Amman, Jordan
What does the decision entail?
According to a circulating administrative directive attributed to Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf (Islamic Affairs), mosques have been instructed to comply with the following measures:
Mosques must be closed and monitored 15 minutes after the Isha (night) prayer, leaving worshippers only about a quarter of an hour after the prayer.
Religious lessons, sermons, guidance sessions, and other activities inside mosques are prohibited after Isha prayer.
The directive warns that violations will result in
“accountability,”
meaning that mosques failing to comply may face administrative consequences.
Reference Number / Administrative Decision
Based on the available sources, no clear reference number for a new directive has emerged.
However, a letter from the Zarqa Directorate of Awqaf concerning the decision refers to an earlier directive, No. 983, dated February 26, 2021, and justifies compliance on the grounds of
“the interests of work and administrative considerations.”
📅 When was it announced?
The directive began circulating through social media and news outlets on November 2–3, 2026.
Confirmation was subsequently reported from the Zarqa Governorate Directorate of Awqaf on November 4, 2026.
The Contradiction
If the objective is to regulate religious discourse and prevent what authorities describe as extremism, a simple question arises:
Does extremism begin with five extra minutes of religious guidance after Isha prayer, or with a casino operating until 3 AM?
Is the problem a mosque that must close after 15 minutes, or an entertainment and gambling economy that continues operating for hours?
More troubling is that the decision appears to treat worshippers as potential security risks, while failing to apply the same scrutiny to other establishments that may contribute to even greater social and moral problems.
The Conclusion
To ordinary citizens, the contradiction is unmistakable:
The house of God is ordered to close almost immediately, while venues of entertainment and gambling remain open late into the night.
This contradiction raises a deeper question:
Are authorities confronting extremism through religion, through behavior, or merely through restrictions measured by the clock?