A CleanerEnviro LLC employee diligently works to disinfect and clean Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota prior to reopening on Sunday, June 13, 2020. Credit: Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal

Some mosques in Minneapolis and St. Paul are opening their doors to worshippers for the first time in more than four months. 

The developments follow the state’s decision to allow places of worship to host in-person services amid the coronavirus crisis.

Mosque leaders and imams have instituted guidelines for anyone who enters the mosques. Worshipers are required to wear face masks and must bring their own prayer mats. Before coming to the mosque, people must have already performed wudu, the minor ritual purification, before prayers. Mosque attendees’ temperatures will be checked.

And for the first time, instead of praying standing shoulder-to-shoulder, worshippers will perform prayers six feet apart.

“We want people to understand the danger of this virus,” said Abdullahi “Abdiwajid” Farah, executive director of Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in Minneapolis.

Abdiwajid and other mosque leaders are asking children, the elderly and anyone who came into contact with people infected with COVID-19 to stay home.

Mosques function as the glue that connects the community. People hold weddings and community events at mosques. Elders go to mosques to socialize and get the latest updates about their community.

“We have been getting a lot of questions from the community about when we will reopen the mosque,” said Ahmed Ibrahim, imam of Umatul Islam Center in Minneapolis. “We told them their health is more important than coming to the mosque.”

Mosque leaders said they won’t hold Friday prayers until at a later date.

A CleanerEnviro LLC employee diligently works to disinfect and clean Umatul Islam Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota prior to reopening on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal

Stickers encouraging worshipers to socially distance are placed on the prayer rug inside Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 5th, 2020. Credit: Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal

Stickers encouraging worshipers to socially distance are placed on the prayer rug inside Umatul Islam Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 12th, 2020. Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal Credit: Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal

Hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks will be provided to people who need them when Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center reopens on Sunday, June 14th, 2020. Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal Credit: Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal

A sign on the door of the Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in Minneapolis warns visitors to stay six feet a part, and that face masks must be worn at all times while inside the mosque. Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal
Credit: Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal

Informational posters about COVID-19 are placed inside Umatul Islam Center in Minneapolis.  Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal
Credit: Jaida Grey Eagle | Sahan Journal

Mukhtar Ibrahim is the founding publisher and CEO of Sahan Journal. He previously worked as a staff writer for the Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio News. He has also written for the St. Paul...

Jaida Grey Eagle is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota tribe originally from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. She is a photojournalist, producer, beadwork artist, and writer. She is a member of the Women’s...