Motawifs reminisce about serving Hajj pilgrims in years gone by

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In the past, hajj pilgrims would arrive in ships after a long journey that could take about four to five months. (SPA)
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Updated 26 June 2023
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Motawifs reminisce about serving Hajj pilgrims in years gone by

  • Motawif — a guide and general service provider who assists and cares for Hajj pilgrims — is an age-old role that was traditionally passed down from one generation of a family to the next
  • One Mowatif told Arab News that what was once a position held by individuals has now become an institutional role

RIYADH: Hayat Eid, a Saudi former Motawif, recalled how in days gone by she would dress up in her most beautiful clothes and burn incense throughout her house as she prepared to welcome Hajj pilgrims, many of whom had traveled very long distances in the days before air travel was common.

Motawif — the name for the guides and general service providers who assist and care for Hajj pilgrims — is an age-old role that was traditionally passed down from one generation of a family to the next.

Eid’s grandfather, for example, rented buildings, cleaned them and offered accommodation in them to pilgrims. He also hired supervisors and translators to assist the visitors. The job was passed down to his son, Eid’s father.




Abdulrazzaq lulu Buqas with hajj pilgrims he hosted in his home, in a picture taken in may, 1993. (Supplied)

“My father, Jamil Abdulrahman Eid, was the ‘sheikh’ of the pilgrims of Southeast Asia,” she said, referring to the tradition of pilgrims referring to Mowatifs as “sheikhs.”

“My grandfather and grandmother were also among the Motawif and (my grandfather) was ‘the sheikh of Java,’ that is, the sheikh who receives the pilgrims from Java, Indonesia. After my grandparents died, my father rose to the (position of) Motawif.”

Reminiscing about those days in the 1960s and 1970s, Eid, who is now in her 50s and retired, said that pilgrims would send letters to her family asking to stay with the “sheikh” in his house.




Eid family preparing feasts for pilgrims. (Supplied)

“The sheikh explained to them the rituals of Hajj and what they should do (and) take them to the Grand Mosque and return home with them so that they did not get lost,” she added.

Her brother, Adel Eid, said the role of the Motawif was an individual position in the past but has now become an institutional role.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Motawif are guides and general service providers who assist and care for Hajj pilgrims.

• The position, which was once held by individuals and passed from one generation to the next, is now an institutional role.

• Each Motawif was assigned a certain number of pilgrims based on ability; some could serve only 100, others could cope with 1,000.

• They were required to speak the pilgrims’ language or hire interpreters.

“Each Motawif used to serve the pilgrims by himself,” he said. “They would travel to (the pilgrims’) country and market their services … they were also required to be able to speak (the pilgrims’) language well.”




Some of the pilgrims having lunch. (Supplied)

Each Motawif was assigned a certain number of pilgrims based on ability; some could serve only 100, others could cope with 1,000.

Because the Eids assisted pilgrims from Indonesia, they learned the Malay language and about the spices and food their visitors preferred, so that they could make the pilgrims feel as much as home as possible in Makkah.

Adel, who is in his 60s and also retired, said that the pilgrims’ journeys to the Kingdom, mostly on ships, could take four or five months. After docking in Jeddah, they would board buses to Makkah. In most cases, they would be led during their journeys by a Motawif.




A historical motawif identity card belonging to Jamil Abdulrahman Eid, the ‘sheikh’ of Southeast Asian pilgrims. (Supplied)

“Hajj is for those who can afford it, so pilgrims would sell what they had to perform Hajj,” Adel said. “They would come loaded with things to sell in Makkah, such as clothes, sheets, food and gold.”

Wijdan Abdulrazzaq Lulu Buqas, 46, similarly inherited the profession of Motawif. She is also fluent in Malay, having learned it from her father and grandfather. But some nationalities prove more challenging than others.

“We would circumambulate with pilgrims from Southeast Asia and speak their language to serve them but the Chinese language was difficult, and so we brought a translator for the Chinese pilgrims,” she said.




Some pilgrims having an exploring trip around the rituals of Hajj in Makkah. (Supplied)

Some pilgrims bring gold or pearls to give the Motawif as a gift on Eid Al-Adha, Buqas said. Her father, Abdulrazzaq Lulu Buqas, added “Lulu,” the word for pearls in Arabic, to his name to commemorate these gifts from pilgrims.

One “unforgettable situation” that Buqas, who still works as a Motawif, recalls occurred when she met a pregnant woman, in her third trimester, who showed signs of fatigue.

“When I saw the suffering of the pregnant woman we took her to the hospital where she delivered safely,” she said.




Picture of pilgrims in front of the accommodation in the 70's. (Supplied)

“I asked her why she came when she was pregnant and she told me that she had applied for Hajj and had been waiting for this opportunity for 20 years, and if she had not come, she would have lost her chance forever. That is why she decided to perform Hajj and complete the fifth pillar of Islam.”

Buqas said that she has witnessed great changes, for the better, in the Hajj experience over the years.

“The difference between Hajj in the past and in modern times is very big because previously there were more difficulties and challenges,” said Buqas. “It would take months to arrange it but today, it takes only hours … thanks to the great efforts by the Saudi (leadership).”

 


Saudi crown prince, Iranian president discuss ceasefire in phone call

Updated 11 sec ago
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Saudi crown prince, Iranian president discuss ceasefire in phone call

  • Prince Mohammed expressed the Kingdom’s hope that the truce would help restore security and stability in the region

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke on the phone on Tuesday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he welcomed a ceasefire between Iran and Israel announced earlier in the day, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Mohammed expressed the Kingdom’s hope that the truce would help restore security and stability in the region and prevent the risk of further confrontation, SPA added.

He underscored Saudi Arabia’s consistent position in supporting diplomatic dialogue as the preferred path to resolving disputes.

The pause in fighting was announced after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday launched missile strikes targeting Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East. 

Following the attack, the crown prince reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s full solidarity with Qatar during a call with the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and strongly condemned what he described as Iran’s “unjustified and blatant aggression” against the Gulf state.


Saudi foreign minister arrives in Doha for emergency GCC meeting

Updated 24 June 2025
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Saudi foreign minister arrives in Doha for emergency GCC meeting

  • Session convened to discuss Monday’s Iranian missile attack on US bases in Qatar

DOHA: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Doha on Tuesday to take part in an emergency meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Faisal was received upon arrival by Qatari Minister of State Sultan Al-Muraikhi, Saudi ambassador to Qatar Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan, and GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi.

The emergency session has been convened to discuss Monday’s Iranian missile attack on US bases in Qatar.

The meeting will address the implications of the incident for regional security, as well as collective efforts to restore stability across the Gulf, SPA added.


Saudi cookbooks for kids win ‘Best in World’ Gourmand award

Updated 24 June 2025
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Saudi cookbooks for kids win ‘Best in World’ Gourmand award

  • ‘Aklana’s’ 13 volumes document Saudi culinary and cultural traditions
  • Building a ‘golden age’ of literature for kids, publisher tells Arab News

JEDDAH: A children’s cookbook showcasing Saudi Arabia’s rich culinary heritage has won one of the world’s top awards.

Layal Idriss received the 2024 “Best in the World” Gourmand Cookbook Award in Cascais, Portugal, recently for her work as the creative director, publisher, and visual storyteller behind the “Aklana” book series.

The series is an ambitious project documenting the Kingdom’s culinary culture for children.

Speaking to Arab News, Idriss described the award moment as “truly overwhelming.”

The co-founder of Dar Waraqa and Radish House Agency added: “I was honored to be invited to speak on the Gourmand stage about ‘Aklana’ from Saudi Books, highlighting Saudi culinary food and culture.

“To stand there, representing a project that is so dear to my heart, filled me with immense gratitude.”

The “Aklana” series, created in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Culinary Arts Commission and published by Dar Waraqa, comprises 13 individually designed books, each dedicated to one of the Kingdom’s provinces.

The series was envisioned as a “holistic cultural journey” for children, designed to inform and delight local and global readers alike.

Idriss explained that “with every dot we put on paper, we recognized that we were serving a global readership.”

To ensure international accessibility, the books were translated into English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

In her role as creative director, she led a team of four to five artists per book, each handpicked to reflect the cultural tone and visual storytelling of the region they depicted.

“The goal was not just beautiful illustrations, but visuals that truly captured the essence of the narrative and cultural elements,” she said.

Ensuring artistic and editorial cohesion across all 13 volumes was no small feat: “Directing multiple artists while maintaining a unified look and feel was a complex yet rewarding challenge.

“From initial sketches to final production, I oversaw every step to guarantee consistency in design and storytelling.”

Alongside project manager Mohammed Hasanain, Idriss also prioritized premium production quality.

She said: “We focused on high-quality production from illustrations to paper believing that a beautifully made book serves as the best messenger for a vibrant culture.”

Speaking about what sets “Aklana” apart globally, Idriss highlighted its unique fusion of cultural depth, educational content and visual excellence.

Each book explores not only food but also local traditions, celebrations and natural resources.

“Many cultural cookbooks might offer recipes, but few delve so comprehensively into the lifestyle, celebrations, and natural resources tied to the food presented through such a rich and consistently high-quality visual narrative,” she said.

For Idriss, this award is validation of a lifelong mission.

“Personally, this award is an incredibly encouraging milestone. I’ve devoted my life to bookmaking with a clear vision: to contribute to building the golden age of children’s literature in Saudi Arabia,” she said.

While “Aklana” focuses on culinary heritage, Idriss believes the same level of dedication must extend to all genres of children’s literature in the Kingdom.

“The underlying passion for creating meaningful and beautifully crafted books remains the same,” she added.

The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards receive submissions from more than 221 countries and regions.

Every year, the awards ceremony is held in a location known for its gastronomic heritage, attracting publishers, chefs, authors, and journalists from across the globe.

With “Aklana” now part of both the Saudi and global culinary conversation, Idriss hopes it will spark a new wave of culturally grounded publishing initiatives across the Arab world.

“‘Aklana’s’ success provides a strong model. We hope it inspires future projects in the Kingdom and across the region to delve deeper into cultural exploration, setting new benchmarks for quality in publishing.

“We’re committed to continuing this journey, sharing our books globally, as we believe they are vital cultural messengers.”


King Abdulaziz Foundation launches Darah Documents initiative for greater accessibility to records

Updated 56 min 29 sec ago
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King Abdulaziz Foundation launches Darah Documents initiative for greater accessibility to records

  • Initiative seeks to connect new generations with their heritage and enhance the role of historic documents as primary sources for helping to understand Kingdom’s past
  • Darah Documents features a digital system that supports browsing and advanced search capabilities

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives has unveiled the Darah Documents initiative, a project designed to broaden public access to Saudi Arabia’s historic records and deepen national awareness of their significance.

The initiative, which was launched on Monday, seeks to connect new generations with their heritage and enhance the role of historic documents as primary sources for helping to understand the Kingdom’s past.

Darah spokesperson Sultan Al-Owairdi told Arab News that the foundation is using technology such as artificial intelligence to modernize archival access. 

He said that "automated indexing of historical materials using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and text analysis technologies contributes to reducing human effort and accelerating accessibility." 

Additional enhancements include AI-powered search tools, contextual linking of historical landmarks, and real-time multilingual translations to broaden global reach. Al-Owairdi further emphasized youth engagement, stating: "Darah is implementing several programs and activities connected to the initiative, targeting young people specifically." 

These include training workshops, field visits, and expert dialogues designed to simplify historical concepts in contemporary formats. The foundation also leverages "simplified and appealing digital content that aligns with the interests of the younger generation," encouraging creative contributions to national memory preservation. 

At the heart of the initiative is a digital portal and beneficiary services center, which together offer researchers, historians and interested individuals streamlined access to a diverse range of archival materials.

These collections span local and foreign documents, manuscripts, photographs, oral histories and more, covering topics from politics and the economy to society, culture and education.

Darah Documents features a digital system that supports browsing and advanced search capabilities. Users can request documents electronically or explore them directly at the beneficiary services center.

The platform also provides descriptive information and translations for non-Arabic content, making the archives more accessible to a broader audience.

As a nationally recognized authority on historic preservation, the foundation is committed to collecting, organizing, cataloging and digitizing documents according to rigorous scientific and archival standards.

This phased initiative includes ongoing indexing and the release of high-value historic records, ensuring their preservation and optimal use for research and cultural enrichment.

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, Darah Documents reinforces national identity and supports the Kingdom’s digital and knowledge transformation by making historic content more widely available.


First graduates complete KSGAAL’s linguistic proofreading course

Updated 24 June 2025
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First graduates complete KSGAAL’s linguistic proofreading course

  • Abdullah Al-Washmi said the program reflected the academy’s commitment to empowering the Arabic language within government institutions
  • One-year program is open to professionals working in editing and proofreading roles within government agencies

RIYADH: The first cohort of the Higher Diploma in Linguistic Proofreading program at the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language celebrated their graduation on Tuesday.

The ceremony was held at the academy’s headquarters in Riyadh and attended by prominent academics, students and trainers.

Abdullah Al-Washmi, the academy's secretary-general, said the program reflected the academy’s commitment to empowering the Arabic language within government institutions.

He added the program was a pioneering model in supporting the professional development of Arabic language specialists.

The one-year program is open to professionals working in editing and proofreading roles within government agencies and is accredited by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

The training pathway designed by the academy focuses on preparing specialized national linguistic teams.

Its methodology integrates theoretical and practical aspects to meet the needs of government sectors and enhance the efficiency of Arabic language usage.

Tuesday’s ceremony saw 60 graduates honored for completing the program, which includes 435 training hours delivered by 16 trainers.