CAIRO

- The Egyptian Ministry of Endowments' decision to close the Al-Hussein Mosque for its development has sparked a wave of suspicion and an attack on social media, especially with the approaching month of Ramadan. It was met with a defense by supporters of the authority, who said that it is making achievements efficiently that lacks only good definition and promotion of these projects, and that it also does not improve the selection of projects. The timing and manner of announcing the achievements, which puts them - when they are announced - in the crosshairs of criticism and ridicule.

The Ministry of Endowments recently announced the temporary closure of the Imam Hussein Mosque in central Cairo, to enable the engineering authority that is developing it to finish its work quickly.

The news that was carried by the newspapers and the media, an official statement from the ministry, was devoid of an explanation for the secret of choosing the timing before Ramadan, especially since the Al-Hussein Mosque and the surrounding area witness a distinctive Ramadan atmosphere every year, which puts it at the forefront among the regions of Egypt at these times.

In vain, Al-Jazeera Net correspondent tried to communicate with Engineer Niazi Salam, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the "Masjid" Foundation, which was said to be supervising the implementation. And the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces, which is developing several mosques for Ahl al-Bayt in Egypt.

He referred to a protocol signed last January between Cairo Governorate and the Foundation for the development of Al-Hussein Mosque, explaining that the development process will include treating the foundations and walls of the mosque, developing electrical, monitoring, sound, air conditioning, warning, firefighting, water and drainage systems, as well as treating the soil surrounding the mosque.

The endowment statement stated that "within the framework of the state's interest in developing the mosques of the Ahl al-Bayt in a manner befitting its position, the Imam Hussein Mosque, may God be pleased with him, in Cairo, was temporarily closed, to enable the engineering body responsible for developing the mosque to quickly finish the development work."

Timing and cost

The Awqaf expressed its thanks and appreciation for the efforts made by the authority’s officials in developing the mosques of Ahl al-Bayt, emphasizing that the mosque will be reopened immediately after the end of the existing development operations in it, without specifying a date. It relates to the huge spending amount of 150 million pounds (more than 10 million dollars).

The decision angered a number of social media pioneers, and some of them questioned the secret of the timing before Ramadan in the event that this is not necessary or there are risks that require urgent maintenance of the mosque.

Some of them also linked the decision to close the mosque before Ramadan and the continued strictness of the Ministry of Endowments in the precautionary measures related to the Corona virus, especially with what the country has been witnessing for a long time from several artistic and social gatherings, and these precautions have declined in many countries of the world.

The Ministry of Awqaf announces the closure of Al-Hussein Mosque completely for maintenance and restoration work until the end of the blessed Eid Al-


Fitr


.

— sanaa alsayed (@santa99_sanaa) March 12, 2022

You want to develop the Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo, so you allocate 150 million (why?) for that. Is there not a suitable time to close the mosque for the purpose of development, except during Ramadan?


The radio transmission of the dawn prayer has been associated in our minds with the month of Ramadan, the dawn recitation of the Al-Hussein Mosque, and the prayer in the voice of Sheikh Ahmed Farhat, the imam of the mosque.

— Selim Azzouz (@selimazouz1) March 13, 2022

The closure of the Imam Hussein Mosque, may God be pleased with him and his


honorable people of the house ,


for restoration until the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and


this is the time for it!!!!!!!


(grandfather 😔)

— 🇦🇹Χαλεδ Μουσταφά μοηαμεδ (@khldmosmohamdy) March 12, 2022

On the occasion of Ramadan, the mosque of our master Al-Hussein will be closed throughout the month under the pretext of maintenance!!


Strange timing

— Nagwa (@Nagwa_RD) March 12, 2022

May God afflict you, O Baada.

https://t.co/S0OWNLC5xZ

— Nabila Elsayed (@Nabila_Lawyer) March 12, 2022

It is still left for renewal or what, and then you close the mosque of our master Al-Hussein, open Sayyida Zainab and Mrs. Nafisa, especially Corona, a movie came out and all countries lifted the precautionary measures, open the mosques, because we are bored. We need some faith and spirituality. Enough of the shit we see because of you https://t.co/vejkNjV3f3

— 🎤Asmaa Radwan (@asmaaradwana) March 13, 2022

On the other hand, tweeters defended the government's decision by saying that all mosques are open around Hussein for those who want to pray, and that the Hussein mosque has been part of the restoration plan for months, and that mosques really need this development for a long time.

They commended that the state's construction plans did not forget the mosques, and it is making many achievements, and they said that the mosque and the surrounding area really needs restoration and development to suit its religious and tourism importance.

Closing the Al-Hussein Mosque for its development and completion of its reforms..Where Al-Hussein and its courtyard are located in an archaeological area, Egypt aims to turn it into an open museum and an integrated advanced shrine for religious tourism centers in ancient Egypt, along with the mosque of Sayyida Nafisa and Sayyida Zainab..and their surrounding areas..Developing


the shrines of Al al-Bayt was one of my dreams for Egypt!

pic.twitter.com/vOFqlCsjUO

— Amira Abushahba 🇪🇬 (@mira_aboushahba) March 12, 2022

Is the Al-Hussein Mosque in which there is a bonus for prayer, or what?


I mean, when they close it in Ramadan or in other than Ramadan, what is your problem as long as it is renewed?

Egypt has a mosque every 200 meters.. If Al-Hussein is closed, you will find ten mosques around it with the same reward

— Mero (@Mero03212905) March 13, 2022

Awqaf decides to close the Imam Hussein Mosque until the end of Ramadan..


according to the decision of the President to develop mosques 🕌 Al-Bayt


and develop mosques in ancient Egypt


🙏

— ÀFaF Abdlwahab🇪🇬 (@FFF_1616p) March 13, 2022

The "Masjid" Foundation's Facebook page said that the Foundation has started the work of developing the Imam Hussein bin Ali Mosque in Cairo, after a protocol was signed between it, the Ashraf Syndicate and the Ministry of Awqaf.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the “Mosques” Foundation, Niazi Salam, said that the Foundation seeks to make the Imam Hussein Mosque the “Egyptian Sanctuary”, adding that the project is the first work of the Foundation, which aims through it to develop, raise efficiency and preserve the Ahl al-Bayt mosques in Egypt that will be worked on. Successively.

He pointed out, in press statements, that the idea will then be circulated in all Aal al-Bayt mosques, noting that the protocol signed with the Ministry of Endowments and the Syndicate of Supervision aims for the "Masjid" Foundation for Development to contribute 150 million pounds in principle to the development process that will include all parts of the mosque. all.

The Foundation will be responsible for the operation, maintenance and cleanliness of the Al-Hussein Mosque after the completion of the development work, using modern and advanced methods to control the mosque’s systems and facilities, and to reach the highest rates of maintaining operating rates inside it.