All praise to Allah (swt) that He showed us an early sign of the resolution of COVID-19 pandemic and our staying-home sacrifice has begun to pay off. As you may all know BC government announced its plan for easing COVID-19 restrictions! As such the Islamic Society of BC (ISBC) approached the City of Port Coquitlam to allow us to reopen the Masjid for prayers and alhamdulellah, we have received the City approval for this. The ISBC is pleased to announce the reopening of Masjid Alhidayah for the five daily prayers and Juma prayer from Fajr of tomorrow (Saturday May 9th, 2020/Ramadan 16th, 1441) inshallah.
However, this reopening is conditional to full compliance with the following two rules:
- Congregation size of 50 persons or less, and
- Maintaining social distancing of 2 meters (6 feet) from each other (including household)
In order to meet these rules and also ensuring everyone’s safety the following protocols are put into effect:
- The prayers will be limited to the 5 daily prayers and Juma (no taraweeh or any kind of sunna) as advised by Sheikh Adnan.
- The attendance is limited to healthy adult men (no children, no sisters). If you are sick you must stay home.
- For the daily prayers, the Masjid will open 10 min before Iqama time (posted on our website) and we will let people in until Iqama time or until we reach 50 persons. For Juma, the door will open 30 min before Khutba starts and remain open until we reach 50 people inside or we close the door for Khutba.
- Once the door is closed the prayers will be performed with the people inside and when it is finished and the Imam leaves everyone has to leave too and then the Masjid will be closed and the security system will be turned on.
- There is no time allowance for sunna after doing the freedah. Sunna/nafelah prayers are to be performed at home.
- Re parking:
- underground parking will be opened for Juma prayers and when we expect big crowds.
- Kindly watch the underground and street parking rules and the rights of the neighbors upon us.
- Full compliance with parking rules and good neighborhood behavior are expected from all of us.
- Please be advised of the following points for your safety:
- Everyone must bring their own prayer mat and must take it with them upon finishing the prayers.
- Optional: face mask, glove, hand sanitizer, wipes etc
- Make wadu at home and try as much as possible not to use the public washrooms in general.
- We did social distance markings on the floor of all the areas in the Masjid and outside too. The main prayer room will hold 49 people and that is it. The gym and 2nd floor are closed. The washrooms are closed except one handicap and one regular as per the City requirements. Maximum two people at a time in the wadu and washroom areas. Signs are posted to guide you.
Should you have any question please feel free to contact us through email webadmin@isbcadmin.ca
