More than 60 Asir residents have volunteered to clean and renovate mosques in the area as part of a group calling themselves the “Servants of the Mosques.”

Group supervisor Ahmed Saeed Al-Asmari claimed the volunteers came up with the idea after many residents in the area complained that some mosques needed repair and a facelift, especially in the coastal region.

“We were taking part in a field trip when we noticed that many mosques lacked adequate maintenance,” Al-Asmari said, adding that the group believes that places of worship are far more important than their own houses.

“We decided to create a volunteer group and let as many people as possible know of our initiative,” Al-Asmari pointed out, asserting that the volunteers come from different walks of life among the area’s residents, including doctors.

Al-Asmari told Arab News that the group is preparing an essay about their experiences, which they will submit to Asir’s director general of awqaf and Islamic affairs once their work is completed.

To ensure a better communication, participants have established a social media group with its own logo, where other volunteers can join and learn about the project’s terms and conditions.

One of the group’s core statements declares that they do not collect donations, since members themselves shoulder all the work and expenses during renovations. Some of them are specialized in the construction field as well as in electricity and plumbing, which are ideal qualifications for the task, Al-Asmari explained.

Even though the work is unpaid, the team is very cooperative and members love to volunteer for all kinds of jobs. “We usually meet after Asr and work until Maghrib,” Al-Asmari said.

With much hard work and also a passion for their religion, the group has already improved five mosques, revamping one mosque a week. “We have received many letters from community members expressing their appreciation and suggesting new sites for us to work on,” Al-Asmari explained.