Iftar sofras (breaking fast) and performing i’tikaaf (the Islamic practice of staying at a mosque for worship for a certain period of time) at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, will be suspended during Ramadan this year.
Through a Saudi Gazette report, the matter was stated by the head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Sheikh Abdul Rahman As-Sudais, on Sunday.
He said the management would provide ready-made iftar meals for pilgrims visiting the Grand Mosque, while the act of distributing Suhoor meals at the Prophet’s Mosque and its site was prohibited.
Abdul Rahman informed the matter at a virtual press conference to present the plans for Ramadan.
He said the main focus of this year’s Ramadan program was to curb the spread of Covid-19 by ensuring that pilgrims complied with all standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“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 the performance of prayers,” he said.
“Translators working at the Grand Mosque will provide guidance service and translate questions to scholars who will issue fatwas (religious edicts) in 23 languages.
“There will also be sign language interpreters for the Friday sermon,” the presidency chief pointed out.
Source: Saudi Gazette