Iran has opened its mosques for three nights this week to mark Laylat al-Qadr, the night Muslims believe the Quran was first handed down to Prophet Muhammad, despite coronavirus restrictions.

The Iranian ceremonies of Laylat al-Qadr, which translates as “Night of Destiny”, started on Tuesday and will continue on Thursday and Saturday.

Despite the authorization, not all mosques opened their doors and those that did received a small number of worshippers, most of them taking precautions such as wearing masks and gloves.

The coronavirus has hit Iran hard, with more than 6,700 deaths and 110,000 infections.