السلام عليكم ورحمةالله وبركاته
The government have announced from June 15, 2020 places of faith to reopen for individual worship. This of course is counter to the daily congregational prayers and weekly Jumah and therefore, our Masjid will remain closed.
We are preparing to reopen for congregational prayers with social distancing measures as soon as we are permitted. We will communicate an opening date in due course. We are currently expecting the Government and the Public Health Authority to provide further guidance on the maximum numbers of people allowed in Mosques and how we can open with minimum risk to our congregation and the wider community.
In the meantime, we are implementing new measures to ensure we minimise the risk of cross-contamination amongst the congregation. As a result, this means there will be a number of changes to the way our congregation will enter and exit the building as well as additional safety procedures.
Until we receive clarity from the authorities, there will be no Jumu’ah but are actively seeking to recommence Jumu’ah at the earliest opportunity. Please look out for more information on our website, WhatsApp group and Facebook page. Please note, we will advise on the revised timings and procedures, which will include a limit to the number of people allowed in the Masjid at any one time.
When the Masjid is ready to open for daily prayers, the Masjid will be open 15 minutes before and will be locked 15 minutes after the Fardh prayer – this will be a strict process and all sunnah prayers to be done at home.
Anyone attending the Masjid for prayers will be required to wear a mask and you will need to bring your own prayer mat. In the event, the Masjid is at capacity, we will not permit more people inside the Masjid in order to follow social distancing guidelines.
Upon arrival and at exit via separate doors, attendees will be asked to apply hand sanitiser which must be used.
Please bring a bag in which to place your shoes. You need ensure this bag is in your possession at all times – the shoe racks are not to be used at any time. Hard surfaces is where the virus thrives and transmission occurs.
Wudhu areas and toilet facilities will remain closed so attendees will need to perform wudhu from home.
Upon entering the Masjid, you will need to look for signs that will guide you through to the main prayer areas and after prayer, you will again look for signs that show you how to safely exit the Mosque.
Please ensure that you dispose of your shoe bag responsibly once you have left the building.
Please ensure you have a face covering with you whilst in the Masjid.
The air conditioning, fans and heating systems will not be in operation to ensure that there is no additional risk of cross contamination through airborne infections but windows will be kept open.
Children under the age of 12 will not currently be allowed into the Masjid due to the potential risk of being asymptomatic carriers of COVID.
Anyone who has signs of a flu, a cold, or any other medical condition that puts you in the vulnerable category, please do not enter the Masjid as we do not want to increase the chance of transmission amongst our community.
If you have recently returned from abroad, please do not attempt to enter the Masjid because you could place others at significant risk.
Any members of the community over the age of 65 should not come for congregational prayer in order to protect yourself, your family and others in the congregation.
When congregational prayers start, prayers will be limited to the Fardh prayer only.
Everyone will need to do pray with a gap of 2 metres as per the current government recommendation – signage will be provided to help.
There will be no events, classes or lectures until further notice. However our Imams continue to post online lectures on our YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Madressa will remain closed until further notice however, there are classes continuing online.
This is an extremely challenging time for all of us. We ask Allah, The Opener and The Most High to open for us the doors of His Mercy and allow us to be in the company of His house alongside good health, safety and peace. Ameen.
We ask that all the processes and controls in this message are followed to ensure your own safety and the safety of others. The Board of Trustees are committed to reviewing protocols as soon as government advice allows us to do so.
Lastly, the Masjid could do with the community’s support. The Masjid finances are facing a shortfall due to no Jumah collections. Direct debit and one-off donations can be made directly via our Masjid website.
The Board of Trustees, Kingston Muslim Association
June 13, 2020