Makkah News and Updates

Temporary Mataf Progress

19-07-2013
1.00AM

 

 

 

PICS BY SX4

Aisha Al-Rajhi Mosque
مسجد عائشة الراجحي

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2nd largest mosque in Makkah

 

 

 

Al-Rajhi Mosque opens in Makkah


Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal with Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais,
head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, and Suleiman Al-Rajhi
after opening the Al-Rajhi Mosque in Makkah.

Makkah: the opening of Aisha Al-Rajhi Mosque
with a capacity of 47 thousand worshipers

Thursday 18 July 2013

The General Directorate of Civil Defense has resorted to engaging in social media platforms to gain access to a wider audience and directly disseminate safety instructions to pilgrims performing their religious rituals during the holy month of Ramadan.

Brig. Gen. Saleh bin Ali Al Ayed, director of public relations and media at the directorate, highlighted that the Civil Defense coordinated with public telecom companies across the Kingdom to broadcast 4.5 million advisory messages, in addition to using video applications made available through the wide ranging new media outlets, including YouTube, Twitter and the Civil Defense channel.

Al Ayed explained that they have created numerous awareness campaigns for Ramadan catered to the different nationalities that go into the Kingdom in order to perform the holy rituals of Umrah. The main objective of the campaign is to highlight the dangers that the pilgrims might encounter during Umrah, including congestion, health hazards as well the fear of injuries that might result due to shoving around the mataf area.

Pointing out to the importance of using new media tools, Al Ayed explained that these new applications ensure that the Civil Defense’s message and awareness guidelines are comprehended by a larger audience, especially illiterate pilgrims.

Al Ayed elaborated that as part of the Civil Defense’s comprehensive awareness scheme, large screens have been installed in public spaces, including parking lots located at the entry points of the holy city, in addition to the leaflets and handbooks distributed.

An integrated Information Center has also been set up to provide latest updated information and photographs to the local, Arab and foreign media.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/458357

Thursday 18 July 2013

Madinah will have a major facelift shortly as plans have been made for its comprehensive development by implementing a number of projects including a metro system to meet the requirements of the city’s growing population and visitors.

Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman held talks with Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf along with Madinah Development Authority’s council members to develop the city’s public transport system.

“The governor has instructed to complete the project study quickly in order to present it to higher authorities for approval,” a senior official said.
“The transport project is an important component of a comprehensive development plan for Madinah,” he added.

The transport system includes a metro network and speedy bus services, in addition to parking facilities, fuel stations, maintenance centers and smart systems.

It is designed to provide quick access to the Haramain Railway that links Makkah and Madinah.

“The transport project will be carried out by phases following international standards,” said the official.

King Abdul Aziz Road, Hijrah Road and Al-Salam Road will also be developed as part of the project, which coincides with the Prophet’s Mosque expansion project.

Prince Faisal and the council members also discussed matters related to the mosque expansion project, especially the acquisition of land and demolition of hotels and buildings near the mosque, stressing the need to make alternative arrangements to meet shortage in housing facilities.

The council was weighing various options, including quick implementation of the newly planned pilgrim city to be established on an area of 1.6 million square meters along Hijrah Road with a capacity to house 200,000 pilgrims.

State-owned Public Investment Fund will finance the pilgrim city project, which includes a railway and bus station, offices of government agencies and a 400-bed hospital.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/458378

Friday 19 July 2013

Saudi Arabia has extended the deadline for Umrah visa applications from Ramadan 10 to 15 in order to allow more faithful to perform the lesser pilgrimage during the holy month of Ramadan.

“The Haj Ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to extend the deadline to Ramadan 15,” said Deputy Haj Minister for Umrah Affairs Eissa Rawas.

He said more than 4.8 million pilgrims have so far come for Umrah this year. “The number of Umrah pilgrims remaining in the Kingdom this year is 380,000, a quarter of a million less than the previous year,” he said.

He said the ongoing mataf expansion project would enable the Kingdom to receive more pilgrims in the coming years as it would increase mataf’s capacity from 48,000 to 130,000 pilgrims per hour

Rawas estimated the total cost of new development projects in Makkah, Madinah and holy sites at SR128 billion. He said the new Makkah Haram expansion, which is to accommodate 1.2 million more worshippers, would cost SR40 billion

The ministry earlier extended the deadline from July 8 to 18. Saudi authorities wanted to control the number of pilgrims coming for Umrah this year as a result of ongoing expansion work at the Grand Mosque in order to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims.

The decision to reduce domestic Haj pilgrims by 50 percent and international Haj pilgrims by 20 percent this year is “exceptional and temporary,” the ministry said.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has instructed member countries to cooperate with Saudi Arabia by reducing the number of their pilgrims. The OIC commended the Saudi government’s efforts to expand the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah to enhance facilities for the guests of God.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/458495

Friday 19 July 2013

Uhud in Madinah was the scene of one of the most significant battles in early Islamic history, when the Muslim forces under the Prophet (peace be upon him) battled the forces of the unbelievers. Today, this important site not only attracts many Muslims from all over the world, but also many people wanting to make money.

There are vendors and kiosks everywhere. They are on the site of the battlefield between Rumah Mountain and the martyrs’ cemetery. They sell everything from scrap and hardware to exotic herbs with strange names that are very popular with Pakistanis, Indians and Indonesians.

Rumah Mountain is the place where the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered 50 men, including his uncle Hamzah, to stay regardless of the outcome of the battle. But when they thought the Muslims were winning, they deserted the post. This allowed soldiers led by Khalid ibn Al-Walid, who was not a Muslim at the time, to storm and occupy the place.

There are many photographers here who take instant photographs of visitors who want these as souvenirs.

Khalid Al-Mutrifi, a photographer, said many visitors like their photographs taken with the mountain in the background.

“A single photo costs SR10 and two for SR25. However, many visitors now have their own sophisticated smartphones and digital cameras that allow them to take as many pictures as they want. Business is not what it used to be, although instant photos are still popular with some people. My daily income is anywhere between SR200 and SR300,” Al-Mutrifi said

During Arab News’ tour, many visitors complained of the large numbers of beggars. “They are all over the place,” one visitor said. When the Arab News photographer tried to take pictures of some of them, they either hid their faces or walked away.

Uhud Mountain is 2 km from the Prophet’s Mosque. It houses the tomb of many martyrs, including the Prophet’s uncle.

Despite the vendors, the oppressive heat of over 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit) and Ramadan, visitors arrived in droves to see the site.

Ahmad Tameem and Husain Murad from Iraq said they wanted to see Uhud firsthand and to understand what the early Muslims had gone through in those days. Tameem said the “feeling of joy and elation was indescribable.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/458489

Wednesday 17 July 2013

ALGIERS- Saudi Arabia embassy granted more than 170,000 visas for the Algerians to accomplish Umrah, said Tuesday Minister of Religious Affairs and Waqf, Bouabdallah Ghlamallah.

The Saudi Embassy "granted this year more than 170,000 visas to the Algerians to accomplish Umrah," Ghlamallah said.

This year, the demand for this rite of Islam increased.

The duration of the accomplishment of Umrah was reduced to 15 days-dubbed reasonable-, instead of one month previously, and not the number of pilgrims, he added.

The number of the Algerian hajjis for season 2013 is set at 27,800 hajjis, against 36,000 in past years.

Concerning the measures adopted to avoid contamination of hajjis by Coronavirus, appeared in some Middle-East and Europe countries, he confirmed that an official will visit the Holy Places of Islam to examine with the Saudi authorities the means to protect the pilgrims.

http://www.aps.dz/More-than-170-000-...visas-for.html