The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo, Indonesia organised several initiatives during Ramadan, in partnership with the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, that benefited residents in the city of Banda Aceh in Indonesia.
The activities were part of the mosque's annual Ramadan programmes in Indonesia, in collaboration with humanitarian institutions and organisations from the UAE.
This year's programmes in Banda Aceh included Ramadan banquets and group iftars, with 2,000 iftar meals distributed daily during the holy month. Ramadan rations were also provided to hundreds of families in the region, along with meat for approximately 1,300 families.
Daily religious lessons were also organised throughout the Holy Month, along with intensive Quranic courses participated in by 200 students from various Indonesian universities. A Quran recitation ceremony was also held with the participation of 2,000 residents of the region. The last 10 days of Ramadan also witnessed the performance of Tahajjud and Qiyam al-Layl prayers, and the distribution of suhoor meals to those observing i'tikaf in mosques on a regular basis. Approximately 60 volunteers participated in these programmes.
Dr Sultan Faisal Al Rumaithi, CEO of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo, said: "We organised the activities to celebrate Ramadan in a way that will also strengthen the bonds between Emirati and Indonesian peoples. It is a strong friendship based on cooperation in righteousness and piety, in building nations and serving humanity."
He emphasised that the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has become one of the region's most distinguished religious institutions, serving as a centre for Islamic studies and cultural programmes, and celebrating the brotherhood between the Republic of Indonesia and the UAE.
Al Rumaithi praised the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation’s support for the Ramadan programmes and its cooperation with the mosque’s management in providing for the needs of those fasting during the holy month. He said, “Ramadan celebrations are a deeply rooted tradition in the heart of Indonesians, as Ramadan is celebrated with widespread activities across the country. These traditions are manifestation of the work that Islamic scholars have done to help spread Islam through tolerance, love, and peace, and has contributed to making Indonesia the largest Islamic country in the world.
The Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation expressed its pride in participating in the Ramadan initiatives, stressing that supporting charitable and humanitarian projects in various countries, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, aligns with its commitment to the legacy of giving established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE.
The foundation explained that these programmes reflect the UAE's deeply rooted values of supporting those in need and promoting the spirit of human solidarity. It noted that its ongoing collaboration with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Solo aims to expand the scope of its charitable initiatives, contributing to a positive impact on the lives of beneficiary individuals and families, as well as consolidating the principles of human solidarity and building bridges between peoples.
