Earlier this week, a video capturing a dance performance taking place outside a mosque in Egypt sent social media users into a meltdown of the sorts.

At first, tweeps said the footage was captured at the reopening of Masjid Abou Mandour Bou Rashid in Egypt's Behaira governorate last week.

However, according to Sada Al Balad, the performance actually took place in celebration of the governorate's national day.

In a video of the performance, a group of dancers is seen performing to a song by late Algerian singer Warda Al Jazaeriya outside the mosque. 

The video later went viral on social media and sparked fury among users who saw the whole thing as 'inappropriate' and 'offensive.' 

First, people said the performance was held at the mosque's reopening ceremony

"This is the opening of a mosque in Behaira. The governorate's mayor and clerics were in attendance." 

Many were quick to point out that it wasn't

"You're all wrong, this performance took place in celebration of the governorate's national day. Focus!"  

But people were still provoked

"It's true that this happened in celebration of a local national day, but it also took place outside a mosque that had just been reopened after a period of renovation. The images and video are clear, there's no need to defend this."  

Some were left speechless

The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic affairs responds

Amid the online controversy, the head of religious affairs at Egypt's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic affairs, Sheikh Jaber Taye'e issued a statement on the matter. 

Speaking to Sada El Balad, Taye'e said: 

"The performance that sparked fury among people across the country took place outside the premises of the mosque and therefore cannot be seen as a trangression against the sanctity of the site."

"All Egyptians respect our religion and there is no way that any sane Muslim would aim to disrespect the holiness of a mosque," he added.

Watch the now viral video here: