Mosques have a special place in the hearts of Muslims, especially in the holy month of Ramadan. They spend more time in them than at any other time during the year.
Ukash Mosque is well known not only in Saudi Arabia, but also in the Muslim world. It was built in 1784. It is the second oldest mosque in Jeddah’s modern history. The oldest is the Uthman bin Affan mosque.
It is located downtown surrounded by two marketplaces.
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Shanqeeti is the 60-year-old imam of the mosque and has fulfilled the duties of this post for 35 years.
He told Arab News that the mosque was built during Ottoman rule, with the official deed issued two years after construction. It was also registered at the Turkish Ministry of Awqaf (endowments) and Muslim Affairs.
The mosque was built by Ukash Abazah, a Turkish citizen who was born and lived in Jeddah. Now the Hazazi family is in charge of running the mosque and providing all the necessary services. They are well known in Jeddah and are considered the heirs of the mosque’s estate. The mosque is officially regulated by the Saudi Ministry of Muslim Affairs and Awqaf.
In the old days, it used to be the sea gate of Jeddah because it is near the entry to the port. Visitors and official guests of the state arriving at the port would pray at the mosque.
He said that the mosque was completely renovated six years ago, using state-of-the-art designs based on Islamic architectural patterns.
It can accommodate more than 1,200 worshippers. There is a special section for women. It also has an extensive library of Muslim books.
Many members of the Saudi royal family prayed in the mosque at various times. The scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi prayed there too. The popular Qur’an reciter, the late Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdus Samad, spent many nights reciting the Qur’an publicly at the mosque.
The mosque has a special place in the hearts of many citizens of Jeddah. Muhammad Al-Jad'ani, who lives in Jeddah, says that when he prays in the mosque, he feels filled with spiritual feelings and peace, especially in the holy month of Ramadan. “I make it a point to always come here in Ramadan to do the evening prayers,” he said.
229-year-old mosque shines in heart of downtown Jeddah
229-year-old mosque shines in heart of downtown Jeddah
Muslim World League condemns Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza, West Bank
- Organization describes actions as part of wider pattern of settler aggression
RIYADH: The Muslim World League on Saturday strongly condemned recent Israeli attacks on civilian shelters and ongoing violence against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The MWL has described the actions as part of a wider pattern of settler aggression carried out with impunity under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, the SPA added.
The MWL’s Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who also chairs the Organization of Muslim Scholars, denounced in a statement issued by the MWL’s General Secretariat what he called “heinous crimes” committed against unarmed civilians, including recent attacks by settlers on the village of Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah.
He added that the “brutal assaults” were a “blatant violation of all human values as well as international laws and norms.”
He urged the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities and take decisive action against what he described as the occupation government’s ongoing disregard for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.
Al-Issa also called for the immediate activation of international mechanisms to halt the violence and ensure accountability for those responsible for what he termed “horrific massacres.”
His comments came after Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday condemning the violence, denouncing “the continued violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers, under the protection of the occupation forces, against Palestinian civilians, including the attacks in the village of Kafr Malik.”
Saudi, Hungarian officials discuss parliamentary ties
RIYADH: A Shoura Council delegation from the Saudi-Hungarian Parliamentary Friendship Committee concluded their official visit to Hungary, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
They met with the National Assembly speaker Laszlo Kover and members of the Hungarian counterpart committee to enhance parliamentary cooperation and strengthen ties between the two countries.
During the visit, the delegation met Hungarian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Magyar Levente, Minister of State for Water and Irrigation Zsolt Nemeth, officials from the Hungarian Ministry of Energy, and Saudi-Hungarian Business Council Co-chair Peter Karpati.
Hungarian officials stressed the importance of bilateral relations and appreciated the Kingdom's pioneering role. They also discussed ways to boost cooperation across various fields.
The delegation included committee chairman Ibrahim Al-Qannas and members Zaher Al-Shehri, Salem Al-Jarbou, Aisha Arishi, Abdulaziz Al-Jaloud, Fares Al-Osaimi, and Hisham Al-Faris. Saudi Ambassador to Hungary Majed Al-Abdan also attended the meetings.
$38m Saudi loan to boost Tunisia’s southern regions
- Saudi Fund for Development CEO, Tunisian prime minister discuss expanding bilateral cooperation
Riyadh: Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan Al-Marshad signed a new development loan agreement with Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Abdelhafidh to finance the Oasis Hub Project in southern Tunisia.
The loan, exceeding $38 million, was signed in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Abdulaziz Al-Saqr. The agreement reflects a strong development partnership spanning nearly 50 years, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Oasis Hub Project aims to support sustainable rural development by reclaiming more than 1,000 hectares of agricultural land across various Tunisian regions. It includes drilling and equipping 22 wells, expanding rural villages and infrastructure, and building more than 285 housing units for local residents.
The agreement is part of the Saudi fund’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable development in Tunisia by financing infrastructure that improves living standards, creates jobs, and supports the Sustainable Development Goals.
The project will enhance regional infrastructure through the construction of roads, pipelines, and water networks for drinking and irrigation. It will also support educational institutions, agricultural facilities, and cultural, social, and commercial centers.
These efforts aim to improve quality of life and drive economic and social growth in Tunisia’s southern governorates, the SPA reported.
Since beginning operations in Tunisia in 1975, the Saudi fund has financed 32 development projects and programs through concessional loans totaling more than $1.2 billion, along with grants exceeding $105 million.
On the sidelines of the signing, Al-Marshad met with Tunisian Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri in Tunis, joined by Abdelhafidh, Al-Saqr, and other officials.
The meeting explored ways to strengthen development cooperation and highlighted the decades-long partnership, especially in financing key projects in Tunisia.
Al-Marshad also met with Tunisian Minister of Health Dr. Mustapha Ferjani to discuss ongoing health projects funded by the Saudi fund and potential support for the Tunisian health sector.
Beit Hail Festival showcases regional heritage, attracts tourists
RIYADH: Now in its fourth year, the Beit Hail Festival has established itself as a prominent cultural, tourism, and entertainment event, attracting many visitors to the region.
The festival showcases traditional handicrafts that reflect Hail’s historical roots and offers interactive activities and performances, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
These elements celebrate the region’s heritage and community identity while blending tradition with modern touches, the SPA reported.
Held under the patronage of the Hail governor and supported by his deputy, the two-week festival aims to highlight local folkloric heritage and strengthen national identity.
It includes artistic performances, traditional crafts, authentic foods, and tourism-focused events aligned with Vision 2030 goals.
Over the past three editions, the festival has drawn steady attendance from local and international visitors, especially during summer holidays.
Visitors appreciate the diverse pavilions, cultural displays, performances, and art exhibitions, according to the report.
The festival also helps promote community participation and support the local economy by offering opportunities and events for productive families and small businesses.
Samia Suleiman Al-Jabri, associate professor of modern history at Hail University, said handicrafts remain a vital part of Hail’s heritage, preserving ancient traditions through crafts such as sadu weaving, pottery, wickerwork, and other arts rooted in Bedouin culture.
Al-Jabri added that over its three editions, the festival has organized events and launched numerous initiatives and workshops to document and safeguard traditional crafts, teach them to younger generations, and connect artisans directly with the public.
Kingdom arrests 13,532 illegals in one week
Riyadh: Saudi authorities arrested 13,532 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A total of 7,903 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 3,744 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 1,885 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,892 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 67 percent were Ethiopian, 31 percent Yemeni, and 2 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 34 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 17 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($267,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
