Saudi Arabia imposes strict guidelines for upcoming Ramzan celebration

On Friday, third March 2023, Saudi Arabia introduced new rules through the upcoming Muslim month of Ramzan which begins on twenty second March 2023. According to this order, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance has imposed strict restrictions on Ramzan practices this yr. Loudspeakers in mosques are prohibited as per this order whereas worshippers are ordered to do Iftar contained in the mosques.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Islamic Affairs, Abdul Latif Al-Sheikh launched the doc and in addition shared it from his ministry’s Twitter deal with on March 3. This doc has 10 key directions relating to the Ramzan celebrations in Saudi Arabia. As per this order, through the holy month of Ramadan, imams and the muezzin shouldn’t stay absent. If required, they need to delegate the duty performer for the absence with the permission of the regional department of the Ministry, and the particular person performing on their behalf has agreed to not breach the duty. The permitted time of absence can’t be exceeded.

أصدر معالي وزير الشؤون الإسلامية د.#عبداللطيف_آل_الشيخ تعميمًا لكافة فروع الوزارة بضرورة تهيئة المساجد والجوامع لمايخدم المصلين، وذلك ضمن استعدادات الوزارة لاستقبال شهر #رمضان المبارك لهذا العام ١٤٤٤هـ. pic.twitter.com/9Q4x9CWWPE

— وزارة الشؤون الإسلامية 🇸🇦 (@Saudi_Moia) March 3, 2023

The order additional instructs the imams and muezzins to stick to the calendar and timings of all of the prayers through the month. They are requested to maintain the night prayers quick and full the evening prayers with ample time in order that worshippers would not have to face any inconvenience. At mosques, additionally it is forbidden to take photos or use cameras to broadcast worshippers or the recital of prayers by any medium. Also, the Ministry prohibited attendees to mosques from bringing kids.

Ramadan guidelines in #SaudiArabia

– No loudspeakers
– No broadcast of prayers
– No itikaf with out ID (state surveillance on the ‘zealous’)
– Keep prayers quick
– No accumulating donations
– No children in mosques for prayers
– No iftar inside mosques
cc @zoo_bear
pic.twitter.com/o6Zjdw4JK4

— Oxomiya Jiyori 🇮🇳 (@SouleFacts) March 9, 2023

The order says that Iftar for the fasting individuals – if any – must be within the locations ready for that within the courtyards of the mosque, and underneath the accountability of the imam and the muezzin and that the one answerable for iftar for the fasting particular person ought to clear the place instantly after ending the iftar, and never create any short-term rooms or tents and the like to carry the iftar in them. The mosque authorities are additionally banned from accumulating any funds for iftar or another purpose.