Makkah News and Updates

22 July 2013

بدأت الشركة المنفذة لأعمال بناء المطاف المعلق، في رفع قواعد وتركيب جسور مداخل ومخارج العربات المؤدية المطاف المعلق والذي يخدم ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة، حيث بدأت معالم المطاف المعلق خلال هذه الأيام أكثر وضح خصوصا بعد تركيب مدخل الأول للمطاف المعلق في حين تواصل الشركة العمل على بناء المداخل والمخارج المتبقية الذي يتوقع أن ينجز في الوقت المحدد، حيث قطعت شوطا كبيرا في تركيب أجزاء هذا جسر المطاف المعلق بعد الانتهاء من بناء المطاف المعلق حول الكعبة الشريفة. ويتكون المطاف من مدخلين رئيسي وفرعي، إضافة إلى مخرج طوارئ يستخدم عند الحاجة، ويحتوي على مخارج مباشرة إلى البوابات في اتجاه باب الملك عبدالعزيز وباب العمرة والأخرى تؤدي مباشرة إلى المسعى وسينتهي العمل من الطابق العلوي ليستفاد منه خلال شهر رمضان المبارك، أما الآخر فسيتم ربطه مع الدور الأرضي كمرحلة ثانية بعد الموسم، وسيساهم في تخفيف الزحام وزيادة الطاقة الاستيعابية لصحن الطواف حيث تتضاعف أعداد المعتمرين خلال الشهر الكريم، وذلك من خلال فصل حركة عربات ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة عن الطائفين.

وبدأ تركيب أول أعمدة وقواعد تحمل شرائح ويجري تثبيت وتركيب الأعمدة ومسار الطواف المعلق بشكل آمن ويعمل عدد من المختصين والآليات والرافعات خصوصا في تثبيت الأعمدة بمحاذاة المكبرية والرواق العباسي، ويقام المطاف المعلق على مقربة من الكعبة الشريفة بحيث يستغرق الطواف من خلالها 25 دقيقة تقريبا، ويتميز أيضا المطاف المعلق بأنه قابل للفك والتركيب حسب الاحتياج. وروعي في تركيب المطاف المعلق وجود منافذ للهواء حيث الشرائح تعكس حرارة الشمس على قرار بلاط صحن المطاف الأساسي، كما يحافظ شكل المطاف المعلق على روحانية المسجد الحرام وعلى شريعة أداء فريضة الطواف في المسجد الحرام. ويقع مطاف المعوقين المؤقت في حلقة دائرية تحاذي الرواق القديم بعرض 12 مترا، فيما يبلغ محيط المطاف المعلق من الناحية الداخلية للكعبة 70 مترا ومن الخارجية 94 مترا، ويتكون من طابقين متعامدين يرتبط أحدهما بأروقة الدور الأرضي والآخر بالدور الأول الذي سيخصص لطواف المعوقين، وسيراعى في كل عناصره المرتبطة به الفصل الكامل بين حركة المعوقين وحركة المشاة في أروقة الدور الأرضي، كما سيراعى ربطه بمسار سعي المعوقين في ميزاني الدور الأرضي حفاظا على سلامتهم وتسهيلا لأداء النسك.

http://www.okaz.com.sa/new/Issues/20...0722622447.htm

Google translation: 22 July 2013

The company began implementing the work of building Temporary Mataf, to raise the rules and installation of bridges, entrances and exits of vehicles leading up suspense, which serves people with special needs, where it began parameters ultimately commentator during these days more broad, especially after the installation of the entrance first مطاف suspended while the company continues to work on building entrances The remaining exits, which is expected to be completed on time, which has made great strides in installing the parts of this bridge eventually suspended after the completion of the build up suspense around the Kaaba. It consists up of two entrances major subcategories, as well as director of emergency is used when needed, and has exits directly to the gates in the direction of the door of King Abdulaziz and the door Umrah and the other lead directly to the endeavor and will expire from upstairs utilized during the holy month of Ramadan, and the other will be interfaced with the ground floor a second stage after the season, and will contribute to relieve congestion and increase the capacity of the bowl wandering where multiply the number of pilgrims during the holy month, and during the movement of vehicles with special needs for الطائفين.

And began installation of the first column and the rules of carrying segments are being installed and the installation of the columns and the path of circumambulation commentator securely and works a number of specialists and machinery, cranes, especially in installing columns along Almekpria and hallway Abbasi, and held up commentator close to the Kaaba to take wandering through approximately 25 minutes, and also features up as a commentator demountable and installation as needed. And taken into account in the installation of up suspense and presence of air outlets where the slides reflect the sun's heat on a resolution tile main dish of the day, also maintains form ultimately commentator on the spirituality of the Grand Mosque and the law of obligatory circumambulation performance at the Grand Mosque. It is located مطاف disabled temporary circular ring bordering the porch the old width of 12 meters, with a circumference up hanging from the interior of the Kaaba 70 meters and the external 94 meters, and consists of two floors perpendicular linked to one porticoes the ground floor and the other on the first floor, which will be allocated for Cruising with disabilities, and will take into account all elements associated with it complete separation between the disability movement and pedestrian traffic in the corridors of the ground floor, and will take into account linked to the course of the pursuit of persons with disabilities in budget ground floor for their own safety and to facilitate the performance of rituals.

Monday 22 July 2013

The new mataf bridge around the Holy Kaaba opens for pilgrims this week. Only disabled and elderly pilgrims will be allowed to use the circular bridge that can hold 7,000 wheelchair-borne pilgrims per hour.

“Since the bridge would be set apart for weak, infirm and disabled pilgrims, the movement of able-bodied pilgrims below on the ground floor will become easier as that area will be free from wheelchairs that used to clutter in an already crowded area,” said the Haj Ministry’s spokesman Hatim Qadi.

Authorities have stepped up preparations to receive millions of pilgrims in the second half of Ramadan as they come from across the world to perform Umrah and attend special prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The Central Haj Committee, chaired by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, reviewed the arrangements made to ensure the security and comfort of pilgrims. The governor urged public and private agencies to extend the best possible services to the guests of God.

About 5 million pilgrims from within and outside the Kingdom are expected to perform Umrah during Ramadan. According to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), an Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Haj in reward.

Nearly 5 million foreign pilgrims have so far arrived in the Kingdom this year to perform Umrah, the committee said, adding that 400,000 of them still remain in Makkah and Madinah.

“We have made arrangements for the transport of 15 million pilgrims in big buses from parking lots outside Makkah to the Grand Mosque and back,” a senior official said. Contracts have been signed with five transport companies to deploy 1,600 buses for service.

Nearly 35,000 security officers, including special forces, have been deployed in and around the Grand Mosque to maintain law and order and ensure pilgrims’ safety. About 4,000 television cameras have been installed in different parts of Makkah to monitor movement of pilgrims. “These cameras send us live pictures of what is happening in and around Makkah,” said Capt. Haithem Al-Matrafi, head of the civil defense’s operations room, which informs field officers about traffic accidents and congestions to take immediate action.

Meanwhile, the Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques has called on Saudis and expatriates to postpone their Umrah because of ongoing expansion works at the Grand Mosque.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/458795

 

 

Monday 22 July 2013

In an emergency meeting, hotel managers and landlords of residential units in Madinah agreed that they need more effective marketing strategies in the hospitality sector. The meeting was called by the Tourism Commission at the Madinah Chamber of Commerce.

The parties said that there is a need for more collective solutions in order to increase the hotel occupancy rate.

The revenues stand at SR2 billion from 223 hotels and 42 residential units that comprise more than 50,000 rooms.

Hotel managers and landlords are seeking to boost internal tourism and attract Umrah visitors from the neighboring Gulf countries to stem a 70 percent drop in occupancy rate as compared to last year.

The meeting was the fourth held by the Tourism Commission. Present at the meeting were Abd Al-Ghani Al-Ansari, a board member, and Muhammad Ash Sharif, secretary-general of Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Al-Ansari offered some guidelines to address the declining occupancy rate in Madinah. These dealt mainly with the need for collective marketing, the adoption of a marketing campaign and a road map for expansion, in which the hospitality sector responds to the developments in order to boost internal and Gulf tourism.

Representatives from other commercial and industrial sectors attended the meeting. They were concerned about the declining profits, albeit indirectly, because low occupancy rates have an impact on shopping at commercial stores and places that sell foodstuffs, clothes, as well as means of transportation.

Khalid Al-Duqul, a businessman, urged that short-term plans for Ramadan, as well as long-term plans for next year, should be implemented.

“We need to do marketing campaign for the Gulf countries,” he said.

Amjad al-Muhammadi, member of the board, agreed. “We need to coordinate with Makkah Chamber in this regard, in order to arrive at coordinated solutions and exchange views regarding the matter,” he said.

Marwan Al-Hifthi, a member of the Tourism Commission, suggested that an effective mechanism be sought with airlines, Umrah and tourism companies, as well as marketing these concepts.

Sharif said that there must be a focus on the internal market.

“I believe that the low occupancy rate will persist for many seasons, due to the expansion work being carried out in and around the two holy mosques. The parties must also work on the perceived high hotel rates in Madinah,” he said.

At the end of the meeting, there was a recommendation to draw up a task force to follow up on the recommendations agreed upon at the meeting. Sharif urged that the minutes of the meeting be completed soon and submitted to the people in charge for further action.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/458780

Monday 22 July 2013

A report by US State Department revealed that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance sacked 3,500 imams from 2003 through 2011 after a central committee of the ministry failed to persuade them to change their extremist views, a local newspaper quoted a report by the US State Department as saying.

The report said that the ministry did not dismiss in 2012 any imam who has been following such extremist ideologies, but monitored websites and forums of extremists and posted evidences to rebut the cases shown online. The ministry nonetheless continues to monitor the studying materials taught in religious summer camps to prevent the education of such extreme subjects for underage students.

Tawfiq Al-Sudairi, undersecretary of the ministry, said that repeated absence by employees, lacking ability of memorization and reading skills were among other reasons for termination.

“Some wrong practices based on incorrect ideas are also among the reasons cited for their sacking,” said Al-Sudairi, adding that the ministry resorts to the sacking policy only after all other redressing methods fail.

“The ministry has total confidence in the persons entrusted with the preaching mission, as their appointment requires a certain level of scientific education and skills,” he said. “The current sheiks are very trusted scholars.”

He pointed out that the Ministry holds seminars, workshops, conventions, programs and courses in Islamic law at the Institute for Training Imams and Preachers where senior scholars cooperate with the ministry to qualify and develop imams and their work.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/458779

Thursday 4 July 2013

SIWAK or miswak is a natural tooth brush prepared from the roots or branches of various trees and bushes. The most common and beneficial is that of the root of the Salvadora Persica, a wild desert plant known in Arabic as arak, and in Urdu as peelu.

The teeth cleaning twig is a traditional alternative to the modern day toothbrush and equally effective method. In fact, a 2003 scientific study comparing the use of miswak with ordinary toothbrushes concluded that the results clearly were in favor of the users who had been using the miswak, provided they had been given proper instruction in how to brush using it.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the use of miswak in 1986 and in 2000 for oral hygiene.

An international consensus report on oral hygiene also concluded that further research was needed to document the effect of the miswak.

The major advantages of the miswak includes it strengthens the gums and prevents tooth decay, assists in eliminating toothaches and prevents further increase of decay which has already set in.

Miswak creates a fragrance in the mouth and eliminates bad odors and improves the sense of taste, sharpens the memory, causes the teeth to glow, strengthens the eyesight, assists in digestion and clears the voice.
Siwak has a long and well-documented history and features prominently in Islamic jurisprudence on oral health and hygiene.

The miswak is predominant in Muslim-inhabited areas and its usage predates the inception of Islam. The twig has its origin in the Arab countries and spread from the Middle East to South and South-East Asia.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommended its use. He is quoted in various Hadith extolling the virtues of miswak. Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet said, "Were it not (for the fear) of overburdening my Ummah, I would have ordered them to (brush their teeth with) Siwak at every Salat. (Sahih Muslim) A'ishah narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The siwak is a means of purifying the mouth and pleasing the Rabb." (Nasai)
Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said once on a Friday, "O Community of Muslims! Allah has made this day an 'Eid for you, so take a bath and needfully brush your teeth with siwak (toothstick)."(Tabarani, Majma'uz-Zawaid)

Four things are from among the practices of the Prophets: Circumcision, use of scent, miswak, and marriage. A Hadith says, "Make a regular practice of miswak for verily it is the purification for the mouth and a means of the pleasure of the Lord."

Therefore the greatest benefit of using miswak is gaining the pleasure of Allah as according to Hadith the reward of Prayers is multiplied 70 times if miswak was used before it.

Miswak is Sunnah and its usage and timing has been recommended for the recitation of the Holy Qur'an, the recitation of Hadith, as and when the mouth emits an odor, for the learning or teaching of virtues of Islam, for the remembrance of Allah, after entering one's home, before entering a Majlis (good gathering), when experiencing pangs of hunger and thirst, after the signs of death are evident, before taking sehri, meals, before sleeping and after awaking.

Abu Hurairah narrates: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by God. Miswak is purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking the acceptance of Allah."

The siwak, a tree-twig, was in use for brushing and cleansing the teeth long before the advent of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as his sayings indicate that the miswak was a practice of all the Prophets of Allah.
Those who neglect the use of the miswak, thus invite upon themselves a great misfortune by being deprived of the tremendous amount of Reward which this noble practice carries.

Allamah Ibn Ismail says: "It surprises me how people could forgo such a great Sunnah, the significance of which many Ahadith of our Prophet (peace be upon him) explain. Remember that it is a great loss to neglect the miswak."

Islam has accorded an elevated status to the miswak as significance is evident from many Ahadith. The statements and examples of the Sahaba and the Ulema of Islam regarding this practice bear testimony in abundance of the significance of the miswak. Ibn Umar (R) narrates that the Messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Make a regular practice of the miswak, for verily, it is healthy for the mouth and it is a Pleasure for the Creator (Allah is pleased with the Muslim who uses the miswak)." (Bukhari)

There are two types of benefits accrued from the use of the miswak. Those include UKHRAWI or Benefits which relate to the life Hereafter and DUNYAWI or Benefits which relate to this worldly life. The Ukhrawi category comprises the various sawaabs (Rewards), whereas Dunyawi category comprises the immediate benefits or advantages accruing to the physical human body by the constant use of the miswak.

In fact, the importance of the miswak is such that at one stage our Prophet PBUH was under the impression that the Almighty Allah might decree the use of the miswak as compulsory upon the Ummah (Muslims). Abu Umamah (R) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: 'Use the miswak, for verily, it purifies the mouth, and it is a Pleasure for the Lord. Jib-ra-eel (A.S) exhorted me so much to use the miswak that I feared that its use would be decreed obligatory upon me and upon my Ummah. (IBN MAJAH)."

A miswak should not be longer than a "span" i.e. the maximum distance between the tips of the thumb and little finger, and it should not be thicker than a finger's breadth.

Miswak should be held in such a manner that the small finger and thumb is below the miswak and the remaining fingers on its upper side.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/456965 Friday 22 March 2013

Miswak sellers can no longer sell their hygienic product on the sidewalks.

Vendors of Miswak are generally elderly people who are beneficiaries of social insurance. The Ministory of Social Affairs are providing the financing to provide vendors stalls in Makkah.

Miswak’s salesmen expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Ministry of Social Affairs for this improved step.

The pavement around the Grand Mosque of the Holy City were the only available place for those modest vendors to display their goods, but now those new stalls will enable Miswak vendors to carry out their work in much healthier conditions.

The Ministry of Social Affairs represented by the Social Security Agency has established a complex named “Security Miswak Stalls” near Al- Haram Al-Sharif in Al-Ghazh district.

Miswak remains the most popular product in Makkah market place as its use recommended by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

http://www.arabnews.com/news/445708

جامع عائشة الراجحي كما يبدو من الخارج (تصوير: أحمد جابر)

يعدُّ جامع عائشة الراجحي في مكة المكرمة أحدث الجوامع في المدينة المقدسة، وقد راقب المكيون بشوق وتطلع مراحل إنشائه خطوة بخطوة في حي النسيم بالعوالي جنوب مكة إلى أن اكتمل بناؤه، وحضر أمير المنطقة الأمير خالد الفيصل لافتتاحه في 30 يونيو الماضي.

يتسع المسجد لأكثر من 48 ألف مصل، وهو رقم يجعله يتلو المسجد الحرام مباشرة في الطاقة الاستيعابية، وتتزين جدرانه بزخارف عثمانية مشابهة لتلك الموجودة في البناية العثمانية في الحرم، ويتألف من ستة أدوار، خصص البدروم الثاني منها لمواقف السيارات، في حين خصص البدروم الأول لصالة الصلاة وصالات الطعام ودواليب المعتكفين والحمامات والمصاعد والسلالم الكهربائية والممرات الرئيسة، أما الدور الأرضي فقد خصص لصالة الصلاة ومغاسل الجنازات والحمامات ومكاتب إدارة الوقف ومداخل مصلى السيدات ومدخل المكتبة وصالة صلاة للسيدات، وصالة الصلاة الرئيسة للسيدات وحمامات السيدات والمكتبة وقاعة المحاضرات وسكن الإمام ومكاتب موظفي الوقف، وشمل الدور الأول صالة الصلاة الرئيسة وغرف المعتكفين والمواضئ، وخصص السطح لصالة الصلاة الرئيسة.

يبلغ إجمالي الساحات الخارجية للمسجد 10 آلاف متر مربع، وشيدت خمس قباب للمسجد، قبة رئيسة بقطر داخلي 19 مترا وارتفاع 48 مترا من المنسوب الأرضي والقباب الأربع الجانبية يبلغ قطر كل منها 7 أمتار وبارتفاع 37 مترا من المنسوب الأرضي، كما تم توفير عدة خدمات في المسجد ومن أهمها معالجة مياه الوضوء للاستفادة منها في ري النخيل المجاور للمسجد، إضافة إلى تجهيزه بأحدث الكاميرات والأجهزة التي ستمكن القنوات الفضائية من البث المباشر.

يصلي التراويح في جامع عائشة الراجحي الشيخ محمد المحيسني، وكان قبلها إماما للجامع القطري في عزيزية مكة لمدة 17 عاما. يعد المحيسني من أشهر القراء السعوديين، وهو من مواليد بريدة عام 1965م، أتم حفظ القرآن الكريم في سن الثانية عشرة، وبدأ الإمامة مبكرا، وهو في سن الرابعة عشرة في جامع العجيبة بالرياض، ذاع صيته وعرف من أول شريط تم تسجيله بالمركز الصيفي عام 1397 شريط سورة التوبة وبه ذاع صيته في القصيم.

في عام 1415هـ انتقل المحيسني إلى مكة المكرمة، ومن عام 1417 صار يؤم الناس في الجامع القطري، وفي هذا الجامع عرف الشيخ المحيسني على نطاق واسع داخل المملكة وخارجها، وصار يقصده المصلون من مناطق مختلفة في المملكة، كما اعتاد أهل مكة الذين يصدهم الزحام عن الحرم، التوجه إلى مسجده لأداء صلاة التراويح، وتشنيف آذانهم بصوته العذب، وترتيله الذي يمزج فيه طراوة اللحن، بأنغام البكاء والتذلل والخضوع.امتهن المحيسني التجارة منذ صباه حين كان يساعد والده في أعماله التجارية في مدينة بريدة، ثم استمر يزوال التجارة حتى الآن، وتعد هي مصدر دخله الأساسي.

http://www.alsharq.net.sa/2013/07/13/893472

Google translation: 13 July 2013

The Aisha Al-Rajhi Mosque in Mecca mosque in the holy city, has watched avidly المكيون and looked forward step-by-step stages of its inception in the breeze Balawala the neighborhood south of Mecca to be built and completed Emir of the region was attended by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal opened on 30 June last year.

Accommodate the mosque for more than 48 thousand worshipers, a number that makes him recite the Holy Mosque directly in the absorptive capacity, and adorned its walls decorated with Ottoman similar to those found in the building the Ottoman Empire in the sanctuary, and consists of six innings, allocated basement second of them for parking, while allocated Basement first Hall Prayer and Eat food and Cupboards المعتكفين, bathrooms and elevators and escalators and walkways President, while the ground floor has been allocated to the lounge prayer and sinks funerals, bathrooms and offices of the Department endowment and entrances Chapel Ladies and entrance to the library, and a prayer for the ladies, and a main prayer for ladies and bathrooms Ladies and library and lecture hall, housing the Imam and office staff of the moratorium, and included first round of the main prayer hall and rooms المعتكفين and Moadi, the surface was devoted to the main prayer hall.

The total squares of Foreign Affairs of the mosque 10 thousand square meters, and constructed five domes of the mosque, the Dome of the head of internal diameter 19 meters high and 48 meters from the alleged ground and domes four side has a diameter of each 7 meters and rise 37 meters from the alleged ground, and have been providing several services in the mosque It is most important to address ablution water for use in irrigation palm next to the mosque, as well as equipped with the latest cameras and devices that will enable the satellite to the live broadcast.

Praying Taraweeh in the mosque of Aisha Al Rajhi Sheikh Mohammed Al Mohaisany, and was accepted by the imam of the mosque in Mecca Azizieh country for 17 years. The Al Mohaisany of the most famous readers Saudis, was born in Buraidah in 1965, completed the Quran at the age of twelve, and began Imamate early, at the age of fourteen in the Mosque of curiosities in Riyadh, shot to fame and knew from the first tape was recorded Center Summer in 1397 bar Surat Repentance and has shot to fame in Qassim.

In 1415 moved Al Mohaisany to Mecca, and in 1417 became lead the people in the whole country, and in this mosque known as Sheikh Al Mohaisany widely within and outside the Kingdom, and became meant worshipers from different areas in the Kingdom, as he used the people of Mecca who Asdhm hustle on campus , go to the mosque to perform the prayers, and classified their ears with his voice fresh, and the hymn that blends the freshness melody, rhythms crying and groveling and submission. abused Al Mohaisany trade since his youth when he was helping his father in his business in the city of Buraydah, then continued Aswal trade so far, and longer is the primary source of income.

Pics Taken from Temp Mataf

By SX4

 

 

 

 

Force Commander for the Middle Haram:

Run Temporary Mataf ..
And 700 cameras to monitor the Haram

قائد قوة الحرم لـ الشرق: تشغيل جسر المطاف اليوم.. و700 كاميرا لمراقبة الحرم