Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance has announced new prayer time arrangements for the 2026 Hajj season, reducing the interval between the Adhan and Iqamah in mosques serving pilgrims across Makkah and the holy sites.
The directive, approved by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al-Alsheikh, applies to mosques in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, the central areas surrounding the Grand Mosque, and the sacred Hajj sites.
Under the new schedule, the waiting period between the call to prayer and the commencement of congregational prayers has been shortened to ease crowd movement during the pilgrimage period.
Fajr prayer will now have a 15-minute interval between the Adhan and Iqamah, while Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers will each have only a 5-minute gap. In addition, Friday sermons and prayers must not exceed a total duration of 15 minutes.
The move is aimed at improving crowd management and reducing congestion around mosques, especially as millions of pilgrims move between worship sites under intense summer temperatures.
Authorities believe the shorter intervals will help pilgrims complete prayers more efficiently and continue their movements smoothly, minimizing overcrowding at mosque entrances and surrounding routes during the Hajj operations.
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