The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques has announced the opening of registration for those wishing to perform the Sunnah of Itikaf (seclusion for worship) in the Two Holy Mosques, for both men and women, during the blessed month of Ramadan. This announcement comes as part of the Authority's early preparations to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching Ramadan experience for those observing Itikaf and for visitors.

The authority explained in its official statement that the online application process will begin tomorrow (Friday) at 11:00 AM. The period for i'tikaf (seclusion in the mosque) has been set to begin on September 20, 1447 AH, and continue until the end of the holy month on September 30, 1447 AH, in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of seeking Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree) during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Regarding the registration process, the Authority invited all those interested to visit its official website, where they can complete the process either by logging in directly, creating a new account, or using the National Unified Access Portal (Nafath) for citizens and residents. This reflects the move towards digital transformation to facilitate procedures. After logging in, applicants must choose their preferred location for Itikaf, either the Grand Mosque in Mecca or the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.

The registration process includes reviewing and agreeing to all the terms and conditions governing Itikaf, then completing the required personal information and submitting the application. The authority emphasized that all applications will be reviewed and shortlisted based on the capacity of each mosque to ensure a healthy and safe environment for those observing Itikaf.

The practice of i'tikaf (seclusion for worship) in the Two Holy Mosques holds immense spiritual and religious significance for Muslims worldwide, as it allows them to dedicate themselves to worship, remembrance of God, and recitation of the Quran in the holiest of places. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, strives to utilize all available human and technological resources to serve the pilgrims. Specific, well-equipped areas are designated for i'tikaf, providing all necessary services, thus contributing to maintaining tranquility and preventing any disturbance to other worshippers.

Organizing the registration process electronically in advance comes as part of the great organizational efforts made by the Kingdom to manage the millions of crowds during the month of Ramadan, and to ensure the safety and security of those visiting the Two Holy Mosques, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to provide the finest services to the guests of God and facilitate their spiritual journey.

As part of its ongoing efforts to protect public health and ensure food safety, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) that its inspection teams successfully seized more than 21 tons of non-compliant products before they reached consumers. This significant operation is part of a broader inspection campaign targeting the safety of the most consumed products during the holy month of Ramadan.

Details of the inspection campaign and targeted establishments

The authority revealed in its report that it conducted 1,578 comprehensive inspection tours across various regions of the Kingdom during the month of Sha'ban. These tours focused on vital points in the food supply chain, including:

• Visiting 310 food factories.
• Inspection of 1017 storage warehouses.

These meticulous efforts resulted in the closure of 6 violating establishments, and the detection of a number of violations that necessitated taking regulatory measures, in preparation for imposing penalties on violators in accordance with the regulations and bylaws adopted in the Kingdom.

The importance of oversight during religious seasons and in the Two Holy Mosques areas

These campaigns gain particular strategic importance with the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, when consumer demand for food products rises significantly. In this context, the Authority confirmed that the safety of 4,346 products in 793 establishments was verified. The Authority indicated that the Makkah and Madinah are given top priority within a separate monitoring plan due to their high population density and the influx of pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques, which necessitates stringent safety standards to ensure the provision of safe and healthy food for the pilgrims.

Safety and quality standards: a fundamental pillar

The authority clarified that its comprehensive plan was not limited to food, but also included warehouses for medicines and medical devices. Inspection teams focused on several key areas to ensure compliance, including:

• Checking the accuracy of nutritional and dietary information on products.
• Measuring the extent to which establishments comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements.
• Monitoring transport and storage conditions to ensure that products are not damaged by environmental factors.

Through these measures, the Authority seeks to raise compliance rates with regulations and rules, thereby enhancing the quality of life and protecting the consumer from potential health risks resulting from the circulation of non-compliant products.

Deterrent penalties and the role of society

In closing, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority stressed that it will not tolerate any violations and will strictly enforce penalties against offenders, noting that violations of the Food Law and its implementing regulations can be punishable by up to:

• Financial penalties of up to 10 million riyals.
• Business activity suspended.
• Imprisonment for those responsible for serious offenses.

The authority called on all citizens and residents to strengthen community partnership by reporting any violations that are observed by calling the unified number (19999), stressing that consumer awareness is the first line of defense in the food control system.