ABHA: Mosques in the southern province of Asir will remain open for worshippers throughout the day during the month of Ramadan, said Abdullah bin Humaid, director of the Abha office of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Propagation and Guidance.
“Imams and muezzins should not absent themselves from mosques without an acceptable excuse otherwise they might face dire consequences, including termination of service,” said Humaid.
He also warned against foreigners doing the work of imams and muezzins and said mosque supervisors will be punished if foreigners are found leading prayers or making the prayer call.
Humaid reminded imams and muezzins of the ministry’s instructions preventing the collection of donations for iftar gatherings in mosques and said this has been left for welfare societies to organize.
He also asked mosques in the region not to add more amplifiers to their sound systems so as not to disturb residents and neighboring mosques.
“The branch office of the ministry has supplied all mosques in the region with sufficient quantities of the Holy Qur’an in different sizes and has formulated a plan for them to deliver religious lessons after Asr and before Isha prayers,” he said.
He reiterated that the ministry is undertaking a drive to ensure all mosques and public toilets in the Abha area are clean.
He said the mosques on express roads and gas stations are not the responsibility of the ministry but the Ministry of Rural and Municipal Affairs while mosques inside public parks were usually the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture.
