RIYADH — The special night prayers of Ramadan — Taraweeh and Qiyam Al-Layl — began on the night of Sunday, the first day of the last 10 days of the holy month, in all mosques across the Kingdom. The voluntary prayers of Taraweeh and Qiyam Al-Layl are shortened and combined with the obligatory prayer of Isha, according to a statement of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance. The statement came on the ministry's Twitter account on Sunday, coinciding with the start of the last ten days of the blessed month of Ramadan. The statement referred to a circular issued by Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Sheikh in this regard on the advent of Ramadan. In the circular, the minister stated that this decision was taken on the basis of a telegram from Minister of Health that drew attention to a recommendation made by the committee concerned with studying the precautionary measures to stem the spread of coronavirus. The recommendation stated that the special night prayers shall be combined and shortened with Isha prayer and that they should not exceed 30 minutes in all mosques in the Kingdom. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman had also ordered to shorten Taraweeh prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah during Ramadan.
