New council to supervise holy mosques

Published August 9, 2023
The Holy Ka’aba in Al-Masjid-al Haram in Makkah on March 24 (L) and the Holy Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia on January 24, 2004 (R). — Reuters
The Holy Ka’aba in Al-Masjid-al Haram in Makkah on March 24 (L) and the Holy Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia on January 24, 2004 (R). — Reuters

CAIRO: The Saudi government has set up a new council, under the direct control of the king, to supervise the affairs of the two holiest mosques of Islam, Saudi state media said on Thursday.

The new body will “preside over the religious affairs” of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Medina, according to a government statement on state news agency SPA posted on social media platform X.

The council, which replaces a previous one that was under the government’s control rather than the king’s, will likely have more financial and administrative independence.

The new council will supervise activities in both Makkah’s Grand Mosque and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) Mosque in Medina, including religious lessons, sermons and calls to prayer, the statement said.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.