KOTA BARU: Since December last year, every Friday at dawn, the atmosphere at the Muhammadi Mosque has become energetic, with hundreds of congregants having breakfast after performing Fajr prayers.
Worshippers normally choose to perform Fajr prayers at home with their family members.
Speaking to Bernama, the Muhammadi Mosque senior Imam Nik Mohd Afif Azhan Nik Mohd Naidi said the 'breakfast with congregants' programme has been well-received with the attendance of more than 1,000 people every Friday.
"In the beginning, only about 30 worshippers attended, and they were provided with 'nasi air dingin' (rice with fish, chicken or beef curry).
"The mosque management then proposed that we organise a 'bekwoh' (feast) to enhance the campaign for performing congregational Fajr prayers with more enticing sets of dishes such as white rice, mutton curry, 'nasi lemak' and various Malay cakes. Alhamdulillah, now the prayer areas are almost full every Friday," he said today (January 12).
Nik Mohd Afif Azhan said after the programme went viral on social media platforms, many people came forward to donate food items, which the congregants then cooked.
"Someone donated five goats, so we cooked mutton curry today," he said, adding that besides sharing the blessings, the programme also aims to revitalise the mosque at dawn.
Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah, 60, a worshipper from Tanjung Chat, said the programme makes things more convenient for him as he no longer needs to rush home after performing the Fajr prayers and listening to the religious lecture.
Meanwhile, according to the owner of Iman Yusoft Coffee, Muhammad Iman Mohd Yusoft, 28, they prepare 200 cups of free premium coffee for the congregants every Friday in collaboration with the mosque and Galeri Kotak Seni.
"This week, Iman Yusoft Coffee prepared 100 cups of coffee for male congregants while Mika Coffee prepared another 100 cups for the female congregants," he added. — Bernama