The General Authority for Care of the Two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia has announced that registration for Itikaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah will open on March 5.
The registration process, as reported by Saudi Gazette, will begin at 11am (local time) via the authority’s official website.
The Saudi authorities will continue accepting registrations until the slots allocated for the ritual are filled. Permits for Itikaf will be issued through the online platform, in accordance with specific conditions and criteria.
The religious ritual of Itikaf, which is observed during Ramazan, involves Muslims secluding themselves in a mosque for uninterrupted worship and prayer during the final ten days of the holy month. This year, Itikaf will begin on Ramazan 20 (March 20) and will continue until the end of Ramazan.
Itikaf follows the example of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and is seen as a profound opportunity to strengthen one’s connection with Allah, free from the distractions of daily life.
Ramazan began on March 1 in Saudi Arabia and on March 2 in Pakistan, with thousands of worshippers expected to participate in Itikaf at the two holy mosques.
