Muezzins, other staff warned against dereliction of dutyJEDDAH – The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has stressed to the Director of Mosques Affairs; directors of administrations and offices in the governorates and centers; Imams; muezzins; and supervisors of mosques that they must comply with directives for the holy month of Ramadan. The ministry has issued a letter with 17 observations, including the need to prepare mosques during the holy month for worshippers, recite the Holy Qur'an, and remember Allah in an atmosphere of devotion, tranquility and comfort. The letter also warned Imams, muezzins and other staff against remaining absent from mosque during Ramadan, particularly during the last ten days of the month, except in cases of utmost necessity, after tasks are delegated to another person. The ministry called for keeping mosques open throughout the day to allow worshippers to carry out their acts of worship, including prayer, supplication and glorifying Allah, until the end of Taraweeh prayer. It also stressed to supervisors that they must ensure that these directives are implemented, control and monitor maintenance workers in mosques and urged them to double their efforts. The letter also emphasized compliance with times for calling people to prayer according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar. The volume of external speakers should not be too high and there should be no more than four of them, the letter said. It is forbidden to collect cash donations for projects such as providing breakfast to Muslims, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs stressed. It also said traditional tents made of flammable cloth should not be used in residential districts. Addressing I'tikaf (an act of worship in which Muslims devote their time to prayer, recitation of the Qur'an and glorifying Allah, and only leave the mosque for necessities) the ministry said the mosque's Imam is responsible for giving permission to people who wish to observe it and he should make sure that there is nothing that contravenes I'tikaf. __
