Saudi Arabia: Over 1 million pieces of dates are consumed daily in the Prophet’s Mosque for iftar

Cairo: Worshippers ending their day-long fast at the sunset iftar in the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second holiest site, consume more than 1 million pieces of dates per day, according to a Saudi media report. Three to five pieces of dates are distributed per person daily as part of the iftar meals during Ramadan in the mosque in the Saudi city of Medina, Al Watan newspaper said. Get exclusive content with Gulf News WhatsApp channel Iftar banquets in the mosque stretch for more than 100,000 metres long with some 233,000 fast-breaking meals are made available to the worshippers each day. Once the iftar is over, the place is prepared in minutes for performing the Maghreb or sunset prayers under oversight of the General Authority for Care of the Prophet’s Mosque Affairs, a Saudi state agency. Muslims traditionally end their fast in Ramadan by eating dates, following the example of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and due to their nourishing effect. Dates are rich in nutrients ...