Catholic neighbours in US’ Tennessee surprise Saudi student with Ramadan gifts

A heart-warming video of a Saudi woman in Tennessee receiving a surprise visit from her neighbours on the first day of Ramadan has gone viral. According to Arab News, Manal Alshakhs, who is studying for a PhD, was surprised and touched when her neighbours brought flowers, fruit, and gifts, and sang "Happy Ramadan to you."

The visit was organized by Susan Mascari, a Catholic neighbour, who wanted to congratulate Alshakhs on her dissertation and celebrate the holy month. Mascari said that as a Catholic, she shared many beliefs and moral values with Muslims, and being kind to neighbours was important to both of them. The video has gained over 4.9 million views in just two weeks, with many Muslims expressing their appreciation for the interfaith/inter-culture community.

Alshakhs stressed the importance of building a sense of community and familiarity with neighbours, saying it was like having a support system and eventually becoming family. Mascari said it was important to celebrate with her neighbour and make her feel welcome in her community and family.

Alshakhs said she felt blessed to be a part of an accepting neighbourhood and would leave with happy memories when she graduates in May.

Following the viral video of the Ramadan surprise, the two neighbours received numerous invitations for interviews from various local and international media outlets. They both expressed their gratitude for the attentiNeighborsUSon their story has received, hoping that it would inspire more acts of kindness and interfaith unity.

Moreover, Alshakhs and Mascari's story caught the attention of the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which extended an invitation for them to share their experiences and promote cultural exchange programs. The invitation was welcomed by both neighbours, who see it as an opportunity to encourage more people to bridge cultural divides and promote understanding between different communities.

In addition, Alshakhs and Mascari received messages of support from people all over the world, including representatives of different religions and cultures. They both expressed their joy at the overwhelming response and vowed to continue promoting interfaith and intercultural understanding in their own community and beyond.