The current pandemic has seen mosques and prayer spaces around the world closing temporarily to adhere to the social distancing practices and nationwide lockdown measures.
However, as more countries are easing restrictions and opening up various sectors to revive the economy, two of Islam's holy sites have reopened their doors to Muslim worshippers
Al Masjid an Nabawi, Madinah
On 31 May 2020, Al Masjid An Nabawi in Madinah has officially reopened in stages to Muslim worshippers, as reported by Berita Harian. All mosques in Saudi Arabia except the holy city of Mecca lifted their temporary closure as the country eases their nationwide lockdown measures.
While the number of COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia are steadily decreasing, all prayers at Al Masjid an Nabawi are still performed under strict guidelines where worshippers are required to wear a face mask, bring a personal prayer mat, avoid handshakes and stand within a two-meter distance, according to Al-Jazeera.
Masjid Al-Aqsa, the Old City of Jerusalem
Arab News also reported that Masjid Al-Aqsa in the Old City of Jerusalem has reopened after being closed for two months, in light of the worldwide pandemic. On 1 June 2020, Muslim worshippers have resumed their prayers at Islam's third holiest site under strict guidelines where they're also required to wear a face mask at all times and bring their own prayer mat.
According to The Council of Islamic Waqf, they've lifted the entry restrictions for Masjid Al-Aqsa after seeing the decreasing numbers of COVID-19 cases. Since preventive measures are still important in large gatherings, the council members have also instructed the Waqf guards to take necessary precautions to limit the crowd, especially at the gates of the mosque.
It'll take a while before we can travel and witness the beauty of Islam's holy sites for ourselves. In the meantime, continue to dream and inspire your future getaway with these articles!