Children, elders not allowed entry into mosques in Oman

Muscat: Children under the age of 12 years and elders over 65 years will not be allowed entry into mosques, His Excellency Muhammad Al Maamari, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs (MERA) said.

In a statement to Oman TV, he said that the guidebook for opening mosques does not allow those under 12 years and over 65 years of age to enter mosques, stressing that if any mosque does not adhere to the measures and procedures in the guidebook, it will be closed to preserve people’s lives and public health.

He explained that “The mosques will open to perform obligatory prayers and all other activities such as the Holy Quran episodes are suspended.”

The recent decision to reopen mosques specified that only mosques with a capacity of over 400 worshippers can be opened.

He further said that the “Supreme Committee is pursuing the gradual reopening of mosques, and about 3,000 mosques will be opened in the first phase, which represents approximately 30 per cent of the total mosques in the Sultanate.” The government relies on community awareness, he stressed.

“In case of the absence of a mosque with the required capacity in the area in which people live, they must commit to praying at home,” he added.

After elaborate consultation and after studying the proposals made by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, the Supreme Committee decided to allow the opening of mosques whose capacity is not less than 400 worshippers (spacious mosques) from Sunday, November 15, 2020, on the condition that only the five daily prayers are performed, with the exemption of Friday prayers.