Head of the Mosques Management Department at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Mohamad bin Hamad Al Kuwari
Doha: The Head of the Mosques Management Department at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Mohamad bin Hamad Al Kuwari, has said that 490 mosques are having separate places for women worshipers out of 2,172 mosques run by the department across the country.
“The department prepared prayer places for women almost in all mosques at family residential areas for Ramadan enabling women to offer prayers in mass, specially Tarawih prayer,” Al Kuwari told The Peninsula.
Replaying to a question about the arrangement of the department to accommodate growing number of women worshipers for Tarawih prayer, Al Kuwari, said, “We made all necessary arrangements to serve the purpose ahead of holy Ramadan. Temporary arrangements were made in some mosques which do not have fixed prayer places for women. Women cleaners were also provided for the privacy of them.”
The Ministry implemented a number of projects to build new mosque in a bid to accommodate growing number of worshippers due to increasing population.
“The department received 88 new mosques from the beginning of 2018 to April 2019,” said Al Kuwari adding that 67 plots of lands were allotted by the government to build new mosques. Head of the Mosques Management Department urged the faithful to educate their small children about the etiquette of visiting mosque before carrying them to the religious places.
“Muslims look for peace as they pray inside mosques. During your visit with children, make sure that they do not make any noise and laugh or talk hard. Keep the calmness of the place intact and show respect,” Mohamad bin Hamad Al Kuwari said. He called the philanthropists of mosques, which are not run by the Ministry, to keep the facility ready for prayers in terms of maintaining necessary hygiene and providing Imams, cleaners and cleaning materials.
“Most of the complaints which came to the department are related to such mosques. The government allocate budget for running those mosques, which are under the Ministry and registered as endowment property,” said Al Kuwari.
He said the Department communicated with many owners of private mosques in the market areas, commercial centres, residential complexes and petrol stations to make necessary maintenance of their mosques or handover it to the Ministry
“If it was given to the Ministry it will come under the rules of endowment,” said Al Kuwari adding that the Ministry is not responsible to provide cleaners and Imams and Muazins to such mosques which do not fall under it. He said that the department provides Imams to the mosques at specific places under certain terms and conditions.
“In case of any complaint, the department communicates with the owners of private mosques to convey the complaints. There is good response from some people but not from everyone,” said Al Kuwari.
