Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs are working on a plan to Saudize jobs of imam and muezzin (caller to prayer) at prayer halls of major commercial complexes, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learned from well-informed sources.

This move follows a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs after noticing that some non-Saudis are performing the adhan (call to prayer) and leading prayers at the prayer areas in a large number of malls and commercial complexes.

According to the ministry sources, these complexes are very important in terms of the fact that they are the façade of the Kingdom and a destination for tourists.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs called on the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to direct the agencies supervising the major commercial complexes to appoint Saudi imams and muezzins.

According to the instructions, those operating commercial complexes shall communicate and coordinate with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in the selection process of imams and muezzins, and complete the legal procedures, with a condition that those responsible for these complexes shall have to take care of meeting the financial liabilities while hiring Saudi imams and muezzins.

There are commercial complexes where expatriates from various nationalities are hired as imams and muezzins in the prayer halls.

The new move gains importance in the wake of the fact that there are no specific agencies to monitor the functioning of these prayer halls and that may cause even the tampering of the copies of the Holy Qur’an and keeping booklets and pamphlets of unknown sources.