Hawzah News Agency - (Istanbul - Turkey) - Officials have completed preparations in mosques after the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Turkey's top religious authority, ordered a resumption of communal prayers following a two-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mosques have been closed to communal prayers since March 16, will only be open for noon, afternoon and Friday prayers. A ban on public morning, evening and night prayers will still remain in place. Mosques will nevertheless remain open for the faithful to pray alone.

The mufti of the northwestern province of Edirne, Emrullah Üzüm, said that people have been asking about the reopening of mosques for some time.

“I hope this decision will boost our morale and spiritual motivation. We will show a stronger stance against the virus thanks to this raised spirit,” he said.

Imam of Edirne’s historical Selimiye Mosque Yusuf Serenli said that Friday prayers would be performed in the yards of mosques, while noon and afternoon prayers would be performed inside mosques by observing social distancing.

“Citizens will be asked to bring their own prayer rugs and prayer beads,” he said.

The muezzin of the Edirne’s famous Old Mosque said that he felt a great deal of joy thanks to the steady reopening. “I have been working for 27 years and have never been in this kind of situation. I missed prayers,” he said.

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya also commented on the matter on Thursday. “We have designated Friday as the day for mosques and other outdoor areas to be opened up. We will perform our prayers while abiding by the measures,” he wrote on Twitter.

Previously, Diyanet has called on citizens to perform wudu – the ritual ablution before prayer – at their homes, as mosque washrooms designed for this will remain closed. Diyanet also warned worshippers to wear protective masks.