KUWAIT CITY, Oct 29: The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs is taking steps to reorganize the mosques designated for Friday prayers, restricting them to congregational mosques that meet the required qualifications under current regulations.

The Mosques Sector of the Ministry has issued a directive to mosque administrations across the governorates to close congregational mosques that were temporarily opened during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to revert to the previous arrangements.

This directive follows a fatwa from the Fatwa and Sharia Research Sector of the Ministry, which stated that the situation should revert to pre-pandemic conditions according to established regulations, contingent upon the approval of the Assistant Undersecretary for Mosque Affairs. Imams and preachers have been instructed to close the affected mosques and notify worshipers of this change, effective from Friday, November 1.