Ibrahim Khudair Okaz/Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — The cannon on Jabal Al-Madafe' (Cannon Mountain) that is adjacent to the Grand Mosque in Makkah has remained a steadfast symbol of the city despite radical changes in the area due to ongoing development projects in the vicinity. Residents of Makkah often ask about the secret behind the cannon's longevity despite the passage of time and the geographical development the area has witnessed. They have developed a relationship with this particular symbol and this intimacy increases during the holy month of Ramadan. The boom of the cannon can then be heard, once at iftar time (end of the fast), once at suhur time (the time when Muslims eat their meal in preparation for the next day's fast) and twice for imsaak (when Muslims should stop eating and drinking). So the cannon booms 120 times during the holy month. Makkah residents have gotten used to hearing the boom of the Ramadan cannon for the past 50 years. Some of them do not break their fast until they hear the booming of the cannon. For the other 11 months of the year, the cannon remains silent.
