Pengembara Malaysia Farhan Mokhali dan Ainaa Fakhira tiba di Masjid Nabawi di Madinah pada 23 Mac 2025. (Farhan Mokhali)
KUALA LUMPUR – Pelancong Malaysia yang mengembara melalui tujuh negara untuk sampai ke Arab Saudi untuk menunaikan umrah telah menamatkan perjalanan Ramadan selama 30 hari, berpuasa bersama masyarakat Islam yang mereka lawati sepanjang perjalanan.
Farhan Mokhali, 28, dan Ainaa Fakhira, 27, memulakan perjalanan dari Padang Besar, sebuah pekan bersempadan dengan Thailand di bahagian utara Malaysia, Perlis.
“Inspirasi dan idea semata-mata datang daripada Ainaa. Dia adalah orang yang sentiasa bermimpi untuk menjadi backpacker dan mengembara ke seluruh dunia sejak dia remaja,” kata Farhan kepada Arab News.
“Selepas beberapa tahun menangguhkan impian itu, pada 2025 dia memutuskan untuk mengejarnya kerana dia tidak mahu menunggu lebih lama lagi.”
Dari Hatyai di seberang sempadan, mereka sampai ke Bangkok dan mengembara ke Vientiane di Laos, dari mana mereka menyeberang ke Kunming di China dan mengembara ke Xi’an dan seterusnya ke Khorgos, di mana mereka memasuki Kazakhstan.
Di sana perjalanan darat terpaksa ditamatkan apabila mereka menghadapi masalah dalam mendapatkan visa ke Turkmenistan dan Syria.
Dalam masa 30 hari, mereka melawat tujuh negara, menaiki 10 kereta api, tiga bas dan dua kapal terbang.
Bekerja sendiri dan menjalankan permulaan media, mereka terus bekerja semasa perjalanan mereka, yang mereka anggarkan menelan belanja kira-kira $4,300 secara keseluruhan.
Ketika perjalanan berlangsung pada Ramadan, kedua-duanya tetap berpuasa sambil menikmati budaya pelbagai masyarakat Islam yang mereka temui dalam perjalanan.
“Kami berkhemah di dalam salji dalam suhu negatif dan mendaki 15 km semasa salji turun hanya untuk merasai mata air panas Altyn Arashan semasa berpuasa di Kyrgyzstan. Kami menyukai setiap bahagian dalam perjalanan ini kerana ia memberi kami peluang untuk menghabiskan lebih banyak masa berkualiti bersama dan mempelajari banyak perkara baharu,” kata Farhan.
“Kami juga bersyukur kerana berpeluang merasai keindahan Ramadan di negara lain. Kami mengalami budaya berbeza, seperti berbuka puasa bersama penduduk tempatan, Tarawih di masjid berbeza di beberapa negara, dan banyak lagi tradisi Ramadan.”
Minggu lalu mereka tiba di Madinah, dari mana mereka pergi ke Makkah untuk menyelesaikan ibadah haji.
Ia adalah bahagian terbaik dalam perjalanan mereka kerana dapat merasai umrah bersama, kata Mokhali, ketika mereka berkemas untuk pulang pada Sabtu, sejurus sebelum akhir bulan puasa.
“Kami akan menyambut hari raya di Malaysia,” katanya. “Kami akan pulang ke Malaysia esok. Kami belum merasai Ramadan di negara kami tahun ini.”
AN, 28.3.2025
Malaysian couple completes Ramadan fasting journey through Asia to perform Umrah
Malaysian backpackers Farhan Mokhali and Ainaa Fakhira reach the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah on March 23, 2025. (Farhan Mokhali)
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian backpackers who traveled through seven countries to reach Saudi Arabia for Umrah have completed their 30-day Ramadan journey, fasting with Muslim communities they visited along the way.
Farhan Mokhali, 28, and Ainaa Fakhira, 27, started their journey from Padang Besar, a town bordering Thailand in the northern part of the Malaysian state of Perlis.
“The inspiration and idea solely came from Ainaa. She is the one who has always dreamed of being a backpacker and traveling around the world since she was a teenager,” Mokhali told Arab News.
“After several years of postponing the dream, in 2025 she decided to pursue it because she didn’t want to wait any longer.”
From Hatyai on the other side of the border, they reached Bangkok and traveled to Vientiane in Laos, from where they crossed to Kunming in China and traveled to Xi’an and further to Khorgos, where they entered Kazakhstan.
There the land journey had to end when they faced problems in obtaining visas to Turkmenistan and Syria.
Within 30 days, they visited seven countries, taking 10 trains, three buses and two aeroplanes.
Self-employed and running a media startup, they kept on working during their travel, which they estimate cost them about $4,300 in total.
While the journey took place during Ramadan, both kept on fasting as they experienced the cultures of various Muslim communities that they met on their way.
“We camped in the snow in negative temperatures and hiked 15 km during snowfall just to experience the Altyn Arashan hot springs while fasting in Kyrgyzstan. We loved every part of this journey since it gave us the chance to spend more quality time together and learn a lot of new things,” Mokhali said.
“We are also thankful to have had the opportunity to experience the beauty of Ramadan in other countries. We experienced different cultures, like iftar with the locals, Taraweeh at different mosques in several countries, and many more Ramadan traditions.”
Last week they reached Madinah, from where they traveled to Makkah to complete their pilgrimage.
It was the best part of their journey because they could experience Umrah together, Mokhali said, as they packed to return home on Saturday, right before the end of the fasting month.
“We are going to celebrate Eid in Malaysia,” he added. “We are going back to Malaysia tomorrow. We haven’t experienced Ramadan in our country this year yet.”
Muslims consider Laylat Al-Qadr to be the holiest night in the Islamic calendar. (WAFA)
LONDON – Nearly 200,000 Palestinians performed evening and Taraweeh prayers on Wednesday, the 26th day of Ramadan, at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
It is one of the highest numbers of worshippers recorded at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan by the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, which is responsible for managing the site.
The organization reported that 180,000 people attended the evening and Taraweeh prayers, despite Israel’s restrictive measures in Jerusalem, with thousands of worshippers choosing to stay at Al-Aqsa Mosque overnight to commemorate Laylat Al-Qadr, also known as the Night of Power.
Muslims consider Laylat Al-Qadr to be the holiest night in the Islamic calendar as it marks the occasion when the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Laylat Al-Qadr occurs during the last 10 days of Ramadan, a period when many Muslims fully dedicate themselves to worship.
Upon the conclusion of Ramadan on Saturday or Sunday, majority-Muslim countries celebrate the holiday of Eid Al-Fitr over three days, marking the festivities of breaking the fast with family visits and trips.
AN, 26.3.2025
Hampir 200,000 rakyat Palestin tunai solat di Masjid Al-Aqsa
Umat Islam menganggap Lailatul-Qadr sebagai malam paling suci dalam kalendar Islam. (WAFA)
LONDON – Hampir 200,000 rakyat Palestin menunaikan solat malam dan Tarawih pada Rabu, hari ke-26 Ramadan, di Masjid Al-Aqsa di Baitulmaqdis.
Ia adalah antara jumlah jemaah tertinggi dicatatkan di Al-Aqsa sepanjang Ramadan oleh Jabatan Wakaf Baitulmaqdis dan Masjid Al-Aqsa, yang bertanggungjawab menguruskan tapak terbabit.
Organisasi itu melaporkan 180,000 orang menghadiri solat malam dan Tarawih, walaupun tindakan sekatan Israel di Baitulmaqdis, dengan ribuan jemaah memilih untuk menginap di Masjid Al-Aqsa semalaman untuk memperingati Lailatul-Qadr.
Umat Islam menganggap Lailatul-Qadr sebagai malam paling suci dalam kalendar Islam kerana ia menandakan peristiwa ketika ayat-ayat pertama Al-Quran diturunkan kepada Nabi Muhammad. Lailatul-Qadr berlaku pada 10 hari terakhir Ramadan, tempoh ketika ramai umat Islam mengabdikan diri sepenuhnya untuk beribadat.
Selepas berakhirnya Ramadan pada Sabtu atau Ahad, negara-negara majoriti Islam menyambut perayaan Aidilfitri selama tiga hari, menandakan perayaan puasa dengan kunjungan dan perjalanan keluarga.
MADINAH – Masjid Nabawi menerima 4,000 jemaah, lelaki dan wanita, dari 120 negara untuk I’tikaf (tinggal di masjid untuk tujuan ibadah) sepanjang 10 malam terakhir Ramadan.
Apabila tiba, jemaah diarahkan ke kawasan yang ditetapkan: bahagian atas bumbung barat untuk lelaki, boleh diakses melalui tangga No. 6 dan 10, dan bahagian timur laut untuk wanita, dengan pintu masuk melalui pintu 24 dan 25A.
Pihak Berkuasa Am bagi Hal Ehwal Masjidil Haram dan Masjid Nabawi segera mula menyediakan perkhidmatan untuk memudahkan ibadah dengan mudah dan selesa, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).
Antara perkhidmatan tersebut ialah meja bantuan khusus untuk jemaah, loker selamat untuk barang-barang, klinik perubatan, pertolongan cemas, sokongan terjemahan pelbagai bahasa, pelajaran agama dan penyediaan hidangan penuh untuk berbuka puasa, makan malam dan sahur.
Selain itu, stesen pengecasan mudah alih disediakan, dan setiap jemaah menerima kit penjagaan diri dan gelang tangan untuk memudahkan pergerakan, akses ke kawasan yang ditetapkan dan penyediaan perkhidmatan yang lancar.
AN, 21 Mac 2025
Prophet’s Mosque receives 4,000 worshipers from 120 countries for I’tikaf
MADINAH – The Prophet’s Mosque welcomed 4,000 worshipers, both men and women, from 120 countries for I’tikaf (staying in a mosque for the purpose of worship) during the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
Upon arrival, worshipers were directed to their designated areas: the western rooftop section for men, accessible via staircases No. 6 and 10, and the northeastern section for women, with entry through doors 24 and 25A.
The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque immediately began providing services to facilitate worship with ease and comfort, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Among the services were a dedicated help desk for worshipers, secure lockers for belongings, medical clinics, first aid, multilingual translation support, religious lessons and full meal provisions for iftar, dinner, and sahoor.
Additionally, mobile charging stations were available, and each worshiper received a personal care kit and a wristband to facilitate easy movement, access to designated areas and seamless service provision.
Pihak Berkuasa Hiburan Am Arab Saudi telah mengeluarkan butiran Acara Aidilfitri 2025, yang menampilkan pelbagai aktiviti untuk menandakan majlis itu.
RIYADH – Pihak Berkuasa Hiburan Am (GEA) Arab Saudi mengeluarkan butiran Acara Aidilfitri 2025, yang menampilkan pelbagai aktiviti untuk menandakan majlis itu.
GEA telah melancarkan sambutan di seluruh negara yang menampilkan konsert, persembahan teater, bunga api, dan pelbagai aktiviti di seluruh zon hiburan Saudi, menawarkan pengalaman yang tidak dapat dilupakan untuk penduduk dan pengunjung, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).
Konsert muzikal akan berlangsung di bandar Riyadh, Shaqra, Abha, Qassim, Jeddah, dan Wilayah Timur, manakala produksi teater akan mengambil bahagian tengah pentas di Riyadh (1-19 April), Jeddah (1-6 April) dan Dammam (1-3 April).
Bunga api akan menerangi langit malam pada 9 malam di lokasi utama, termasuk Boulevard World di Riyadh, Jeddah Art Promenade, Alkhobar Corniche dan Arruddaf Park di Taif.
Sambutan Aidilfitri akan bermula pada hari pertama di Riyadh’s Boulevard City, Boulevard World, VIA Riyadh, dan Jeddah Art Promenade, dengan City Hub di Alkhobar menganjurkan perayaan pada hari kedua, menyediakan hiburan yang pelbagai dan mesra keluarga.
Acara berkenaan menekankan dedikasi GEA untuk meraikan hari raya dan memajukan sektor hiburan Saudi.
AN, 19 Mac 2025
Saudi Arabia gears up for dazzling Eid Al-Fitr celebrations
Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has issued Eid Al-Fitr Events 2025 details, featuring a wide range of activities to mark the occasion.
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has issued Eid Al-Fitr Events 2025 details, featuring a wide range of activities to mark the occasion.
GEA has unveiled a nationwide celebration featuring concerts, theatrical performances, fireworks, and a variety of activities across the Kingdom’s entertainment zones, offering unforgettable experiences for residents and visitors, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Musical concerts will take place in Riyadh, Shaqra, Abha, Qassim, Jeddah, and Eastern Region cities, while theatrical productions will take center stage in Riyadh (April 1-19), Jeddah (April 1-6), and Dammam (April 1-3).
Fireworks will illuminate the night sky at 9 p.m. in key locations, including Boulevard World in Riyadh, Jeddah Art Promenade, Alkhobar Corniche, and Arruddaf Park in Taif.
Eid celebrations will kick off on day one at Riyadh’s Boulevard City, Boulevard World, VIA Riyadh, and Jeddah Art Promenade, with City Hub in Alkhobar hosting festivities on day two, providing diverse and family-friendly entertainment.
The events underscore GEA’s dedication to celebrating Eid and advancing the Kingdom’s entertainment sector.
Raja Salman Arab Saudi dan Putera Mahkota Mohammed bin Salman. (Fail/SPA)
RIYADH – Kepimpinan Arab Saudi meluluskan pengeluaran lebih SR3 bilion ($800 juta) kepada penerima manfaat keselamatan sosial sebagai sebahagian daripada inisiatif bantuan semasa bulan suci Ramadan.
Di bawah kepimpinan Raja Salman dan Putera Mahkota Mohammed bin Salman, skim itu akan menangani keperluan keluarga penerima dan memenuhi keperluan mereka semasa Ramadan, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).
Lebih SR3 bilion akan diberikan seperti berikut: setiap pencari nafkah akan menerima SR1,000, dan setiap tanggungan dalam isi rumah akan menerima SR500. Dana itu akan dimasukkan terus ke dalam akaun bank penerima pada Selasa, 18 Mac, kata SPA.
Menteri Sumber Manusia dan Pembangunan Sosial Saudi Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi melahirkan rasa terima kasih kepada kepimpinan Saudi kerana membantu menyediakan rakyat dengan rezeki yang layak.
Inisiatif itu adalah sebahagian daripada usaha kerajaan Arab Saudi untuk meningkatkan kualiti hidup dan meningkatkan taraf hidup penerima manfaat keselamatan sosial, terutama semasa Ramadan, tambah SPA.
AN
Saudi leadership approves over SR3bn of Ramadan aid disbursement
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (File/SPA)
RIYADH – The Saudi leadership has approved the disbursement of over SR3 billion ($800 million) to social security beneficiaries as part of an aid initiative during the holy month of Ramadan.
Under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the scheme will address the needs of beneficiary families and fulfill their requirements during Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Over SR3 billion will be given as follows: each breadwinner will receive SR1,000, and each dependent in the household will receive SR500. The funds will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries on Tuesday, March 18, the SPA said.
Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for helping to provide citizens with a decent livelihood.
The initiative is part of the Saudi government’s efforts to improve the quality of life and enhance the standard of living for social security beneficiaries, especially during Ramadan, the SPA added.
Muslim Filipina dan bukan Islam bergambar ramai selepas acara berbuka puasa di Universiti Makati di Taguig, Metro Manila pada 3 Mac 2025. (SAIA)
MANILA – Ketika mereka berusaha untuk mengukuhkan ikatan dalam komuniti minoriti Islam Filipina, sekumpulan pelajar membawa buka puasa ke pelbagai universiti di Manila pada Ramadan untuk mempromosikan hubungan bermakna dalam kalangan remaja Islam dan rakan sebaya Katolik mereka.
Di Filipina majoriti Katolik, umat Islam membentuk kira-kira 10 peratus daripada 120 juta penduduknya, kebanyakannya tinggal di pulau Mindanao dan di kepulauan Sulu di selatan negara itu, serta di Manila.
Sepanjang Ramadan, yang bermula pada 2 Mac tahun ini, pelajar Muslim Filipina yang membentuk Persatuan Pelajar bagi Hal Ehwal Islam, Inc., atau SAIA, telah menjalankan inisiatif “University Tour Iftar” untuk menyatukan anak muda Islam di ibu negara Filipina dan membina hubungan yang lebih mendalam dengan belia bukan Islam.
“Di sinilah pelajar Islam di sekitar Metro Manila berkumpul dan berbuka puasa bersama-sama, sambil kita mengenali antara satu sama lain dan mengeratkan hubungan kita,” kata Presiden SAIA Alinaid Angcob II kepada Arab News (AN).
SAIA telah ditubuhkan pada 2009 oleh pelajar Muslim dan profesional muda dari universiti di Manila dengan misi menyatukan belia dalam komuniti mereka dan memberi inspirasi kepada mereka untuk cemerlang dalam kerjaya mereka.
Sejak ia mula dilancarkan pada Ramadan 2023, acara iftar SAIA telah menjadi perhimpunan kira-kira 30 hingga 50 orang. Tahun ini, majlis berbuka puasa setakat ini telah diadakan di pelbagai universiti di Manila, termasuk Universiti Makati, Universiti Politeknik Filipina dan Universiti Normal Filipina.
“Kami sentiasa cenderung untuk mempunyai suasana mesra dan perpaduan dalam kalangan kami, walaupun dengan perbezaan budaya kami,” kata Angcob.
Semasa acara berbuka puasa, sebelum mereka menutup hari puasa dengan hidangan yang lazat, Angcob dan pasukannya turut menganjurkan perbincangan mengenai puasa dan kepentingan Ramadan. Mereka mengalu-alukan orang bukan Islam sebagai satu cara untuk meningkatkan kesedaran tentang Islam dan meningkatkan ikatan antara agama.
“Salah satu misi terbesar organisasi kami adalah untuk mengukuhkan ikatan persaudaraan, persaudaraan dalam kalangan pelajar dan profesional Islam di Metro Manila. Jadi, kami fikir salah satu cara kami boleh mencapai perpaduan dan persaudaraan itu adalah melalui salo-salo (makanan bersama),” Jaffar Malic, naib presiden luar SAIA, memberitahu AN.
Kurma sentiasa menjadi sebahagian daripada hidangan berbuka puasa, walaupun kumpulan itu cuba menambah hidangan istimewa serantau, seperti mi nasi gaya Maranao, supaya orang bukan Islam boleh belajar tentang kepelbagaian makanan, adat dan tradisi dalam masyarakat Islam Filipina.
Mereka mendapat sokongan daripada perniagaan milik orang Islam di Manila dan sumbangan daripada rakan-rakan untuk menjalankan program iftar.
“Banyak perniagaan terutama di Metro Manila yang dimiliki oleh orang Islam sangat bersedia untuk menyokong usaha kami kerana mereka dapat melihat bahawa kami mempunyai dorongan ini untuk membantu dan menyatukan pelajar Islam di Metro Manila. Ada juga orang bukan Islam, seperti sebahagian daripada mereka adalah kawan saya, yang memberi sumbangan,” kata Malic.
“Walaupun makanannya ringkas, perkongsiannya sangat membantu. Ia mewujudkan peluang untuk dialog dan bagi orang bukan Islam untuk merasai pengalaman menjadi sebahagian daripada komuniti kami.”
Baginya, menjadi sebahagian daripada SAIA dan menyertai program iftar memberikannya “rasa kekitaan” sebagai seorang Muslim di Filipina.
“Ia seperti mencari komuniti yang memahami anda tentang siapa anda dan apa yang anda percayai tanpa berkompromi,” katanya. “Ia adalah masalah yang sangat besar untuk kita semua, terutama kerana kita berada di sini di Metro Manila, yang merupakan tempat yang didominasi oleh orang bukan Islam.”
Inisiatif ini juga telah mendapat maklum balas positif daripada bukan Islam yang mengambil bahagian.
“Kami benar-benar dapat melihat bahawa mereka mula mengembangkan rasa ingin tahu dan keinginan untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang Islam terutama kerana kebanyakan mereka mempunyai rakan Muslim, dan mereka ingin mengetahui perspektif dan memahami pengalaman rakan Islam mereka,” kata Malic. “Ia benar-benar lebih daripada sekadar hidangan.”
Lenon, pelajar Universiti Normal Filipina yang pergi bersama dua lagi bukan Islam, adalah antara mereka yang menghadiri majlis berbuka puasa untuk menyokong rakan Islamnya.
“Kami bersetuju untuk datang, dengan harapan dapat mempelajari sesuatu tentang agama rakan kami supaya kami boleh berhubung dengannya dengan lebih baik,” kata Lenon.
Perbincangan itu merupakan sumber pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang Ramadan bagi hadirin bukan Islam, seperti Janelle.
“Saya belajar bahawa puasa bukan hanya tentang makanan; ia juga mengenai disiplin dan kekuatan iman,” katanya.
AN
Filipino Muslim students host iftars in Manila universities to foster unity, strengthen bonds
Filipino Muslims and non-Muslims pose for a group photo after an iftar event at the University of Makati in Taguig, Metro Manila on March 3, 2025. (SAIA)
Manila: As they seek to strengthen the bonds within the Philippines’ minority Muslim community, a group of students are bringing iftar to various universities in Manila during Ramadan to promote meaningful connections among young Muslims and their Catholic peers.
In the Catholic-majority Philippines, Muslims make up about 10 percent of its 120 million population, living mostly on the island of Mindanao and in the Sulu archipelago in the country’s south, as well as in Manila.
Throughout Ramadan, which began on March 2 this year, Filipino Muslim students who make up the Students Association for Islamic Affairs, Inc., or SAIA, have been running the “University Tour Iftar” initiative to unite young Muslims in the Philippine capital and build deeper connections with non-Muslim youths.
“This is where Muslim students around Metro Manila gather and break our fast together, as we get to know each other and strengthen our bonds,” SAIA President Alinaid Angcob II told Arab News.
SAIA was established in 2009 by Muslim students and young professionals from universities in Manila with the mission of uniting the youths in their community and inspiring them to excel in their careers.
Since it was first launched during Ramadan in 2023, SAIA’s iftar events have become gatherings of some 30 to 50 people. This year, the iftars have so far been held at various universities in Manila, including the University of Makati, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine Normal University.
“We always tend to have a friendly atmosphere and unity among us, even with our differences in cultures,” Angcob said.
During the iftar event, before they close the fasting day with hearty meals, Angcob and his team also organize discussions on fasting and the importance of Ramadan. They welcome non-Muslims as a way to raise more awareness about Islam and increase interfaith bonds.
“One of our organization’s biggest missions is to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood, sisterhood among Muslim students and professionals here in Metro Manila. So, we thought that one of the ways we could achieve that unity and brotherhood is through a salo-salo (shared meal),” Jaffar Malic, SAIA external vice president, told Arab News.
Dates are always part of the fast-breaking meals, though the group tries to add regional specialties, like Maranao-style rice noodles, so that non-Muslims can learn about the variety of food, customs and traditions in the Filipino Muslim community.
They get support from Muslim-owned businesses in Manila and donations from friends to run the iftar program.
“Many businesses especially here in Metro Manila that are Muslim-owned are very willing to support our cause because they can see that we have this drive to help and unite the Muslim students here in Metro Manila. There are also non-Muslims, like some of them are my friends, who give donations,” Malic said.
“Even though the food is simple, sharing it goes a long way. It creates an opportunity for dialogue and for non-Muslims to experience what it’s like to be part of our community.”
For him, being a part of SAIA and participating in the iftar program gave him “a sense of belonging” as a Muslim in the Philippines.
“It’s like finding a community that understands you for who you are and what you believe in without compromising,” he said. “It’s a really big deal for all of us, especially since we are here in Metro Manila, which is a place that’s dominated by non-Muslims.”
The initiative has also received positive feedback from non-Muslims who participate.
“We can really see that they start to develop curiosity and the desire to know more about Islam especially since most of them have Muslim friends, and they want to know the perspectives and understand the experiences of their Muslim friends,” Malic said. “It’s really more than just a meal.”
Lenon, a student at the Philippine Normal University who went with two other non-Muslims, was among those who attended the iftar to support his Muslim friend.
“We agreed to come, hoping to learn something about our friend’s religion so we can connect with him better,” Lenon said.
The discussions were a source of better understanding of Ramadan for the non-Muslim attendees, like Janelle.
“I learned that fasting is not just about food; it’s also about discipline and the strength of faith,” she said.
MAKKAH – Pengakap muda Makkah di Persatuan Pengakap Arab Saudi menawarkan 11,800 jam secara sukarela sepanjang 10 hari pertama Ramadan.
Dengan kerjasama Jabatan Kementerian Pendidikan Makkah, kem khidmat jemaah haji persatuan itu mengerahkan 295 pengakap untuk membantu jemaah umrah di Makkah sepanjang Ramadan.
Ziyad Qadeer, ketua kem, berkata kem itu memainkan peranan penting dalam mempromosikan kesukarelawanan, patriotisme, dan imej positif pemuda Saudi, mengesahkan bahawa perkhidmatan mereka akan diteruskan sepanjang Ramadan.
Kem itu juga bekerjasama dengan Pihak Berkuasa Am bagi Penjagaan Hal Ehwal Masjidil Haram dan Masjid Nabawi, Kluster Kesihatan Makkah, dan Direktorat Am Keselamatan Awam.
AN, 12 Mac 2025
Saudi scouts volunteer 11,800 hours in first 10 days of Ramadan
The Grand Mosque of Makkah. (SPA)
MAKKAH – Makkah’s young scouts at the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association volunteered 11,800 hours during the first 10 days of Ramadan.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Makkah Department, the association’s pilgrim service camp deployed 295 scouts to assist Umrah performers in Makkah during Ramadan.
Ziyad Qadeer, the camp leader, said the camp plays a vital role in promoting volunteerism, patriotism, and a positive image of the Saudi youth, confirming that their services will continue throughout Ramadan.
The camp also collaborated with the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, the Makkah Health Cluster, and the General Directorate of Public Security.
Jemaah haji menerima naskhah Al-Quran sebaik tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa King Abdulaziz di Jeddah. (SPA)
JEDDAH – Kementerian Hal Ehwal Islam, Dakwah dan Bimbingan Arab Saudi mengedarkan puluhan ribu naskhah Al-Quran kepada jemaah umrah yang tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa King Abdulaziz di Jeddah pada Ahad.
Kementerian itu mengedarkan 29,000 naskhah al-Quran dalam bahasa Arab dan bahasa lain kepada ketibaan baharu, menurut Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA). Kompleks Percetakan Raja Fahd menerbitkan salinan tersebut di Madinah.
Jemaah haji yang berkunjung untuk menunaikan umrah menyatakan kegembiraan mereka apabila tiba di Saudi, memuji sambutan hangat dan memuji usaha kepimpinan Saudi untuk berkhidmat kepada Islam dan umat Islam.
Beberapa orang menyatakan bahawa senaskah Al-Quran dalam bahasa mereka adalah hadiah yang berharga dan akan menemani mereka lama selepas pulang ke tanah air, tambah SPA.
AN, 9 Mac 2025
Saudi ministry distributes 29,000 copies of Qur’an to Umrah pilgrims
Pilgrims received copies of the Holy Qur’an upon their arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. (SPA)
JEDDAH – Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance distributed tens of thousands of copies of the Holy Qur’an to Umrah pilgrims arriving at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Sunday.
The ministry distributed 29,000 copies of the Qur’an in Arabic and other languages to the new arrivals, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The King Fahd Complex for Printing published the copies in Madinah.
Pilgrims visiting to perform the Umrah expressed their joy upon arriving in the Kingdom, praising the warm welcome and commending the Saudi leadership’s efforts to serve Islam and Muslims.
Several noted that a copy of the Holy Qur’an in their language is a valuable gift and will accompany them long after returning home, the SPA added.
Menggunakan skuter akan membantu mereka “menavigasi kawasan sibuk, merawat kes kecemasan dan memindahkan pesakit ke hospital jika perlu.” (SPA)
MADINAH – Kluster Kesihatan Madinah melancarkan perkhidmatan skuter kecemasan baharu di Masjid Nabawi bagi membolehkan paramedik memberikan bantuan perubatan segera kepada pengunjung sepanjang Ramadan, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA) pada Sabtu.
Dengan beribu-ribu jemaah memenuhi halaman masjid, bergerak melalui orang ramai boleh mencabar pasukan perubatan. Skuter itu akan memudahkan mereka untuk “menavigasi kawasan sibuk, menangani kes kecemasan, dan memindahkan pesakit ke hospital dan pusat jagaan berdekatan jika perlu,” menurut SPA.
Sembilan puluh satu orang telah pun mendapat manfaat daripada perkhidmatan itu sejak dilancarkan, lapor SPA.
Semua mereka dirujuk ke kemudahan penjagaan kesihatan di kawasan pusat, termasuk Wakaf Kesihatan Al-Shifa, Hospital Kecemasan Haram, dan Pusat Penjagaan Segera Safiyyah dan Bab Jibreel.
Inisiatif baharu itu “mencerminkan usaha Kluster Kesihatan Madinah ke arah keselamatan dan kesejahteraan pengunjung,” kata SPA.
AN
Medical scooters to help worshippers in Madinah
Using scooters will help them “navigate busy areas, treat urgent cases, and transfer patients to hospitals if needed.” (SPA)
MADINAH – The Madinah Health Cluster has launched a new emergency scooter service at the Prophet’s Mosque to enable paramedics to provide quick medical assistance to visitors during Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
With thousands of worshippers filling the mosque’s courtyards, moving through the crowds can be challenging for medical teams. The scooters will make it easier for them to “navigate busy areas, attend to urgent cases, and transfer patients to nearby hospitals and care centers if needed,” according to the SPA.
Ninety-one people have already benefited from the service since its launch, the SPA reported. All of them were referred to healthcare facilities in the central area, including Al-Shifa Health Endowment, Haram Emergency Hospital, and the Safiyyah and Bab Jibreel Urgent Care Centers.
The new initiative “reflects the Madina Health Cluster’s efforts toward visitors’ safety and wellbeing,” the SPA stated.
MAKKAH – Timbalan Gabenor Makkah Putera Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz baru-baru ini merasmikan Muzium Quran di Daerah Budaya Hira, Makkah.
Dibangunkan di bawah pengawasan dan dengan sokongan daripada Suruhanjaya Diraja untuk Kota Makkah dan Tapak Suci, muzium ini menonjolkan Quran sebagai sumber panduan utama bagi umat Islam dan direka untuk memperkayakan pengalaman keagamaan dan budaya untuk penduduk tempatan dan pelawat.
Ia adalah rumah kepada manuskrip yang jarang ditemui, salinan sejarah al-Quran dan paparan interaktif yang membolehkan pelawat menerokai perjalanan transkripsi al-Quran dan pemeliharaannya melalui sejarah, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).
Menjangkau kira-kira 67,000 meter persegi, Daerah Kebudayaan Hira merupakan pusat tumpuan bagi mereka yang ingin merasai semangat dan sejarah Makkah. Berpusat di Gunung Hira, tempat wahyu pertama turun, ia merangkumi pelbagai kemudahan yang direka untuk meningkatkan pengalaman keagamaan dan pendidikan.
Antaranya ialah Pameran Wahyu, yang menawarkan gambaran interaktif tentang turunnya wahyu, dan satu lagi yang membolehkan pengunjung naik ke Gua Hira yang merupakan tempat kejadian wahyu.
Antara artifak yang dipamerkan ialah salinan bergambar manuskrip al-Quran Utsman bin Affan dan beberapa batu bersurat kuno ayat al-Quran.
Projek itu juga menggabungkan Muzium Kopi Saudi, Perpustakaan Budaya dan Taman Hira.
Muzium Quran akan terus dibuka sepanjang Ramadan.
AN
Holy Qur’an Museum opens in Makkah
MAKKAH – Makkah Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz recently inaugurated the Holy Qur’an Museum in Makkah’s Hira Cultural District.
Developed under the supervision of and with support from the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, the museum highlights the Qur’an as the primary source of guidance for Muslims and is designed to enrich the religious and cultural experience for both locals and visitors.
It is home to rare manuscripts, historical copies of the Qur’an and interactive displays that allow visitors to explore the journey of Qur’anic transcription and its preservation through history, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Spanning about 67,000 sq. meters, the Hira Cultural District is a focal point for those keen to experience the spirit and history of Makkah. Centered on Mount Hira, where the first revelation descended, it includes various facilities designed to enhance the religious and educational experience.
Among them is the Revelation Exhibition, which offers an interactive portrayal of the descent of revelation, and another that allows visitors to ascend to Hira Cave which was the scene of the revelation.
Among the artifacts on display are a photographed copy of the Qur’an manuscript of Uthman bin Affan and several ancient stone inscriptions of Qur’anic verses.
The project also incorporates the Saudi Coffee Museum, the Cultural Library and Hira Park.
The Holy Qur’an Museum will remain open throughout Ramadan.
RIYADH – Agensi kerajaan di Makkah mula melaksanakan rancangan untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan terbaik untuk pengunjung dan jemaah umrah sepanjang Ramadan, dengan kebanjiran tinggi jemaah dari dalam dan luar negara dijangka.
Pihak Berkuasa Am untuk Penjagaan Masjidil Haram dan Masjid Nabawi telah melancarkan rancangan musim Ramadan dengan beberapa projek, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA).
Perkhidmatan Tahallul daripada Nusuk telah diuji di lima lokasi dalam Masjidil Haram, mengikut piawaian kebersihan yang ketat. Buat pertama kalinya, pihak berkuasa menawarkan perkhidmatan gunting rambut mudah alih melalui kereta yang direka khas yang bergerak bersama orang ramai.
Selain itu, perkhidmatan penyimpanan bagasi telah dipertingkatkan dengan rak yang ditetapkan dan sistem pengesanan elektronik, termasuk enam tempat menurunkan di pintu masuk utama masjid.
Bilangan kereta golf elektrik telah digandakan kepada 400, diedarkan di 11 lokasi di dalam Masjidil Haram, lapor SPA.
Pihak berkuasa telah menambah baik pengagihan hidangan berbuka puasa melalui pendaftaran elektronik, memperkenalkan tanda panduan berasaskan lokasi untuk akses pelawat, dan meningkatkan kehadiran pasukan pelapor sepanjang masa untuk mengendalikan pertanyaan dan permintaan penyelenggaraan.
Dalam penyelarasan dengan pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan, pihak berkuasa telah membangunkan pelan pengurusan dan bimbingan orang ramai dalam Dua Masjid Suci dan halaman mereka. Kakitangan khusus telah digunakan untuk bimbingan spatial, dan laluan yang jelas telah ditetapkan bagi memastikan pergerakan lancar.
Ruang solat di kedua-dua masjid telah disediakan bagi menampung jumlah jemaah terbanyak di samping memastikan keselesaan mereka.
Pihak berkuasa juga telah melancarkan inisiatif Walking Guides, menyediakan pasukan terlatih untuk membantu pelawat dan pelaku umrah dalam mengemudi masjid dan menjawab pertanyaan dalam pelbagai bahasa.
Sementara itu, Perbandaran Makkah telah mula melaksanakan rancangannya untuk perkhidmatan perbandaran, termasuk sanitasi awam, pelupusan sampah, kawalan perosak, dan pemantauan pertubuhan komersial yang berkaitan dengan kesihatan awam.
Perkhidmatannya juga termasuk memeriksa kesesuaian produk makanan, menyelenggara dan membersihkan kemudahan perbandaran, menyediakan infrastruktur, dan menyelia tandas awam, taman, kawasan hijau dan rangkaian saliran.
Kementerian Hal Ehwal Islam, Dakwah dan Bimbingan wilayah Makkah telah mula melaksanakan rancangannya untuk mengalu-alukan jemaah di seluruh muhafazah wilayah itu.
Ini termasuk membersihkan, melengkapkan, mewangikan masjid, menyelenggara peralatan, memastikan ketersediaan bekalan solat, dan mempergiatkan lawatan pemeriksaan untuk mengesahkan kesediaan masjid menerima jemaah.
AN
Makkah enhances services for Ramadan visitors
RIYADH – Government agencies in Makkah have begun implementing plans to provide the best services for visitors and Umrah performers during Ramadan, with a high influx of worshippers from within and outside the Kingdom expected.
The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque has launched its Ramadan season plan with several projects, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Tahallul from Nusuk service has been trialed at five locations within the Grand Mosque, following strict hygiene standards. For the first time, the authority is offering a mobile hair-cutting service via specially designed carts that move with the crowds.
Additionally, luggage storage services have been enhanced with designated shelves and an electronic tracking system, including six drop-off points at the mosque’s main entrances.
The number of electric golf carts has been doubled to 400, distributed across 11 locations inside the Grand Mosque, the SPA reported.
The authority has improved iftar meal distribution through electronic registration, introduced location-based guidance signs for visitor access, and increased the presence of reporting teams around the clock to handle inquiries and maintenance requests.
In coordination with relevant authorities, the authority has developed crowd management and guidance plans within the Two Holy Mosques and their courtyards. Specialized personnel have been deployed for spatial guidance, and clear pathways have been designated to ensure smooth movement.
Prayer areas in both mosques have been prepared to accommodate the largest number of worshippers while ensuring their comfort.
The authority has also launched the Walking Guides initiative, providing trained teams to assist visitors and Umrah performers in navigating the mosques and responding to inquiries in multiple languages.
Meanwhile, Makkah Municipality has begun implementing its plans for municipal services, including public sanitation, waste disposal, pest control, and monitoring commercial establishments related to public health.
Its services also include inspecting food products for suitability, maintaining and cleaning municipal facilities, preparing infrastructure, and overseeing public restrooms, parks, green spaces, and drainage networks.
The Makkah region branch of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance has started implementing its plans to welcome worshippers across the region’s governorates.
This includes cleaning, furnishing, and perfuming mosques, maintaining equipment, ensuring the availability of prayer supplies, and intensifying inspection tours to verify mosques’s readiness to receive worshippers.
Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah have become vibrant hubs as Ramadan begins, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (SPA)
JEDDAH – Streets and public spaces across Saudi Arabia have been adorned with festive decorations, including illuminating crescents and lanterns, symbolizing the joy and anticipation that fills the air as citizens and residents mark the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan.
Throughout the Kingdom, residents are embracing traditional Ramadan customs by decorating their homes with welcoming messages and cheerful ornaments, exchanging heartfelt greetings and organizing family gatherings.
These traditions play a vital role in strengthening bonds of kinship and fostering a strong sense of community during this sacred time.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah have become vibrant hubs as Ramadan begins, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping.
Shoppers are flocking to the bustling streets of old Jeddah, where merchants offer everything needed for Ramadan preparations, from essential food items for traditional dishes and sweets to a variety of coffee and spices.
The shops selling Ramadan lanterns and decorative lights are particularly busy as families prepare to adorn their homes for the holy month, continuing cherished social traditions in Jeddah. Stores are also stocked with kitchenware, serving dishes and hospitality items to meet seasonal demands.
Merchants are providing a wide range of products at competitive prices, with traditional pottery items remaining especially popular among elderly shoppers who appreciate these cultural treasures.
The Ministry of Culture is also hosting Ramadan Season in cities nationwide. The initiative features cultural and community events highlighting Ramadan’s heritage and Saudi traditions.
Traditional markets and public squares in historic Jeddah have become vibrant hubs as Ramadan begins, drawing locals, residents and tourists alike to Al-Balad district for seasonal shopping. (SPA)
Under the slogan “Our Nights Have Returned,” the ministry has decorated roads and public spaces with lights and installations. Key locations in Riyadh and Jeddah, including Al-Ghadeer Walkway, Olaya Street and the Jeddah Corniche, will be illuminated during the holy month.
The Jeddah Historic district will host events, including a historical houses area with restaurants and cafes offering iftar and sahoor experiences. “Balad Stalls” will provide a food destination with stalls, trucks and seating.
The ministry is celebrating Saudi Ramadan traditions through a cultural experience combining entertainment and education, reinforcing cultural awareness and social values.
In parallel, the Ministry of Commerce has stepped up its oversight in preparation for Ramadan, conducting more than 19,000 inspection visits throughout the Makkah region.
These regulatory efforts ensure that commercial establishments, particularly those selling food, consumer goods and clothing, are adhering to discount regulations and maintaining the availability of essential goods for consumers.
AN, 1 March 2025
Lantera dan rempah-ratus: Daerah bersejarah Jeddah tarik pembeli Ramadan
Pasar tradisional dan dataran awam di Jeddah yang bersejarah menjadi hab yang meriah apabila Ramadan bermula, menarik penduduk dan pelancong ke daerah Al-Balad untuk membeli-belah bermusim. (SPA)
JEDDAH – Jalan-jalan dan ruang awam di seluruh Arab Saudi dihiasi dengan hiasan festival, termasuk bulan sabit dan lantera bercahaya, melambangkan kegembiraan dan penantian yang memenuhi suasana ketika rakyat dan penduduk menandakan ketibaan bulan mulia Ramadan.
Di seluruh negara, penduduk menerima adat tradisi Ramadan dengan menghiasi rumah mereka dengan mesej alu-aluan dan hiasan ceria, bertukar-tukar ucapan ikhlas dan menganjurkan perhimpunan keluarga.
Tradisi-tradisi ini memainkan peranan penting dalam mengukuhkan ikatan persaudaraan dan memupuk semangat kemasyarakatan yang kuat pada masa keramat ini.
Menurut Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA), pasar tradisional dan dataran awam di Jeddah yang bersejarah telah menjadi hab meriah apabila Ramadan bermula, menarik penduduk tempatan, penduduk dan pelancong ke daerah Al-Balad untuk membeli-belah bermusim.
Pembeli berpusu-pusu ke jalan-jalan yang sibuk di Jeddah lama, tempat peniaga menawarkan segala yang diperlukan untuk persiapan Ramadan, daripada makanan penting untuk hidangan tradisional dan manisan kepada pelbagai kopi dan rempah-ratus.
Kedai-kedai yang menjual lantera Ramadan dan lampu hiasan amat sibuk ketika keluarga bersedia untuk menghiasi rumah mereka untuk bulan suci, meneruskan tradisi sosial yang dihargai di Jeddah. Kedai juga dipenuhi dengan peralatan dapur, hidangan dan barangan hospitaliti untuk memenuhi permintaan bermusim.
Peniaga menyediakan pelbagai jenis produk pada harga yang kompetitif, dengan barangan tembikar tradisional kekal popular terutama dalam kalangan pembeli warga emas yang menghargai khazanah budaya ini.
Kementerian Kebudayaan juga menganjurkan Musim Ramadan di bandar-bandar seluruh negara. Inisiatif ini menampilkan acara kebudayaan dan komuniti yang menonjolkan warisan Ramadan dan tradisi Saudi.
Pasar tradisional dan dataran awam di Jeddah yang bersejarah menjadi hab yang meriah apabila Ramadan bermula, menarik penduduk dan pelancong ke daerah Al-Balad untuk membeli-belah bermusim. (SPA)
Di bawah slogan “Malam Kita Telah Kembali,” kementerian telah menghiasi jalan raya dan ruang awam dengan lampu dan pemasangan. Lokasi-lokasi utama di Riyadh dan Jeddah, termasuk Al-Ghadeer Walkway, Olaya Street dan Jeddah Corniche, akan diterangi pada bulan yang mulia.
Daerah Bersejarah Jeddah akan menganjurkan acara, termasuk kawasan rumah bersejarah dengan restoran dan kafe yang menawarkan pengalaman berbuka puasa dan sahur. “Gerai Balad” akan menyediakan destinasi makanan dengan gerai, trak dan tempat duduk.
Kementerian meraikan tradisi Ramadan Saudi melalui pengalaman budaya yang menggabungkan hiburan dan pendidikan, memperkukuh kesedaran budaya dan nilai sosial.
Pada masa yang sama, Kementerian Perdagangan telah meningkatkan pengawasannya sebagai persediaan menyambut Ramadan, melakukan lebih 19,000 lawatan pemeriksaan di seluruh wilayah Makkah.
Usaha kawal selia ini memastikan pertubuhan komersial, terutama yang menjual makanan, barangan pengguna dan pakaian, mematuhi peraturan diskaun dan mengekalkan ketersediaan barangan keperluan untuk pengguna.
Gambar pada 22 Mei 2019 menunjukkan pelajar Islam membaca naskhah Al-Quran untuk menyambut Nuzul Quran, ketika permulaan Al-Quran diturunkan kepada Nabi Muhammad, di sebuah masjid di Bentong. Berpakaian jubah dan berzikir dalam bahasa Arab, berpuluh-puluh kanak-kanak Islam Malaysia membaca Al-Quran dengan kuat di sebuah masjid untuk menandakan tarikh istimewa dalam kalendar Islam. (AFP)
RIYADH – King Salman meluluskan pengedaran 1.2 juta naskhah Al-Quran dan tafsirannya dalam 79 bahasa kepada pusat Islam dan kebudayaan, serta pejabat atase agama di kedutaan Arab Saudi di luar negara.
Inisiatif itu, sebahagian daripada program pemberian naskhah al-Quran oleh King Salman, dilaksanakan oleh Kementerian Hal Ehwal Islam sepanjang Ramadan dan meliputi 45 negara, lapor Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA) pada Rabu.
Menteri Hal Ehwal Islam Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh melahirkan rasa terima kasih kepada king dan Putera Mahkota Mohammed bin Salman atas penjagaan dan sokongan berterusan mereka terhadap umat Islam di seluruh dunia.
Dia menyifatkan naskhah bercetak sebagai antara yang terbaik dan paling teliti dihasilkan di peringkat global, menekankan bahawa program itu mencerminkan dedikasi kepimpinan dalam menyebarkan al-Quran dan membolehkan umat Islam di seluruh dunia mendapat manfaat daripadanya, terutama pada Ramadan.
Al-Asheikh juga menekankan sokongan berterusan kepimpinan terhadap kementerian dalam berkhidmat kepada Islam dan umat Islam sambil menggalakkan toleransi dan kewujudan bersama sebagai nilai teras Islam.
Dia berkata semua persiapan untuk penghantaran salinan ke negara penerima telah disiapkan selaras dengan strategi kementerian yang diluluskan untuk tahun ini.
Pengagihan itu akan diselaraskan dengan pejabat atase agama, pusat gabungan kementerian, dan pelbagai majlis dan organisasi Islam bagi memastikan penghantaran tepat pada masanya sepanjang Ramadan.
AN
KSA to distribute 1.2m Qur’an copies in 45 countries
This picture taken on May 22, 2019 shows Muslim students reading copies of the holy Koran to observe Nuzul Quran, when the beginnings of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed, in a mosque in Bentong. Dressed in robes and chanting in Arabic, scores of Malaysian Muslim children read the Koran aloud in a mosque to mark a special date in the Islamic calendar. (AFP)
RIYADH – King Salman has approved the distribution of 1.2 million copies of the Holy Qur’an and its interpretations in 79 languages to Islamic and cultural centers, as well as religious attache offices at Saudi embassies abroad.
The initiative, part of King Salman’s program for gifting Qur’an copies, is implemented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs during Ramadan and covers 45 countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh expressed gratitude to the king and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continuous care and support for Muslims worldwide.
He described the printed copies as among the finest and most meticulously produced globally, emphasizing that the program reflects the leadership’s dedication to disseminating the Qur’an and enabling Muslims worldwide to benefit from it, especially during Ramadan.
Al-Asheikh also highlighted the leadership’s ongoing support for the ministry in serving Islam and Muslims while promoting tolerance and coexistence as core Islamic values.
He noted that all preparations for shipping the copies to beneficiary countries have been completed in line with the ministry’s approved strategy for this year.
The distribution will be coordinated with religious attache offices, ministry-affiliated centers, and various Islamic councils and organizations to ensure timely delivery throughout Ramadan.
Rawya Tamboura dan keluarganya, kiri, adalah antara hampir 600,000 rakyat Palestin yang membanjiri kembali ke utara Gaza selepas gencatan senjata dilaksanakan. (AP)
BEIT LAHIYA, Genting Gaza – Apabila malam tiba di utara Gaza, sebahagian besar lanskap bandar bangunan runtuh dan serpihan bertimbun menjadi gelap gelita.
Tinggal di dalam runtuhan rumah mereka, anak lelaki Rawya Tamboura yang masih kecil berasa takut akan kegelapan, jadi dia menghidupkan lampu suluh dan lampu telefonnya untuk menghiburkan mereka, selagi bateri masih ada.
Terlantar untuk sebahagian besar perang selama 16 bulan, Tamboura kembali ke rumahnya. Tetapi ia masih merupakan cangkang kehidupan yang mengecewakan, dia berkata: Tiada air mengalir, elektrik, haba atau perkhidmatan, dan tiada alat untuk membersihkan runtuhan di sekeliling mereka.
Hampir 600,000 penduduk Palestin membanjiri kembali ke utara Gaza di bawah gencatan senjata yang kini berusia sebulan di Gaza, menurut Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB). Selepas kelegaan awal dan kegembiraan kerana kembali ke rumah mereka – walaupun rosak atau musnah – mereka kini menghadapi realiti hidup dalam runtuhan untuk masa hadapan.
“Sesetengah orang berharap perang tidak pernah berakhir, merasakan lebih baik terbunuh,” kata Tamboura.
“Saya tidak tahu apa yang akan kami lakukan untuk jangka panjang. Otak saya terhenti merancang untuk masa depan.”
Gencatan senjata selama enam minggu akan berakhir pada Sabtu, dan tidak pasti apa yang akan berlaku seterusnya. Terdapat usaha untuk melanjutkan ketenangan kerana fasa seterusnya dirundingkan. Jika pertempuran meletus lagi, mereka yang kembali ke utara boleh mendapati diri mereka sekali lagi berada di tengah-tengahnya.
Kerja membina semula secara besar-besaran tiada cara untuk mula
Laporan minggu lalu oleh Bank Dunia, PBB dan Kesatuan Eropah (EU) menganggarkan ia akan menelan belanja kira-kira $53 bilion untuk membina semula Gaza selepas seluruh kawasan kejiranan musnah akibat pengeboman dan serangan Israel terhadap militan Hamas. Pada masa ini, hampir tiada kapasiti atau pembiayaan untuk memulakan pembinaan semula yang ketara.
Satu keutamaan ialah menjadikan Gaza segera didiami. Pada awal Februari, Hamas mengancam untuk menahan pembebasan tebusan melainkan lebih banyak khemah dan tempat perlindungan sementara dibenarkan masuk ke Gaza.
Ia kemudian membalikkan dan mempercepatkan pembebasan tebusan selepas Israel bersetuju untuk membenarkan rumah bergerak dan peralatan pembinaan.
Agensi kemanusiaan telah meningkatkan perkhidmatan, menyediakan dapur percuma dan stesen penghantaran air, dan mengedarkan khemah dan terpal kepada ratusan ribu di seluruh Gaza, menurut PBB.
Presiden Donald Trump meningkatkan tekanan dengan menggesa seluruh penduduk Gaza disingkirkan secara kekal supaya AS boleh mengambil alih wilayah itu dan membangunkannya semula untuk orang lain. Menolak cadangan itu, rakyat Palestin berkata mereka mahu bantuan untuk membina semula untuk diri mereka sendiri.
Perbandaran Gaza City mula membaiki beberapa tali air dan membersihkan runtuhan dari jalan-jalan, kata seorang jurucakap, Asem Alnabih. Tetapi ia kekurangan alat berat. Hanya beberapa daripada 40 jentolak dan lima lori sampah masih berfungsi, katanya. Gaza dipenuhi dengan lebih 50 juta tan runtuhan yang akan membawa 100 trak yang bekerja pada kapasiti penuh selama 15 tahun untuk membersihkannya, anggaran PBB.
Keluarga cuba bertahan hari demi hari
Rumah Tamboura di bandar utara Beit Lahiya telah musnah akibat serangan udara pada awal perang, jadi dia dan keluarganya tinggal di Hospital Indonesia berdekatan, tempat dia bekerja sebagai jururawat.
Selepas gencatan senjata, mereka bergerak semula ke satu-satunya bilik di rumahnya yang separuh utuh. Siling sebahagiannya runtuh, dindingnya retak; peti sejuk dan sinki yang masih hidup tidak berguna tanpa air atau elektrik. Mereka menyusun cadar dan selimut di satu sudut.
Tamboura berkata, anak lelakinya yang berusia 12 tahun membawa bekas air berat dua kali sehari dari stesen pengedaran. Mereka juga perlu mencari kayu api untuk memasak. Kemasukan bantuan bermakna terdapat makanan di pasaran dan harga turun, tetapi ia kekal mahal, katanya.
Dengan Hospital Indonesia terlalu rosak untuk berfungsi, Tamboura berjalan sejam setiap hari untuk bekerja di Hospital Kamal Adwan.
Dia mengecas telefonnya dan telefon suaminya menggunakan penjana hospital.
Ramai saudara-mara Tamboura pulang untuk tidak menemui apa-apa yang tinggal di rumah mereka, jadi mereka tinggal di dalam khemah di atas atau di sebelah runtuhan yang diterbangkan angin musim sejuk atau banjir semasa hujan, katanya.
Asmaa Dwaima dan keluarganya kembali ke Gaza City tetapi terpaksa menyewa sebuah apartmen kerana rumah mereka di kejiranan Tel Al-Hawa telah musnah. Hanya beberapa minggu selepas pulang, dia pergi melawat rumah empat tingkat mereka, kini timbunan serpihan yang rata dan terbakar.
“Saya tidak boleh datang ke sini kerana saya takut. Saya mempunyai imej rumah saya dalam fikiran saya – keindahan dan kehangatannya. … Saya takut untuk menghadapi kebenaran ini,” kata doktor gigi berusia 25 tahun itu. “Mereka bukan sahaja memusnahkan batu, mereka memusnahkan kami dan identiti kami.”
Keluarganya terpaksa membina semula rumah itu sekali sebelum ini, apabila ia diratakan oleh serangan udara semasa pusingan pertempuran antara Israel dan Hamas pada 2014, katanya.
Buat masa ini, mereka tidak mempunyai cara untuk membina semula sekarang.
“Kami perlu mengalihkan runtuhan kerana kami mahu mengeluarkan pakaian dan beberapa barangan kami,” katanya. “Kami memerlukan peralatan berat … Tiada batu bata atau alat pembinaan lain dan, jika ada, ia sangat mahal.”
Keputusasaan semakin meningkat
Tess Ingram, jurucakap UNICEF yang melawat utara Gaza sejak gencatan senjata, berkata keluarga ditemuinya “berduka kehidupan yang pernah mereka jalani ketika mereka mula membina semula”.
Keputusasaan mereka, katanya, “semakin memuncak”.
Huda Skaik, seorang pelajar berusia 20 tahun, berkongsi bilik dengan tiga adik-beradik dan ibu bapanya di rumah datuk dan neneknya di Gaza City. Ia adalah peningkatan daripada kehidupan di khemah-khemah di tengah Gaza di mana mereka dipindahkan untuk sebahagian besar peperangan, katanya.
Di sana, mereka terpaksa tinggal dalam kalangan orang asing, dan khemah mereka dihanyutkan oleh hujan. Sekurang-kurangnya di sini mereka mempunyai dinding dan bersama keluarga, katanya.
Sebelum perang terputus, Skaik baru sahaja mula belajar kesusasteraan Inggeris di Universiti Islam Gaza. Dia kini mendaftar dalam kelas dalam talian dianjurkan oleh universiti. Tetapi Internet lemah, dan elektriknya bergantung pada panel solar yang tidak selalu berfungsi.
“Bahagian yang paling teruk ialah kami baru memahami bahawa kami kehilangan semuanya,” katanya. “Kemusnahan adalah besar, tetapi saya cuba untuk kekal positif.”
AN-AP
Palestinians struggle to restart their lives in the ruins of Gaza
Rawya Tamboura and her family, left, are among nearly 600,000 Palestinians who flooded back into northern Gaza after a ceasefire was implemented. (AP)
BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip – When night falls over northern Gaza, much of the cityscape of collapsed buildings and piled wreckage turns pitch black.
Living inside the ruins of their home, Rawya Tamboura’s young sons get afraid of the dark, so she turns on a flashlight and her phone’s light to comfort them, for as long as the batteries last. Displaced for most of the 16-month-long war, Tamboura is back in her house. But it is still a frustrating shell of a life, she says: There is no running water, electricity, heat or services, and no tools to clear the rubble around them.
Nearly 600,000 Palestinians flooded back into northern Gaza under the now month-old ceasefire in Gaza, according to the United Nations. After initial relief and joy at being back at their homes – even if damaged or destroyed – they now face the reality of living in the wreckage for the foreseeable future.
“Some people wish the war had never ended, feeling it would have been better to be killed,” Tamboura said. “I don’t know what we’ll do long-term. My brain stopped planning for the future.”
The six-week ceasefire is due to end Saturday, and it’s uncertain what will happen next. There are efforts to extend the calm as the next phase is negotiated. If fighting erupts again, those who returned to the north could find themselves once again in the middle of it.
A massive rebuilding job has no way to start
A report last week by the World Bank, UN and European Union estimated it will cost some $53 billion to rebuild Gaza after entire neighborhoods were decimated by Israel’s bombardment and offensives against Hamas militants. At the moment, there is almost no capacity or funding to start significant rebuilding.
A priority is making Gaza immediately livable. Earlier in February, Hamas threatened to hold up hostage releases unless more tents and temporary shelters were allowed into Gaza.
It then reversed and accelerated hostage releases after Israel agreed to let in mobile homes and construction equipment.
Humanitarian agencies have stepped up services, setting up free kitchens and water delivery stations, and distributing tents and tarps to hundreds of thousands across Gaza, according to the UN President Donald Trump turned up the pressure by calling for the entire population of Gaza to be removed permanently so the US can take over the territory and redevelop it for others. Rejecting the proposal, Palestinians say they want help to rebuild for themselves.
Gaza City’s municipality started fixing some water lines and clearing rubble from streets, said a spokesperson, Asem Alnabih. But it lacks heavy equipment. Only a few of its 40 bulldozers and five dump trucks still work, he said. Gaza is filled with over 50 million tons of rubble that would take 100 trucks working at full capacity over 15 years to clear away, the UN estimates.
Families try to get by day by day
Tamboura’s house in the northern town of Beit Lahiya was destroyed by an airstrike early in the war, so she and her family lived in the nearby Indonesian Hospital, where she worked as a nurse.
After the ceasefire, they moved back into the only room in her house that was semi-intact. The ceiling is partially collapsed, the walls are cracked; the surviving fridge and sink are useless with no water or electricity. They stack their sheets and blankets in a corner.
Tamboura said her 12-year-old son lugs heavy containers of water twice a day from distribution stations. They also have to find firewood for cooking. The influx of aid means there is food in the markets and prices went down, but it remains expensive, she said.
With the Indonesian Hospital too damaged to function, Tamboura walks an hour each day to work at the Kamal Adwan Hospital.
She charges her and her husband’s phones using the hospital generator.
Many of Tamboura’s relatives returned to find nothing left of their homes, so they live in tents on or next to the rubble that gets blown away by winter winds or flooded during rains, she said.
Asmaa Dwaima and her family returned to Gaza City but had to rent an apartment because their home in the Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood was destroyed. It was only weeks after returning that she went to visit their four-story house, now a pile of flattened and burned wreckage.
“I couldn’t come here because I was afraid. I had an image of my house in my mind – its beauty, and warmth. … I was afraid to face this truth,” the 25-year-old dentist said. “They don’t just destroy stone, they are destroying us and our identity.”
Her family had to rebuild the house once before, when it was leveled by airstrikes during a round of fighting between Israel and Hamas in 2014, she said.
For the time being, they have no means to rebuild now.
“We need to remove the rubble because we want to pull out clothes and some of our belongings,” she said. “We need heavy equipment … There are no bricks or other construction tools and, if available, it’s extremely expensive.”
Desperation is growing
Tess Ingram, a spokesperson with UNICEF who visited northern Gaza since the ceasefire, said the families she met are “grieving the lives that they used to live as they begin to rebuild.”
Their desperation, she said, “is becoming more intense.”
Huda Skaik, a 20-year-old student, is sharing a room with her three siblings and parents at her grandparents’ house in Gaza City. It’s an improvement from life in the tent camps of central Gaza where they were displaced for much of the war, she said.
There, they had to live among strangers, and their tent was washed away by rain. At least here they have walls and are with family, she said.
Before the war interrupted, Skaik had just started studying English literature at Gaza’s Islamic University. She is now enrolled in online classes the university is organizing. But the Internet is feeble, and her electricity relies on solar panels that don’t always work.
“The worst part is that we’re just now grasping that we lost it all,” she said. “The destruction is massive, but I’m trying to remain positive.”
This picture taken on Nov. 28, 2021 shows teachers and students attending a class on-air at Radio Begum in Kabul. (AFP)
KABUL – Afghanistan’s only women-led radio station will resume broadcasts, the Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture announced after it suspended the outlet’s operations this month over its cooperation with foreign media outlets.
On Feb. 4, Taliban officials raided Kabul-based Radio Begum — a station run by women with programs aimed at educating girls and supporting Afghan women — and seized staff’s computers, hard drives and phones, and took into custody two male employees “who do not hold any senior management position,” the outlet said in a statement.
In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the ministry said Radio Begum had been suspended “due to the improper use of their licenses and cooperation with foreign sanctioned media outlets.”
Radio Begum has now been “granted permission to resume their activities,” the ministry said, after they made repeated requests and following a “pledge with the Broadcasting Directorate to operate in line with the principles of journalism and in accordance with the policies of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.”
It did not provide details on what those principles and policies were nor the status of the radio station’s employees who were allegedly detained.
Launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, Radio Begum has been broadcasting hours of lessons daily, along with health, psychology and spiritual programs for women across most of Afghanistan.
Its sister satellite channel, Begum TV, operates from France and televises classes that cover the Afghan school curriculum from seventh to 12th grade, providing education for many after the Taliban banned education for women and girls after the sixth grade.
“It’s one of the few channels that discussed issues related to women and girls,” said Najiba, 28, a Kabul resident and listener of Radio Begum.
“I particularly listened to their programs on health and women entrepreneurs. I was happy to be able to receive some information about women-related health issues from the radio. The other program that featured businesswomen was also encouraging. It inspired other women and gave us hope to learn skills and work for ourselves.”
While the resumption of Radio Begum’s operations was welcomed, the initial suspension was still concerning for Meena Akbari, an Afghan women’s rights activist.
“It was a concerning move. The few media outlets that are left in the country should be supported instead of being contained and closed,” Akbari told Arab News.
Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, the country’s media landscape has been “decimated,” according to Reporters without Borders, which cited the disappearance of 43 percent of Afghan media outlets in the past four years and ranked the country 178 out of 180 in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
“With Afghan women and girls already facing increasing restrictions since the Taliban takeover, platforms such as these are vital for women to get information from and continue learning about different topics,” Akbari said.
“It’s a good decision that the government allowed the station to resume broadcasts. Hopefully, it continues to benefit Afghan women and Afghans in general.”
AN
Satu-satunya stesen radio diterajui wanita Afghanistan sambung semula siaran selepas penggantungan oleh Taliban
Gambar yang diambil pada 28 November 2021 ini menunjukkan guru dan pelajar menghadiri kelas ke udara di Radio Begum di Kabul. (AFP)
KABUL – Satu-satunya stesen radio diterajui wanita Afghanistan akan menyambung semula siaran, Kementerian Penerangan dan Kebudayaan Taliban mengumumkan selepas ia menggantung operasi outlet itu bulan ini berhubung kerjasamanya dengan media asing.
Pada 4 Februari, pegawai Taliban menyerbu Radio Begum yang berpangkalan di Kabul – stesen dikendalikan oleh wanita dengan program bertujuan untuk mendidik gadis dan menyokong wanita Afghanistan – dan merampas komputer, cakera keras dan telefon kakitangan, dan menahan dua pekerja lelaki “yang tidak memegang sebarang jawatan pengurusan kanan,” kata outlet itu dalam satu kenyataan.
Dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan pada petang Sabtu, kementerian itu berkata Radio Begum telah digantung “kerana penggunaan tidak wajar lesen mereka dan kerjasama dengan media asing yang disekat”.
Radio Begum kini telah “diberikan kebenaran untuk meneruskan aktiviti mereka,” kata kementerian itu, selepas mereka membuat permintaan berulang kali dan mengikuti “ikrar dengan Direktorat Penyiaran untuk beroperasi selaras dengan prinsip kewartawanan dan mengikut dasar Emirat Islam Afghanistan”.
Ia tidak memberikan butiran mengenai prinsip dan dasar tersebut mahupun status pekerja stesen radio itu yang didakwa ditahan.
Dilancarkan pada Hari Wanita Antarabangsa pada Mac 2021, Radio Begum telah menyiarkan jam pelajaran setiap hari, bersama-sama dengan program kesihatan, psikologi dan kerohanian untuk wanita di seluruh Afghanistan.
Saluran satelit saudaranya, Begum TV, beroperasi dari Perancis dan kelas televisyen yang merangkumi kurikulum sekolah Afghanistan dari gred tujuh hingga 12, menyediakan pendidikan untuk ramai orang selepas Taliban mengharamkan pendidikan untuk wanita dan kanak-kanak perempuan selepas gred enam.
“Ia adalah salah satu daripada beberapa saluran yang membincangkan isu berkaitan wanita dan gadis,” kata Najiba, 28, seorang penduduk Kabul dan pendengar Radio Begum.
“Saya khususnya mendengar program mereka mengenai kesihatan dan usahawan wanita. Saya gembira kerana dapat menerima beberapa maklumat tentang isu kesihatan berkaitan wanita daripada radio. Program lain yang menampilkan ahli perniagaan juga menggalakkan. Ia memberi inspirasi kepada wanita lain dan memberi kami harapan untuk mempelajari kemahiran dan bekerja untuk diri kami sendiri.”
Walaupun penyambungan semula operasi Radio Begum dialu-alukan, penggantungan awal masih membimbangkan Meena Akbari, seorang aktivis hak wanita Afghanistan.
“Ia adalah satu langkah yang membimbangkan. Segelintir media yang tinggal di negara ini harus disokong bukannya dibendung dan ditutup,” kata Akbari kepada Arab News.
Sejak Taliban mengambil alih Afghanistan pada Ogos 2021, landskap media negara itu telah “binasa,” menurut Reporters without Borders, yang memetik kehilangan 43 peratus saluran media Afghanistan dalam empat tahun lalu dan meletakkan negara itu di kedudukan 178 daripada 180 dalam Indeks Kebebasan Akhbar Dunia 2024.
“Dengan wanita dan gadis Afghanistan sudah menghadapi sekatan yang semakin meningkat sejak pengambilalihan Taliban, platform seperti ini adalah penting bagi wanita untuk mendapatkan maklumat dan terus belajar tentang topik yang berbeza,” kata Akbari.
“Adalah satu keputusan yang baik bahawa kerajaan membenarkan stesen itu menyambung semula siaran. Semoga ia terus memberi manfaat kepada wanita Afghanistan dan rakyat Afghanistan secara amnya.”
Seorang peniaga Afghanistan yang menjual televisyen terpakai menunggu pelanggan di tepi jalan di sebuah pasar di daerah Injil wilayah Herat pada 4 Februari 2025. (AFP)
KABUL – Kementerian Informasi dan Kebudayaan Taliban pada Selasa berkata ia menggantung stesen radio wanita Afghanistan, memetik “peruntukan tanpa kebenaran” kandungan dan pengaturcaraan kepada saluran TV luar negara.
Ini kali kedua pihak berkuasa menutup saluran kerana didakwa bekerja dengan media asing.
Kementerian itu berkata Radio Begum melanggar dasar penyiaran dan menggunakan lesennya secara tidak wajar.
“Keputusan ini dibuat selepas beberapa pelanggaran, termasuk penyediaan kandungan dan pengaturcaraan tanpa kebenaran kepada saluran televisyen berpangkalan asing,” kata kementerian itu, sambil menambah ia akan menyemak semua dokumen diperlukan untuk menentukan masa depan stesen itu.
Radio Begum dilancarkan pada Hari Wanita Antarabangsa pada Mac 2021, lima bulan sebelum Taliban merampas kuasa di tengah-tengah pengunduran tentera AS dan NATO yang huru-hara.
Kandungan stesen itu dihasilkan sepenuhnya oleh wanita Afghanistan. Saluran satelit saudaranya, Begum TV, beroperasi dari Perancis dan menyiarkan program pendidikan yang merangkumi kurikulum sekolah Afghanistan dari gred tujuh hingga 12.
Kumpulan hak asasi manusia, termasuk Reporters without Borders, mengutuk penggantungan pada Selasa dan menuntut ia dibatalkan.
Sejak pengambilalihan mereka, Taliban telah mengecualikan wanita daripada pendidikan, pelbagai jenis pekerjaan, dan ruang awam. Wartawan, terutama wanita, telah kehilangan pekerjaan mereka apabila Taliban mengetatkan cengkaman mereka terhadap landskap media.
Dalam indeks kebebasan akhbar 2024 daripada Reporters without Borders, Afghanistan berada di kedudukan 178 daripada 180 negara. Tahun sebelum itu ia berada di kedudukan 152.
Kementerian Informasi tidak mengenal pasti saluran TV asing yang dikatakan sedang bekerjasama dengan Radio Begum.
Mei lalu, Taliban memberi amaran kepada wartawan dan pakar di Afghanistan untuk menghentikan kerjasama mereka dengan TV Antarabangsa Afghanistan.
Ia adalah kali pertama mereka memberitahu orang ramai untuk tidak bekerjasama dengan cawangan secara spesifik.
AN-AP
The Taliban suspend Afghan women’s radio station for providing content to overseas TV channel
An Afghan vendor selling a second-hand television waits for customers along the roadside at a market in Injil district of Herat province on February 4, 2025. (AFP)
KABUL – The Taliban’s information and culture ministry said Tuesday it suspended an Afghan women’s radio station, citing “unauthorized provision” of content and programming to an overseas TV channel.
It’s the second time authorities have shuttered an outlet for allegedly working with foreign media.
The ministry said Radio Begum violated broadcasting policy and improperly used its license.
“This decision comes after several violations, including the unauthorized provision of content and programming to a foreign-based television channel,” the ministry said, adding it will review all necessary documents to determine the station’s future.
Radio Begum launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, five months before the Taliban seized power amid the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops.
The station’s content is produced entirely by Afghan women. Its sister satellite channel, Begum TV, operates from France and broadcasts educational programs that cover the Afghan school curriculum from seventh to 12th grade.
Rights groups, including Reporters without Borders, condemned Tuesday’s suspension and demanded it be reversed.
Since their takeover, the Taliban have excluded women from education, many kinds of work, and public spaces. Journalists, especially women, have lost their jobs as the Taliban tighten their grip on the media landscape.
In the 2024 press freedom index from Reporters without Borders, Afghanistan ranks 178 out of 180 countries. The year before that it ranked 152.
The information ministry did not identify the foreign TV channel it said Radio Begum was working with.
Last May, the Taliban warned journalists and experts in Afghanistan to cease their collaboration with Afghanistan International TV.
It was the first time they had told people not to cooperate with a specific outlet.
The ministry requested Hajj offices to educate their pilgrims about the necessity of following Hajj regulations and instructions. (File photo)
MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that Feb. 14 will be the deadline for Hajj affairs offices in various countries to finalize their contracts for services related to this year’s Hajj season.
The ministry said that these contracts must be completed through the Nusuk Masar platform, designated for Hajj pilgrims from abroad, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
To ensure the best services for pilgrims, the ministry highlighted the importance of adhering to regulations set by the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia, including requirements for air and ground transportation.
It also urged compliance with security, health and procedural guidelines outlined in the Hajj agreement between the ministry and the pertinent offices in various countries, the SPA added.
The ministry said that after the deadline, no additional contracts will be accepted, and the actual quotas for pilgrims from various countries will be determined.
The visa issuance process will commence immediately afterward, the SPA reported.
The ministry requested Hajj offices to educate their pilgrims about the necessity of following Hajj regulations and instructions, ensuring that they obtain visas and permits through official channels.
Pilgrims also need to carry identification documents, such as the Nusuk Card, from the moment of their arrival in the Kingdom.
AN
Kementerian Saudi tetap tarikh akhir untuk pejabat antarabangsa selesai kontrak perkhidmatan haji
Kementerian meminta pejabat haji untuk mendidik jemaah mereka tentang keperluan mematuhi peraturan dan arahan haji. (Foto fail)
MAKKAH — Kementerian Haji dan Umrah mengumumkan 14 Februari akan menjadi tarikh akhir bagi pejabat hal ehwal haji di pelbagai negara untuk memuktamadkan kontrak mereka bagi perkhidmatan berkaitan musim haji tahun ini.
Kementerian berkata kontrak ini mesti diselesaikan melalui platform Nusuk Masar, yang ditetapkan untuk jemaah haji dari luar negara, Agensi Akhbar Saudi (SPA) melaporkan pada Isnin.
Bagi memastikan perkhidmatan terbaik untuk jemaah haji, kementerian menekankan kepentingan mematuhi peraturan ditetapkan oleh pihak berkuasa berkaitan di Arab Saudi, termasuk keperluan pengangkutan udara dan darat.
Ia juga menggesa pematuhan terhadap garis panduan keselamatan, kesihatan dan prosedur digariskan dalam perjanjian haji antara kementerian dan pejabat berkaitan di pelbagai negara, tambah SPA.
Kementerian itu berkata selepas tarikh akhir, tiada kontrak tambahan akan diterima, dan kuota sebenar untuk jemaah haji dari pelbagai negara akan ditentukan.
Proses pengeluaran visa akan dimulakan serta-merta selepas itu, lapor SPA.
Kementerian meminta pejabat haji untuk mendidik jemaah haji mereka tentang keperluan mematuhi peraturan dan arahan haji, memastikan mereka mendapatkan visa dan permit melalui saluran rasmi.
Jemaah haji juga perlu membawa dokumen pengenalan diri, seperti Kad Nusuk, dari saat mereka tiba di Saudi.
Afghan female students walk near Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, December 21, 2022. REUTERS
KABUL – The Taliban’s acting deputy foreign minister called on his senior leadership to open schools for Afghan girls, among the strongest public rebukes of a policy that has contributed to the international isolation of its rulers.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, who previously led a team of negotiators at the Taliban’s political office in Doha before U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, said in a speech at the weekend that restrictions on girls and women’s education was not in line with Islamic Sharia law.
“We request the leaders of the Islamic Emirate to open the doors of education,” he said, according to local broadcaster Tolo, referring to the Taliban’s name for its administration.
“In the time of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the doors of knowledge were open to both men and women,” he said.
“Today, out of a population of forty million, we are committing injustice against twenty million people,” he added, referring to the female population of Afghanistan.
The comments were among the strongest public criticism in recent years by a Taliban official of the school closures, which Taliban sources and diplomats have previously told Reuters were put in place by the supreme spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada despite some internal disagreement.
The Taliban have said they respect women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture.
They made a sharp u-turn on promises to open high schools for girls in 2022, and have since said they were working on a plan for the schools to re-open but have not given any timeline.
They closed universities to female students at the end of 2022.
The policies have been widely criticised internationally, including by Islamic scholars, and Western diplomats have said any path towards formal recognition of the Taliban is blocked until there is a change on their policies towards women.
A Taliban administration spokesman in the southern city of Kandahar where Haibatullah is based did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Stanekzai’s remarks.
REUTERS
Timbalan menteri luar Taliban gesa sekolah menengah perempuan dibuka
Pelajar perempuan Afghanistan berjalan dekat Universiti Kabul di Kabul, Afghanistan, 21 Disember 2022. REUTERS
KABUL – Pemangku timbalan menteri luar Taliban menyeru kepimpinan kanannya untuk membuka sekolah untuk gadis Afghanistan, antara teguran awam yang paling kuat terhadap dasar yang telah menyumbang kepada pengasingan antarabangsa terhadap pemerintahnya.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, yang sebelum ini mengetuai pasukan perunding di pejabat politik Taliban di Doha sebelum tentera AS berundur dari Afghanistan pada 2021, berkata dalam ucapan pada hujung minggu bahawa sekatan ke atas kanak-kanak perempuan dan pendidikan wanita tidak selaras dengan undang-undang syariah Islam.
“Kami meminta pemimpin Emiriah Islam untuk membuka pintu pendidikan,” katanya, menurut penyiar tempatan Tolo, merujuk kepada nama Taliban untuk pentadbirannya.
“Pada zaman Nabi Muhammad SAW, pintu-pintu ilmu dibuka kepada lelaki dan wanita,” katanya.
“Hari ini, daripada populasi empat puluh juta, kita melakukan ketidakadilan terhadap dua puluh juta orang,” tambahnya, merujuk kepada penduduk wanita Afghanistan.
Komen itu adalah antara kritikan awam yang paling kuat dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini oleh seorang pegawai Taliban mengenai penutupan sekolah, yang mana sumber dan diplomat Taliban sebelum ini memberitahu Reuters dilakukan oleh pemimpin rohani tertinggi Haibatullah Akhundzada walaupun terdapat beberapa perselisihan dalaman.
Taliban berkata mereka menghormati hak wanita mengikut tafsiran mereka terhadap undang-undang Islam dan budaya Afghanistan.
Mereka membuat u-turn (pusingan u) pada janji untuk membuka sekolah menengah untuk perempuan pada tahun 2022, dan sejak itu berkata mereka sedang mengusahakan rancangan untuk sekolah itu dibuka semula tetapi tidak memberikan sebarang garis masa.
Mereka menutup universiti kepada pelajar perempuan pada penghujung 2022.
Dasar itu telah dikritik secara meluas di peringkat antarabangsa, termasuk oleh sarjana Islam, dan diplomat Barat berkata sebarang laluan ke arah pengiktirafan rasmi Taliban disekat sehingga terdapat perubahan pada dasar mereka terhadap wanita.
Jurucakap pentadbiran Taliban di bandar selatan, Kandahar di mana Haibatullah berpangkalan tidak segera menjawab permintaan untuk mengulas mengenai kenyataan Stanekzai.
Iranian women, wearing the mandatory hijab, window shop in the capital Tehran on December 12, 2024. (AFP)
TEHRAN — Iranian lawmakers have asked to amend a bill that would impose tougher penalties on women who refuse to wear the mandatory hijab, local media reported on Wednesday.
The bill, already approved in parliament but not yet submitted to the government for final confirmation, has stirred a heated debate in Iran more than two years since nationwide protests erupted in part over the Islamic republic’s dress code for women.
Shahram Dabiri, Iran’s vice president for parliamentary affairs, has requested to hold off on sending the bill for approval, according to news agency ISNA.
“We requested that the law of chastity and hijab not be referred to the government,” Dabiri was quoted by ISNA as saying, adding that “the parliament speaker requested an amendment to the bill.”
Dabiri did not specify the nature of the amendment or provide a timeline for the process.
Lawmakers in September 2023 had approved the bill, officially the “Law on Supporting the Family through the Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab.”
It has since won the approval of the Guardian Council, a body empowered to vet legislation.
The bill was initially meant to be referred to President Masoud Pezeshkian in December.
Pezeshkian, who could sign it into law, has expressed “reservations” about the text, citing numerous “ambiguities.”
The 74-article bill tightens restrictions over women’s public attire and threatens action against businesses who fail to enforce the dress code, according to the text carried by local media.
It also imposes hefty penalities of up to 10 years in prison or fines equivalent to more than $6,000 for promoting “nudity” or “indecency.”
Since the early years of the republic following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran have been required by law to cover their head and neck.
In late 2022, a wave of protests erupted following the death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurd Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic dress code.
The months-long unrest saw hundreds of people, including dozens of security personnel, killed. Thousands of demonstrators were arrested.
AN-AFP
Penggubal undang-undang Iran meminta perubahan pada rang undang-undang hijab yang ketat: media
TEHRAN — Ahli parlimen Iran meminta untuk meminda rang undang-undang yang akan mengenakan hukuman lebih berat kepada wanita enggan memakai tudung wajib, lapor media tempatan pada Rabu.
Rang undang-undang itu, sudah diluluskan di parlimen tetapi belum diserahkan kepada kerajaan untuk pengesahan muktamad, telah mencetuskan perdebatan hangat di Iran lebih dua tahun sejak protes di seluruh negara tercetus sebahagiannya berhubung kod pakaian wanita republik Islam itu.
Shahram Dabiri, naib presiden Iran bagi hal ehwal parlimen, telah meminta untuk menangguhkan penghantaran rang undang-undang untuk kelulusan, menurut agensi berita ISNA.
“Kami meminta supaya undang-undang kesucian dan hijab tidak dirujuk kepada kerajaan,” Dabiri dipetik ISNA sebagai berkata, sambil menambah bahawa “speaker parlimen meminta pindaan kepada rang undang-undang itu.”
Dabiri tidak menyatakan sifat pindaan atau menyediakan garis masa untuk proses tersebut.
Penggubal undang-undang pada September 2023 telah meluluskan rang undang-undang itu, secara rasmi “Undang-undang Menyokong Keluarga melalui Promosi Budaya Kesucian dan Hijab.”
Sejak itu ia telah mendapat kelulusan Majlis Penjaga, sebuah badan yang diberi kuasa untuk memeriksa undang-undang.
Rang undang-undang itu pada mulanya bertujuan untuk dirujuk kepada Presiden Masoud Pezeshkian pada Disember.
Pezeshkian, yang boleh menandatanganinya menjadi undang-undang, telah menyatakan “reservations” (kelayakan untuk menyatakan persetujuan atau kelulusan; keraguan) tentang teks itu, memetik banyak “kekaburan”.
Rang undang-undang 74 perkara mengetatkan sekatan ke atas pakaian awam wanita dan mengancam tindakan terhadap perniagaan yang gagal menguatkuasakan kod berpakaian, menurut teks yang dibawa oleh media tempatan.
Ia juga mengenakan hukuman berat sehingga 10 tahun penjara atau denda yang bersamaan dengan lebih daripada $6,000 kerana mempromosikan “kebogelan” atau “tidak senonoh.”
Sejak tahun-tahun awal republik itu selepas Revolusi Islam 1979, wanita di Iran telah dikehendaki oleh undang-undang untuk menutup kepala dan leher mereka.
Pada akhir 2022, gelombang protes meletus berikutan kematian dalam tahanan warga Iran-Kurd Mahsa Amini, 22 tahun, yang telah ditangkap kerana didakwa melanggar kod pakaian Islam.
Pergolakan selama berbulan-bulan itu menyaksikan ratusan orang, termasuk berpuluh-puluh anggota keselamatan, terbunuh. Beribu-ribu penunjuk perasaan telah ditangkap.
Rakyat Syria duduk di belakang sebuah trak ketika ia dipandu di pekan di Qusayr di wilayah Homs tengah Syria pada 14 Disember 2024. (AFP)
AL-QUSAYR, Syria — Penduduk Qusayr di tengah Syria akhirnya pulang ke tanah air selepas pemergian pejuang Hizbullah, yang membantu tentera Bashar Assad merampas bandar itu sedekad lalu dan pergi dengan kejatuhannya.
Kebanyakan rumah kini hancur, selepas bertahun-tahun di bawah kawalan kumpulan bersenjata Lubnan, sekutu utama Assad yang telah menubuhkan pangkalan tentera dan kem latihan di sana.
“Kebanyakan kawasan di bandar Qusayr adalah terlarang kepada kami,” kata penduduk berusia 22 tahun Ali Khleif.
“Malah penduduk tempatan yang memiliki kedai dan pertubuhan di situ dilarang masuk.”
Tentera Syria merampas semula Qusayr, dekat sempadan Lubnan, pada Jun 2013 selepas serangan hebat diketuai pejuang Hizbullah.
Qusayr telah digunakan oleh pemberontak sebagai titik transit untuk senjata dan pejuang dari Lubnan, dan secara strategik penting bagi kerajaan Syria kerana ia dekat dengan jalan utama menghubungkan Damsyik ke pantai.
Hizbullah menggunakan bangunan “sebagai gudang senjata dan peluru,” kata Khleif.
“Selepas pembebasan, penduduk kembali ke kedai dan tanah mereka” dan telah menuntutnya semula, katanya.
“Kami akan mula membinanya semula.”
Hizbullah mengakui pada 2013 ia berperang di Syria untuk menyokong Damsyik, dua tahun selepas perang meletus apabila Assad secara kejam menindas pemberontakan pro-demokrasi.
Kini di Qusayr, bekas pos Hizbullah telah digeledah.
Imej bekas ketua kumpulan itu Hassan Nasrallah, yang terbunuh pada September dalam serangan besar Israel di pinggir bandar selatan Beirut, telah dikerat dan dimusnahkan.
Pertempuran 2013 bagi Qusayr memaksa ribuan orang melarikan diri, termasuk ramai penduduk Lubnan di kawasan itu, yang mengekalkan hubungan rapat dengan Lembah Bekaa Lubnan di seberang sempadan.
Pejuang Hizbullah meninggalkan kawasan itu dengan kejatuhan Assad minggu lalu, selepas pemberontak pimpinan Islamis melancarkan serangan kilat, menawan ibu negara pada 8 Disember.
Peguam Ayman Soweid, 30, berkata “semasa pendudukan Hizbullah di Qusayr, bandar kami dianggap sebagai jambatan darat untuk mengangkut senjata, khususnya dari Syria dan Iran, melalui Iraq, melalui kami ke Lubnan.”
Serangan Israel juga berulang kali melanda kawasan Qusayr.
Israel, yang telah melakukan ratusan serangan di Syria sejak 2011, terutama menyasarkan tentera dan kumpulan disokong Iran termasuk Hizbullah, jarang mengulas mengenai serbuan individu tetapi berulang kali berkata ia tidak akan membenarkan Iran meluaskan kehadirannya di negara itu.
Di tempat lain di Qusayr, Samar Harfouch, 38, sedang meninjau timbunan runtuhan.
Dia berkata dia kembali pada Sabtu hanya untuk mendapati rumahnya musnah.
“Ini adalah rumah saya, dan ini adalah rumah saudara lelaki suami saya – tiga rumah,” katanya kepada AFP, juga menunjukkan lebih banyak rumah saudara terdekat.
“Semua musnah,” katanya.
“Dua belas rumah menjadi runtuhan.”
AN-AFP
Syrians return to ruined homes in city that became Hezbollah hub
This aerial view shows a building reportedly used by Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, in the town of in Qusayr in Syria’s central Homs province on December 15, 2024. (AFP)
AL-QUSAYR, Syria — Residents of Qusayr in central Syria are finally returning home after the departure of Hezbollah fighters, who helped Bashar Assad’s forces seize the city a decade ago and left with his fall.
Many of the houses are now in ruins, after years under the control of the Lebanese armed group, a key Assad ally which had set up a military base and training camp there.
“Most areas in the city of Qusayr were off-limits to us,” said 22-year-old resident Ali Khleif.
“Even the local residents who owned shops and establishments there were prohibited from entering.”
Syria’s military retook Qusayr, near the Lebanese border, in June 2013 after a blistering assault led by Hezbollah fighters.
Qusayr had been used by rebels as a transit point for weapons and fighters from Lebanon, and was strategically vital for the Syrian government because it is close to a major road linking Damascus to the coast.
Hezbollah used the buildings “as warehouses for weapons and ammunition,” said Khleif.
“After the liberation, the residents returned to their shops and land” and have reclaimed them, he said.
“We will begin rebuilding them.”
Hezbollah acknowledged in 2013 that it was fighting in Syria in support of Damascus, two years after war erupted when Assad brutally repressed a pro-democracy uprising.
Now in Qusayr, former Hezbollah posts have been ransacked.
Images of the group’s former chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in September in a huge Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, have been slashed up and destroyed.
The 2013 battle for Qusayr forced thousands to flee, including many Lebanese residents of the area, which maintains close ties to Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley across the border.
Hezbollah fighters abandoned the area with the fall of Assad last week, after Islamist-led rebels pressed a lightning offensive, taking the capital on December 8.
Lawyer Ayman Soweid, 30, said that “during Hezbollah’s occupation of Qusayr, our city was regarded as a land bridge for transporting weapons, specifically from Syria and Iran, via Iraq, passing through us to Lebanon.”
Israeli strikes have also repeatedly hit the Qusayr area.
Israel, which has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since 2011, mainly targeting the army and Iran-backed groups including Hezbollah, has rarely commented on individual raids but has repeatedly said it would not allow Iran to expand its presence in the country.
Elsewhere in Qusayr, Samar Harfouch, 38, was surveying piles of rubble.
She said she had returned on Saturday only to find her home destroyed.
“This is my home, and these are the homes of my husband’s brothers — three homes,” she told AFP, also indicating more relatives’ homes nearby.
