RIYADH, 14 October 2004 — On a directive issued by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, elaborate arrangements are being made in all the mosques to accommodate the additional rush of worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan.
The first day of Ramadan tomorrow will also coincide with the grand opening of a mosque, named after the mother of Prince Saud ibn Naif in the north of Riyadh. Located on Exit 7, the mosque can accommodate more than 3,000 worshippers. Designed according to Islamic architecture, the mosque is equipped with a modern library and a Qur’an teaching school.
Imams and muezzins of all the mosques in the Kingdom have been instructed to keep the place tidy and ensure adequate supply of power and water during the holy month to meet the requirements of the increased number of Muslims who go for taraweeh which follows the regular Isha prayers. Midnight prayers (Qiyamul Layl) will be conducted from 1 a.m. from the 20th day of Ramadan till the end of the blessed month.
Private establishments contracted for mosque maintenance works have been asked to be on duty at nights to guarantee continuous water and power supply. The department of mosques, which functions under the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, maintains 876 mosques in Riyadh alone. Some mosques in remote areas have been built and maintained by philanthropists in the Kingdom.
Improvised partitions for women are being built in mosques that do not have separate prayer halls for women. Some of the mosques are busy replacing their old carpets with new ones and others are being washed to give them a facelift during the holy month.
“Everyone likes to come to the mosques for prayers during the holy month. Therefore, we expect a larger congregation for taraweeh,” Abdul Aziz, an imam in Nasseriyah Mosque, told Arab News. He said the holy month affords a good opportunity for Muslims to do good deeds since Almighty Allah would richly reward pious Muslims who adhere to Islamic principles and follow the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“We are making every effort to give the worshippers a conducive environment to offer their prayers at the mosque with serenity and sanctity,” the imam said.
Tents are being constructed adjacent to the mosques to enable the worshippers to break their fast during the month. Arrangements have been made for all those who come for Maghrib during Ramadan to have their breakfast in these cosy tents. Refreshments for iftar are provided either by the mosques or by generous Saudis living in the neighborhood.
A maintenance contractor who looks after mosques in Aziziyah district told Arab News that his company has instructed its labor force to work in the mosques till late at night during the month.
