Friday prayer timings at Makkah's Grand Mosque, Madina's Masjid-e-Nabwi shortened
Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, ahead of the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage, with rings laid in place around for social distancing amid Covid-19 crisis. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Saudi Arabia has shortened Friday prayers at the holy mosques in Makkah and Madina to protect worshippers from the intense heat.
The move comes under the directive of Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.
The duration of the sermon, prayer, and supplication has been reduced to 15 minutes.
Additionally, the interval between the two azans has been shortened to 10 minutes.
The changes, which began last Friday, will remain in effect until the end of summer.
The adjustments are intended to alleviate the strain on worshippers who endure scorching temperatures while attending Friday prayers.
These measures followed a severe heatwave that saw temperatures in Makkah reach 50 degrees Celsius during the Hajj, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand pilgrims, most of whom were unregistered.