Makkah News and Updates

Thursday 4 July 2013

SAUDI Arabia has given utmost importance for the development of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah to meet requirements of the growing number of pilgrims who come from different parts of the world for Haj and Umrah. According to informed sources, the government has spent more than SR 250 billion on Haram and Haj expansion.

Ever since he ascended the Saudi throne in August 2005, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has given special attention for the development of the two holy mosques and improving facilities for pilgrims. The two Haram mosques are currently witnessing massive expansion projects, which will increase their capacity to more than two million worshippers each.

The project includes expansion of mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) in order to increase its capacity from 48,000 to 130,000 per hour. The ongoing work has reduced the mataf’s capacity to 22,000 per hour, a reason that prompted the government to reduce the number of foreign Haj pilgrims by 20 percent and domestic pilgrims by 50 percent, in order to prevent stampedes and ensure the security and safety of the guests of God.

The current expansion project at the Grand Mosque in Makkah is estimated to cost more than SR 100 billion. It is designed to increase the mosque’s capacity to more than 2 million worshippers. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, commended King Abdullah for initiating the project to enhance facilities for the millions of pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah every year.

Yahya Binladin, deputy chairman of Binladin Group, said advanced systems have been used in the new expansion to ensure the smooth flow of pilgrims, especially during peak seasons. It includes security monitoring and garbage disposal systems in addition to sunshades in the courtyards around the mosque. The new extension would be linked to the existing building with bridges. It will have an advanced air-conditioning and lighting system. It covers 456,000 square meters in the northwest and northeast of the mosque.

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Khozaim, vice president of the presidency, described the expansion as the project of the century. The total area of the existing Grand Mosque is 356,000 square meters accommodating 770,000 worshipers while the new expansion will accommodate 1.2 million during congregational prayers.

While launching the Makkah Haram expansion, King Abdullah also inaugurated the Makkah Tower Clock, the Makkah Time, the newly expanded masaa (the running course between Safa and Marwa); the King Abdul Aziz endowment towers; the Jamrat Bridge complex in Mina; and the Mashair Railway linking the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar said the new projects launched by King Abdullah would boost business in Makkah and help the holy city attract new investments worth SR 100 billion. “Every SR 1 billion spent by the government would encourage the private sector to invest an additional SR 5 billion. This way the public investment would have a multiple effect on the economy,” the mayor said.

Prophet’s Mosque expansion

King Abdullah has ordered that works for the expansion project of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah should start immediately in order for it to be completed in less than two years. The mosque building will sprawl over an area of 614,800 square meters or 1060 X 580 meters while the combined space of the mosque and plazas will be 1,020,500 square meters or 1300 X 785 meters, which can accommodate 1 million worshippers inside the mosque and 800,000 worshippers in the plaza.

When completed, the mosque will have two major minarets in addition to smaller minarets at four sides. The Central Zone surrounding the mosque will triple in size compared to present area with greater room for residences, shopping areas, utility and security and will be surrounded a new ring road.

The project will remove 23 hotels from the Central Zone (the area around the mosque), which is feared to create a shortage of 4,760 rooms to accommodate those who visit the mosque. On the other hand, 21 new hotel projects will make up the shortfall.

“The Central Zone will undergo total face lift, including the expansion of existing utilities to cope with the increasing number of pilgrims and visitors to the mosque in the coming years,” one source said. The present space in the mosque and surrounding squares is put at 550,000 to 780,000, the source added.

The plazas in the eastern and the western sides of the mosque will be developed. The buildings surrounding the plazas will be built matching the urban development and in line with the rich Islamic cultural history of Madinah.

Plans are under way to establish a state-of-the-art pilgrim city in Madinah on an area of 1.6 million square meters along Hijrah Road with modern facilities and public transport systems to house 200,000 faithful. “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has instructed the Finance Ministry to implement the project,” said Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman.

State-owned Public Investment Fund will finance the project, which is located close to the Prophet’s Mosque, the governor said. It includes a railway and bus station, offices of government agencies and a 400-bed hospital. A number of hotels and furnished apartments will be constructed in the new city.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/456976

 

Plastic barriers and measures to ensure

 

the safety of pilgrims

حواجز بلاستيكية وتدابير لضمان سلامة المعتمرين

Friday 5 July 2013

Sermons, the distribution of Holy Qur'ans, more cleaning staff and strict security are some of the services available at the two holy mosques this year during Ramadan.

Muhammad bin Nasir Al-Khuzayyam, vice president of the General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, told Arab News plans for these services started on June 24.

The presidency has arranged for over 100 scholars to deliver sermons on the rituals of Umrah, basic teachings on beliefs and other important aspects of Islam. These sermons will take place after Fajr and Maghrib prayers.

The holy mosques have 150 telephones at various places for pilgrims and visitors to inquire about Islam. Advice is available on how to make up for any mistakes made during rituals, Al-Khuzayyam said.

Zamzam water is available in over 25,000 thermoses, which workers constantly clean and refill.

These thermoses have thousands of plastic cups for one-time use.

For tawaf (circumambulating the Kaaba) and Sai (running between Safa and Marwah), 10,000 wheelchairs are supplied for disabled and elderly people. These are available at various places outside the Grand Mosque and on the first floor above Safa Gate. Automatic wheelchairs cost SR 50 for the Sai only.

Security officers have been deployed to prevent pickpocketing on all four floors. These officers control the entire mosque with a computerized system. They also guard the 139 gates of the holy mosque and control crowds to prevent stampedes.

Al-Khuzayyam said one million copies of the Holy Qur’an translated into Urdu, French, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish, Bosnian and Turkish would be distributed to visitors.

Only dates and Saudi coffee are allowed inside the holy mosques. But there is no restriction on food in the open plazas.
Worshippers have 10 minutes to break their fast after the call for prayer, before the Maghrib prayer starts.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/457096

Friday 5 July 2013

Elaborate arrangements are being made in all mosques to accommodate additional rush of worshippers during Ramadan.

The commencement of the holy month will be determined on the sighting of the crescent next week. According to experts, new moon could be sighted either on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Department of Mosques, which functions under the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, directed imams and muezzins of all mosques in the Kingdom to keep the places of worship clean and ensure adequate supply of power and water during the holy month to cater to the increased number of Muslims.

Private establishments, contracted for the maintenance of mosques, have been asked to be on duty at nights to guarantee continuous water and power supply in all places of worship.

The department maintains more than 6,500 mosques in Riyadh alone as well as the other mosques in the capital’s suburbs. In addition, members of the royal family and philanthropists take active part in the building and maintaining mosques across the country.

On instructions from the department, some mosques have replaced their old carpets with new ones, while a new coat of painting is given to other mosques in preparation for the holy month.

“Everyone likes to visit the mosques for prayers and supplications during Ramadan, and we expect a larger congregation for Taraweeh prayers,” said Ubaidullah Abdul Aziz, an imam at a mosque in the Nasseriya district.

“We are making every effort to provide worshippers with a conducive environment to perform their prayers in peace and serenity,” the imam said, adding that loudspeakers outside the mosque premises will not be used during Taraweeh prayers as per the directives of the Department of Mosques. The imam said that Isha prayers would be conducted approximately two hours after the breaking of the fast.

Midnight prayers (Qiyamul Layl) will be conducted from Ramadan 20 through the end of the holy month. These prayers will begin at 1 a.m. for the duration of one hour.

Tents will also be constructed adjacent to the mosques to enable worshippers to break their fast. Arrangements have been made for all those who come for Maghreb prayers during Ramadan to break their fast in these tents allocated for the purpose.

An official from a maintenance company, which looks after more than 1,000 mosques in Riyadh, said his company has instructed all employees to work in the mosques till late night during the month. “Our men are expected to keep the places of worship clean and tidy and ensure uninterrupted supply of water and power.”

Circulars have been sent to all imams that they should discharge their duties in the best possible way and in no case miss any compulsory prayer in their respective mosques. They should strive to maintain the status and spiritual atmosphere of mosques. No mosque official will be granted leave during the month of Ramadan, except under unavoidable circumstances, said one of the many circulars.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/457093