No loudspeakers, iftar inside mosques: Saudi Arabia imposes restrictions on Ramadan practices this year

There will be no loudspeakers, no itikaf without ID, no broadcasting of prayers and no iftar inside mosques, as Saudi Arabia announced a set of rules and restrictions on the practice of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Alsheikh, gave 10-point instructions ahead of Ramadan for the year 1444 AH.

The government has also asked worshipers not to bring children to mosques as this will disturb worshipers and cause them to lose their respect.

Itikaf is the practice of Islam where members of the community isolate themselves for the last 10 days of Ramadan in a Masjid with the intention of devoting their time solely to the worship of Allah.

Here are 10 points from the order:

• According to the order, imams and muezzin must not be absent during the holy month of Ramadan. If necessary, they must assign the person performing the work for the period of absence and this assignment must be with the approval of the leadership of the ministry in the region and the one on his behalf has pledged not to breach the responsibility. The absence must not exceed the authorized period.
• Adherence to the calendar of Umm al-Qura, emphasis on raising the adhan “call to prayer of Asha’s prayer at the time of Ramadan, and iqamah” performing prayers according to the approved period for each pray.
• Taking into account people’s conditions in Tarawih prayers, completion of Tahajjud prayers in the last 10 days of Ramadan with enough time before Fajr adhan that devotees are not inconvenienced.
• Respect the advice of the Prophet in the Qunot “Duaa prayer to Tarawih prayer and non-prolongation, and be limited to Jawame Duaa and sahih supplications, and avoid hymns and intonation.
• The importance of reading some useful books on the mosque group, according to the circulars that regulate this.
• Respect the directives issued regarding the controls of the installation of cameras in mosques, not to use them to photograph the imam and the faithful during the performance of the prayers, and not to transmit the prayers or broadcast them in the media of any kind .
• That the imam be responsible for authorizing itikaaf, verifying that there are no offenses on their part, knowing the data of the itikaaf, and requesting the approval of the approved sponsor for non Saudis, according to the directives notified in advance concerning the ‘tikaaf checks.
• Do not collect financial donations for fasting (and other) iftar projects.
• Iftar for fasters – if there are any – should be in the places prepared for it in the courtyards of the mosque, and under the responsibility of the imam and the muezzin, and that the leader of the iftar fasting for the fasting person should clean the place immediately after finishing the iftar, and not create temporary rooms or tents and the like to hold the iftar there.
• Congregants are requested not to accompany children, as this will disturb congregants and cause them to lose their reverence.

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