4,000 people who registered to observe itikaf, or secluded devotion, at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah arrived on Thursday (Today).Similar number of people registered for grand mosque of Mecca.
Itikaf takes place during the last 10 days of Ramadan when worshippers seclude themselves and devote their time to prayer, supplication, and reading the Qur’an. It starts from the sunset of the 20th day of Ramadan and ends when the Eid moon is sighted. During itikaf, worshipers live and sleep in mosques.
Iftar and suhoor meals, hot and cold drinks, and cleaning services will be provided to those secluding at the Prophet’s Mosque to ensure their comfort. They will also have access to religious lectures in a number of languages.
Those secluding are urged to follow guidelines and instructions provided to them.
There has been a surge in applications for the Islamic ritual of Itikaf or retreat at the two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia in the current Islamic sacred month of Ramadan after the rite was halted for two successive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Saudi official has said.
Itikaf means a Muslim stays at a mosque for the sole purpose of worshipping and coming closer to Allah, following the example of the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him.
The tradition is usually performed in the last 10 ten days of Ramadan.
“This year’s turnout for Itikaf at the Grand Mosque [in Mecca] has been very high especially as worshippers were unable to go to the two holy mosques over the past two years due to the coronavirus-related precautions,” said Badr Al Fereih, the assistant undersecretary at the General Presidency for Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques for Guidance.
Five days in Ramadan were designated for worshippers to register for the ritual and get an official permit.“More than 10,000 applicants have registered for Itikaf,” the official told Saudi state television Al Ekhbariya.
Full vaccination against COVID-19 is mandatory to obtain the required permit for Itikaf, according to him.
“The General Presidency has designated certain sites to perform Itikaf at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet Mohammed’s Mosque
[in Medina],” he added. "No one will be allowed to enter the Itikaf sites without a permit from the competent agencies."
Validity of the Itikaf permits starts from the night of Ramadan 21 until the eve of Eid Al Fitr, which follows the lunar month, the official said.Saudi Arabia last month lifted most COVID-19 restrictions amid a marked drop in infections in the country.
This included scrapping physical distancing among worshippers at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet Mohammed's Mosque. Still, worshippers are required to wear face masks.Itikaf, the practice of staying in a mosque for several days at a time to pray and reflect, has been allowed again at Saudi Arabia's Grand Mosque. This follows a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque said being fully vaccinated is a prerequisite for performing Itikaf — most commonly undertaken during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
A special area has been allocated for those who wish to perform Itikaf away from worshippers and pilgrims, an official at the General Presidency told state news agency Al Ekhbariya.
The Itikaf permit is valid for only the last 10 days of Ramadan — beginning on the night of the 21st and ending on the first day of Eid Al Fitr.
Also at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, a guidance programme has been launched for children of Umrah performers and visitors.
The initiative will provide indicative symbols for non-Arabic speakers and bracelets, to avoid children getting lost in crowds, a state news agency said.
“The Presidency is keen to provide the best services to the Grand Mosque's visitors to raise the level of social responsibility,” the Under-Secretary for social and voluntary services, Amjad bin Ayed Al-Hazmi, said.
A translation corner has also been set at the Grand Mosque to be able to communicate efficiently with non-Arabic speaking visitors of the field exhibitions.
The corner, officials said, will enrich the experience of non-Arabic speakers and attendees of the field exhibitions in the Grand Mosque. The move is also aimed at raising the level of service provided to visitors.