MADINAH – Seeking ways to make greeting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) easier, Saudi officials for the Two Holy Mosques have instructed the imam to return to the old Mihrab of the Prophet to make room for visitors.

The decision came in action Friday when Sheikh Abdullah Al-Biaijan, the imam of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, led the prayer from the old Mihrab for the first time in 25 years, Arab News reported.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has already prepared the pathway leading to the place for greeting the Prophet and his two companions to allow visitors to greet the Prophet without crowding.

The directive indicates that prayer would be led from the old Mihrab on Fridays, the two `Eids, Taraweeh, and midnight prayers.

Surces said the reason behind the decision was “to avoid the occurrence of stampeding during the visit of the tomb of the Prophet and his two companions Abu Bakr and Omar.”

Sheikh Ali Al-Huzaifi was the last imam to lead prayers from the Prophet’s Mihrab, a practice ceased 25 years ago.