With the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, demand for basic food products in Saudi Arabia increases significantly, and the poultry sector is among the sectors experiencing a surge in activity to meet the needs of Ramadan meals. In this context, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced promising figures reflecting the strength of local production, with poultry meat production exceeding 1.3 million tons, confirming the high level of preparedness of local markets.

A key pillar of Vision 2030 and food security

This figure is not merely a passing statistic, but rather the fruit of continuous strategic efforts within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places great importance on food security. The poultry sector has witnessed significant leaps in recent years aimed at increasing self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on imports, thus strengthening the Kingdom's economic and food independence. The Ministry is working diligently to support specialized projects in this field to ensure the sustainability of food supplies, high quality, and competitive prices.

"Our Land's Bounty" campaign and support for local products

As part of its efforts to promote a culture of consuming locally produced goods, the Ministry, through its "Our Land's Bounty" campaign, highlighted the high reliability of local poultry, noting that the production system adheres to the highest standards of quality and food safety. This is achieved through the adoption of the latest global technologies in breeding and feeding processes, ensuring that consumers receive a fresh and healthy product that surpasses many imported alternatives in nutritional quality and safety.

Complete nutritional value for those fasting

From a health perspective, the ministry indicated that poultry is an ideal choice for breakfast and suhoor meals, as it is a rich source of high-quality, low-fat protein, a vital element for building muscle and repairing tissues. Poultry also contains a range of essential vitamins and minerals, most notably:

• B complex vitamins (B3, B6, B12): which play a pivotal role in enhancing brain function and supporting energy metabolism processes, which is what the fasting person needs to maintain their activity.
• Phosphorus: which contributes directly to promoting bone health.
• Selenium: which acts as an antioxidant and supports the efficiency of the immune system and the health of the thyroid gland.

The ministry concluded by emphasizing the importance of choosing lean poultry as a healthy alternative to red meat, given its numerous benefits for cardiovascular health when consumed as part of a balanced diet, and called on consumers to support national products that contribute to driving sustainable agricultural development in the Kingdom.

His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, issued today (Tuesday) an urgent and important directive to all mosque preachers throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, instructing them to dedicate next Friday's sermon to a vital topic concerning the security and stability of society. The directive emphasizes the obligation to thank God Almighty for the blessings of security, safety, and tranquility that the Kingdom enjoys, while stressing the necessity of warning the public against the dangers of engaging in discussions about events and crises without proper knowledge, and guiding them towards what benefits them in matters of their faith and worldly affairs.

The sermon's main points: Warning against rumors and the prohibition of filming security operations

The ministerial directive included several key points that preachers must address clearly, foremost among them reminding people of the blessings of security and stability and the obligation to be grateful for them. The directive also emphasized the strict prohibition against spreading and circulating rumors, or rushing to disseminate unverified news. His Excellency stressed the necessity of discouraging people from discussing crises and analyzing events in private gatherings or on social media, urging them to leave these matters to specialists and those whom God has entrusted with the affairs of the country, in compliance with religious and legal directives.

In a related context, the directive focused specifically on warning against the phenomenon of filming or sharing videos related to security incidents. The directive clarified that such practices fall under the category of "spreading rumors" and inciting fear, which could endanger lives and public interests, in addition to providing a free service to enemies and enabling them to escalate their aggression by revealing movements or spreading panic.

Legal and national context: Strengthening intellectual security

This directive comes within the framework of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs' ongoing strategy to promote "intellectual security" and protect the social fabric. From a Sharia perspective, this directive is based on established religious principles that urge the verification of news and the avoidance of disseminating information that could cause public anxiety, in accordance with Quranic injunctions that mandate referring security and public matters to those in authority and qualified to interpret religious texts. Historically, the Friday sermon in the Kingdom has played a pivotal role in unifying the community and guiding social discourse during sensitive times, reflecting the integration between religious institutions and security agencies in maintaining the stability of the state.

The importance of awareness in facing the challenges of new media

This guidance gains added importance in light of the technological revolution and the proliferation of social media platforms, where the transmission of information—whether accurate or false—now occurs in fractions of a second. Highlighting the dangers of "citizen journalism" in security situations is a proactive step to prevent the spread of misinformation that could be exploited by hostile entities to destabilize the country. The anticipated impact of this sermon extends beyond religious awareness, aiming to fortify society psychologically and socially against psychological warfare and malicious rumors.

The directive concluded by urging people to increase their supplications in the sermon, asking God to protect the Kingdom’s leadership and perpetuate its glory and strength, and to bestow upon our country and all Muslim countries the blessing of security and stability, with special prayers for the brave soldiers who defend the homeland, asking God to guide their aim and protect them from all harm.