Saudi Arabia has announced that, after a two-year break, I’tikaf will be reinstituted at Makkah’s Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina during the holy month of Ramazan. The Saudi Gazette reported this on Wednesday.
In a meeting to launch the presidency’s Ramazan plan, Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, announced the decision.
“I’itkaf in the Two Holy Mosques will take place in the last ten days of the blessed month of Ramadan, following the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.”
The General President Sheikh Abdur Rahman Al Sudais: “I’tikaf in the Two Holy Mosques will take place in the last ten days of the blessed month of Ramadan, following the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.” pic.twitter.com/isbeE2VfBB
— Haramain Sharifain (@hsharifain) March 22, 2022
He said that the presidency will soon start issuing permits through its official website. “They will be in line with specific conditions and set criteria,” Al-Sudais added.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, i’tikaf, the religious practice of staying in a mosque for a period of time solely to worship and meditate, was suspended at the Two Holy Mosques. In order to stem the spread of Coronavirus, i’tikaf was suspended during Ramadan of 2021.
As many as 100,000 worshipers used to perform itikaf in the two mosques during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
I’tikaf were assigned rooftops of mosques in 2019 with separate shelves and safes. A prayer rug, pillow, light bed sheet, and ihram clothes are provided for each worshipper in a locker with a key.
The presidency has also launched an online portal to give guidelines and offer registration facilities for the prospective worshippers intending to perform i’tikaf. While restrictions were also lifted for iftar, Taraweeh prayers, and i’tikaf at all other mosques in Saudi Arabia too.
At the beginning of March, Saudi Arabia lifted most Covid-19 restrictions, including social distancing in public spaces and quarantine for vaccinated arrivals.