This Saudi citizen hosts Iftar with Malayali food throughout Ramadan

P.A Hameed Padubidri
May 12, 2019

Ramadan is a month of mercy. Its practical model was morefully materialized by a Saudi citizen & senior official of Interior Ministry, Saud bin Abdulaziz.

He had been doing the mass "Ifthar" programs for Malayalis for 30 days during Ramadan in Exit 27 Suwaidi Tariq bin Ziyad Mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the past five years.

"Each year, the number of people has been increasing & people from different parts of Riyadh get together here for their tasty & yummy items", Saud Abdulaziz said.

Malayalis are given special consideration in the Ifthar party arranged by the Saudi; this is what Suwaidi Ifthar party clearly demonstrates. 90% participants in the party are Malayalis. A lot of non-muslim brothers are also joining & doing their voluntary services in the tent of Ifthar party.

 "It's a wonderful model of of communal harmony with all people of different faiths come together at one place" Shameer, the Mosque's Janitor, who always took a key role in the voluntary works in the tent, described.

It can accommodate for around 500 fasters (Swaa'im), which contains different types of Kerala eatables & foods like Patthir, Idiyappa (rice- made vermicelli type food), Kerala poratta, domestic curries etc.

Before the Ifthar, religious discourse is being conducted by Riyadh Indian Islahi Center's Rep. Mujeeb Irumbuzhi with the cooperation of Riyadh Rabwah Jaliyath. This religious talk is followed by Question & Answer session.

 Besides, the gifts sponsored by Rabwah Jaliyath are also conferred to those who won the quiz-type questions related to the topic of the discourse.

 "It gives me an immense pleasure to arrange the Ifthar party to our expat Malayalis with their own taste of eatables & foods..." Saud bin Abdulaziz said.

Various personalities from religious, social, cultural & journalism fields are invited on the ocassion. This mass Ifthar is really a kind gesture shown by the citizen of this country to the guest workers, especially Malayalis. 

Shamnad Karunagapalli, V.J.Nasaruddeen, Sulaiman Auragam, Jayan Kodungallur, Shafeeq Kinalur, Jaleel Ayapuzha, Ayyub Karupadana, Faisal Bukhari, Najeeb Swalahi, Mithulaj Swalahi, Shamsuddeen Punalur, Mujeeb Thazhetthethil, Shinu Koyilandi, Farseen Ahmed Darshana, Suresh, Rameez Usman, Askarali Mannarkad & others were present on the ocassion.

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News Network
March 6,2020

Riyadh, Mar 6: Saudi Arabia on Thursday emptied Islam's holiest site for sterilisation over fears of the new coronavirus, an unprecedented shutdown state media said will last while the year-round Umrah pilgrimage is suspended.

The kingdom halted the pilgrimage for its own citizens and residents on Wednesday, on top of restrictions announced last week on foreign pilgrims to stop the disease from spreading.

State television relayed images of an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba -- a large black cube structure inside Mecca's Grand Mosque -- which is usually packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims.

As a "precautionary measure", the area will remain closed as long as the umrah suspension lasts but prayers will be allowed inside the mosque, state-run Saudi Press Agency cited a mosque official as saying.

Additionally, the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in the city of Medina will be closed an hour after the evening "Isha" prayer and will reopen an hour before the dawn "Fajr" prayer to allow cleaning and sterilisation, the official added.

A group of cleaners was seen scrubbing and mopping the tiles around the Kaaba, a structure draped in gold-embroidered gold cloth towards which Muslims around the world pray.

A Saudi official told news agency the decision to close the area was "unprecedented".

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia suspended the umrah for its own citizens and residents over fears of the coronavirus spreading to Islam's holiest cities.

The move came after authorities last week suspended visas for the umrah and barred citizens from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council from entering Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia on Thursday declared three new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of reported infections to five.

The umrah, which refers to the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of year, attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe annually.

The decision to suspend the umrah mirrors a precautionary approach across the Gulf to cancel mass gatherings from concerts to sporting events.

It comes ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan starting in late April, which is a favoured period for pilgrimage.

It is unclear how the coronavirus will affect the hajj, due to start in late July.

Some 2.5 million faithful travelled to Saudi Arabia from across the world in 2019 to take part in the hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam as Muslim obligations are known.

The event is a massive logistical challenge for Saudi authorities, with colossal crowds cramming into relatively small holy sites, making attendees vulnerable to contagion.

Already reeling from slumping oil prices, the kingdom risks losing billions of dollars annually from religious tourism as it tightens access to the sites.

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Khaleej Times
May 27,2020

Dubai, May 27: As the authorities have taken steps to ease the Covid-19 restrictions to allow the people of Dubai to resume sporting activities from Wednesday, May 27, the Dubai Sports Council has answered your key questions.

Q&A

What are the age groups allowed to practice sports during this period?

From 12 years old to 60 years old.

Is it required to do the Coronavirus (Covid 19) medical test certificate before resuming physical activity?

Returning to the activity does not require a Coronavirus (Covid 19) test certificate.

Is it allowed for the elderly with chronic diseases to return to sports activities in fitness and yoga centers?

No, it is not allowed.

Is it allowed to use the shower cabins and bathrooms in fitness and yoga centers?

Shower cabins, saunas and jacuzzis are not allowed, while bathrooms are allowed, with sterilisation being emphasised after each use.

What sports can resume its activities?

All sports except water sports/swimming and that are practiced indoors and swimming pools.

What is the approved operational percentage within the sports facility?

A maximum 50% capacity

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News Network
April 18,2020

Dubai, Apr 18: Saudi Arabia has reported 1,132 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of confirmed COVID-19 patients to 8,274, the Ministry of Health revealed on Saturday.

The ministry has also announced five more deaths from the virus, taking to 92 the Kingdom’s death toll.

Recoveries
As for recoveries, 280 new recoveries were reported, pushing the total number of patients recovered to 1,329.

The ministry revealed that 79 per cent of today’s cases are expatriates and that 65 per cent of the cases were detected through intensified and active COVID-19 screening in densely-populated areas.

A total of 201 patients of Saturday’s cases have contracted the disease due to being in contact with existing cases, the ministry added.

The new infected cases have been placed under complete isolation and they are receiving necessary medical care, an official from the ministry said.

He affirmed that medical teams are intensifying efforts and screening tests in workers' neighbourhoods and accommodations in order to limit the spread of the disease.

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