
King Salman: Praise Be to Allah for Honoring Us with the Service of the Two Holy Mosques
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, expressed gratitude to Allah on Friday for honoring Saudi Arabia with the service of the Two Holy Mosques.
In a post on his account on social media platform X, the King said: 'We praise Allah for bestowing us with serving the Two Holy Mosques'.
The King extended prayers that Allah almighty accept the worship and rituals of pilgrims and hoped that Eid al-Adha would bring goodness and peace to the Muslim nation and entire world.
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Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
For Rohingya mothers, Eid marks rare chance to serve meat for family
DHAKA: As she prepared for Eid Al-Adha celebrations on Saturday, Nikash Tara could not recall the last time she served a proper meal for her family. In the cramped camps of Cox's Bazar, a nutritious meal was a near-impossible treat available only during special occasions and solely dependent on charitable contributions. Most days, Rohingya refugee mothers like Tara could only rely on food rations, which have been slashed in recent years due to insufficient funding. 'It was probably during Eid Al-Fitr when we last had a truly nutritious meal … We survive on the food rations, which are not enough now. Sometimes, I skip meals so that my children can eat,' Tara told Arab News. 'We get rice, lentils, and oil, but no vegetables, no milk. It's hard to call it a 'meal,' let alone nutritious.' Eid Al-Adha, known as the 'Feast of Sacrifice' and one of the two most important holidays for Muslims, is the first time this year that the mother of three gets to serve meat for her family. Eid Al-Adha commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's test of faith when he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son. To reflect his readiness to do so, Muslims around the world slaughter an animal, usually a goat, sheep or cow, and distribute the meat among relatives and the poor. 'On the occasion of Eid, we received a small portion of meat … I prepared a curry with potato and the meat I received. Although it's not much in quantity, it made the children happy, as it is a chance to have a meal with beef for the first time this year,' Tara said. 'It hurts me as a mother. My heart breaks when my children get excited over a single good meal. It reminds me how little they get on normal days. Eid should be joyful, but I cry inside, knowing my children are being deprived every other day of the year. I feel helpless.' Mizanur Rahman, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner in Cox's Bazar, said this year the camps received 1,800 cattle and 350 goats for Eid sacrifice, donated by various Muslim and local nongovernmental organizations. 'In addition to that, different organizations and philanthropists promised to deliver 50,000 kg of fresh meat to be distributed on the day of Eid Al-Adha,' Rahman told Arab News. The donations will help Bangladeshi authorities to 'reach many of the Rohingya families … (and) offer them a feast on the occasion of Eid,' he added. Bangladesh hosts about 1.3 million Rohingya Muslims, who, for decades, have fled neighboring Myanmar to escape persecution, especially during a military crackdown in 2017 that the UN has been referring to as a 'textbook case' of ethnic cleansing. The majority of them now live in Cox's Bazar in eastern Bangladesh, which has become the world's largest refugee settlement. Over the years, humanitarian conditions in the squalid camps have been deteriorating, with aid continuously declining since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rohingya also have limited access to job opportunities and education. With nobody able to earn a living, Mariam Khatun's family was among those entirely dependent on food aid. 'With little food aid and in a life with no earning opportunity, for my children, a decent meal is something unimaginable,' Khatun told Arab News. Though Eid was a joyful occasion, she said it was 'painful that joy comes only once or twice a year. 'It breaks my heart when the children look at the meat and ask: 'Will we eat this again tomorrow?' I have no answer.' Before fleeing her village in Myanmar, the 29-year-old mother of two used to prepare spicy beef curry, her children's favorite, frying the meat until it was crispy. 'But here, I barely have them. We rely fully on the food rations, but the amount has been cut so much. It's not enough for a full month,' she said. 'Maybe only on this Eid, we got a little meat. That's the only time this year my children got something with some nutrition. We're not living; we're just trying not to starve.'


Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
The young Saudis bridging language barriers during Hajj
RIYADH: Each year, millions of Muslims from all over the world arrive in Makkah for Hajj — united in faith, but sometimes divided by language. From Turkish and Urdu to Swahili and Bahasa, the diversity of languages in the holy cities is vast. For many, overcoming language barriers while navigating the logistics of Hajj can be overwhelming. That is where young Saudi volunteers step in to translate and ease some of the challenges pilgrims face. 'We speak different languages, but we're all here for the same reason,' said Deema Ibrahim, 21. Ibrahim's experience volunteering as a translator began with a change of plans. 'I initially joined a team for emergency medical services,' she said. 'But when we arrived, we found that the ambulance units were already full. So we were redirected to work in the road guidance division.' Her unit was based near a hotel that housed non-Arabic-speaking pilgrims. As one of the few bilingual members of her team, Ibrahim's role became essential. 'I also assisted deaf and mute pilgrims through remote video calls,' she said. 'That allowed me to support a wider group of people who would otherwise be left struggling.' One of the most emotional moments she experienced was helping an elderly woman who had become separated from her family. 'She didn't remember much and couldn't communicate clearly. 'We eventually found a card with her camp name, called them, and her daughters came running. They didn't expect to find her again. It was a moment I'll never forget. 'I did it for the reward — and for the duas.' Saad Al-Harbi, 23, was encouraged by a friend to volunteer. 'He said, 'You speak good English, you live in Makkah, and you're available — why not help as a group guide and translator?'' he recalled. Most of the questions from pilgrims were about directions. 'They'd ask how to get to Arafat, or where to perform the stoning, or how to navigate from one site to another.' But what stayed with him most was the gratitude. 'On the last day of Hajj, almost everyone in our group came up to thank me. They told me my help made a difference. That meant everything.' Maha Al-Ahmari, 24, who speaks fluent Turkish, assisted several elderly Turkish origin or Turkish-speaking pilgrims who were part of a group of North African pilgrims in Muzdalifah. 'Many of them were completely disoriented and couldn't communicate with security or their own groups,' she said. 'Just being able to speak their language calmed them instantly. One woman kissed my hand in thanks — I'll never forget that.' The Kingdom's efforts to enhance services for pilgrims include multilingual signage, smart apps with translation features, and trained staff in key areas. Still, human contact is at the heart of everything guides do — especially when emotions run high. Ibrahim said that some of the most difficult cases involved older pilgrims who were confused, hard of hearing, or dealing with memory loss. 'The pressure increases during the days of Nafr,' she said. 'People get lost easily. And when they can't speak Arabic or English, the stress becomes dangerous.' She credits the government's organization — from surveillance centers to camp identification systems — for helping volunteers like her stay effective. 'We had support, but the human side of it — calming someone, assuring them — that was on us.' Faris Al-Turki, 28, who volunteered in Mina, said he used Google Translate in real time to assist a pilgrim from Central Asia. 'It wasn't perfect, but it helped. He was trying to find his medication and explain a health condition. We figured it out.' For many volunteers, the act of translation is an act of worship. It's a way to serve the guests of Allah — a role that holds deep spiritual meaning in Saudi culture. 'You're not just translating words,' Al-Harbi said. 'You're translating emotion. You're showing them that they're not alone.' Ibrahim agreed. 'It was exhausting, physically and mentally, but it was the most fulfilling thing I've ever done. Despite our different languages, we were all in the same sacred space, for the same reason. That unity — you feel it.' In the end, most volunteers do not seek recognition. They often work behind the scenes, in the heat, in the chaos, among strangers. But for the pilgrims who meet them — the ones who are lost, confused, scared — their presence is unforgettable. A calm voice. A familiar phrase. A gesture of patience. And when the pilgrims return home, they may not remember every building or landmark, but they will remember that young Saudi who stepped forward, understood their words, and made them feel seen.


Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
Makkah's 911 is truly a friend in need
MINA: Whether you have lost your way, misplaced a valuable item, or faced a moment of danger in the Makkah region, you can simply call 911, and the first thing you will hear is, 'How can I help you?' However, behind that simple question stands an army of skilled operators and a vast, sophisticated system — the Unified Security Operations Center 911 in the Makkah region, a key division of the National Center for Security Operations under the Saudi Ministry of Interior. The center is a vital yet often unseen component of public safety, responsible for coordinating emergency responses. Its role becomes especially crucial during major events like the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Normally, the center includes representatives from around 15 security and service agencies, but this number can increase to as many as 30 during Hajj to ensure the effective management of large crowds and potential emergencies. Located just a few kilometers from the holy sites, the facility is divided into three core sections: the call-taking hall, the dispatch hall, and the surveillance hall, which oversees the city's extensive network of security cameras. Speaking to Arab News, Capt. Abdulaziz bin Zuhair Al-Ghamdi, spokesperson for the NCSO, said the center receives around 40,000 calls each day, noting that 80 percent are resolved directly by call takers without the need for further escalation. 'Most of the calls we get are from people asking questions about some of the rules we have like how and when to enter Makkah, or who is allowed to enter Makkah,' Al-Ghamdi said. During peak periods such as Hajj, the volume of calls increases. On Thursday, June 5 alone, the center handled 46,079 calls. Many of these came from pilgrims seeking assistance with finding their tents or requesting medical help. Capt. Al-Ghamdi emphasized that only 20 percent of the calls require formal reports and are forwarded to specialized entities for further action. 'As you can see, the center is equipped with the most advanced technology. We answer calls in less than two seconds,' he said. In addition to speed, the center also ensures accessibility, and male and female call takers are trained to respond in multiple languages, including English, French, and Urdu, to assist the diverse population of pilgrims and residents seeking help. The spokesperson noted that once a call is received, the caller's phone number, name, and location are immediately displayed on the center's advanced monitoring screens. 'If there is a serious case, we fill out a form and submit it to the specialized department in less than 45 seconds,' he added. The NCSO oversees similar unified security operations centers in Riyadh, Madinah, and the Eastern Province. It is tasked with monitoring security developments across the Kingdom, analyzing threats, managing large-scale crises, and coordinating response efforts among various agencies. Beyond reactive operations, the center proactively monitors daily developments, issues alerts to secure key installations and diplomatic missions, and coordinates security plans for national events. In a city as densely populated and spiritually significant as Makkah, the responsibility is immense. But thanks to the unseen dedication of teams working around the clock, both residents and pilgrims benefit from a rapid and reassuring response when they need it most. Behind every emergency call answered, there is a quiet promise of safety, delivered by professional men and women committed to protecting lives.