Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to re-open after Eid holiday

The Islamic Authority in charge of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the thirds holiest site in Islam, on Tuesday said the Mosque would reopen to worshippers at the end of Ramadan celebrations. The authority said that after consulting with medical professionals, it decided to reopen the Mosque after Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. The mosque had been closed for barely two […]

The Islamic Authority in charge of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the thirds holiest site in Islam, on Tuesday said the Mosque would reopen to worshippers at the end of Ramadan celebrations.

The authority said that after consulting with medical professionals, it decided to reopen the Mosque after Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

The mosque had been closed for barely two months in an extremely rare measure taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

According to the authority, details on procedures regarding the reopening would be released at a later date.

The site in Jerusalem is known to Muslims as al-Harem al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount.

The compound houses al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock and is worshipped by Muslims as the site from where Prophet Mohammed (SAW) ascended to heaven.

It also houses the remnants of the Jewish Biblical Temple and as such, the holiest site in Judaism.

The site usually attracts hundreds of thousands of worshippers during Ramadan.

Eid-el-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is due to hold on Saturday or Sunday. (dpa/NAN)