UAE opens mosque named after nation’s martyr

Martyr Zakaria Salman Obaid Al Zaabi's family and government officials attended the opening of the mosque in Abu Dhabi

A mosque named after Emirai martyr Zakaria Salman Obaid Al Zaabi has opened in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Wam

A mosque named after Emirati martyr Zakaria Salman Obaid Al Zaabi has opened in Abu Dhabi.

It was inaugurated on Friday by Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun, executive director of the Martyrs’ Families Affairs Office.

The martyr’s family and several government officials attended the opening of the mosque, which is located in the capital’s Al Samha area.

Sheikh Khalifa of Martyrs’ Families Affairs Office and other worshippers offered prayers there.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun offers prayers at the mosque named after an Emirati martyr. Courtesy: Wam

Mosques across the Emirates held their first Friday prayers in eight months as restrictions were lifted.

The mosque can accommodate about 431 worshippers and has the “latest and highest” standards of engineering designs.

The Martyrs' Families Affairs Office was launched in 2015 under the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court. It oversees the needs of martyrs’ families.

Several initiatives have been launched by the office, including naming mosques after martyrs and launching platforms for artistic expressions to encourage people to share "how proud they are" of the sacrifices of martyrs.

Earlier this year, a Sharjah mosque was named after martyr Sultan Mohammed bin Huwaiden Al Ketbi.

In 2018, a mosque in Ras Al Khamiah was named after martyr Hassan Abdullah Mohammed Al Beshr.

Friday prayers will resume across UAE mosques on December 4 after nine months of suspension such as Dubai's Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque and Centre. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mosques reopened in July, but Friday prayers had remained suspended to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Same measures that have been in place also apply to mid-day prayers each Friday

Worshippers must bring their own prayer mat and Quran, perform ablution at home, children and elderly are to pray at home and social distancing of two-metres is required

Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa, imam at the Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque and Centre in Dubai

Mosques will open five minutes before the Adhan (call to prayer) and Friday prayer will be only 20-minutes-long, instead of the usual 30 to 40 minutes

Regular sanitising of mosques has been taking place

Mosques get packed with worshippers during the mid-day prayer but Covid-19 has changed things.

However, gathering outside of mosques after prayers is no longer allowed and social distancing must be maintained

Face masks are required

Imams said worshippers are 'happy and excited' that they will be able to offer Friday prayers at the mosque after so many months