AMMAN — The
Jerusalem Waqf Department has announced the reasons behind its decision to limit the practice
of i'tikaf (religious retreat) in Al-Aqsa Mosque to only two nights, Friday and
Saturday, and the last 10 nights of
Ramadan.
اضافة اعلان
The decision was made by the Waqf
Council, which is made up of 22
scholars and figures from Jerusalem who have
been serving the city for more than 50 years, according to Khaberni.
‘Not new’Khatib emphasized that these
decisions are not new to
Islamic Waqfs and that the Council believes it is the
correct decision. However, the Waqf has decided not to open the mosque for
i'tikaf on the rest of the week, citing political reasons beyond their control.
“This is a political matter that I
cannot speak about. There are some matters that are beyond our capabilities, no
more and no less," he said.
When asked if the Israeli occupation forces have any intervention in the matter, Khatib repeated his statement that
"the matter is beyond our capabilities".
According to the Director of the
Jerusalem Waqf Department, Sheikh Azzam Al-Khatib, the council members are
aware of every movement in Jerusalem and have been facilitating i'tikaf during
the last 10 nights of Ramadan, as well as on Thursdays and Fridays, as
worshipers come from outside Jerusalem, including Jordan, Gaza, and some Arab
and Muslim countries.
“This is a political matter that I cannot speak about. There are some matters that are beyond our capabilities, no more and no less.”
In some cases, mosques in the Old City of Jerusalem are also opened due to the large numbers of worshipers.
In his message to Muslims, Khatib
stressed the importance of Al-Aqsa Mosque as the first qibla, the second
mosque, and the third holy shrine in Islam.
He encouraged Muslims to visit the
mosque throughout the year and not just during Ramadan or on Fridays. He also
emphasized the importance of caring for the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque
throughout the year, especially in the media aspect.
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