No Iftar, Aitekaf at holy mosques this Remazan

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Saudi government has announced that there will be no iftar gatherings or Aitekaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during Ramazan, according to a report by the Saudi Gazette.

Head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais said that the presidency would provide worshippers at the Grand Mosque with ready-made meals for iftar.

The distribution of meals for sehri would not be allowed at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, he added.

Sheikh Sudais announced the measures in an annual meeting held to launch the presidency’s plan for this year’s Ramazan.

The presidency is “fully ready” to receive pilgrims and worshippers, he added.

Sharing the details of preparations, Sheikh Sudais said: “The mataf (area for circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba) will be designated only for Umrah pilgrims and there will be five designated areas inside the Grand Mosque and its eastern courtyard for [performing] prayers.”

The presidency head said that there would be translators at the Grand Mosque who would convey worshippers’ questions to the scholars and translate the fatwas (religious decrees). Sign language interpreters would also be present during the Friday sermons, he added.

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