Makkah News and Updates

Tuesday 5 March 2013

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has sent a specialist team an area north of Uyun Al Jawa District to restore the Stone of Antar ibn Shaddad. Ibn Shaddad, commonly known as Antar, was a renowned Arabian hero and poet in the period before Islam. Antar, it is believed, used to meet his lover Abla, who he desired to marry, at the stone structure.

The archeological team are tasked with cleaning the graffiti using scientific methods and restoring the stone as a symbol of love and loyalty.

This procedure comes in response to the directives of Prince Faisal bin Bandar, governor of Qassim Region, who instructed officials to remove distortions found on the site.

Awad Al-Zahrani, director general of museums at the SCTA, urged residents in the region to preserve the historical sites of their country as they are national treasures.

One of Antar's poems was immortalized when it became one of the Hanged Poems. Know as Mu'allaqat, these poems were considered the best of their time. In pre-Islamic times a gathering know as Okaz Fair, held near modern day Taif, was attended by contestants who presented their odes to judges, who would select the best work.

These poems were written in golden letters and hung on the walls of the Kaaba in Makkah for pilgrims to admire.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia...re-stone-antar

خالد سليم الحميدي (مكة المكرمة)

يشهد موقع مشروع خادم الحرمين الشريفين لتوسعة المسجد الحرام حاليا ورش عمل مكثفة على مدار الساعة لإنجاز أكبر قدر ممكن من توسعة الساحات الشمالية والجنوبية ودورات المياه الجديدة، ويتضمن المشروع الجديد إنشاء شبكة طرق حديثة مخصصة لمركبات النقل منفصلة تماما عن ممرات المشاة.

كما يتضمن المشروع مهابط للطائرات لعمليات إخلاء المرضى ونقلهم إلى المستشفيات بعيدا عن اختناقات الشوارع في وقت الذورة وتحديدا في موسمي رمضان والحج، ويتضمن المشروع أنفاق داخلية مخصصة للمشاة مزودة بسلالم كهربائية تتوفر فيها جميع معايير الأمن والسلامة، وسط منظومة متكاملة من الخدمات التي تساعد على سهولة الحركة والانتقال من وإلى الساحات الشمالية والغربية بعيدا عن الحركة المرورية، ما يوفر مصليات جديدة واسعة.

وتلبى التوسعة جميع الاحتياجات والتجهيزات والخدمات التي يتطلبها الزائر مثل مبردات المياه لزوار بيت الله الحرام، فضلا عن تطبيق الأنظمة الحديثة للتخلص من النفايات وأنظمة المراقبة الأمنية إلى جانب تظليل الساحات الشمالية.

وكشفت لـ«عكاظ» مصادر أن سطح مبنى التوسعة الجديدة لمشروع خادم الحرمين الشريفين للمسجد الحرام والساحات الشمالية، يتضمن مواقع لمهابط الطائرات المروحية.

وبينت المصادر أن التوسعة تتضمن آخر ما توصلت إليه التقنيات الحديثة في كافة الأنظمة الكهربائية والميكانيكية والإلكترونية، وأنظمة التكييف والتخلص من النفايات بشكل آلي، الاعتماد بشكل أساسي على التقنيات الحديثة في تشغيل وصيانة ونظافة التوسعة الجديدة، مشيرة إلى أن المشروع يوفر 15 ألف دورة مياه مجهزة بأحدث التقنيات والأنظمة للمحافظة على البيئة والموارد الطبيعية وترشيد استخدام الطاقة.

وعن المواد المستخدمة في مشروع التوسعة كشفت ذات المصادر أنها من أفضل أنواع المواد والتكسيات الرخامية الفاخرة، وتشتمل التوسعة على بناء محطة للخدمات على مساحة تقدر بـ 75 ألف متر مربع، تضم معدات التكييف ونظام التخلص من النفايات ومحطات الكهرباء الاحتياطية التي تغذي التوسعة وكافة مرافقها عبر أنفاق أنشئت لهذا الغرض.

http://www.okaz.com.sa/new/Issues/20...0306578315.htm

Google translation: Testifies project site King to expand the Grand Mosque currently intensive workshops around the clock to accomplish the greatest possible expansion of squares North and South courses new water, and includes the new project create art road network dedicated to transport vehicles completely separate from the footpaths.

The project also includes airstrips for evictions patients and transport them to hospitals away from bottlenecks streets at rush and specifically in the seasonal Ramadan and Hajj, and project includes tunnels internal pedestrian with ladders electric meets all security and safety standards, central integrated system of services that help ease traffic and travel to and from the northern and western squares away from the traffic, providing broad new chapels.

And meet all the needs and expansion of equipment and services required by the visitor, such as water coolers for visitors to the Sacred House of Allah, as well as the application of modern systems for waste disposal and security surveillance systems along North shaded squares.

Revealed for Okaz sources that the roof of the new expansion project Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Grand Mosque and North squares, includes sites for landing helicopters.

The sources indicated that the expansion includes the latest technologies in all electrical systems, mechanical and electronic, HVAC systems and waste disposal automatically, relying mainly on modern technologies in the operation, maintenance and cleanliness new expansion, noting that the project provides 15 thousand toilets equipped with the latest technologies and systems to preserve the environment and natural resources and the rational use of energy.

And materials used in the expansion project revealed same sources as one of the best types of materials and coatings luxurious marble, and include expansion of plant construction services on an estimated area of ​​75 thousand square meters, includes HVAC system, waste disposal and power plants backup that feed expansion and all its facilities through tunnels established for this purpose.

 

 

7 March 2013 - 24 Rabi Al-Thani 1434 H

RAWDAT KHURAIM – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved the largest ever expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. He also ordered to start implementing the massive expansion project at once so as to complete it within a maximum period of two years.

With the new expansion, the mosque will have the capacity to accommodate more than 1.6 million worshippers.

King Abdullah signed Wednesday the revised expansion plan and announced launching its implementation. He was briefed on the alterations made in the plan in accordance with his earlier instructions for expanding the mosque toward northern, eastern and western directions.

Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Assistant Minister of Finance Muhammad Al-Mazeed and other officials concerning the project explained to the King the salient features of the architectural model and final design of the project.

Speaking on the occasion, King Abdullah said: “This is a grace from Almighty Allah. God willing, there is goodness and blessing for pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Mosque as well as to the noble Saudi citizens in this expansion. May Allah enable us to serve our religion and country in a way winning His pleasure and love.”

Al-Assaf said in a press statement that the alterations made in the expansion plan as per the directive of King Abdullah were done after examining the alternatives that are compatible to an expansion approved by the Grand Mufti and the Board of Senior Ulema.

He thanked the King for his utmost care and keenness in serving the public interests with regard to extending the best ever possible services for the Haj and Umrah pilgrims as well as visitors to the holy mosque.

Islam’s two holy mosques are currently witnessing the largest ever expansion in their history. After launching the massive expansion work of the Grand Mosque in Makkah in 2011, King Abdullah laid corner stone for the expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque during his visit to the holy city on Sept. 24, 2012. Once the expansion is completed, the mosque will have a total area of 1.1 million square meters with the capacity to accommodate over 1.6 million worshippers. The expansion is being made as part of a comprehensive plan that also encompasses the development of the central Haram area and underdeveloped neighborhoods.

Earlier, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, lauded King Abdullah’s care in serving the Two Holy Mosques and improving the facilities for the growing number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims. He described the new expansion work of the Prophet’s Mosque as unprecedented.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130307155772

7 March 2013 - 24 Rabi Al-Thani 1434 H

JEDDAH — The police post at the Grand Mosque will be expanded into a police station and its personnel increased to serve the growing number of Umrah performers and visitors. Lt. Gen. Saeed Abdullah Al-Qahtani, Director of Public Security, issued the decision based on a report submitted by Makkah police chief Maj. Gen. Jaza Al-Amri. Al-Amri said the current expansion projects at the Grand Mosque require a police station to ensure the security and safety of all visitors.

The post will be turned gradually into a station and provided with more equipment and officers to respond to any case that takes place inside the boundaries of the Grand Mosque.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130307155784

Wednesday 6 March 2013

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday approved the master plan for the largest expansion of the Prophet's Mosque, after experts made necessary changes onto the plan as per his instructions.

Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf said the mosque’s capacity would go up to more than 1.6 million worshippers after the project’s completion in two years. “The king has asked for its quick implementation,” he added.

Al-Assaf said the areas to be included in the expansion project would be announced within a few days.

King Abdullah was given a presentation on the final plan by Al-Assaf, Assistant Finance Minister Muhammad Al-Mazeed and other officials, who have been working on the project.

King Abdullah signed the project’s master plan and ordered its implementation within a period of two years. The king had asked for changes in the plan for the expansion of the mosque’s northern, eastern and western parts.

In a brief statement on the occasion, the king thanked the Almighty for His blessings to carry out the mosque’s largest expansion that would benefit pilgrims, visitors and citizens.

“May Allah help us to do more in the service of the religion and nation,” he added.

Al-Assaf said the king called for changes to the plan after he was given alternative ideas that go well with the expansion project, which has been backed by the grand mufti and members of the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars.

According to informed sources, the project includes a helipad for airlifting patients to hospitals, construction of new roads separated from pedestrian pathways and building of 15,000 toilets. It will also include a tunnel for pedestrian traffic with escalators.

“It will also provide all requirements of the faithful who visit the mosque,” the source said. “There will be an advanced system for the disposal of garbage in addition to modern security and monitoring systems.” The project will apply modern construction systems and advanced technology, he added.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia...%80%99s-mosque