The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh called on citizens and persons who build mosques in the Kingdom to pay more attention to quality than on beautification.

Al-Sheikh was speaking to a local newspaper during the laying of the foundation stone for the construction and renovation of five mosques along different roads of the capital. He said, “Because so much attention is being given to decorating the mosques and not enough on the quality of the material used, the maintenance cost is high and within a few years the buildings are in poor shape.”

Commenting on the growing consumption of electricity in mosques, Al-Sheikh said that the ministry has laid down new requirements that will solve this problem.

“Several studies are being carried out by the Committee for the Care of Mosques on Land Roads or “Masajiduna” to look after the mosques on the roads of the Makkah area under the patronage of the Makkah governor, Prince Meshaal bin Abdullah,” he explained.

The executive director of the committee, Turki Al-Ruwaibi, said six mosques will be built on the premises of the main gas stations.