Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MADINAH — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has granted permission to imams leading regular prayers and muezzins to deliver Friday sermons in their respective mosques as part-time preachers in what observers consider is a move to reduce expenses.

Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs Tawfiq Al-Sudairy said in a circular sent to the ministry's branches across the regions that a number of imams and muezzins had expressed their wish to deliver Friday sermons. They said their work as imams and prayer callers should not be impediment for them in delivering Friday sermons, which they are qualified and trained to do, according to Al-Sudairy.

He asked all imams and muezzins who wish to deliver Friday sermons and who feel that they have enough qualifications for the job to apply to the branch of the ministry in their area to formalize their appointment.

Informed sources have said the ministry has of late dismissed a number of full-time and reserve preachers and opened the door for imams and muezzins to work as part-time preachers without any extra payment.

They said full-time imams and muezzins are classified into two categories: Those in Category A receive a monthly salary of SR4,570 while those in Category B are paid SR3,765 a month.

According to the sources, full-time preachers have no other jobs except delivering Friday sermons, so the ministry has decided to do away with them as well as the reserve preachers to cut costs.

The ministry is supervising a total of 90,826 mosques manned by 46,506 imams and 34,949 muezzins all over the Kingdom.