Keeping Madinah’s Ramadan tradition alive

The people of Madinah are very passionate about serving their fellow Muslims. SPA

• 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

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.