Makkah News and Updates

Friday 15 March 2013

The holy city of Madinah will soon have a state-of-the-art Qur’an museum with impressive facilities, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities.

“It will be first of its kind in the world,” the prince added. He said the project dubbed the “Oasis of the Holy Qur’an” would be established in cooperation with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the Madinah governorate and other related departments.

“It will be one of the major cultural and religious achievements of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah,” the SCTA chief said, adding that the museum would epitomize the king’s endeavors in the service of the Qur’an, Islam and the two holy mosques. He noted SCTA’s efforts to develop the Islamic heritage sites in Madinah. Meanwhile, the SCTA recently received a valuable gift from Abdul Maqsood Khoja, a Jeddah-based Saudi businessman, representing nine priceless manuscripts dating back to more than five centuries. They are precisely 511 years old.

The manuscripts were received by Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Amri, executive director of SCTA in the Makkah region, to be displayed at a public museum under the commission.

On behalf of Prince Sultan, Al-Amri convoyed the prince’s deep appreciation for Khoja’s initiative, which reflects his high sense of responsibility and keenness toward the preservation of history and the Kingdom’s heritage.
“Keeping such valuable manuscripts inside the staircases would not have been useful; rather these should be kept in a public museum, , where such important relics will be well preserved,” he said.

Prince Sultan has issued instructions that such ancient books and manuscripts should be displayed in a museum attached with the name of the donor of the objects in recognition of his/her role and efforts in the preservation of the national heritage.

For his part, Khoja said he presented the rare manuscripts to SCTA inspired by his national duty, adding that many citizens have such precious relics with them, which are of great cultural significance.

“I hope people will transfer these relics from their personal belongings to be placed under the supervision of SCTA for the public interest and to ensure they are preserved properly,” Khoja said.

http://www.arabnews.com/islam-perspe...m-madinah-soon

Minister of Haj Dr. Bandar Hajjar holds talks with E. Ahamed, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, at his office in Jeddah on Saturday. They discussed issues related to the performance of Haj by Indian pilgrims for this year, including their transportation, accommodation and awareness campaign. Ahamed praised Saudi government’s great care and concern for improving the services being rendered to the pilgrims.

17 March 2013 - 05 Jumada Al-Awwal 1434 H

JEDDAH — India’s Minister of State For External Affairs E. Ahamed and Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Haj Dr. Bandar Hajjar have signed the annual bilateral Haj 2013 agreement and discussed arrangements for Haj 2013 today in Jeddah.

Ahamed said in a press conference at the Indian Consulate on Saturday that 1,70,000 pilgrims have been allotted to India for Hajj 2013. “We requested the minister to accommodate an additional number of 10,000 pilgrims during the next Haj,” said Ahamed, who handed over a letter to the Saudi Haj Minister in this regard.

Hajjar told Ahamed during that meeting that the request for additional numbers in the quota would be looked into favorably.

The Indian minister was accompanied by Hamid Ali Rao, Ambassador of India, A.R. Ghanashyam, Joint Secretary (Gulf & Haj — Ministry of External Affairs), A.K. Kaushik, Director (Gulf & Haj- MEA), Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Director to MOS(EA), Dr. S. Shakir Hussain, CEO, Haj Committee of India, Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, Consul General of India, M. Noor Rahman Sheikh, Deputy Consul General & Consul (Haj), Ms. Puja Jindal, Director — Ministry of Civil Aviation.

A total of 1,70,000 pilgrims are expected to perform Haj this year, in which 1,25,000 will be coming from the Haj committee and 45,000 pilgrims will perform through private tour operators.

Ahamed said: “25,000 units are already hired in Makkah (upto 1,500 meters from Haram Sharief).” He was also informed that hiring of accommodation in Azizia will start from March 19, 2013 onward.

“Indian pilgrims, meanwhile, are being instructed not to add any food item to their baggage,” he added.

He said the first flight from India carrying pilgrims will arrive on Sept. 7.and the last will depart on Nov.19.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130317157179