Saudi’s Shoura Council could debate keeping shops open during prayer times

Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council is currently studying a proposal that recommends keeping shops open during prayer times, local media reported.

Certain conditions have to be met before the Council can take up the recommendation for study, the Council’s assistant chairman Dr. Yahya Al-Samaan was quoted as saying.

One of the criteria is that it should not clash with any previous recommendations or decisions.

A special five-member committee is being selected to study the proposal, local daily Saudi Gazette said.

Currently, all shops, petrol stations and restaurants in the kingdom stay closed during prayers to allow employees and people to perform them on time.

The proposal has triggered a massive debate on social media platforms in Saudi Arabia, with some residents welcoming a change.

“The problem is that the closing of shops under the pretext of prayer has become an excuse for employees’ negligence,” wrote one Twitter user.

المشكله أن إغلاق المحلات بحجة الصلاة أصبح عذراً لتهاون الموظفين وإغلاقهم المبكر وتعطيل الناس بحجة وعذر الصلاة !! #فتح_المحلات_وقت_الصلاه

— عَـزيـز .. (@aziz_mh90_) March 4, 2019

#فتح_المحلات_وقت_الصلاة Probably 90% of my time would be efficiently spent if they truly made that happen. Looking at it from the economic level, they’ll definitely notice increase in profits from the time lost in closing stores. Its all about opportunity cost y’all.

— MESH (@MshCapri) March 3, 2019

However, many others defending the practice and hoped that it would continue.

Saudi Arabia is the “only state that closes its markets and restaurants for the times of prayer, thank God for this blessing, so do not deprive her of this beautiful distinction”, said one Twitter user.

#فتح_المحلات_وقت_الصلاه

منذ القدم والمملكة العربية السعودية??تحافظ على تعاليم الدين
الدولة الوحيدة التي تغلق أسواقها و مطاعمها إحتراما لأوقات الصلاة ، الحمدلله على هالنعمه
فلا تحرموها هذا التميز الجميل. pic.twitter.com/SsfYuyUYJQ

— ㊝ تركـي (@Turkii_984) March 3, 2019

#فتح_المحلات_وقت_الصلاه

من أجمل مارأيت وقرأت .. تركوا أعمالهم لتلبية حى على الصلاة حى على الفلاح. pic.twitter.com/CsaX1BMdea

— شاب طموح (@shab6amo7) March 4, 2019