RIYADH — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has allowed the use of the external loudspeakers for Fridays and the two Eids and have issued directives to all of the ministry's branches and all the staff of mosques and the support staff. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance asserted that this new directive was issued immediately on issuing an earlier circular restricting the use of loudspeakers in mosques to the Adhan (calling the faithful to prayer) and Iqamat-ul-salaah (the second call for the congregational prayer). The new directive allows the use of an external loudspeaker fitted on the mosque's wall and directed towards the worshipers standing in rows outside the mosque so that they can hear the sermon and prayer, especially on Fridays and during the two Eids. The objective is to allow the Imam's voice to be heard while he is making the sermon and leading the worshipers in prayer, particularly for those praying outside the mosque. The ministry explained that the officials of mosques started implementing the directives immediately following their issuance while some are still in the process of carrying out the directives. Hence, this resulted in some remarks and observations at several mosques on Friday. The ministry further said that it is closely monitoring, through its supervisors and official platforms on social media, implementing of all the directives it issues on care for mosques and worshipers and providing all the needs so that the worshipers can perform their prayers with devotion, tranquility, and peace of mind. The ministry has also called on worshipers that in the event of noticing any shortcoming or observation in mosques they should dial the Beneficiaries' Services Center at 1933 to report them, so that they can be dealt with and avoided in the future. It stressed that the directives in the circular, issued to all of the ministry's branches in all the regions of the Kingdom are still in force, and they make it mandatory to restrict the use of external loudspeakers to make the Adhan (call the faithful to congregational prayer) and Iqamat-ul-salaah (making the second call for the congregational prayer) only. These instructions are based on the aims for implementing the intents of the Shariah, as indicated by the verses of the Holy Qur'an, the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the religious edicts (fatawa) issued by several religious scholars.
