Auburn Gallipoli Mosque has been given a one-off exemption from the limits restricting places of worship to 100 individuals, enabling it to mark one of the holiest days of Islam, Eid al-Adha.
The mosque can accommodate up to 400 people – still far less than the thousands normally turning up for the event – distributed around four different zones, without any mixing between zones.
As they enter, people will have their temperature tested. Worshippers have to wear masks, carry their own prayer mats, and follow laws that separate society.
Anyone who refuses to obey the rules will be taken away.
In a video to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the mosque said:
“As a commemoration of sacrifice, Eid al-Adha speaks eloquently to the sacrifices of recent months. But even in this dreadful ongoing crisis, the rituals of our lives – sharing prayer and sharing time with our loved ones – give us meaning and purpose,” Mr Morrison said.
“Celebrations such as these are an opportunity to experience the meaning of faith. I know that your faith, as a guide and a light your lives, will continue to support you and your community.”