JEDDAH: The people of Madinah find in Ramadan an opportunity to come together and strengthen interpersonal communication. They also think of it as an important occasion to welcome the visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque by providing them with iftar meals to break their fast.
The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during Ramadan is a beautiful place where Muslims imbued with the spirit of tolerance and forbearance can be seen coming to both the mosque and its spacious courtyards.
The gathering for iftar has become a famous Ramadan tradition in Madinah with its citizens eagerly looking forward to it every year.
For many years now, citizens of Madinah have been making preparations for iftars during Ramadan by decorating the Prophet’s Mosque and equipping it with essential supplies.
Such gestures are very common across the Muslim world during the holy month of Ramadan. The people of Madinah are very passionate about serving their fellow Muslims and their passion increases manifold during Ramadan. The people of Madinah try their best to serve visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque by offering them the finest cuisines particularly the specialties of Madinah.
It has been a tradition for the residents of Makkah and Madinah to prepare iftar tables inside the two holy mosques. Pilgrims and visitors applaud this tradition, which provides succor to those who are fasting and increases the feeling of companionship and camaraderie among fellow Muslims.
Jaman bin Abdullah Al-Asiri, the public relations director of the Saudi Press Agency, said: “The agency’s iftar services unit set the guidelines and directives for the authorized iftar services providers. This makes them fully responsible for the meals and what they contain. The authorization is canceled in case of violation and given to another beneficiary.”
The agency is providing people responsible for providing iftar meals to worshippers visiting the Prophet’s Mosque with all the means to organize everything in a proper manner.
“The iftar meals inside the mosque only contain dates, coffee, yogurt and bread. The meals served in the mosque’s courtyards contain rice, meat, juices, coffee, tea, water and dates. Areas outside the mosque are divided into squares with particular places for women and others for men,” he added.
“The whole place is properly cleaned quickly and service providers prepare it for the evening prayers and the Taraweeh.”
The General Presidency of the Prophet’s Mosque works round the clock to serve worshippers and to ensure their comfort. More than 16,000 carpets have been set inside the mosque, on its roof and in parts of its northern, eastern and western wings.
More than 300 tons of Zamzam water is supplied daily to provide more than 15,000 cold water containers inside the mosque and on its roof and 40 water reservoirs along with disposable glasses.
King Salman’s project, which shades the courtyards of the mosque with 250 canopies, protects worshipers from the heat. More than 436 running spray fans cool the hot environment in the Prophet’s Mosque courtyards to give the worshippers a pleasant atmosphere.
Keeping Madinah’s Ramadan tradition alive
Keeping Madinah’s Ramadan tradition alive
- More than 300 tons of Zamzam water is supplied daily to provide more than 15,000 cold water containers inside the mosque
- The people of Madinah try their best to serve visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque by offering them the finest cuisines particularly the specialties of Madinah
First group of Bahraini, Jordanian pilgrims depart for Saudi Arabia
CAIRO: The first group of pilgrims from Bahrain and Jordan left for Saudi Arabia on Sunday to perform Hajj.
Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Maawda, Bahrain’s minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf and chairman of the high committee for Hajj and Umrah affairs, bid the pilgrims farewell as they left for Saudi Arabia.
The minister commended the efforts of Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in serving the pilgrims and providing what was required for them to perform Hajj comfortably and safely.
The Jordanian minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites, Mohammad Khalayleh, on Sunday attended the farewell ceremony of the first cohort of Jordanian pilgrims.
More groups are scheduled to depart this week, state-run Petra News Agency reported.
At the ceremony, Khalayleh emphasized the ministry’s keenness to find ways around the difficulties and hardships facing Jordanian pilgrims on their trip to Saudi Arabia.
Khalayleh praised the ministry’s “great efforts” to prepare for the Hajj season according to a precise program.
Additionally, Khalayleh stressed the importance of adhering to the ministry’s instructions, and Saudi regulations and laws in place to organize Hajj.
First group of Sudanese pilgrims arrives in Makkah
RIYADH: The first group of Sudanese pilgrims arrived in Makkah on Sunday for Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency said.
The 305 pilgrims, out of 8,000 Sudanese expected to perform the rituals, were received with gifts and roses upon their arrival.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
Sudan’s Hajj and Umrah official Mohammed Othman Al-Khalifa extended his thanks and appreciation to the Saudi leadership and people.
He commended the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s efforts to facilitate performing Hajj for the Sudanese people amid the crisis their country is going through.
Saudi foreign ministry official receives credentials of new Sri Lanka envoy
Abdulmajeed Al-Samary, undersecretary of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently received the credentials of Sri Lanka’s newly appointed ambassador to the Kingdom Omar Lee Ameer Ajwad on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji on Saturday took part in the inauguration ceremony for El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in San Salvador, the Foreign Ministry reported on X.
Saudi FM arrives in Kuwait on official visit
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Kuwait on Sunday as part of an official visit to the country.
He was greeted on arrival by his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and the Kingdom’s ambassador to Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khalid.
British man’s love affair with all things Arabian
- Content creator says he has always believed ‘Saudi Arabia is the future’
RIYADH: A British man raised in the UAE is living the multicultural dream after embracing his love of Arab culture, as well as the beauty of Saudi Arabia’s language and heritage.
John Bin London, who has a global fanbase on TikTok, often shares videos of himself in traditional Saudi attire.
In one viral video, which currently has around 1.5 million views, he shows his coworkers trying Saudi coffee and eating dates. He teaches them to eat the date with their right hand followed by coffee poured from a traditional dallah into a finjan.
He has also used the social media platform to document his trips to the Kingdom, garnering a positive response from Arabs around the world.
Although London does not have an Arabian background, he is often mistaken for a Saudi national. He grew up in the UAE, interacting with locals and immersing himself in the traditional lifestyle.
A typical day with his friends would involve lounging with Arabic coffee, learning the language in the process. He would also pick up the cultural etiquette and mannerisms of those around him.
“My language was English, I couldn’t speak Arabic other than basic words that expats know, but my lifestyle was (such) that every day I was in the desert and my friends were all Bedouins,” he told Arab News.
London’s passion for Arab culture led him to teach himself the language and build his expertise in Qassimi Arabic, a sub-dialect of Najdi Arabic which is spoken in the Qassim region.
“I am someone who has been raised with multiple cultures and I have traveled the world, but the one that really influenced me are the people from Saudi Arabia,” he explained.
“I have been saying for years that Saudi Arabia is the future. This is partially due to leadership and partially to do with the people. Saudi people are extremely creative and think outside of the box.”
Discussing the positivity of Saudi hospitality and culture, he added: “When you know Saudis, you don’t see negative influence. They elevate us (westerners) in our identity, education, culture and mannerisms … I wish that Saudis could see what a positive impact they have on us and they should be proud of that.”
Through friends, YouTube videos, and books, London advanced his knowledge of the language. Within a few years he learned how to read and write Nabatean script, an ancient alphabet engraved in many parts of AlUla’s inscriptions.
“I have this thing where I have to understand everything to feel I understand something very simple,” he added.
During his first trip to the Kingdom in 2022, London regularly visited Diriyah, which is one of his favorite places, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site At-Turaif.
He said he had dreamed about going there for years. “I would drink my Arabic coffee and watch videos about Diriyah … once I arrived, I got my thobes tailored and the next day went,” he told Arab News.
“From the morning till the night, I am in Diriyah and At-Turaif exploring the place happily. I even Facetimed my mom and brother while I was there to show her the place.”
Although London is based in the UK, he supports Saudi fashion and coffee roasteries. During his Arab News interview, he wore a shirt by Saudi streetwear brand Not Boring which was among 30 brands featured during Riyadh Fashion Week.
“When you look at traditional culture like Saudi clothing and dress, the detail and jewelry that is put into everything is extremely creative, it has always been there,” he said.
