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Sharjah, Ajman to have unified Fajr, Imsak time

AJMAN/SHARJAH — The 14-minute time difference during the Al Fajr azan (call for prayer) and Imsak timings to be observed during the holy month of Ramadan between Sharjah and Ajman which was causing concern among the residents of the bordering areas was finally resolved yesterday.

The authorities of the two emirates have agreed upon following one common timing for Fajr prayer and Imsak during the period, Khaleej Times learnt.

The Sharjah Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Department and the office of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf in Ajman have agreed to unify the Al Fajr azan in both emirates during the holy month of Ramadan.

The timings for Al Fajr azan and and Imsak will be hence set by the federal authority which is UAE General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf , and will be followed by both emirates as well as other emirates with the consideration of time difference of a few minutes between the different emirates.

Referring to the issue, an official from UAE General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf said the problem was not very big.

It is very simple and the residents of the both emirates should have brought the issue earlier to the authority's notice. The 14-minute difference being observed for over two years during Ramadan, could have definitely affected the fasting of several Muslims, he admitted.

Obaid Al Zaabi, director of the authority office in Ajman, said a meeting was held on Wednesday between the offices of the two emirates which was attended by Jamal Al Teraifi, Director-General of Sharjah Awqaf and Islamic affairs.

Officials from both offices discussed the issue and agreed that the two emirates will follow the timing which would be set by the General Authority followed by all emirates.

Al Teraifi stressed that there will always be coordination to unify prayer timings between two emirates to avoid confusion among residents of both emirates.

Ahmed Al Munaisi, Head of the Mosque Affairs, section of Ajman Awqaf and Islamic Affairs office said this solution will bring relief to all the residents concerned.

He hailed the role of media in highlighting the issue that troubled Muslims for the past two years and urgent action taken by the General Authority of Awqaf in resolving the problem.

Residents of Al Nuaimia in Ajman and Umm Khanoor area in Sharjah who live on the boarder of the two emirates with only a street separating them had expressed concern about the correctness of their prayers and fasting period.

‘We were confused and worried about which emirate timings to follow, but now we are very pleased over the news that the time difference issue has been resolved and now all mosques in both the emirates would follow unified timings.’

‘Now we can follow Azan and Imsak announcements from the mosques located in Nuaimia (Ajman) and Umm Khanoor (Sharjah) during the holy month of Ramadan,’ residents said

Mohammed Al Sayed, a resident of Al Nuaimia area in Ajman expressed his gratitude to the UAE General Authority of Awaqaf for responding quickly to the issues relating to Muslims' worship.