JEDDAH: The Hawi digital platform’s campaign to encourage and raise awareness of the importance of hobbies has successfully concluded.
The initiative — which boasted the slogan “If you have a hobby, you have a story” — was set up as part of the Kingdom’s Quality of Life Program to foster a culture of participation across diverse domains and pursuits.
More than 100 governmental entities and a large number of private sector representatives participated in the campaign, which ran from Aug. 10-24.
There was great interest in the project with more than 45,000 registrations for the “Discover Your Hobby” test, which assisted individuals in identifying possible interests.
Tariq bin Adnan Al-Ghourabi, general manager of Hawi, said: “The large response from the community reflects an increasing interest in the culture of participating in hobbies, affirming that hobbies are an important part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.”
Al-Ghourabi added that the campaign contributed to raising awareness about the importance of practicing hobbies and their positive impact on an individual’s mental and physical health.
It also encouraged participation in diverse activities and highlighted the significant value of spending enjoyable, beneficial time on hobbies.
Ahmed Al-Khateeb, chairman of the Quality of Life Program committee, emphasized the importance of practicing hobbies and their positive impact.
Khalid Albaker, CEO of the Quality of Life Program Center, said that hobbies were an important part of life and invited youngsters to join in the search to discover their own interests.
Conclusion of Hawi digital platform’s initiative to encourage hobbies
https://arab.news/yux92
Conclusion of Hawi digital platform’s initiative to encourage hobbies
- More than 100 governmental entities and a large number of private sector representatives participated in the campaign
- There was great interest in the project with more than 45,000 registrations for the “Discover Your Hobby” test
Saudi, Islamic leaders exchange Eid Al-Adha greetings
- King, crown prince receive telegrams, calls from around Arab world
- Four-day festival begins on Friday
RIYADH: The leadership of Saudi Arabia on Thursday received telegrams from the heads of several Islamic countries on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha.
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent their own goodwill messages, wishing Islamic leaders progress and prosperity for the festival.
The crown prince on Thursday also received a telephone call from Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Muslims worldwide will begin the four-day celebration of Eid Al-Adha on Friday. The holiday occurs in the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar and coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, where 1.4 million pilgrims this week began their rituals.
Pilgrims commend Saudi Arabia’s care, organization
- This year, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ program is hosting in excess of 2,400 pilgrims from more than 100 countries
ARAFAT: Several guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah expressed deep emotions as they stood on the plains of Arafat, saying that chanting the Talbiyah and supplicating were among the most profound moments of their lives.
They praised the generous care they received from their arrival in the Kingdom until reaching the holy sites, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Pilgrim Mohammed Amer, from New Zealand, said: “Arafat Day is extraordinary in every detail; a moment of serenity and peace. I never imagined experiencing it with such honor, organization and care.”
He commended the Kingdom and its leadership for facilitating the rituals and ensuring every pilgrim’s comfort, the SPA reported.
Pilgrim Sameh Abu Baker, from Palestine, appreciated the services and exceptional organization of pilgrim movement.
He said: “The emotions on this great day are indescribable. Joy fills our hearts as we see pilgrims responding in unison. These moments will remain etched in memory.”
This year, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ program is hosting in excess of 2,400 pilgrims from more than 100 countries, reinforcing the Kingdom’s global mission to serve the two holy mosques and pilgrims.
Celebrities join millions on a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ Hajj journey
- Many celebrities join millions of Muslims worldwide traveling to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to perform Hajj
RIYADH: Every year, many celebrities join millions of Muslims worldwide traveling to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to perform Hajj — a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey for affluent Muslims. This year is no different.
Among those performing Hajj this year are Zimbabwean motivational speaker and Islamic scholar Ismail ibn Musa Menk, known as Mufti Menk; internationally famed South African chef Hamzah Saeed; Egyptian singer and composer Ahmed Saad; and Pakistani actor Malik Aqeel.
Menk posted on X: “As I embark on my journey for the Hajj after 24 years, I seek the forgiveness of Allah for my shortcomings and ask you to forgive me too. Hajj is meant to purify us and wipe away our sins. May Allah make me a better person, closer to Him and worthy of His Mercy! Aameen.”
In another post, he said: “Almighty. Grant us the strength to give up something for Your sake. Help us understand the true meaning of sacrifice. May we achieve the benefits of these ten days & may You accept the sincere efforts of those making Hajj.”
Saeed also expressed his anticipation on Instagram, seeking forgiveness and hoping Allah accepts his prayers and guides him on this blessed journey, one of Islam’s five pillars.
Quoting Qur’an 2:158, he wrote: “Surely, Al-Safa and Al-Marwah are symbols of Allah. Whoever performs Hajj or Umrah will find no sin in walking between the two. May Allah accept and bring everyone to His House, the Kaaba.”
Shaykh Sulaimaan M. Ravat, a distinguished South African scholar, shared Hajj snapshots on X, including an emotional conversation with Saeed during his first visit to the holy cities.
“I am the first person from my family to visit Haramain,” Saeed said.
On Instagram, he celebrity chef posted a video from Madinah: “Words can’t describe having experienced and seeing all historical places and to learn stories about them with learned scholars one on one, stay tuned as will be taking you on Mount Uhud journey.”
In an emotional post on X, Egyptian singer Saad shared a video from the Grand Mosque reciting the Qur’an.
Pakistani Cinema, a popular TikTok page, shared a clip of Aqeel in Saudi Arabia performing Hajj, reciting a beautiful na’at — poetry praising Prophet Muhammad.
Advanced tech enhances Hajj crowd management
- Tools help monitor and analyze human and vehicular movement to enhance crowd management efficiency
ARAFAT: The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, in cooperation with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, is using high-resolution satellite imagery, geospatial artificial intelligence and real-time data during the Hajj season.
These tools help monitor and analyze human and vehicular movement to enhance crowd management efficiency, with the analysis covering entry points to Makkah to observe vehicle flow and peak times.
They also track crowd density around the Grand Mosque and analyze pilgrimage routes to predict mobility patterns and congestion, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The technology supports immediate decision-making by providing accurate data and improving crowd distribution. It also ensures safe mobility and enhances coordination among operational teams on the ground.
The collaboration presents an advanced model for using geospatial technologies, helping improve safety and increase field operation efficiency during Hajj.
How Ihram clothing is tailored and designed for Hajj
- Ihram represents spiritual purity and equality of pilgrimage
- New technologies introduce Ihram with anti-bacterial properties
RIYADH: During Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah, Muslim men wear Ihram — simple attire representing purity and equality.
Ihram is made of two white unstitched pieces of fabric. One, the Izar, is wrapped around the waist while the other, the Rida’, covers the shoulders.
“Ihram is worn by men during Hajj and Umrah, and it is always unstitched and white,” Abdullah Al-Ahmad, who owns a menswear store in Riyadh, said.
“(It) usually consists of two pieces, a lower piece and an upper piece, and the most popular types of Ihram in the market are those made of elastic, and those tied around the belt. People usually prefer cotton, especially Egyptian cotton, for its high quality; also because cotton is softer on the skin and does not absorb heat.”
Hamad Al-Yami, a Saudi inventor in nanotechnology and member of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations, talked to Arab News about his nano-silver technology Ihram.
“The idea originated while I was working at the Saudi Ministry of Health, where I noticed the need for antibacterial medical clothing,” he explained.
“The concept later evolved to include Ihram clothing after studying the challenges pilgrims face, such as the spread of infection in crowded conditions, wearing Ihram for a long period of time, sometimes for days at a time, and the limited effectiveness of traditional fabrics.”
He added he was inspired by the historical use of silver for sterilization and developed a technique using silver nanoparticles, each about one-millionth of a millimeter, to sterilize cotton fabric. The primary purpose of his invention was to reduce infection, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Along with his antibacterial clothing, he has future plans to work on recycled Ihrams and turn them into eco-friendly products like bags or pillows that could be used in mosques.
While men wear Ihram, women have more flexibility when it comes to clothing choices during Hajj, although modesty is still a requirement when choosing fabric and colors.
Due to the hot weather in the Makkah region, most women prefer lightweight, breathable materials such as cotton and linen.
“There are no specific clothes for women. Any texture, any color, as long as it is not decorated and is socially appropriate for Hajj. It should be modest and mostly white or beige,” said pilgrim Afnan Al-Harbi.
“I used to wear white because it was hot and sunny in Makkah and the color is cooler a little bit. We also don’t wear perfumes, we don’t cover our faces, and we don’t wear gloves. Still, a lot of pilgrims at the time were wearing black abayas.”
Wearing the Ihram is not a fashion choice. It indicates a state of spiritual readiness to submit to God and clear the mind and body of all negativity, so that Hajj can be begun with a positive mindset.
