Egypt allows Tahajud prayer at major mosques starting from 27th of Ramadan

CAIRO – 25 April 2022: Tahajud prayer (non-obligatory Night prayer), which is usually performed at night following the mass night prayers (Taraweeh prayer) during the last ten days of Ramadan, is allowed to be performed at only major mosques in Egypt, announced the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments in a statement on Monday evening.

The performance of the Tahajud would start on the 27th of Ramadan until the end of this holy month, the ministry said.

The ministry has reversed a previous decision that was issued on April 15 banning Tahajud this year. Today decision was taken by the ministry’s Committee for the Management of Epidemics and Health Pandemic Crisis after taking an approval of the Ministry of Health and all the bodies represented in the committee.

Imams who would lead the performance of Tahajud will be thse who have been appointed by the Ministry of Endowments.

On April 15, 2022, the Ministry said that Iʿtikāf (Mosque Retreat) will not be practiced at mosques this year in Egypt due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Iʿtikāf in Islam is a Sunni practice during which a worshiper stays for a certain number of days, usually in the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan, at mosques for only worshiping and avoiding the usual life.

This year, Taraweeh has been permitted in some mosques with the adoption of preventive measures against Coronavirus. Those mosques has been allowed to provide religious lessons and lectures.

Tarawih prayers were not allowed to be held at any other small mosques or mosques at universities, in which there is no licensed imams or preachers.

In case of any violation, legal measures will be taken against the violators, and prayers will be banned at the violating mosques.