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#5311 [Permalink] Posted on 24th April 2015 16:07
 
Health Affairs investigates pilgrim death

Friday, 24 April 2015

MADINAH - An Egyptian pilgrim died shortly after she arrived at Prince Muhammad International Airport in Madinah. The pilgrim was part of a group that had arrived from Egypt to perform Umrah. The Health Affairs in Madinah issued a statement saying it will investigate the matter. According to reports, the pilgrim lost consciousness after she complained of exhaustion.

It took paramedics more than 10 minutes to come to her aid and by the time they arrived, she had passed away. Initial investigations showed that paramedics were delayed at security checkpoints inside the airport.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150424241520
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#5312 [Permalink] Posted on 24th April 2015 16:08
 
Al-Ayoun Oasis: A Green Park
in the heart of Madinah


Friday, 24 April 2015

The Prophet’s City never fails to amaze its visitors with its development projects. Just recently, the new Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport was inaugurated and soon, trains from Al-Haramain High Speed Rail Project will be ready to start trips.

The projects have even covered valleys of the city. One of them is Al-Ayoun Oasis project where visitors can enjoy breathtaking sights.

A year ago, Al-Madinah Municipality decided to rehabilitate the neglected Al-Ayoun area and build a health academy, sports rehabilitation center and a safari park.

Al-Ayoun is rich in water and has many farms. An important historical site covering a total area of 40 sq. kilometers, it is located only 11 kilometers north of the central area of Madinah along Othman Bin Affan Road.

When the project is completed, it will turn the area into a natural retreat where families can have fun in a green environment, Al-Madinah daily reported.

The project aims to preserve the area’s fertile land, generate significant economic returns, provide a popular getaway for the city’s residents, accelerate urban development, conserve the environment and safeguard the heritage of the area.

Obstacles

Perhaps the most difficult obstacles planners faced were the absence of reliable infrastructure, poor transportation network and limited public awareness on the importance of the area. Unfortunately, many residents do not realize that the area can be developed into a successful investment project and they themselves can benefit financially from the compensation that will be paid to those who own land in the area.

The number of farms has decreased significantly over the past few years because their owners are no longer interested in farming. The overall appearance of the area has been distorted as many farms have been neglected. Garbage is scattered throughout the area, especially toward the outer perimeter of Al-Ayoun.

It will take the development company some time before it can deal with and overcome these obstacles and start implementing the project.

Al-Madinah Mayor Khalid Abdulqadir Taher said the project, which includes the development of two roads, would be completed in a year and a half in three phases. The German company implementing the project will use global designs but incorporate elements of Islamic culture and heritage into these designs.

The project will also create thousands of job opportunities for Saudis and help reduce unemployment in the city.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150424241513
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#5313 [Permalink] Posted on 24th April 2015 16:09
 
Madinah Secretariat launches the second phase
of the Smart paintings project


أمانة المدينة تدشن المرحلة الثانية من مشروع اللوحات الذكية

15 April 2015

دشنت أمانة منطقة المدينة المنورة المرحلة الثانية من مشروع "اللوحات الذكية" وذلك من خلال تركيب 100 لوحة تراثية توعوية في أحياء المدينة المنورة لتعريف المواطنين والمقيمين والزائرين بتاريخ المدينة المنورة والمواقع التاريخية والأثرية بها.

يأتي هذا المشروع استكمالاً للمرحلة الأولى والتي تم توريد أكثر من 70 لوحة تحتوي في وجهها الأول على صورة معلم تاريخي أو أثري ونبذة مختصرة عن المعلم ورابط صوتي بحيث يتم قراءة الباركود (QR).

وأوضح مدير إدارة التسمية والترقيم بأمانة منطقة المدينة المنورة، المهندس سعيد بن جود الرحيلي، أن الأمانة وبتوجيهات من الدكتور خالد بن عبد القادر طاهر قد قامت بتوريد تلك اللوحات بمقياس رسم واضح وذلك للتسهيل على الزائر والمواطن والمقيم قراءة نبذه مختصره عن المواقع التاريخية والأثرية الموجودة باللوحة، مشيراً بأنه تم استخدام تقنية (QR) بحيث يظهر عند قراءة الباركود بالأجهزة الذكية رابطان الأول يذكر بيانات أكثر تفصيلاً عن الموقع التاريخي وصور ورابط صوتي.

وتابع: والآخر يوضح بعد الموقع التاريخي أو الأثري عن موقع اللوحة ونظام الملاحة، بحيث يستطيع الزائر أو المقيم أو المواطن من الوصول للموقع التاريخي أو الأثري بدون أي مشقة وبكل يسر وسهوله.

وأكد المهندس "الرحيلي" أن اللوحات تقع على ضفاف وادي العقيق ضمن الممشى الممتد من طريق أمير المؤمنين عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه إلى طريق أبي بكر الصديق "رضي الله عنه"، كما بين بأنه تم كذلك تركيب اللوحات الأخرى في ممر المشاة جنوب الجامعة الإسلامية على ممشى طريق سكة الحديد كما تم تركيب لوحات مماثلة على ممر المشاة بجوار مدينة الأمير محمد بن عبدالعزيز الرياضية. وأشار إلى أنه سبق وأن تم تركيب لوحات تاريخية وأثرية وتوعوية على ممر مشاة العباس بن عبادة "رضي الله عنه" وكذلك ممر مشاة طريق الملك عبدالعزيز وتركيب لوحات داخل حديقة الملك فهد ضمن مشروع الحي التراثي داخل الحديقة.

من جانبه أعرب أمين منطقة المدينة المنورة، عن شكره وامتنانه لأمير منطقة المدينة المنورة الأمير فيصل بن سلمان، على توجيهاته الكريمة التي أسهمت في تنفيذ هذا المشروع الذي يخدم الجانب السياحي في منطقة المدينة المنورة ويبين للمواطن والزائر والمقيم ما تزجر به المدينة المنورة من مواقع تاريخية وأثرية.

http://sabq.org/Cc4gde
http://www.al-jazirah.com/2015/20150417/ln61.htm





Googe translation: Inaugurated the Medina district secretariat of the second phase of the project "smart boards" and through the installation of 100 plate heritage awareness in the neighborhoods of the city of Medina to identify citizens, residents and visitors on Medina historical and archaeological sites out.

This project is a continuation of the first phase, which has been supplying more than 70 plate containing the first face on the image of historical or archaeological teacher and a brief on the teacher and the link so that my voice is read barcode (QR).

The director of the label management and numbering honestly Medina area, Saeed bin existence of departure, that the Secretariat under the guidance of Dr. Khalid bin Abdul Qadir Tahir has supplied these paintings scale and clear so as to facilitate the visitor and citizen and resident read a brief on historical and archaeological sites on the motherboard, He pointed out that it had been using the technique (QR) so that it appears when you read the barcode smart devices Rabottan first mention more detailed historical site and image data and voice link.

He continued, and the other shows the historical or archaeological site about painting site navigation system yet, so that the visitor can or resident or citizen of access to historical or archaeological site without any discomfort and easily and conveniently.

Engineer "departure" and confirmed that the paintings are located on the banks of the valley Garnet within walkway extending from the road faithful Omar bin al-Khattab may Allah be pleased with him to the path of Abu Bakr "may Allah be pleased with him," as between he was also the installation of other paintings in the south of the Islamic University footpath Walk on through the railway have been installed similar plates on the footpath next to the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Sports City. He pointed out that he had previously been installed historical and archaeological awareness plates on the pedestrian walkway Abbas bin cult "may Allah be pleased with him," as well as a pedestrian walkway King Abdulaziz Road and installation of panels inside the King Fahd neighborhood park within a heritage project within the park.

For his part, Secretary of the Medina area, expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Governor of Medina Prince Faisal bin Salman, the kind directives that have contributed to the implementation of this project, which serves the tourist side in the Medina area shows the citizen and the visitor and resident is reproved by Medina of historical and archaeological sites .





 
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#5314 [Permalink] Posted on 24th April 2015 16:19
 
TURKEY


Turkish Mayor Builds "Mini-Mecca Theme Park"

22 Apr 2015

Hurriyet Daily News has an odd little story from the Uskudar district of Istanbul, where the mayor has constructed a miniature replica of Mecca, Islam’s holy city. It is essentially a theme park of Mohammed’s life and times, with replicas of “the Kaaba, Prophet Mohammad’s house, the Hira cave, the Sevr cave, the Muallaq Stone, the Zamzam well and an elephant statue.”

“In these days that we say ‘Happy birthday’ to our master, we wanted to experience the feeling of Kaaba in our city,” Mayor Hilmi Turkmen declared, referring to the traditional Islamic pilgrimage to visit the real, full-sized Mecca.

One of the reasons this is so unusual is that Islam generally has serious problems with idolatry, as famously displayed in the prohibition against depictions of Mohammed. Different branches of Islam place varying degrees of emphasis on avoiding idolatry. The murderous fanatics of ISIS take it to the extreme of destroying mausoleums inside mosques, because supposedly the presence of the honored dead would distract the faithful from worshiping Allah. At first glance, the construction of a perky little Disneyworld version of Mecca would seem troublesome to many Muslims, especially since the Mayor openly describes it as a scale-model substitute for making the actual pilgrimage.

Criticisms have been raised, but evidently many Turkish Muslims are comfortable with the idea because a much cheesier knockoff has already appeared in another district of Istanbul. “The Tuzla Municipality’s ‘Hijra Walking Track’ features newer, and apparently lower budget, replicas of the Kaaba, the Sevr cave and some novelties such as the lookalikes of two hills in the real-word Mecca, as well as a traffic sign that reads the distance to Madina right next to a cardboard camel,” writes Hurriyet.

They’re not kidding about the lower budget of this second mini-Mecca. This is what its version of the Sevr cave looks like:

The exhibits “triggered an avalance [sic] of criticism on social media, not only from secular opposition, but also from some conservative voices, too,” resulting in the removal of some decorations from the lower-budget display, according to Hurriyet. At least one protester turned up at Mayor Turkmen’s display dressed like an authentic Mecca pilgrim, although it is not clear from the report if he was irate about the mini-Mecca or trying to make some other statement.

Further problems for model Mecca are reported by the BBC, which says Turkey’s highest religious body, the Diyanet, has declared it “a great sin” to imitate the sacred sites for any purpose except serious practice for a real journey to the actual Mecca.

On the other hand, there have been some good-natured jokes about how the Istanbul theme park could be a money-maker for Uskudar, as it could draw plenty of Muslims who do not want to make the more difficult and expensive journey to Saudi Arabia. The Turkish satire magazine Le Man even published a front-cover cartoon making this jest, with a pair of men discussing how much easier and more convenient it was to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Uskudar.




‘Replica Mecca’ in Istanbul raises eyebrows

April/21/2015

A district mayor in Istanbul from Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has raised some eyebrows by constructing the replicas of Islam’s holiest places and objects, yet the building idea seems to have spread elsewhere.

The Üsküdar municipality in the Asian side of Istanbul inaugurated the “Village of the Age of Happiness” on April 19. The Age of Happiness is an Islamic term that refers to the time of Prophet Mohammad, whose birthday according to the Western calendar is currently been celebrated with public events.


 

The venue includes replicas of the Kaaba, Prophet Mohammad’s house, the Hira cave, the Sevr cave, the Muallaq Stone, the Zamzam well and an elephant statue.

 
“In these days that we say ‘Happy birthday’ to our master, we wanted to experience the feeling of Kaaba in our city,” Mayor Hilmi Türkmen said, according to semi-official Anadolu Agency.

The venue, which will open to public visits for a week, triggered an avalance of criticism on social media, not only from secular opposition, but also from some conservative voices, too.

Meanwhile, a protester who attempted to make “Hajj pilgrimage” at the replica Mecca was detained on April 20.

“I am a performance artist. The police usurped my right to travel and discriminated against me for what I wear,” protester Cihat Duman told in a series of tweets after he was detained while wearing the Hajj clothing in Üsküdar.

The controversy, however, did not stop another municipality on Istanbul’s Asian side to inaugurate a similar venue on April 21.

The Tuzla Municipality’s “Hijra Walking Track” features newer, and apparently lower budget, replicas of the Kaaba, the Sevr cave and some novelties such as the lookalikes of two hills in the real-word Mecca, as well as a traffic sign that reads the distance to Madina right next to a cardboard camel.

 
Private Cihan news agency reported on April 21 that the Tuzla municipality removed several decorations from the walking track after Turkish media reports about the inauguration stirred a fresh controversy.



____________________


Replica of Kaaba
removed in secrecy
____________________________________

Replica of Kaaba in Üsküdar removed in secrecy


A replica of the Kaaba constructed by the AK Party-ruled Üsküdar Municipality on the Asian side of Ä°stanbul.
April 23, 2015, Thursday

A replica of the Kaaba, Islam's most sacred place, constructed by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party)-ruled Üsküdar Municipality on the Asian side of Istanbul on April 19 was secretly removed by municipal workers at midnight on Wednesday.

During the removal of the replica of the Kaaba, municipal officials parked vehicles in front of the Bağlarbaşı Congress and Culture Center, where the replica was located, to prevent people from taking photographs.

The replica was dismantled by workers and its pieces moved to the municipal building on trucks.

The replica of the Kaaba was opened to visitors on April 19 and was due to remain open until April 30 but was removed upon strong reactions from the public, opposition movements and Turkey's top religious body.

Üsküdar inaugurated the model of the Kaaba in honor of Holy Birth Week, which refers to the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, whose birthday according to the Western calendar is being celebrated with public events throughout the week.

The Religious Affairs Directorate released a statement this week regarding the model, saying it was a great sin to try to perform the ritual of tawaf, or circumambulating the Kaaba, as though the model was real.

“The replica of the Kaaba should only be used to teach [prospective pilgrims] how to act [during hajj]. It is a great sin to try to circumambulate this mockup while thinking one is fulfilling a religious duty,” the directorate said in the statement.

http://www.todayszaman.com/national_...cy_378744.html






ÜSKÜDAR'DAKÄ° KABE GÄ°ZLÄ°CE KALDIRILDI = Kaaba secretly removed in Üsküdar








The directorate also criticized a local mufti's office in the central Anatolian province of Tokat for cutting a cake modeled after the Quran to celebrate Blessed Birth Week. The mufti of Tokat's Zile district Arif Kılıç cut a Quran cake during the celebrations for the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad and distributed it among the participants of the event. Meydan daily shared on Monday a screenshot of the report of the event from the mufti's office's website. In an article titled “Blessed Birth Week cake,” the mufti's office said Kılıç marked Blessed Birth Week by cutting Blessed Birth cake at a Quran course for women on April 15 with the mufti's office personnel and students in attendance.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has also criticized the replica of the Kaaba, accusing the AK Party government of exploiting religious values for political gains ahead of general elections scheduled to take place on June 7.

Posting tweets on his official Twitter account on April 21, Bahçeli said that the Turkish nation will not forget or forgive slanderers who exploit religion for politics. “Let God forgive them! They do not know what they do,” Bahçeli said in his tweet.

http://www.todayszaman.com/national_...ns_378688.html



 
 
The directorate also criticized a local mufti's office in the central Anatolian province of Tokat
for cutting a cake modeled after the Quran to celebrate Blessed Birth Week.
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#5315 [Permalink] Posted on 25th April 2015 04:47
 
Mutawwifs to own Umrah firms soon

Saturday, 25 April 2015

MAKKAH — Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar disclosed that a new regulation would be issued soon allowing mutawwifs (pilgrim guides) to own Umrah service companies.

He said the ministry had carried out a study in this regard. Hajjar said the number of Umrah performers and visitors will peak next year with 1 million pilgrims each month.

He said development projects in the two holy cities and the holy sites will contribute to facilitating the movement of pilgrims and enable them to perform their rites with ease.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150425241576
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#5316 [Permalink] Posted on 25th April 2015 04:49
 
With 100,000-an-hour capacity,
 
mataf to be fully operational in Ramadan

Saturday 25 April 2015

The expansion of the mataf, or circumambulation area around the Kaaba, will be ready this Ramadan, with a capacity for 100,000 worshippers an hour.

This was confirmed on Friday by Sultan Al-Qurashi, director of project management at the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, according to a report in Aleqtesadiah.

The completed work would also include the third phase of the project such as the floors of the basement, ground and first floor. Some areas on the north side of the Grand Mosque would also be completed including squares, praying areas and toilets.

“We are currently working on utility buildings, which include government offices, the operations room, the headquarters of the security authorities, health department, Red Crescent, Civil Defense, and other related offices. About 95 percent of such buildings have been completed,” Al-Qurashi said.

The expansion includes the most advanced electrical and mechanical systems, and is consistent with the current architectural style of the Grand Mosque, he said.

The expansion on the Shami side was designed to begin from a point 200 meters north west of the Kaaba, and stretching out a further 458 meters, adding new spaces to accommodate more than a million worshipers, he said.

The expansion, which covers an area of 75,000 square meters, will include an integrated service station, environmentally friendly air-conditioning system, water tanks, waste disposal systems, centralized cleaning system, and 12,500 toilets.

Meanwhile, the presidency has called on visitors to stay away from crowded areas, to prevent congestion that could be harmful for elderly pilgrims and help to spread various kinds of communicable diseases.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, recently called on pilgrims to respect the sanctity of the two holy mosques and not cause distractions by taking pictures with cell phones and cameras.

In addition, Al-Sudais urged worshipers at the mosque to make room for visitors and pilgrims from foreign countries. He also said they should not block the mataf when performing prayers.

The imam further appealed to women visitors to wear proper hijab and obey the instructions of the presidency’s women employees, especially if asked to move away from areas that block other worshipers.

http://www.arabnews.com/islam-perspective/news/737536
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#5317 [Permalink] Posted on 27th April 2015 05:25
 
Intensive preparations to get ready
the Grand Mosque for Ramadan

استعدادات مكثفة لتهيئة المسجد الحرام لشهر رمضان

25 April 2015

بدأت ملامح الاستعدادات لشهر رمضان المبارك تظهر بجلاء في ساحات المسجد الحرام وتوسعة الملك عبدالله -يرحمه الله- ومشروع توسعة المطاف.

ورصدت "الرياض" يوم أمس الأول الجهود الكبيرة التي تبذلها الشركة المنفذة، وبمتابعة الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي، لاغتنام الأيام المقبلة التي تسبق شهر الصوم في تهيئة المداخل والساحات، بتوفير مزيد من المساحات لمواجهة الارتفاع الكبير للمصلين طوال ليالي شهر رمضان، وذلك من خلال تفريغ بعض المواقع من الآليات والمعدات وتعبيد بعض المواقع، والتأكد من جاهزية مجمعات دورات المياه الحديثة والقديمة.

وأنشأت الشركة الجديدة جسراً جديداً للمشاة في الساحة الغربية لتيسير مرور حركة الحشود البشرية وتنقلها أثناء الدخول والخروج من وإلى المسجد الحرام، ولمواجهة ارتفاع حرارة الطقس في شهر رمضان، تم إنشاء مظلات على طول الطرق المؤدية للحرم المكي من جهة منطقة التيسير وجبل الكعبة ومنطقة الغزة.

بدورها، تأهبت رئاسة شؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي لتنفيذ خطة عمل موسم شهر رمضان، من خلال توفير خدمات النظافة والصيانة والأبواب، وخدمات التوعية والتوجيه والإرشاد وسقيا زمزم، داخل الحرم القديم والمطاف والساحات الخارجية والتوسعة الجديدة، إضافة إلى الجهود الكبيرة التي تبذلها الرئاسة في تيسير حركة الحشود داخل ممرات المسجد الحرام، بتوفير أعداد كبيرة من رجال الأمن، بالتعاون من أفراد وضباط شرطة الحرم المكي.

http://www.alriyadh.com/1042450

Google translation: Features began preparations for the holy month of Ramadan appears clearly in the courtyards of the Grand Mosque and the expansion of King Abdullah -arahmh Allah and Mataf expansion project.

And spotted "Riyadh" the day before yesterday the great efforts made by the company executing, and follow-up of the General Presidency for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, to seize the coming days leading up to the month of fasting in creating driveways and yards, providing more space to cope with the surge of worshipers throughout the nights of Ramadan, in During the unloading some of the sites of machinery, equipment and paving of some of the sites, and make sure the readiness of modern and ancient water courses complexes.

The new company will set up a new bridge for pedestrians in the Western arena to facilitate human crowds traffic and borne during entry and exit to and from the Grand Mosque, and the face of rising hot weather in the month of Ramadan, was created umbrellas along the roads leading to the Haram al-Makki from the point of facilitation area and Jabal al-Kaaba and the Ghazh.

In turn, stand by the Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Affairs to implement the season Ramadan plan, through the provision of cleaning and maintenance, door services, outreach services, guidance and counseling and watering Zamzam, inside the old campus and eventually foreign arenas and the new expansion, in addition to the considerable efforts made by the presidency in facilitating movement Crowds inside the corridors of the Grand Mosque, the provision of large numbers of security men, in cooperation of the members and officers of the Grand Mosque in Mecca police.




Under the bridge


Bridge in construction



 

VIDEO: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS5DsbiHDXU

 

***

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#5318 [Permalink] Posted on 27th April 2015 05:39

 

Mataf expansion updates







via @abo_salem73



via @mbinhassn


via @Hamze_Tekin
Fixing Speakers on Porticos


 




via @nourahturkii



via @sawwaaaa7


via @salim141918



via @th_gamad



via @_1twix




via @mkh1027



via Ibadahinlife

 





Mataf Phase III




via @dream____2015


via @awtarphoto


via Ibadahinlife


via @khdijaalsayad


via @syamirzainal
An electrical room nearing completion
 

Porticos




3 new domes

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#5319 [Permalink] Posted on 27th April 2015 05:41
 
Shoura to vote on Haj Ministry’s
proposals tomorrow

Sunday 26 April 2015

The Shoura Council on Monday will vote on the recommendation of the Committee on Haj, Pilgrim Housing and Services to publish the exact text of the penal measures against any violator of the pilgrim service regulations in a local newspaper published at the location of the violator and at the expense of the violator.

The penalties should be applied in violations of regulations governing domestic pilgrims services, pilgrim transportation to the Kingdom and return to their countries, organizers of Umrah pilgrims, and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque from abroad.

The rules will apply to members of Tawafa organizations, guides and Zamzam suppliers and also violators of regulations governing the ban on employing non-Saudis in the pilgrim housing sector.

The council will also discuss on Monday a report of the Health Committee on a draft protocol to eliminate the illicit trade in tobacco products. Also on the agenda, the council will listen to the view of the Committee for Social, Family and Youth Affairs with regard to observations of council members on the annual report of the General Presidency for Youth Welfare for the last year.
The council will discuss the report of the Committee for Human Rights and regulatory bodies on draft regulations for National Authority for Combating Corruption presented by council members Nasser bin Dawood and Mowafeq Al-Rwaili, and on the views of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee with regard to proposals on the amendment to the clause about the civil aviation tariffs.

In a session on Tuesday, the council will discuss a report of the Financial Committee on salaries and pensions of the Mujahid battalion of the security forces.

The council will also vote on the exemption of charity societies from the stipulation on ownership and supervision of clinics by a Saudi doctor if they want to establish clinics, and on the recommendations of the Haj, Housing and Service Committee with regard to the annual performance report of the General Survey Authority for 2014.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/737881



Role of private sector ‘crucial
in upgrading Haj services’

 
Sunday 26 April 2015

Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar has said the private sector is playing a crucial role in upgrading services to pilgrims and that his ministry is constantly monitoring the works.

The development and upgrading of the services for pilgrims require an effective partnership between the Ministry and private companies, he said.

The minister was speaking at a meeting for the development of the Haj and Umrah services 2015 at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.

Hajjar said the ministry and state has mobilized all its capabilities to take care of the pilgrims with efficiency.

The government established giant projects such as expansion of Makkah and Madinah mosques, Jamrat bridges, roads, tunnels and airports for pilgrims' convenience. The opening of Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah is one such example, he said.

"The state has spent generously on developing the infrastructure to make the pilgrimage easy. To complement this effort, the relationship between the private sector and the state needs to be strong, the minister said.

Hajjar said the ministry is at the forefront of government plans for pilgrims and consistently follows up on the performance of companies and institutions.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/737891
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#5320 [Permalink] Posted on 27th April 2015 05:43
 
Turkish pilgrims to Jerusalem face backlash


The Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque are seen in the background as an Israeli flag flutters from atop
a home of Jewish settlers in Silwan, a mostly Palestinian district abutting the Old City, Nov. 3, 2014.
25 April 2015

Director of Religious Affairs Mehmet Gormez delighted Turkey’s Muslims when Jerusalem was added to the itinerary of Umrah tours (the non-compulsory pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina). Gormez first announced Jerusalem’s inclusion on the tour the last week of December 2014, saying that an agreement was reached with Israel. Interestingly, negative reactions came from a small group of Palestinians.

The Department of Religious Affairs (DRA) added Jerusalem to the tour in response to heavy demand, and the first group of 149 pilgrims and five officials left Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport for Tel Aviv on April 15. Palestinian activists, charging that inclusion of Jerusalem on the Umrah tour means legitimizing Israel’s occupation, launched a campaign against the DRA decision.

Bearing in mind that Israel-Turkey relations have not been normal since the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara flotilla going to Gaza in 2010, the DRA’s decision could be interpreted as a new step in that direction. Preacher Burhan Sener, accompanying the group as a DRA escort, said, "The entire Christian world is there to visit the church from where Prophet Christ ascended. Jews are there to visit the Wailing Wall. Only Muslims were staying away. The step by the DRA will be a significant material and spiritual support to Palestinians."

Sener said that, with visas obtained from Israel, the group will go to Jerusalem for a three-day visit via Tel Aviv. They will visit Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, Hebron, the Dead Sea and a list of holy sites before going to Amman and flying from there to Mecca. According to the DRA’s website, during their Umrah trip that costs from $1,695-$1,780, visitors will stay at Royal Wings Hotel in Jerusalem.

Yasar Capci, the chief of of Umrah Services at the DRA, said that his department's adding Jerusalem to the Umrah trip was a historic first for Turkey. Jerusalem used to be included in Umrah pilgrimages during the Ottoman reign.

Every year, about 400,000 people participate in Umrah tours to Mecca and Medina. This number is bound to increase with the addition of Jerusalem.

What were the objections of the Palestinian activists?

Boycotting Israel in Support of Palestine Initiative held a press briefing in front of the DRA's Ankara offices a week before the first tour left. The group declared that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are forced to live away from their land and do not have the right to go to Jerusalem or even have the right to buy property in this city. "Visiting Jerusalem means supporting Israel," said the group.

The Palestinian group continued their protests April 15 as the first tour group was leaving Istanbul. “We are calling on Turkey’s Muslims to protest this support given to Israel’s apartheid regime on pretext of Umrah," said the group.

Palestinian activists speaking to Al-Monitor said that the baggage of the Umrah passengers was not checked at the Tel Aviv counter of the airport, but rather at check-in counters marked London and Manchester, using for the first time a sign that said, "Istanbul-Jerusalem."

A spokesman for the activists said that the Palestinian Businessmen Union had earlier contacted the DRA requesting that the trip be made via Jordan using West Bank travel agencies, thus contributing to the Palestinian economy. But somehow Palestinians were left out of the equation.

Sener, answering questions at the airport, said the group will stay in East Jerusalem, yet their hotel is located in Jewish West Jerusalem. A Palestinian activist said, "As you can see, this has nothing to do with financial support to Palestinians."

It may not be easy to understand so harsh of a reaction from Palestinian activists in a country where tough statements about Palestine are routine. Although there are incessant calls for "freedom for Gaza" from the media and political rostrums, calls for boycotting Israel don’t garner much support.

During the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s sensational visit to Jerusalem in 1977, which led the way to the 1979 Camp David agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin had invited the Egyptian Copts to visit Jerusalem for a pilgrimage.

When Sadat informed the head of the Coptic church, Pope Shenouda III, of Begin’s offer, the answer was: “I am sorry Mr. President, but I can’t accept this invitation.”

After Sadat quickly ended their meeting, Shenouda III answered questions from journalists: "To visit Jerusalem with [an] Israeli visa means contributing to Israeli occupation and their shedding of Palestinian blood. Although Copts dream of pilgrimage, I can’t allow the Copts to be put in that position. Copts can go to [the] Holy Land only when their Muslim brothers can."

Later, the Coptic Church Council presided over by Shenouda III banned trips to Jerusalem so long as it was occupied. Sadat, infuriated by the refusal of Shenouda III to change his mind, removed him from the head of the council in 1981 and punished him by exiling him to the remote church at Wadi el-Natroun.

Shenouda III was confined to that church for about 40 months and returned to the head of the church in 1985 with an amnesty declared by Hosni Mubarak. Shenouda III said, “I am inviting the Copts who are dreaming of going on pilgrimage to restrain themselves. It is not yet time to go to Jerusalem. There is still no peace, and Palestinians still suffer under occupation.”

Copts obeyed Shenouda III’s call until his death in November 2012. The Coptic church’s official position did not change with the new pope, Tawardos II.

Paul Khalil, spokesman for the Coptic church, said, “Our position of not permitting Christians to go to Jerusalem until our Muslim brothers are allowed as well is clear.”

Later reacting to reports that Copts had begun visiting Jerusalem, Khalil said those violating the rule will be punished.

A similar argument broke out in January 2015 between Al-Azhar University and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Iyad Amin al-Madani, the secretary-general of the OIC, issued a call to visit Jerusalem. Deputy President of Al-Azhar Abbas Shuman said they would reject this call, continue with their boycott of the occupation and not permit normalization with Israel.

Despite much rhetoric about Jerusalem, there is no such debate about a boycott among Turkey’s Muslim communities and the DRA. It appears that the Palestinian activists are getting more solidarity from anti-Zionist Jews than the Muslims of Turkey.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/orig...erusalem.html#
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#5321 [Permalink] Posted on 27th April 2015 05:47

 

Mataf expansion updates


via @hadeel_ahmad1












via @dahmanny00


via @f_alazmi910


 

Insta Video:
https://instagram.com/p/13P3_bzU5J/



24 April 2015






26 April 2015


23 April 2015


via @dody_fody




Holy Mosque expansion updates



via @syamirzainal


via Ibadahinlife



via @Mujeeb Ali



24 April 2015






















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#5322 [Permalink] Posted on 27th April 2015 05:50
 
Why Umrah Is Getting Popular Among Muslims

NIGERIA - 24 April 2015

LATELY, Muslim faithful have found deep interest in performing Umrah (lesser Hajj) on a regular basis. Even, some, who, hitherto, spent their vacations and holidays in Europe and America are now opting for Umrah as a more rewarding exercise. Responding to why the sudden surge in the popularity of Umrah among Muslims, Managing Director/CEO, Habdat Xpress, Alhaji Qasim Alabi said, "one of the reasons for this is awareness among the Muslims now of the importance of lesser hajj (umrah). People have also realized that they can actually plan their holidays in such a way that they will spend their money and still earn rewards from Allah. A lot of families now plan their holidays in this way. This is unlike in the past where everybody thinks of Europe or US for holiday.

"Dubai booming economy has also assisted in the sense that many Muslims who travel to Dubai for holiday or business will prefer to combine it with Umrah especially when the margin in terms of cost is minimal. Another reason for popularity of Umrah among Muslims nowadays is the belief that prayers made in the house of Allah in Kabah are always accepted by Allah."

As a private travels and tours operator, Alhaji Alabi just returned from Saudi Arabi for lesser hajj with a group of Muslim travellers using Habdat Xpress platform. He shared his experience thus: "It has been a wonderful experience in the sense that I was highly fulfilled spiritually. Umrah at any time of the year apart from Ramadan allows you to plan your time within the shortest time and make the best use of it to serve Allah. It is also interesting to note that a lot of people now come for Umrah every month. This is because of the on going expansion of Haram in Makkah which will make it impossible for some people to go for Umrah in the month of Ramadan."

The sociologist who doubles as renowned Muslim preacher elucidates on differences and similarities between Hajj and Umrah.

"Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and it is compulsory for every matured Muslim who has gotten the wherewithal. This is compulsory once in the life of a Muslim. He can however perform hajj again if he has the means but that will not be compulsory for him again. There are also specific times for hajj known as the months of hajj and performance of hajj apart for the specified period is null and void. Umrah on the other side is known as lesser hajj and this can be done at any time of the year. Hajj is once a year but Umrah is available throughout the year.

"Major similarities between hajj and umrah are ihram, circumbulation round the Kabah and Say (walking between Safa and Marwah). As for the differences, the intentions for hajj and umrah are different. Also for hajj, pilgrims are expected to do the followings which are not part of Umrah: Staying at Minnah for certain number of days. Standing at Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. Passing a night at Muzdalifah. Throwing pebbles at Jamrat for certain days. Sacrificing an animal depending on the kind of hajj one is performing. We can see here that there are a lot of activities to be performed during hajj and this has to be done with good intention. No wonder the prophet (SAW) was reported to have said that "there is no reward for an acceptable hajj other than paradise."

Alhaji Alabi empathize with Muslims who will be performing hajj this year due to the devaluation of Naira as exchange rate to one US Dollar is now above N200.

"This will surely affect a lot of things. The prices of hajj and umrah will surely go up because of the increase in the cost of tickets and also payments for accommodation in Saudi. This will no doubt have a spiral effect on the number of pilgrims who will go for hajj and umrah."

Also he expressed displeasure on the failure of most Nigerian leaders who always undertake Umrah and Hajj without borrowing a leaf from good governance culture that permeates the holy land.

"This is because majority of our leaders who go for hajj and umrah do not go because of Allah. They probably have different intention. Visiting the house of Allah calls for sober reflection but we can see that the reverse is the case not only for our leaders but also for a lot of people who visit the holy land. As Muslims, we need to understand our religion and know that a Muslim lives for the sake of others. Our intention also needs to be purified."

Habdat Xpress, he said, "is a one-stop shop for everybody's travel needs. Apart from the fact that we offer travel services locally and internationally, we are also into Hajj and Umrah services. No doubt, our experiences count and we always go the extra mile."

http://allafrica.com/stories/201504260049.html






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Say
(walking between Safa and Marwah)









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#5323 [Permalink] Posted on 27th April 2015 05:59
 
No "Halal" sex shop in Mecca,
story fabricated by Moroccan media

_______________________________________________

No "Halal" sex shop in Mecca,
story fabricated by Moroccan media


In a story dated April 12, 2015, Moroccan news
website Alyaoum24 carried a story with the headline
“Moroccan intends to open a Halal sex shop in Makkah.”
Friday, 24 April 2015

An unsubstantiated story which alleged that a “Halal” sex shop would soon open in the Muslim holy city of Makkah has gone viral in recent days. But, the story has been labelled as fabricated after being propagated via an Arabic-language Moroccan website which seems to have deliberately used a sensational – yet slightly misleading - headline.

In a story dated April 12, 2015, Moroccan news website Alyaoum24 carried a story with the headline “Moroccan intends to open a Halal sex shop in Makkah.”

The story, which was partly rewritten using a separate interview that Moroccan businessman Abdelaziz Aouragh - who owns a sex products business - gave AFP, says that Aouragh is “willing to open a sex shop in Makkah;” a statement which doesn't correlate with what the story headline suggests.

However, the story only gained momentum ten days later, when British daily The Independent claimed that the sex shop will actually open in Makkah and attributed the inaccurate information to Alyaoum24, which has not published a clarification or corrected its misleading headline as of the time this article was published.

The story, given its obvious sensationalist nature, was further propagated when several Arab bloggers and social media users retweeted or shared it extensively.

On Twitter, Saudi blogger and Wall Street Journal reporter Ahmed al-Omran slammed the tens of international media outlets that republished the story without verifying the information.

“Just because some guy_wants_to open a halal sex store in mecca doesn’t mean he_will_or even_can_open it #ProTip,” tweeted al-Omran yesterday.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/medi...can-media.html
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#5324 [Permalink] Posted on 28th April 2015 19:33
 
95 percent of Grand Mosque
expansion work completed

Tuesday, 28 April 2015 - 09 Rajab 1436 H

MAKKAH — Ninety-five percent of a project to expand the circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba (mataf) has been completed, thanks to 30 months of non-stop work ordered by the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

Work is proceeding according to schedule for the third phase of the scheme, which is supposed to be completed by the end of this year.

Okaz/Saudi Gazette visited the site Sunday and watched busy workers going about their job to finish the third phase, which started last Haj season, and end it this year.

Temporary isolation fences were put up until work is finished. All the fences in the mataf area as well as the temporary rings for tawaf will have been removed by the end of this Islamic year.

The targeted number of Tawaf performers will reach 105,000 an hour. The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques’ Affairs launched this project around two years ago.

The company implementing the project cut off power in the project site and removed all lamps, chandeliers, ceiling fans, speakers from the site.

Afterward, it demolished the pillars and removed the two minarets of the Al-Fatah Gate. Then it laid down the foundation for the eastern part of the mataf area.

The first base of the project was laid shortly after. The project department of the presidency decided to link the mataf bridge to the ground floor and allocate the first floor to people with disabilities.

Sultan Al-Qurashi, director of the department, said at the time the project would take three years and consist of three phases.

The first would cover Al-Safa to Al-Fatah Gate, the second Al-Fatah Gate to Al-Umrah Gate and the third King Fahd Expansion Area to Al-Safa.

He said: “Currently, the third phase work is being finished while pillars are being installed at the site.

“The concrete foundation bases for King Abdulaziz Gate will be laid soon after other foundations have been completed and the ceilings of the first floor have been put up.”

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150428241941


I don't understand their " 95%" !!! ... there is to much work to do!! ... and for the ''temporary rings for tawah" wait and see!

They just translated this arabic article with this title ... and in the article they don't talk about Temporary Mataf!!!


 

مدير المشاريع: انتهاء 95% من بناء توسعة الحرم بمكة

Project Manager: the end of the 95% of the construction
of the expansion of the Haram in Makkah


24 April 2015

قال المهندس سلطان القرشي، مدير إدارة المشاريع في الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي، إن الانتهاء من كامل مسطحات الطواف بما فيها المرحلة الثالثة والاستفادة منها سيكون في رمضان المقبل، وستصل قدرة الطاقة الاستيعابية إلى 105 آلاف طائف في الساعة.

وأشار القرشي إلى الانتهاء من 95 في المئة من أعمال البناء والتشييد، موضحا أن التوسعة ستضم أحدث وأرقى النظم الكهربائية والميكانيكية متناسقة مع الطراز المعماري الحالي للمسجد الحرام ومشابهة له تقريبا.

وستؤمن التوسعة منظومة متكاملة من عناصر الحركة الرأسية، حيث تشمل سلالم متحركة وثابتة ومصاعد، قد روعي فيها أدق معايير الاستدامة من خلال توفير استهلاك الطاقة والموارد الطبيعية بحيث تم اعتماد أفضل أنظمة التكييف والإضاءة التي تراعي ذلك، وستستوعب التوسعة بعد اكتمالها أكثر من مليون مصل في أوقات الذروة، بحسب صحيفة الاقتصادية".

ومن بين أبرز أجزاء المشروع ستبدأ التوسعة الشامية على مسافة 200 متر من مركز الكعبة المشرفة ناحية شمال غرب، وبعمق يصل إلى نحو 485 مترا، بما يضيف مساحات جديدة تستوعب التوسعة بعد اكتمالها أكثر من مليون مصل.

وستشمل التوسعة محطة خدمات متكاملة، يجري تنفيذها على مساحة 75 ألف متر مربع، تشمل أنظمة التكييف المتقدمة الصديقة للبيئة، وخزانات المياه، وأنظمة التخلص من النفايات، وأنظمة الكنس المركزي، كما ستشمل التوسعة تنفيذ ما يزيد على 12.500 دورة مياه، سيتم توزيعها بطريقة تخدم جميع المستخدمين، مع سهولة الوصول إليها من كل المواقع

http://www.alarabiya.net/ar/aswaq/re...%83%D8%A9.html

Google translation: Engineer Sultan al-Qurashi, director of project management at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, said that the completion of the full plate circumambulation including the third phase and benefit from them will be in the next Ramadan, and will ultimately boost power capacity to 105 thousand per hour visitation.

Qurashi and pointed to the completion of 95 percent of the construction work, explaining that the expansion will include the latest and finest electrical and mechanical systems consistent with the current architecture of the Grand Mosque and almost similar to him.

And it will provide expansion of an integrated system of vertical elements of the movement, which include escalators and fixed and elevators, where more accurate sustainability criteria have been taken into account through the provision of energy and natural resource consumption so that the best air-conditioning systems adoption and lighting that take care of that, and will absorb the expansion after its completion more than a million worshipers in times of peak, according to the economic newspaper ".

Among the most prominent parts of the project will begin expansion maize 200 meters Kabah center supervisor northwest hand, and a depth of up to about 485 meters, including adding new spaces to accommodate the expansion after its completion more than a million worshipers.

And will include the expansion of full-service station, is being implemented on an area of ​​75 thousand square meters, including advanced air-conditioning environment-friendly systems, and water tanks, and disposal systems, and systems of the central synagogues, will also include expansion of the implementation of more than 12,500 water cycle, will be distributed in a way serve all users, with easy access from all locations.
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#5325 [Permalink] Posted on 28th April 2015 19:37

 

Mataf expansion updates
 

Mataf Phase I & II







via @dody_fody



via @mansoor1686

Mataf Phase III


via Ibadahinlife


via @ykoles


via @donnalatief


via @peuyeumoncom





















https://instagram.com/p/1702ihNH83/

Arches




  via @dody_fody




 

Porticos



via @momi420






 

Mukabbariyah








All by @meccamoon otherwise mentioned
 

Mataf Phase III
















 

Porticos







walkway to King Abdullah Gate (Back)


walkway to King Abdullah Gate (Front)




via @momi420






via @momi420


All by almiskeenah.com otherwise mentioned



King Fahd Gate


@Khaled_AlOhali

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