reopen two hours before the Fajr prayers except for the last ten days of Ramadan when it will be open 24/7.
Saudi Arabia: 10 Mosques Locked After Reports of COVID-19 Cases Amongst Worshipers, Personnel
During Ramadan 60,000 worshippers will be allowed at at time amid social distancing measures. The Mosque has a maximum operational capacity of 45,000 while the new western piazzas can accommodate 15,000 worshippers.
Worshippers are allowed to pray in the “Hassawaat Area”, expansions, roofs, and piazzas, according to a grouping plan based on densities and implementation of the precautionary measures, the report noted.
Official statement noted that, performing prayers inside the Old Haram and the Rawdah area will continue to be restricted to the workers and staff of the Prophet’s Mosque, and relatives of the deceased, and those funeral processions, in case of funeral prayer.
At the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi authorities suspended the holding of Taraweeh prayers last Ramadan in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.
