Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025

Saudi Islamic University distributes more than 225,000 iftar and suhoor meals during Ramadan

Saudi Islamic University distributes more than 225,000 iftar and suhoor meals during Ramadan

The Islamic University of Madinah is introducing a range of initiatives and carrying out volunteer work to serve students of different nationalities during Ramadan.

Initiatives include distributing iftar and suhoor meals, organizing Umrah trips and supporting fieldwork for visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque.

The “Iftar and Suhoor for the Islamic University Students” initiative is one of the biggest Ramadan iftar meals in Madinah. More than 225,000 meals have been distributed to students of different nationalities.

The initiatives included distributing iftar and suhoor meals, organizing Umrah trips and supporting fieldwork for the visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque.


These included 105,000 iftar meals, more than 70,000 suhoor meals for students on campus during Ramadan, and more than 51,000 iftar and suhoor meals distributed to students in housing units outside the university by a group of volunteers from the university’s members and students.

The programs also included “Iftar around the World,” which is being held for the second consecutive year at the university. Students of 170 nationalities participated in learning about iftar meals during Ramadan, including different cultures and customs, types of food, ingredients and preparation. The initiative aims to support connection and communication between university students and members.

Dean of the Shariah faculty at the university, Muslim Al-Jehani, described the international iftar as a beautiful gesture by Prof. Prince Mamdouh bin Saud bin Thunayan, the university’s president.

He said the university’s educational facilities host more than 165 nationalities, and iftar reflects its message and goals as a global scientific beacon.

The university’s strategic goal is to spread the culture of Saudi Arabia and its global message of peace, coexistence, and renunciation of violence and extremism, Al-Jehani said.

Ahmed Khader Abu Sultan, a student from Palestine, said that the international iftar table reflects Saudi Arabia’s cultural diversity.

The Islamic University is known as a pioneer in the field of cultural convergence for all Muslims, he added.

“I don’t think there is anything like it in terms of cultural diversity. Each student prepared some dishes with the support of the student fund from the Islamic University. Over 20 countries participated in this event, and each country provided approximately five different dishes to feed over 400 attendees,” Abu Sultan said.

Postgraduate student Abdelwahhab Mohammed Badi, who specializes in curricula and teaching methods, said that the university is home to numerous cultures from different countries, in which customs and traditions vary.

“This international iftar initiative targeted students, attendees and visitors to the city to learn more about each person’s cultural background, as well as discover dishes from different countries, to find out what makes each country unique.”

Badi said that the university is a pioneer in launching, embracing and supporting these initiatives, as the iftar table was filled with diverse dishes, allowing attendees to enjoy flavors from different countries without traveling abroad.

“We are eagerly awaiting the Festival of Cultures and Peoples, which will be held in about two weeks at the university,” he added.

Fahmy Hassan Al-Nimri, a Tunisian student at the Dawah faculty, said that the Islamic University succeeded for the second year in a row in making this initiative a hit, which reflects a high sense of awareness among its officials and students of the importance of bringing people together.

He added that no other country unites people from different nationalities and cultures in harmony, love and brotherhood during Ramadan; the university is thus providing the most wonderful examples of unity and solidarity.

Wael Rafeeq, a journalist from Madinah who was invited to the international iftar, said: “The Islamic University has always impressed us with such creative initiatives. It has restored this creative glow with its activities, which are perfectly organized and extremely welcoming.”

Rafeeq said that this reflects the university’s sophistication and broad experience in bringing together creators, thinkers and intellectuals, allowing attendees to learn about the cultures of different peoples while enjoying delicious and varied Ramadan meals.

The university organized Umrah trips that benefited 4,977 students from 85 nationalities with 102 trips to the Grand Mosque via bus in the past few days. The initiative aimed to enable students to perform Umrah rituals with facilitated services provided by the university.

There are 300 students volunteering to offer services and support the work provided for the Prophet’s Mosque visitors, in coordination with authorities concerned with serving visitors during Ramadan.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
×