Taraweeh prayers at Masjid Haram, Masjid Nabwi limited to 10 Rakaat

RIYADH: The Taraweeh prayers to be offered in Masjid-al-Haram and Masjid-e-Nabwi (SAW) during the Holy month of Ramazan has been limited to 10 Rakaat, announced President General of the Two Holy Mosques, Sheikh Dr. Abdurrahman bin Abdul-Aziz al-Sudais.

The decision has been taken due to the sudden rise in newly-emerged COVID-19, a respiratory illness caused by coronavirus that has forced the countries to impose lockdown and restrict the citizens to their homes in order to contain the pandemic.

“Taraweeh special night prayers performed during the holy month of Ramazan will be held without public attendance at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s (SAW) Mosque,” said Sheikh al-Sudais in a statement.

He further added that there will be no permission for Aitikaf in both the mosques this year.

Following a rendezvous with the President of Pakistan, religious leaders from all over the country agreed to twenty-point SOP for congregational prayers (Ba’jamaat Namaz) during Ramazan.

According to details government will review the SOP during Ramazan if it was felt that the precautionary measures are not being adhered to or that the number of coronavirus affected people have risen sharply;

No carpets will be laid in the mosques and that the Namaz will be offered on the floor;

Floor of the mosques will be washed with chlorine added water;

Namazis will stand at a distance of six feet for offering the prayers;

Namazis will leave home for mosques after wazu (ablution), washing hands for twenty seconds with soap and wearing masks;

Namazis will refrain from gathering after the prayers;

People will not converge for Iftari and Sehri in mosques;

Namaaz-e-Taraweeh will be offered within the premises of the mosques and not on the roads and foot-paths;

Courtyard, not halls, of mosques will be used for prayers;

Children, those above 50 and those suffering from any disease including flu, fever and cough will not be able to enter the mosques;

People will observe Aitekaf at their homes.

Imams (prayer leaders) and other members, involved in the affairs of the mosques, will cooperate with local authorities.