Jordan's Awqaf Ministry said Monday (August 15th) it will uphold its decision to limit Friday sermons to one mosque in each area, the Jordan Times reported.
The ministry’s ifta department has issued a fatwa declaring that Friday prayers would only be held in the selected mosque in each area, except for emergencies, Minister Wael Arabiyat said.
There are around 6,200 mosques across the kingdom, including 1,720 in Amman, the minister said, noting that only around 800 are under the supervision of the ministry.
The Friday sermon is potentially a dangerous media channel, he said, as not all those who deliver sermons are trained or qualified to explain hadiths or verses from the Qur'an.
The ministry plans to train imams to deliver sermons, both in the field and at institutions in Jordan, he said.
Imams running in the upcoming parliamentary elections are suspended from delivering Friday sermons, he said, adding that those who try to influence voters indirectly will be suspended.
