Government | Sunday 1 April, 2018 6:01 am |

The prospective worshipers who intend to perform the ritual of Itikaf (seclusion and staying in the mosque with the intention of worshiping) during the month of Ramadan will be allowed to do so only on the roof of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Prince Faisal Bin Salman, emir of Madinah and chairman of the Haj Committee in Madinah, has approved the committee’s recommendation with regard to preparing the roof of the Prophet’s Mosque for Itikaf and allocating the ground floor of the mosque for prayer only.

As many as 10,000 Mu’takif (those observing Itiqaf) can take advantage of the facility during the fasting month, which is due in mid-May.

Chairing the meeting of the committee in Madinah, Prince Faisal stressed the importance of working to address the negative impact of the misconduct caused by some of the visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque during the month of Ramadan, such as taking personal belongings inside the mosque and placing them in inappropriate places, causing inconvenience to worshipers by spreading sheets on the area designated for prayer and sleeping there, and non-compliance with guidelines regarding Itikaf.

The emir has instructed to constitute a working team to develop an integrated mechanism to regulate the process of registration of worshipers who intend to perform Itikaf in the Prophet’s Mosque.

Earlier, the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques had launched online registration facility for prospective worshipers intending to perform Itikaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The basement of the King Fahd expansion area of the mosque is earmarked for Itikaf.

Itikaf is an Islamic practice consisting of a period of spiritual retreat in a mosque especially during the last 10 days of Ramadan and it is a Sunnah (Tradition) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The Prophet (pbuh) encouraged those who perform Itikaf to spend their time reciting the Qur’an, performing prayers and seeking blessings from Almighty Allah.

The worshipers are advised to keep the holy mosques clean, honor their sanctity and not to do anything that disturbs other worshipers.