Saudi officials fired over Fajr prayer delay at Prophet Mosque
Presence of imams, muezzins boosted at the two holy mosques in the kingdom
Cairo: Saudi authorities have sacked two senior officials at the Prophet Mosque in Medina after a delay in performing the Fajr (dawn) prayer in the holy site, local media reported.
Chief of the General Presidency for Affairs of the Two Mosques, Abdul Rahman Al Sudais, decreed relieving the head and deputy head of the Imam and Muezzin Affairs Department at the Prophet Mosque of their duties due to a “work shortcoming” and tasked the head of guidance affairs of overseeing and restructuring the department.
Al Sudais also ordered presence of two imams to lead prayers and three muezzins for each prayer at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet Mosque, which are Islam’s key holy sites.
The official vowed in a statement that “all necessary measures” will be taken against those found guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty.
The steps were reportedly taken after a 45-minute delay in starting the Fajr prayer at the Prophet Mosque.