JEDDAH: Saudis celebrated Valentine’s Day and its message of love and peace in the absence of religious police after a fatwa permitting the celebrations was circulated via Twitter.
Gift and flower shops opened their doors without any hassle or confiscation from the religious police, who formerly banned florists from working on Valentine’s Day and monitored the Kingdom’s streets for any violations. This was confirmed by market visits by a number of Arab News reporters in different Saudi cities.
Speaking to Arab News, Sheikh Ahmed Qasim Al-Ghamdi, former president of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Makkah, endorsed Valentine’s Day as a social celebration similar to the National Day and Mother’s Day.
“All these are common social matters shared by humanity and are not religious issues that require the existence of a religious proof to permit it,” he said.
Describing love as a natural feeling, the cleric said that Valentine’s Day celebrated “a positive aspect of the human being.”
Al-Ghamdi said the celebration of love was not limited to non-Muslims. “There are many worldly things that we deal with morally that may be of interest to non-Muslim communities and became more common among Muslim communities because of their popularity,” he said, citing the Prophet as an example. “The Prophet dealt with many worldly things that came from non-Muslims.”
He rejected the view that marking the day is an imitation of non-Muslims and said: “Even greeting peaceful non-Muslims in their special religious holidays is permitted without participating in a forbidden act that contradicts Islam.”
Al-Ghamdi stressed his support for fatwas that permit the celebration of Valentine’s Day and exchanging of gifts.
A fatwa issued on Feb. 13 by the fatwa secretary of Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriya (Egyptian Religious Edict House), Ahmed Mamdouh, said: “There is no harm to allocate one day to show love to one another.”
Tunisian Grand Mufti Othman Battikh also rejected the claim that Valentine’s Day is solely a Christian tradition. “Anything that brings people closer together is good and desirable,” he said, adding that Muslims can celebrate without departing from Islamic ethics.
Mohammed Al-Shahat Al-Jundi, a member of the Islamic Research Center, said that the celebration helps “maintain ties of kinship.”
Al-Ghamdi described the current religious police as “very useful and conciliatory.”
Un-forbidden love: Saudis enjoy second ‘religious police-free’ Valentine’s Day
Un-forbidden love: Saudis enjoy second ‘religious police-free’ Valentine’s Day
Saudi program to train rural women in leathercraft
RIYADH: The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Saudi Reef, has launched its first vocational empowerment training in leather industries for rural women in Al-Kharj governorate.
The program aims to promote entrepreneurship and support the national economy in line with Vision 2030 goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It provides rural women with practical skills in leather manufacturing to help develop their small businesses and improve the marketing of their products.
Majed Al-Buraikan, Saudi Reef assistant secretary-general for media and communication, said 15 rural women are participating in the training, which covers value-added leather production, design, product diversification, quality control, and business management.
The program includes training in business planning, cost management, marketing, and branding to help participants establish viable ventures, according to SPA.
Recently, the UN World Tourism Organization recognized Saudi Reef’s role in supporting sustainable development through its link with rural tourism.
Basmah Al-Mayman, UNWTO Middle East director, in a letter to Saudi Reef Secretary-General Ghassan Bakri commended the program for organizing rural tourism events in various regions of the Kingdom.
UNWTO expressed interest in collaborating with Saudi Reef on initiatives focused on sustainable community development and rural tourism.
Saudi Arabia to establish 7 new bee breeding stations
RIYADH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has announced the establishment of seven queen bee breeding and nucleus colony production stations in regions selected for their suitability: Jazan, Asir, Madinah, Makkah, Hail, Tabuk, and Najran.
Construction is expected to be completed this year, with operations beginning in 2026. The facilities will add to the four existing stations in Abha, Baha, Qassim, and Riyadh, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The ministry said the projects will aim to preserve and strengthen the local bee strain and reduce reliance on imported colonies, as the Kingdom currently imports about 1.3 million nucleus colonies annually.
The stations will implement programs, including training in queen rearing and artificial insemination, along with promoting practical breeding techniques.
The initiative also includes guidance on advanced beekeeping methods and measures to limit the spread of diseases and pests associated with imported bees. Research will be conducted to support the maintenance and development of local strains.
The ministry said that the projects involve selective breeding based on research and may be offered for investment through beekeepers’ cooperatives or the private sector. Efforts will also be made to support and market the stations’ output.
In line with World Bee Day on May 20, the ministry has called for improving the knowledge and practices of beekeepers to help protect bee populations from disease, pests, pesticides, and environmental stressors.
It also referred to the launch of initiatives to encourage modern beekeeping, increase production efficiency, and support those working in the sector.
There are 25,644 licensed beekeepers in Saudi Arabia, producing 5,832 tonnes of honey from 1 million beehives. The Kingdom’s varied vegetation supports the production of about 20 types of honey, including sidr, talh, and samar.
Saudi authorities launch campaign on safe use of home medical devices
RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has launched a digital awareness campaign to educate the public on the safe and proper use of medical devices and supplies intended for home use.
The authority aims to reach diverse community segments, providing essential awareness messages and practical guidance to enhance health safety in the home, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It highlighted the importance of purchasing home medical devices from licensed suppliers that offer warranties and after-sales services, including necessary maintenance.
The authority also urged the need to verify that the device has the required licenses and a valid marketing authorization certificate.
Given the wide range of available options and specifications, the authority advised consulting a qualified healthcare professional to select the most appropriate device for an individual’s condition.
It also highlighted the importance of reviewing usage and care instructions, and obtaining any necessary training before purchase.
General safety guidelines include ensuring instructions are available in both Arabic and English, retaining the purchase receipt, keeping devices out of reach of children and pets to prevent tampering, and following recommended calibration and maintenance schedules.
The authority called on the public to report any issues or incidents related to home medical devices or supplies through the National Center for Medical Devices Reporting at ade.sfda.gov.sa/Home/NcmdrReport or by calling the unified number 19999.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives publishes book on adhan history, muezzins
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, known as Darah, has released a new book on the history of the adhan (call to prayer) and biographies of the muezzins of the Two Holy Mosques throughout the centuries.
The book was authored by Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, member of the Council of Senior Scholars and imam and preacher at the Grand Mosque.
It meticulously examines the adhan ritual in the Two Holy Mosques, covering its origins, virtues, and significance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The book is divided into three sections: the adhan’s history, biographies of 95 Grand Mosque muezzins, and 147 Prophet’s Mosque muezzins.
It presents biographies of muezzins who have issued the call to prayer from the time of Prophet Muhammad to the present, the SPA reported.
Drawing on credible historical sources and interviews, the author used a scientific approach to document the evolution of adhan tools and the relationship between the muezzin and the mosque.
The book also highlights the Saudi government’s support in selecting skilled muezzins and using advanced audio technology for local and global broadcasts.
This publication enriches the foundation’s collection, serving as a vital resource for researchers and those interested in the history of the Two Holy Mosques and Islamic rituals.
National Water Co. completes $106m in upgrades ahead of Hajj
- Upgrades will boost operational efficiency, expand network coverage and enhance real-time monitoring capabilities
JEDDAH: The National Water Co., through its Western Cluster, has completed 18 infrastructure and operational projects ahead of the Hajj season in Makkah and the holy sites, valued at SR400 million ($106 million).
The projects are part of efforts to refine water and environmental services for residents, visitors and the millions of pilgrims expected during Hajj.
Upgrades will boost operational efficiency, expand network coverage and enhance real-time monitoring capabilities.
Capital works include the construction of a 190,000-cubic meter steel water tank along with the development and rehabilitation of water storage facilities, main pipelines, valve rooms and distribution networks.
These efforts are designed to support supply sustainability and reliability, particularly during peak pilgrimage hours.
Operational upgrades include the installation of advanced monitoring systems such as pressure gauges, meters and network sensors. Pumps and isolation valves across water, wastewater, fire and cooling systems have also been modernized to boost performance.
More than 1,200 technical, engineering and administrative staff have been assigned to oversee operations and maintain uninterrupted service during the Hajj season. The company said it will provide round-the-clock water supply to the Prophet’s Mosque and key religious and historical sites in Madinah.
To safeguard water quality, all storage units and connections to pilgrim accommodation are subject to testing. Monitoring is conducted through teams at central and mobile laboratories, which can analyze more than 1,000 water samples per day.
Water flow in Madinah’s central area will be managed using a smart operation system connected to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition monitoring and control room, allowing real-time oversight throughout the Hajj season.
