For more than a year and a half, because of the coronavirus, Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah were either fully closed or under various restrictions. Recently, however, all restrictions on praying at and visiting the two holy mosques were lifted. Thousands of worshippers then took part in the first Jumma (Friday) prayer.

After the pandemic began, the doors of the Haramain were closed to worshippers in March 2020. When the outbreak eased, some restrictions were lifted and the mosques reopened to a set number of people under health rules. All restrictions have now been lifted.

Abdullah Mahdi, a long-time Makkah resident who works in the private sector, expressed his joy. "This is a mercy from the Creator. We can walk the road to the mosque again, and the courtyard of the Kaaba is full of people. Worshippers and visitors still have to wear masks, but that doesn't matter. The Kaaba has come alive again with the footsteps of worshippers," he said.

On Saturday last week, the Saudi interior ministry announced the easing of Covid-era restrictions on the Haramain and on various other parts of the country. Wearing masks and being vaccinated remain mandatory, but all other restrictions were lifted, and the doors of the Haramain were opened to all worshippers.

Source: Bangladesh Pratidin. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.