RIYADH: Ramadan is approaching and mosques throughout the Kingdom are being readied to accommodate the increased number of worshippers during the holy month.

The first day of the fasting will be determined on the sighting of the crescent during the coming week and according to experts, new moon could be sighted on Sunday or Monday evenings.

The department of mosques, which maintains more than 7,000 mosques in Riyadh, has directed imams and muezzins to keep the place tidy and ensure adequate supply of power and water during the holy month to cater to the increased number of Muslims.

Establishments in the private sector contracted for the maintenance of mosques have been asked to be on duty at nights during the month.

Improvised partitions for ladies will be built in mosques. Some of the mosques are busy replacing their old carpets with new ones and others are being washed to give them a fresh face lift during the month.

“Everyone likes to come to the mosques for prayers during the holy month and we expect a larger congregation for Taraweeh prayers,” an imam from the Naseeriyah district of the city said.

“The holy month not only affords a good opportunity for Muslims to greet one another but also helps them perform good deeds that will be richly rewarded by the Almighty Allah,” he said.

“We are doing our best to provide worshippers a conducive environment to offer their prayers with serenity and sanctity at the mosque,” the Imam said, adding that loudspeakers outside the mosque premises will not be used during Taraweeh prayers in accordance to the instructions from the authorities. The imam said that Isha prayers will be conducted approximately two hours after the breakfast followed by Taraweeh prayers.

Midnight prayers (Qiyamul Layl) will be conducted from the 20th day of Ramadan till the end of the holy month. These prayers will begin at 1 a.m. for a duration of one hour.

Tents will also be constructed adjacent to some of the mosques to enable worshippers to break their fast. Arrangements have been made for all those who come for Maghrib prayers to have their breakfast in these cosy tents allocated for the purpose.

An official from a maintenance company which looks after more than 1,000 mosques in the capital, said his firm has instructed labor force to work in the mosques till late night.

Last year, authorities instructed imams not to delegate their duty of leading Taraweeh prayers to someone else without taking permission from them.

According to the ministry’s instructions, imams are not permitted to undertake any activities related to religious propagation unless they are specifically licensed to do so. They should also ensure that no beggars take alms inside or outside the mosques.

No mosque official will be granted leave during the month except under unavoidable circumstances and with convincing reasons, the circular said.