The Saudi government has established a fresh council, directly overseen by the King, to manage the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque – Islam’s most sacred sites – as reported by Saudi state media on Thursday.
The council’s role, as stated in a government announcement on the official state news agency SPA, will be to “administer the religious matters of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah.”
This newly formed council, unlike its predecessor, which was under government jurisdiction, will likely enjoy increased financial and administrative autonomy.
Makkah’s Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah hold utmost significance in Islam. The council’s responsibilities encompass a spectrum of activities within these sites, ranging from religious teachings and sermons to coordinating calls to prayer.
Notably, Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Sudais has been appointed as the head of religious affairs for both the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque by royal decree, according to media reports.
Additionally, Tawfiq Al Rabiah has been named as the chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.