Closed Madinah mosques to undergo restoration

One of the seven mosques which was shut.

MADINAH: The official in charge of the office of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in Madinah, Mohammed Ismail Abu Humaid, said keys to seven historic mosques in Madinah have been handed to the mayoralty for their restoration.
He said the seven mosques will be opened only after they undergo restoration under the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) with the help of charitable donors.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice has detected certain negative acts by some visitors which were the reason for the closure of these mosques.
Abu Humaid said: “The ministry will deal with these problems after the opening of these mosques by the proper Islamic guidance, awareness and the correct ways,” adding that mosques will be rigidly controlled to prevent any damages caused to their walls.
About the synchronization of time of call to prayer between these mosques and Al-Khandaq Mosque, he said: “This will be subject to the opinion of the Advisory Committee consisting mostly of professors from the Islamic University of Madinah. Their legitimate opinion will be decisive in this matter.
However, when they open the mosque, they will provide it with imams and muezzins.”
The Okaz newspaper reported last Thursday that the seven mosques will be reopened after the closure, which caused extensive controversy. At the same time, the SCTNH explained that the mosques will be subjected to restoration and they will be opened to visitors through the national program for the care of the historic mosques by donors and businessmen who will be renovating the city’s historic mosques.
The commission also announced that a workshop will be held in this regard with the relevant authorities, which will be announced later, in order to find out when it will be restoring the mosques and reopening them to visitors.