A senior Imam has made the advised that mosques should not open until they can hold congregational prayers, despite UL government plans for places of worship.
The government is expected to announce that churches, mosques and synagogues in England can open their doors for private prayer from June 15.
But as mosques are primarily for congregational prayers, Muslim leaders have warned that the plans do lack clarity.
Imam Qari Asim said that opening them would “cause far more challenges”.
Full services and weddings will still be banned under the present measures, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to outline to the Cabinet.
In Northern Ireland, private worships are already allowed, whilst in Scotland and Wales, those practises are not allowed to be carried out.
As chair of the Mosque & Imams National Advisory Board, Imam Asim called on mosques and some other places of worship not to reopen until it is safe to do so and they are able to hold congregational prayers.
He said: “The fundamental difference between mosques and some other places of worship is that mosques are first and foremost used for congregational prayers.
“Individual prayers can be carried out anywhere, primarily at home. Accordingly, opening mosques on June 15 will cause more challenges, for mosques and imams, as the expectations from the community will be to the safety of everyone”.
