The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance reviewed its programs and activities implemented during the holy month of Ramadan this year, including the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Gift program for distributing dates and Iftar (breaking fast) meals and distributing food baskets in several countries around the world, and the Imam program abroad, in addition to other programs to serve the pilgrims and the visitors of mosques in the Kingdom, in reflection of the ministry's message in serving Islam and Muslims across the world. The ministry stated that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Gift program was implemented to distribute food baskets and iftar meals in 34 countries around the world, where the ministry distributed 97,063 food baskets and 37,180 Iftar meals, benefiting more than one million people during the holy month of Ramadan and organized more than 24 group iftars in several countries, as well as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Gift Program to distribute luxury dates, which was implemented in 94 countries worldwide. The ministry also indicated that it implemented the Imam program abroad in Ramadan with the participation of (25) imams to lead the worshipers in Tarawih and Qiyam (night) prayers in 12 countries around the world, within the framework of the programs offered by the ministry during Ramadan every year, in response to the requests and desires of scholars, Islamic centers and societies received by the Ministry through the Kingdom's embassies in the countries benefiting from the program. The imams participating in the program are carefully selected and tasked with spreading the right faith, educating Muslims, and reminding them of what benefits them in their religion and their worldly affairs. In the Umrah program, the Miqats and mosques received more than 8 million pilgrims and provided them with services around the clock, under the supervision of more than 6000 technicians and field supervisors to oversee the level of services provided to the pilgrims. Moreover, more than 2 million pilgrims benefited from the awareness services provided by the General Secretariat for Islamic Awareness of Hajj, Umrah, and Visit through lectures, seminars, and the toll-free phone numbers, where a large number of preachers and multi-lingual translators participated in the provision of its services, who were made available around the clock in Miqats, mosques and the central region, as their lectures focused on rituals and related issues. Concerning the call and guidance, the ministry carried out (8220) activities, targeting 22 million citizens and residents, which included lectures, educational speeches, and scientific lessons, presented by a group of male and female preachers in various regions of the Kingdom discussing the virtue of the holy month of Ramadan and the importance of using the time prayers and good deeds. In addition, 13 courses were implemented before Ramadan in explaining the various aspects of fasting, and 13 women's courses in explaining various Islamic boons, to more than 4850 university students. The employees of the mosques, including imams, preachers, muezzins (callers), and observers in more than 93,000 mosques in various regions and governorates of the Kingdom devoted their efforts to raising awareness and enlightening people about Islam and what brings them closer to Allah Almighty, as various mosques remained open through the holy month of Ramadan with the participation of imams and preachers. In the media aspect, the Ministry intensified its activities on the various audio-visual means by participating in the awareness and guidance field, as it organized two programs "Mishkat Al-Sayeen Al-Samaeen (Fasting people) " and "The Fourth Pillar" throughout Ramadan, with the participation of scholars and preachers who discussed topics of interest to society related to Islam. The Ministry also monitored, through daily media reports, the activities and efforts the Kingdom provides in the service of Islam and Muslims in the world through its programs organized during Ramadan. The Ministry also highlighted its efforts in organizing an exhibition of the Holy Quran in Makkah, which was visited by nearly 50,000 visitors from different segments of society who were informed about the efforts made by the Saudi leadership in serving the Holy Quran. The Ministry also participated in the 33rd Sarajevo International Book Fair with the participation of 16 countries and won the award for the most successful pavilion in desktop presentation from the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, represented by the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran in Madinah, distributed nearly 300,000 copies of the Holy Quran, in cooperation with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), represented by the "Ehsan Platform for Charitable Work", through the corridors of the Grand Holy Mosque, the Prophet's Holy Mosque and the Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah and Quba Mosque, through counters allocated for distribution, in addition to 50,000 copies handed over to the Ministry of Defense and 50,000 copies to the General Directorate of Prisons. The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, praised the constant support provided by the Saudi leadership to the Ministry, and its various programs, to serve Islam and Muslims in various fields, especially about the holy month of Ramadan each year.
