Religion: Saudi Mosques Open 24 Hours for Ramadan

Mosques across Saudi Arabia will open 24 hours a day under new plans to allow Muslims to pray at their convenience during Ramadan, the month of fasting which begins in September.

Under the proposals, unveiled yesterday by the Islamic affairs ministry, extra imams are to be drafted in to accommodate the annual increase in worshipers who spend longer hours at their local mosque. In Ramadan, Muslims lengthen the fifth and final prayer of the day and more time is given over to religious practices, such as reading the Qur'an and repeating phrases glorifying Allah.

A ministry official, Tawfik al-Sedairi, said that worshiping Allah was a priority for many during Ramadan.

"The ministry is ensuring the safety of Muslims by hiring more staff for night shifts. Imams and workers will be present every day." Some Muslim men also choose to perform itkaaf, spending the last 10 days exclusively within the confines of a mosque.

Al-Sedairi said imams had a great duty to meet the additional spiritual needs and activities of Muslims during Ramadan, adding that the ministry had instructed mosques with four loudspeakers to avoid disrupting nearby, smaller mosques after worshipers complained about losing their concentration during prayer.

Meanwhile, Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, is preparing itself for the arrival of 3 million pilgrims during the 30 days of Ramadan.