Hawzah News Agency - (Blackburn - UK) - Mosques opened their doors to Friday weekly prayers for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown.

There was limited capacity at all the mosques to ensure worshipers practised social distancing.

All attendees had to register at the entrance and told to bring their own prayers mats.

Volunteers were on hand to ensure that the one-way system was in place which had to be adhered throughout.

The Raza mosque based on Randal Street and the Madina Mosque on Oak Street in Blackburn, which are managed together, restricted their capacity but hosted two Friday prayers an hour apart.

Mohammed Khalil, from the mosques, said: “Registration was required to gain entry at the mosque. It went really well and everyone was following all the rules and regulations as we had requested. Anyone we could not accommodate on the first prayers was told to come back in an hour when there was space. We are really pleased it ran so smoothly.”

At the Masjid-e-Hidayah on Milham Street helpers wearing masks had set up a marquee outside and ensured all attendees were adhering to strict guidelines

The Masjid-e-Anisul Islam on Troy Street had a large number of volunteers at hand throughout their first Jummah prayers since the lockdown liaising with worshippers.

A worshiper attending the mosque said: “It was wonderful to be praying Jummah prayers at the mosque again and I am delighted to see so many people were here helping us today. People were just so happy to be back at the mosque more than anything else and these new rules and guidelines are a small price to pay for the opportunity to be here.”

Some mosques used online forms and others printed forms to ensure all details were submitted by attendees as part of their track and trace system.

Mosques across Lancashire had opened last weekend and many took the opportunity to put in place social distancing measures.