Iftar at Grand Mosque gives spiritual bliss

MAKKAH — Breaking fast at the courtyards of the Grand Mosque during Ramadan evenings gives an unprecedented spiritual happiness to pilgrims and other worshipers. Authorities allow people to bring food and drinks in large quantities to the plaza to meet the requirements of hundreds of thousands of worshipers. Many people, especially diabetic patients prefer to stay in the plaza nearby toilets for their convenience. Several people take photos of these historic and happy moments using their cell phones in order to show their relatives and friends back home and keep them as pleasant memories. The plaza of the Grand Mosque has become a meeting place for pilgrims and visitors where they sit together, exchange their life experiments and establish brotherhood. Many rich families in the holy city bring various delicious Makkan meals to distribute them among the pilgrims and visitors after Taraweeh (special Ramadan) prayers. Tarek Bin Saleh Al-Malki, supervisor of the plaza, said his department has mobilized 200 permanent and temporary staff members to organize the iftar program. “We have got special instructions from Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, to organize the event in the best form as it is attended by millions of faithful from different parts of the world,” Al-Malki told Al-Madina Arabic daily. He said the plaza has been divided into six areas to organize iftar. “Our department has given license to charitable organizations and philanthropists to distribute various foodstuffs and drinks during iftar in specific areas,” Al-Malki said. He said the department officials make random inspections of food items being distributed for iftar. “We have appointed female staff to inspect and supervise prayer areas for women,” he said, adding that there are more than eight prayer areas for women in the plaza. “Our staff members prevent pilgrims and visitors from squatting at public places and other negative practices. We educate them about the negative effect of their wrong practices.” He said the department open ways for pilgrims to reach the mosque easily without difficulty by supervising the pathways at Raquba, Gazza and Bab Al-Fateh. “We have appointed officials to monitor wrong practices such as begging.” Two committees have been formed to prevent sales, begging and illegal transport service providers. The committee members including security officers move in two carts. The department has urged pilgrims and visitors not to gather in the plaza blocking the way of others. “People should not fill Zamzam water in plastic cans from the plaza as it would spread water in the area making it slippery and denagerous,” Al-Malki said. He also advised pilgrims and visitors not to bring hot meals to the plaza as it would affect cleanliness of the place and smooth functioning of prayers. He urged them to focus on prayers, meditation and reading the Qur’an instead of wasting time on taking photos and selfies.