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By MAKKAH: ANWAR MUHAMMAD
Published: Mar 30, 2012 00:12 Updated: Mar 30, 2012 00:12
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance has started to implement a project aimed at expanding That Erk (Dhat Irq) Miqat (where pilgrims enter into Ihram announcing their intention to perform Haj or Umrah).
That Erk (Dhat Irq) Miqat is being used by pilgrims going to Makkah from Taif region via Asheera Road. After expansion, which will cost about SR99 million, the Miqat will have an area of 65,000 square meters.
The new, expanded Miqat will facilitate the flow of pilgrims coming from the eastern parts of the Kingdom. It is located in the north of Taif region 90 km away from the southern city. On completion of the project, the region will have three Miqats, the other two being Qarn Al-Manazil and Wadi Muharram. This makes the city of Taif a main crossroad towards Makkah.
Director of the ministry’s department for endowments and mosques Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Mudaraa said the implementation period of the project would be three years and would consist of a mosque, housing utilities, toilets, car parks and other facilities.
He said the ground floor of the building would include a mosque to be built on an area of 2,775 square meters, which will accommodate 3,500 male worshippers and will have a special area for women accommodating 200 worshippers.
Al-Mudaraa said the mezzanine floor would have an area of 750 sq m, which can be used simultaneously by 900 pilgrims.
He said the basement would be used as a car park that will easily accommodate more than 200 vehicles.
According to him, the project will also have an area of 2,500 sq m to include 350 toilets for men and 100 for women. He said there would be special toilets for the disabled men and women.
Al-Mudaraa said the project would also have 25 shops occupying an area of 1,650 sq m. “The first floor, with an area of 1,500 sq m, will have housing units for single men, while the ground floor will include houses for families,” he said.
The director said there would be offices for the administration and houses for the mosque’s imam and muezzin. He also said there would be car repair workshops, a house for the security guard, and a water tank with a capacity of about 250 cubic meters of water.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article601658.ece
There are five places some distance from the Holy City of Makkah which pilgrims must not cross before they are in a state of Ihram if they intend to enter al Masjid al Haram for Umrah or Hajj. These points or stations are called Miqats. For map, see Location of Miqats
Dhu'l-Hulayfah: This miqat is about 9 kilometers from Madinah and about 450 kilometers from Makkah. Dhu'l-Hulayfah is the miqat for those who live in Madinah and for those who approach Makkah from that direction.
Juhfah: This miqat is about 190 kilometers to the northwest of Makkah. This is the miqat for the people who come from the direction of Syria.
Qarn al-Manazil: This miqat is a hilly place about 90 kilometers to the east of Makkah. This is the miqat for the people of Nejd or for those coming from that direction.
Dhat Irq: This miqat is about 85 kilometers towards the northeast side of Makkah. This is the miqat for the people of Iran, Iraq and for those coming from that direction.
Yalamlam: This miqat is a hilly area about 50 kilometers to the southeast of Makkah. This is the miqat for the people of Yemen and others coming from that direction. It is the miqat for many of the pilgrims from China, Japan, India, Pakistan who come by ship.
The area outside the Haram, the holy land on which the City of Makkah stands, is called al-Hill. Muslims who enter the Haram area on business or for other purposes need not do the ihram before entering the Holy City of Makkah unless they have the intention to perform Umrah or Hajj. Muslims coming to Makkah with the intention of performing Umrah or Hajj must not cross a Miqat without first entering into the state of Ihram, unless they live within the area between Miqat and the Haram. In this case they do Ihram either at home or just before entering the Haram area.
http://www.hajinformation.com/main/e101.htm
…the central pillars at each of the main entrances are wrapped in this protective covering…
…it was a mystery as to what new work was being done until I (almiskeenah) passed this fenced off entrance…
…it seems new ramps are being installed for wheelchair accessibility, Alhumdulillah…
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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