During Ramadan, worshippers at the Prophet's Mosque soars to about one million people, making it a huge and costly undertaking to serve people at Iftar, the breaking of the fast. It has been the tradition of Madina residents to serve food for breaking fast since the Abbasids Caliphate. Although in the Grand Mosque in Makkah only dates and Saudi coffee are allowed, the General Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques does not interfere in the tradition of Madina residents, said Abdul Wahid Al-Hattab, chief of Public Relations and Media at the Prophet's Mosque. From 3 P.M. more than 10,000 people, organized by citizens and residents, start bringing food on hand-driven two-wheel carts into the mosque. After Asr prayers the table cloth of nylon is spread out. It seems a massive undertaking, but Al-Hattab said that citizens who serve the meal have their places earmarked. Some serve one hundred people, others 200 and so on. So each year they bring the food for Iftar to their earmarked places. Each person is provided with one yoghurt of 170 grams, bread known ‘Shraik', dates of 250 grams, Dugga (a spice mixed with yoghurt) and Saudi coffee. This food, including plastic utensils and ‘sufra' nylon roll, costs at least SR2.5 for each person. This means that at least SR2.5 million is spent in total on the meal on a daily basis. The people of Madina are famous for their generosity. At the gates, people are encouraged to join in the meal. Many foreigners under the sponsorship of citizens help to serve food. About 2,000 workers move around with thermoses and sterilized plastic cups serving water. The Presidency supplies Zamzam water in more than 20,000 water coolers. Iftar organizers and other philanthropists make their children and others stand in front of all gates and inside the mosque to invite the arriving worshippers to break the fast on their ‘sufra'. Women are second to none in this work. The mosque has two wings for ladies which accommodate more than 5,000 worshippers. They also arrange breakfast the same way it is arranged in the men's section side. Only 12 minutes is set aside for Iftar. After this time, workers move in to clean up and ready the mosque for Maghreb prayer. After prayer, the workers move in again and clean the carpets with large electric vacuum cleaners. They also spray airfreshner. After Maghreb prayer, people sit in small groups and enjoy Saudi coffee with dates. Over the last 10 days of Ramadan, Suhoor is also served before dawn in the open plazas around the Prophet's Mosque. About 200,000 people enjoy this meal of well-known Saudi and Indian dishes, said Al
