5 May 2021
All Mosques in Ireland
Ref: COVID19 Health and safety Restrictions to adhere to while reopening the Mosques
Assalamu Alaikum
I hope and pray that this letter finds you all in the best of Eman and health and May Allah the Almighty accept our deeds, fasting and prayers in this blessed month.
With the government’s announcement to allow places of worship on the 10 of May. We would like to bring forth to your kind attention additional information that was passed onto us by the Taoiseach’s office. The mosques and other places of worship are expected to adhere to the reopening restrictions and conditions which are outlined below:
Pods of 50
Where the size of the premises/Place of Worship allows for a capacity of greater than 50 this may be permitted only where:
● social distancing guidelines are adhered to
● the premises can be subdivided into distinct sections (cordoned or marked appropriately) of not more than 50 persons in each section
● there is a minimum of 4 metres between sections
● each section having its own entrance/exit route
● there are separate arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact, for example, the distribution of Holy Communion
● strictly no movement of people between sections before, during or after the service
● the premises are well-ventilated
This then means that a mosque that is able to facilitate more than 50 people provided they adhere to the guidelines set above can hold 5 daily prayers, Taraweeh prayers, Eid Prayers and Jummah for more than 50 people from the 10th of May.
Funerals
·There is an increased risk of transmission of the virus where families and communities come together following the death of a loved one.
·Therefore, numbers at funeral services (and Weddings) is capped at 50 regardless of the size of the premises.
·Notwithstanding the increase in numbers permitted, funerals are still considered private family events and arrangements should not be advertised in newspapers or online.
·Funeral services should continue to be live-streamed to help reduce numbers attending.
·Attendance at wakes in private homes and at Funeral Homes remains unchanged i.e. immediate family only and people should be discouraged from queuing to pay respects.
Singing
As with the previous reopening for religious service congregational singing and choir singing is not permitted.
Solo singing with an accompanist is permitted subject to compliance with detailed guidance contained in HSE Covid-19 Guidance for Religious Services.
Outdoor Worship is not permitted in line with Government restrictions on organised outdoor gatherings.
Drive-in Religious Services may take place outside places of worship (e.g. church car-park) where all attendees remain in their vehicles and no sharing of the vehicle outside of family unit.
Use of Religious premises for any other purposes/parochial activities/community meetings etc. are not permitted in line with Government restrictions on organised indoor gatherings.
We hope this information is of use as preparations are being made for the reopening of mosques on the 10th of May.
We wish you a blessed EID MUBARAK in advance and ask Allah the Almighty to bring an end to the pandemic once and for all soon.
Wassalamu Alaikum
Yours Sincerely,
On behalf of the ICCI Team
Ahmed Hasain
Chief Executive Officer
