JEDDAH — The Saudi higher authorities have issued directives to shorten the duration of Friday sermon and prayer at the Two Holy Mosques to 15 minutes from Friday, June 21 until the end of the current summer season. The directive also includes making the duration of time between first call for prayer (adhan) and second call for prayer 10 minutes by delaying the time of the first call for prayer. This was announced by Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. Sheikh Al-Sudais appreciated the issuance of the royal directive, saying that this reflects the keenness of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on ensuring good health, comfort and safety of the guests of God. This also shows the care of the leadership to facilitate the performance of the Friday rituals simpler and easier, and prevent hardship for the pilgrims and for the worshipers who perform Friday prayer at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. This royal gesture emanates from the basic Saudi principles that give top priority to the safety and protection of individual pilgrims and worshipers. The guiding principle of the Saudi government was and still is "human is first." Hence, it came up with the decision to shorten the two Friday sermons at the Two Holy Mosques to be 10 minutes instead of the current 30 to 45 minutes, so as to ease the burden on worshipers in light of the soaring temperatures experiencing in the two holy cities. The intense crowding that the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah are currently witnessing makes many worshipers directly exposed to the intense heat of the sun, at times when temperatures reach their peak from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is certain that mitigation in the performance of rituals is required to protect them from heat stress and the fatigue it causes, particularly to those pilgrims who are patients and the elderly. The leadership of Saudi Arabia always works to care for the guests of God and is keen to provide them with means of comfort, safety and reassurance in all their circumstances, so that they can perform their worship in ease and comfort without causing harm or damage. Saudi Arabia is the Kingdom of humanity that considers that there is a close relationship between protecting the pure human soul and human brotherhood. Preserving oneself is one of the noble objectives of Shariah law and a humanitarian principle of preserving people's lives and souls
