Iftar meals for fasting people in Kenya: A Saudi initiative that promotes brotherhood in Nairobi
As part of the ongoing humanitarian and advocacy efforts undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to serve Muslims across the globe during the holy month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the Religious Attaché at the Embassy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the Republic of Kenya, organized a special Ramadan Iftar banquet for fasting people in the capital, Nairobi.
Details of the event at the Jamia Mosque in Nairobi
The iftar banquet was held yesterday in the hall of the Grand Mosque in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya's capital, one of the most prominent Islamic landmarks in the region. This event is an integral part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' program for providing iftar meals to fasting Muslims, which is overseen by the Ministry. The banquet was attended by high-level diplomatic and religious figures, including the Deputy Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Kenya, Mr. Khalid bin Saeed Al-Zahrani, along with Dr. Adam Yunus Sheikh Ibrahim, a member of the Board of Directors and Advisor to the Supreme Council of Muslims in Kenya, and Mr. Suqyan Hassan, Chief Justice of Personal Status Courts, in addition to a number of influential Islamic figures and approximately 100 fasting Muslims participating in this blessed gathering.
Program dimensions and its humanitarian impact
This event is not merely a one-off breakfast; it is part of a comprehensive strategy to distribute food baskets and breakfast meals to approximately 20,000 beneficiaries in Kenya during Ramadan this year. The program reflects the Saudi leadership's commitment to addressing the needs of Muslims and fostering a spirit of solidarity and brotherhood, particularly in African countries with which the Kingdom shares deep historical and religious ties. This program is an extension of decades of Saudi generosity aimed at building bridges of communication with Muslim communities and reaffirms the Kingdom's leading role in serving the causes of the Islamic world.
Strengthening fraternal and diplomatic ties
Organizing such communal meals carries profound significance that extends beyond mere relief efforts to include strengthening religious and cultural diplomacy. The gathering of Saudi diplomats with Kenyan religious leaders and ordinary Muslims at a single table embodies the essence of Islamic brotherhood in its most beautiful form and reinforces the bonds of affection between the two brotherly nations. Kenya is considered a country that receives special attention in the Ministry of Islamic Affairs' seasonal programs due to its large Muslim population and the need for support in some areas during the holy month.
Feelings of gratitude and prayer
Those who benefited from and participated in the banquet expressed their profound happiness at this spiritual gathering, offering their deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman – may God protect them both. They affirmed that such initiatives are characteristic of the Kingdom of Humanity, which has consistently extended a helping hand to Muslims everywhere. They also commended the significant organizational efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance to ensure that aid reaches those who deserve it, praying to God Almighty to perpetuate the blessings of security, safety, and prosperity upon the Kingdom.
