British mosques should only reopen after the coronavirus pandemic when it is safe to do so, said a cleric who was consulted on the planned relaxation of restrictions next week.
The UK government is expected to announce the reopening of churches, mosques and synagogues in England for private prayer from June 15.
But the chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, Qari Asim, said it would "cause more challenges" to move too fast in lifting the restrictions.
Mr Asim is advising mosques not to reopen until they can hold congregational prayer.
"The fundamental difference between mosques and some other places of worship is that mosques are first and foremost used for congregational prayers," he told the BBC.
"Individual prayers can be performed anywhere, primarily at homes.
"Accordingly, opening the mosques on June 15 will cause more challenges for mosques and imams, as the expectation from the community will be to resume collective worship."
The advisory board has called on the government to allow small groups to meet for the five daily prayers in mosques, as long as social distancing and other measures are respected.
It has prepared guidelines for mosques, including social-distance markings, controls at entrances and exits, and the closure of ablutions.
Mr Asim is urging mosques to reopen only when it is safe.
The UK's Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, has said reopening places of worship is a priority and praised communities for their "enormous patience and forbearance".
Mosques, churches and synagogues have been closed for almost two months after the pandemic forced the government to impose emergency measures.
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Hometown: Cologne, Germany
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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