• More than 40,000 Iftars served last Ramadan (1439 Hijri) and over 180,000 Iftars served over the past five years at the mosque
• Renown reciters from across the GCC return to observe the Holy month

The Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque & Centre (AFMC) in Dubai will receive top reciters from across the Middle East throughout the month of Ramadan 1440 Hijri (2019 Gregorian). The well-known reciters across the GCC come to Dubai to lead the daily Tarweeh prayers during the Holy month – one of the most important and reflective times in the Islamic calendar. The distinguished speakers will include Sheikh Ismaeel Hasan Ismaeel Ahmed, Imam of Abdul Wahab Al Zayani Mosque (Bahrain), Sheikh Saleh Sayid Mohamed Al Ansary, Imam of Al Hakim Mosque (KSA),Sheikh Abdulaziz Salem Al Zahrani, Legal Researcher at the Ministry of Justice (KSA), and Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa, the Religious and Cultural Affairs Advisor, AFMC (UAE).

The Ramadan recital schedule will be as follows:

• 1-4 Ramadan 1440: Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa, The Religious and Cultural Affairs Advisor, AFMC in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• 5-9 Ramadan 1440: Sheikh Ismaeel Hasan Ismaeel Ahmed, Imam of Abdul Wahab Al Zayani Mosque, Kingdom of Bahrain
• 10-15 Ramadan 1440: Sheikh Saleh Sayid Mohamed Al Ansary, Imam of Al Hakim Mosque, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• 16-20 Ramadan 1440: Sheikh AbdulAziz Salem Al Zahrani, Legal Researcher at the Ministry of Justice, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• 21-29 Ramadan 1440: Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa, The Religious and Cultural Affairs Advisor, AFMC in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa will host daily religious lectures after the Asr prayer, which will be broadcasted live on the AFMC’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. The programme is entitled “The Most Beloved Deeds to Allah”. The Ramadan campaign also includes Instagram episodes of “From the Gardens of Paradise” series by Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa which will be posted daily.

There will be live streaming of Friday prayers, the Taraweeh prayers; Laylat Al Qadr prayers and Eid prayer to all audiences

Throughout the Holy month of Ramadan, AFMC will set-up an air-conditioned tent located on the premises to serve 1,200 meals daily for people to break their fast at sunset. In Ramadan 1439, the mosque served 40,000 Iftars, and more than 180,000 over the past five years.

The mosque received over 100,000 worshippers over Ramadan last year and is expecting to host more worshipers and guests this year. A large air-conditioned tent with loud speakers will be set up to accommodate the additional worshippers.

The AFMC also welcomes non-Muslims to learn about the core values of Islam as well as the culture and traditions of the United Arab Emirates. Visitors will get the chance to experience the essence of the Holy month by taking part in the ‘Iftar’ meal alongside Muslims.

In the spirit of giving during the Holy month, the AFMC also supports over a hundred Emirati chaste families, stemming from the understanding that the closest are more eligible for support “الأقربون أولى بالمعروف”.

Abdul Salam Al Marzooqi, General Manager, AFMC, said “We are humbled by the large numbers of worshippers coming to pray and break their fast at the Al Farooq Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque & Centre year after year. We are grateful to God almighty for fulfilling the Mosque & Centre’s mission of being a minaret for promoting the true message of Islam and building bridges of communication with other nations and various religions based on moderation and tolerance.”

“As we celebrate the Year of Tolerance, the Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque & Centre is proud to support and embody UAE’s Arabic-Islamic heritage and the vision of Sheikh Zayed through inter-faith dialogue.The United Arab Emirates is a diverse nation where people of all religions, cultures and backgrounds live side by side in peace, prosperity and harmony. Our nation embodies a global model of success,” added Al Marzooqi.

Sheikh Dr Fares Al Mustafa, The Religious and Cultural Affairs Advisor, AFMC, said, “One of the core values of Islam is tolerance. Ramadan is a time for spiritual and physical purification, a time for patience and self-discipline. The Holy month also gives us an opportunity to reflect on how we cultivate a tolerant society and contribute by giving back to our community.”