Ramadan Cannon in the Kingdom

The Ramadan Cannon in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an ancient voice announcement tool used to mark the beginning of the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr in several provinces of the Kingdom. Shots are fired from a special cannon positioned on a mountain or high place. The use of the Ramadan cannon is a tradition observed in several Islamic countries and serves as a symbol associated with the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

The Ramadan cannon was introduced in the Kingdom in 1865 during the rule of Imam Faisal Bin Turki Bin Abdullah of the Second Saudi State. At the time, the cannon was placed at the top of al-Dhayrain Castle (currently al-Marqab Castle). In 1921, founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud entrusted Shuaib al-Dosari to supervise the work of the cannon.

In earlier times in Makkah al-Mukarramah, the Ramadan cannon was fired from atop Jabal al-Madafa'e, north of the Grand Mosque, to announce the beginning of the month of Ramadan, the onset of Eid al-Fitr, or when the muazzin announced the Maghrib call to prayer or the approaching time of breaking the fast in the Grand Mosque. In 2014, Ramadan cannons were suspended in Makkah al-Mukarramah due to the expanded use of loudspeakers in the Grand Mosque. In 2015, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, ordered the resume of the use of the Ramadan cannon in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah.

'Jabal al-Madafa'e,' an extension of Mount Qaiqan, overlooks the Grand Mosque from the north. It gained fame during the third Saudi expansion for its Ramadan cannons. Additionally, Selaʾ Mountain in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah is renowned for announcing the arrival of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah.

The Ramadan Cannon fired approximately 150 rounds during the month of Ramadan, commencing from the beginning of the month until the announcement of Eid al-Fitr. Each day, it was loaded with ammunition to fire a shot upon hearing al-Maghrib call to prayer, signifying the start of Iftar time, another at the commencement of Suhoor time, and two shots to herald the beginning of fasting. The firing of shots at Eid al-Fitr signaled the conclusion of the cannon's activity, after which it was transported to the equipment store for maintenance and preparation by security personnel for the following year.