Riyadh: Separate charters for mosque imams and Friday sermon preachers (Khateeb) are going to be introduced in Saudi Arabia in the near future.

“The Agency for Mosques under the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, will soon work out the Charter that clearly specifies the role, duties and responsibilities of imams and khateebs.

Only those who agree with the provisions of the Charter and sign it will be appointed at mosques in future,'' said Sheikh Saleh Al Sheikh, the minister.

Addressing a workshop entitled “Mosque and the role of Imams and Khateebs'' for the directors of the ministry branches from various regions of the Kingdom at the headquarters of the ministry here, Sheikh Saleh said that the Charter is mainly aimed improving the competence of Imams and Khateebs and preventing misuse of mosques and their pulpits for ulterior motives.

As part of the Kingdom's combat against terror, the Ministry also wants to put an end to the tendency of some preachers to propagate extremist ideas and deviant thoughts.

Referring to the Charter, the minister said all the imams and khateebs should strictly adhere into the written directives and guidelines of the Charter concerned.

“The Charter would contain all the major guidelines to be observed while leading prayers, taking care of mosques, delivering Friday sermons, and the like. Every imam and khateeb should sign the Charter as a condition to get appointed at the mosques under the Ministry,'' he said.

The minister said that imams and khateebs will be under close monitoring of inspectors and supervisors from the ministry to know whether they are holding fast to the guidelines or making any omissions or dereliction of duty.

Sheikh Saleh also unveiled plans of the ministry to improve the competence and capabilities of mosque imams and preachers.

“The ministry is conducting various types of activities, including workshops, training courses and rehabilitation programs in various regions of the Kingdom to improve their efficiency and upgrade Islamic knowledge,'' he said adding that Friday sermon preachers will be classified into five categories in accordance with their standards.

Sheikh Saleh also drew attention to the problem of misusing of mosque loudspeakers to create annoyance for the public. “Loudspeakers can be used to the maximum volume to make heard the calls for prayers (Adhan and Iqamat). However, some mosque imams use loudspeakers in the same volume while performing prayers also.

The voice of imams reciting Quran during prayers can be heard even at homes and places far away from the mosque,'' he said while warning that this is quite undesirable and is contrary to the Prophet's Tradition.

Sheikh Saleh instructed imams to adjust the volume of loudspeakers to be heard only to those inside the mosque and its immediate surroundings during prayers.

In another development, the Ministry of Education has issued an order preventing mosque imams and khateebs from working as teachers at evening schools.

The directive will be effective from the beginning of next academic year. “Only those having three-year experience will be appointed as teachers of these schools,'' Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Mudairis, director general of the education department in the Eastern Province, said quoting a ministry circular.