- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh's Great Mosque provides Iftar meals during Ramadan
- Date: 2nd July 2014
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (JUNE 30, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TURKI BIN ABDULLAH MOSQUE 'GREAT MOSQUE' SIGN IN ARABIC READING 'THERE IS IFTAR AND SAHUR ' VARIOUS OF WORKERS DISTRIBUTING DRINKS FOR IFTAR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) YEMENI LIVING IN RIYADH, AHMED MOAHAMMAD, SAYING: "Thank God, more than 2,500 people from all different nationalities gather here for Iftar. We feel the sense of Islam and we are closer to God at Iftar time." WORKERS DISTRIBUTING FOOD VARIOUS OF SECURITY ASKING MEN IF THEY NEED ANYTHING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN LIVING IN RIYADH, MOHAMMAD, SAYING: "My family is in Egypt. I am alone here and this place brings all of us from different nationalities together, helping us with our home-sickness. Egyptians, Syrians, Indians - it's a lovely gathering which helps compensate for the fact my family is in Egypt." MEN WAITING FOR THE EVENING 'MAGHRIB' PRAYER TO BREAK THEIR FAST VIEW OF THE GREAT MOSQUE MINARET/MUEZZIN CALLING VARIOUS OF THE GREAT MOSQUE/MUEZZIN CALLING VARIOUS OF MEN EATING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PAKISTANI LIVING IN RIYADH, MOHAMMAD, SAYING: "Thank God everything is here: apples, milk, rice, chicken....everything." MAN DRINKING WATER VIEW OF RICE AND CHICKEN DISH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FILIPINO LIVING IN RIYADH, ERLINDO, SAYING: "We gather here for 30 days for Iftar, to receive free food and we are happy to be here." LEFT-OVER MEALS MAN DRINKING/ MEN WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 17th July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA9ZZSB2J7577H2DQBYRPBYYKRM
- Story Text: Riyadh's Grand Mosque is providing worshippers with a free 'iftar' evening meal which is attracting people from all over the world living in the city and far away from their families.
During the holy month of Ramdan, Riyadh's Grand Mosque is offering worshippers a free 'iftar', the evening meal in which Muslims break their fast at the time of sunset.
More than 2,500 people from all over the world gathered at the mosque, and some say it is not only for the free meal but also a chance to be together with other Muslims.
"Thank God, more than 2,500 people from all different nationalities gather here for Iftar. We feel the sense of Islam and we are closer to God at Iftar time," said Ahmed Mohammad, a Yemeni living in Riyadh.
Another worshipper, an Egyptian living in Riyadh, said he was far from his family and being with other people at the mosque helped him overcome feeling home-sick.
"My family is in Egypt. I am alone here and this place brings all of us from different nationalities together, helping us with our home-sickness. Egyptians, Syrians, Indians - it's a lovely gathering which helps compensate for the fact my family is in Egypt," said Mohammad.
Saudi Arabia started Ramadan on Sunday June 29.
"We gather here for 30 days for Iftar, to receive free food and we are happy to be here," said Erlindo, a Filipino living in Riyadh.
During Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar, all healthy adult Muslims are expected to refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.
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