Makkah News and Updates

Sunday 28 July 2013

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has asked the Institute of Haj Research to oversee a new mechanism to stop illegal pilgrims from entering Makkah, according to Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Soroji, dean of the institute.

Meanwhile, Al-Soroji told local media that the institute was implementing 24 research initiatives, in addition to its 18 permanent programs and seven research studies in Madinah.

The institute has signed a cooperation agreement with the Makkah municipality to make use of its recently completed cultural observatory study.

The institute recently organized an annual meeting for researchers who participated in its various scientific studies and programs, as well as its field services for visitors and pilgrims. The institute has produced 42 research papers, carried out by 70 researchers and 380 students, Al-Soroji said.

The institute supervises five research projects, assigned to a number of government departments. These include a crowd management project, project to supervise the Ministry of Haj strategic plan, the cultural observatory project, and the project to prevent illegal pilgrims from entering Makkah. The institute is entering a competition to benefit from the meat of livestock sacrificed during Haj.

During the meeting, participants reviewed a study by Dr. Ramzi bin Ahmad Al-Zahrani entitled “Voluntary Geographical Information Systems for Haj and Umrah,” and Dr. Walid bin Alsayyed Abu Alsuad presented a research paper about electromagnetic waves of telecom companies’ towers inside the central area of the Grand Mosque and holy sites.

Dr. Mohammad Badaba’n discussed the average journeys pilgrims make from their hotels and residences in Makkah during Haj and Ramadan seasons.

Dr. Othman Qazzaz presented a paper entitled, “Polarizing digital signage and reminder messages; defining digital signage effectiveness outside the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.”

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Jamal talked about “building a virtual model for pilgrims outside Ramadan season by using neural networks.”

The meeting concluded with a review of Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sharif’s paper, “Evaluating the services of Miqat Abar Ali in Madinah.”

Head of Umm Al-Qura University, Dr. Bakri bin Matouq Assas, praised the institute’s achievements and research papers, which he said is serving visitors to the two holy mosques and other sacred places. “It is our duty to support the institute, because it offers studies that remove obstacles that stand in the way of pilgrims and facilitates the performance of rites,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459424

28 July 2013

تصميم مشابة للمطاف الجديد للحرم الملكي يقع في جياتسو في حي بودونغ بمدينة شانغهاي بالصين حيث يمكن للمشاة السير بإطمئنان وتجنب حركة لمرور والسيارات والجسر يربط بين برج لؤلؤة الشرق والمناطق الترفيهية ومراكز التسوق والمقاهي ومحطة العبور ومباني المكاتب ويبلغ ارتفاعه 20 قدما فوق الشارع مع العديد من المداخل والمخارج من درج السلالم المتحركة بتصميم معاصر.

http://www.slaati.com/2013/07/28/p79261.html

Google translation: Design similar to مطاف the new campus of the Royal located in Gyatso in Pudong District in Shanghai, China, where it can be for pedestrians to walk safely and avoid movement for the passage of cars and the bridge linking the Oriental Pearl Tower and recreational areas, shopping malls, cafes and the transit station and office buildings and a height of 20 feet above the street with many entrances and exits from the drawer escalators contemporary design.

28 July 2013

أكدت الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي عدم صحة ما أشيع عن تخصيص المطاف المؤقت للنساء.

وقال مدير الإعلام في الرئاسة المتحدث الرسمي أحمد المنصوري لـ»الشرق» إن المطاف الجديد مخصص لعربات ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة رجالا كانوا أو نساء، لافتا إلى أنه من الصعب وغير المنطقي تخصيص مطاف للنساء، بل المطاف يشمل الجميع، وهذا مقتضى الآية الكريمة «وطهر بيتي للطائفين والقائمين والركع السجود».

وأشار إلى أن المطاف المؤقت تعويض للدورين الثاني والثالث اللذين تم إيجاد فصل فيهما من الناحية الشرقية بسبب أعمال مشروع الملك عبدالله لتوسعة المطاف.

وكان مغردون في تويتر تناقلوا أنباء عن تخصيص المطاف الجديد للنساء وذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة.

http://www.alsharq.net.sa/2013/07/28/905727

Google translation:The General Presidency for the Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque invalidity of the rumors on allocation of the Temporary Mataf to women.

The director of the media in the presidential spokesman, Ahmed Al Mansouri's »Middle» The ultimate new dedicated to vehicles with special needs whether men or women, pointing out that it is difficult and illogical allocation of Mataf for women, but ultimately includes everyone, and this is appropriate verse «and cleanse my house to طائفين and existing and الركع of prostration.

He pointed out that ultimate temporary compensate for the second and third floors, which has been found where separation from the east because of the work of the King Abdullah Project for the expansion of the Mataf.

And was Mgrdon in Twitter news تناقلوا as new allocation of Mataf to women and people with special needs.

Monday 29 July 2013

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh said the worshipping act of “itikaf” (meditative seclusion) can be observed at any mosque and should not be confined to the Grand Mosque.

Itikaf is a spiritual retreat and Islamic ritual in which a believer secludes his or herself from others to engage solely in acts of worship and keep away from worldly dealings, especially during Ramadan.

The large crowds who confine themselves to the Grand Mosque are likely to create difficulties and overcrowding for other worshippers, particularly this year due to expansion works.

Al-Asheikh also exhorted Muslims not to wait for the last 10 days of Ramadan to perform Umrah, as that would also create additional crowding at the Grand Mosque.

“The entire city of Makkah is holy; believers may go to other mosques in Makkah for seclusion. There is no need to perform Umrah during the last 10 days of Ramadan, as that was not the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him),” Al-Asheikh said in a statement.

He also urged Umrah pilgrims from nearby towns who frequently visit the Grand Mosque to make their visits less frequent in order to make space and allow pilgrims who have traveled great distances to pray and engage in acts of worship in the Grand Mosque with greater ease.

He reminded fathers of their duties toward their families and children, urging them not to shun these responsibilities.

“They should not abandon their duties toward their families; we urge them to take care of their wives and children, while also engaging in nightly prayers and engaging in acts of worship,” the grand mufti said.

A spokesman of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Abdul Wahid Al-Hattab, said the mosque’s administration has made preparations to accommodate 13,000 worshippers in the mosque for seclusion.

“The administration has doubled the facilities for worshippers,” Al-Hattab said. He said the administration even registered applicants online.

Worshippers can enter the mosque through Gate 11, Gate 18 and Gate 32, where special arrangements have been made to receive worshippers and record their details, in addition to briefing them on instructions on how to keep the premises clean, he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459538

Monday 29 July 2013

As the holy month of Ramadan enters its 20th day, mosques across the Kingdom will begin conducting midnight prayers known as “Qiyam Al-Layl” at 1 a.m. beginning Tuesday.

“The special prayers are conducted during the last 10 days of Ramadan starting from 1 a.m.,” Allama Mohammed Obaidullah, an imam at the Sheebani Mosque in the Nasseriyah District, told Arab News.

The last 10 days of Ramadan are deemed more significant since the Holy Qur’an was first revealed to mankind through the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on Lailat Al-Qadr (Night of Power or Night of Destiny).

Private establishments have been contracted to maintain mosques throughout the Kingdom to enable worshippers to find a comfortable atmosphere inside the places of worship. These establishment have geared up their staff to be on duty throughout the night to ensure a smooth supply of power and water.

Extensive arrangements have been made across mosques to accommodate the additional number of worshippers during this period. Mosques will be kept open to worshippers throughout the night during the last 10 days of the holy month following a directive from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance.

The imam said mosques are kept open to the public at night for them to recite the holy Qur’an and conduct additional prayers inside mosque premises.

According to the circular, imams have been instructed to keep places of worship tidy and ensure adequate and uninterrupted supplies of power and water during the holy month to meet the requirements of the increased number of Muslims, who perform Taraweeh, which follows the regular Isha prayers and the subsequent Qiyam Al-Layl prayers.

Improvised partitions for women have been built in mosques that do not have separate prayer halls for women.

Sermons at the Friday prayers focused on the significance of Lailat Al-Qadr. Welcoming the day of Lailat Al-Qadr, an imam at a mosque in Malaz district appealed to people to strictly adhere to the teachings of the Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during this period.

A maintenance contractor who looks after more than 1,500 mosques in the capital told Arab News that his company instructed the labor force to work in the mosques till late at night during this period. “These workers are expected to keep the worshipping places spick and span, illuminated and ensure the smooth supply of water and power.”

Ten workers keep large Jumma mosques in ship shape, while smaller mosques are manned by two workers. Some of the big mosques in the capital are built and maintained by members of the royal family. Some 5,000 mosques are maintained by the department of mosques at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459531

Monday 29 July 2013

Tents in Mina will be allocated to Tawafa organizations and domestic pilgrim agencies several days before the beginning of Haj this year, Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar said on Sunday.

“The pilgrim agencies will receive the tents well in advance this year,” he told reporters. “The delay in handing over tents in the past was caused by ongoing development projects,” he added.

Hajjar said the deployment of special forces would put an end to the squatting of pilgrims in public places during the Haj season, especially near the Jamrat in Mina. “The number of such squatters at the Grand Mosque has reduced considerably.”

He said the ministry is now in the process of setting up women’s units at its offices in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. “Women officials at Tawafa organizations are doing a great job in the service of the guests of God,” the minister said.

He said the government is studying the possibility of building an integrated pilgrim city in Makkah similar to the plan approved for visitors of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah that was announced a month ago.

He said the first phase of building 36,000 sanitation facilities (toilets and ablution facilities) at the holy sites has been completed.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459539

Friday 26 July 2013

Rising inflation and the reduced number of Umrah pilgrims have seen revenues dive for traders in Makkah and Madinah.

They also complain that many foreign Umrah pilgrims in the two cities are not spending much money, possibly because of the poor economic situation in their home countries.

Nasif Ali, a Palestinian who sells perfumes, dates, incense and honey, told Arab News that the past Ramadan was the best month to make money.
“This year we are suffering because there is low demand from visitors for traditional Saudi products such as honey and incense. People don't buy even when we reduce our prices.” Most customers only buy necessary items, he said.

Abdullah Qaoud, the owner of a gift shop close to the Grand Mosque, said most Umrah pilgrims do not buy souvenirs because of rising inflation.
“We usually sell a large amount of accessories and bibelots, even at high prices. Umrah pilgrims from Egypt, Pakistan and North African countries are always interested in buying Saudi souvenirs. This year we noticed a sharp decline in sales. We are suffering because we also have to pay high rents to shop owners,” he said.

Walid Salem, an economist, told Arab News that three main factors have influenced trade in the holy month. “These are inflation, the weak purchasing power of visitors, and the limited number of Umrah performers,” he said. “Visitors are only allowed to stay for 15 days. This will affect the religious tourism season.”

“The recent announcement by the Makkah money exchange committee confirmed that the currency exchange rate dropped by 70 percent, which is clear evidence of the tough financial situation of most Umrah pilgrims,” he said.

He said many traders have themselves to blame because they have raised prices in an “illogical way.”

Mohammed Rida, an Egyptian pilgrim, decided not to buy any extra items this year. “I usually visit the Kingdom every five years, and buy gifts for my relatives. In Egypt, many of my friends normally ask me to buy dates and honey for them. This year, my relatives and friends decided not to buy anything because of their poor financial situation,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459233

Friday 26 July 2013

WE ARE about to enter the last 10 days of the holy month. Devout Muslims worldwide are prepared to embark on vigorous prayers and worship in all the remaining 10 days, beginning July 29, one of which is the Lailatul Qadr, or the Night of Decree or the Power Night.

Allah the Almighty says: "Verily, We have sent it (Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels including Angel Gabriel by Allah's permission with all Decrees. (All that night), there is peace (and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.” (Qur’an, 97)

The Qur’anic citation above clearly informs us of the importance of worshipping Allah on the night of Qadr. It is a night that every living Muslim wishes to stand before his Creator, supplicates Him, and seeks for better days ahead. Since Allah decrees whatever is ahead of his servants on that night, it is therefore apparent that whoever is fortunate to be alive on that night and be in prayers crying to Allah in submissiveness with sincere heart, and being repentant as well as remorseful of his sins, Allah would surely listen to him and decrees better life for him.

Because of the special nature and importance of this night, Allah has intentionally concealed the exact day from Muslims. This is because Allah in His inestimable wisdom wants people to strive in achieving something better in life. He has concealed the exact day of the Qadr night so that we may double our efforts in the whole month of Ramadan or at least in the last 10 days. The true believer will search for the night of Qadr at late night and in the early hours until he or she attains it, regardless of the hardship.

This "concealing methodology" adopted by Allah the Almighty in awarding the deserving Muslims on the Qadr night is indeed the best way of giving something worthwhile to the deserving person and denying the hypocritical and lackadaisical ones.

In an effort to know the exact day of the Qadr night, which Allah in His immeasurable wisdom has concealed, some scholars have conjectured the day. While some scholars say the Qadr night falls on the first day of Ramadan, others say it is on the seventh day, and some postulate that it falls on the 19th day. All these opinions are not based on any sound proof. The most popular consensus among scholars who support their claims with sound Hadiths i.e. sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) argue that the Qadr night falls on the last 10 days of Ramadan, specifically on the odd-numbered nights.

In a report by Al-Bukhari, the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said; "Seek it (the Qadr Night) on the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan." In another Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Seek the night in the last 10 days, and if any of you is weak, or cannot observe it, he should not miss the remaining seven days. (Muslim) In fact, there are other authentic Hadiths on the Qadr night, and one basic point in all of them is that the ‘night’ is found in the last 10 days of Ramadan. Though many Muslims have strong feeling that the night falls on the 27th day but since that is not for sure, Muslims should just have to attach extra attention to all the last 10 days without being selective so that they would be very convinced that the day is not missed out. It is recommended to seek the night and spend it diligently in devotion including night Sunnah prayers (Tahajjud), recitation of the Holy Qur’an and supplication. In a Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He who spends the night praying on the Qadr night as a sign of faith in Allah and seeking rewards from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

Having known all the above bounties regarding the Qadr night, the question is "how prepared are we as Muslims in striving to find this night?"

Unfortunately, some Muslims do not live up to expectation during the last 10 days of Ramadan. They consider them as just ordinary nights without making any efforts to maximize their acts of worship during this divine period. Some Muslims are found during the last ashra spending time in unproductive activities and excessive socialization.

Some of the womenfolk are made to spend too much of their precious time in the kitchen cooking varieties of food instead of making them reserve energy and fully participate in prayer and worship. Also because Eid Al-Fitr (i.e. the festival to mark the end of fasting) is near, some Muslims engage in shopping while Muslim businessmen and traders and women like tailors, seamstresses, hairdressers, to mention a few, spend nights working to earn extra money and consider such times as their ‘bumper business season.’

Just like how businessmen, students and other professionals maximize their preparation and become more focused, vigilant and committed before and during their seasons, Muslims are expected to endeavor and put in more effort in the act of worship and prayer in all the days of the Ramadan month and more particularly in the last 10 days during which the Qadr night falls.

If we put in much efforts and pay serious attention on worldly achievements and pursuits which we may not live long to enjoy them, is it not more mandatory and befitting on ourselves as mortals who can leave this world anytime soon or later to focus on deeds that Allah has commanded us to do and which will be of everlasting benefit and pleasure for us in the next world where we would die no more?

• Alhaji Ibrahim Yahaya is a senior English lecturer at British Academic Center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459183

Monday, July 29, 2013

MAKKAH – Some 4,900 Civil Defense personnel have been deployed to tackle any emergencies in Makkah and Madinah during the last 10 days of the holy month.

Director General of Civil Defense Lt. Gen. Saad Abdullah Al-Twaijri said that 3,900 personnel have been deployed in and around the Grand Mosque in Makkah and 1,000 have been stationed in the Prophet’s Mosque and areas around it.

He said the deployment will cover the new expansion areas in the Grand Mosque and all major roads in Makkah, as well as all vital installations and accommodations and facilities serving Umrah pilgrims.

A standby force will support the Civil Defense personnel to boost the capability of the field teams and units, Al-Twaijri said.

He said the Civil Defense sends SMS messages to Umrah pilgrims and also alerts them through screens put up in front of the Grand Mosque gates about crowding inside the mosque.

Buggies fitted with cameras have been pressed into service to transmit live pictures from the scenes of accidents to the Civil Defense operations room. The Civil Defense operations room follows the movement of Umrah pilgrims with the help of 4,000 CCTV cameras covering all the districts of Makkah around the clock.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130729175210
Monday, July 29, 2013

MAKKAH – Electronic gates will be erected at seven entry points to Makkah to screen for illegal pilgrims, according to Haj Minister Dr. Bandar Hajjar.

He said approval has been given for the electronic gates, which will be partially used during the coming Haj season.

Buses on Haj duty will be fitted with smart chips and pilgrims will be given wristbands. The electronic gates will detect the buses without the chips and also illegal pilgrims without the wristbands.

Bids have been invited for the construction of these gates, said the minister.

Hajjar said that sleeping outdoors was still the biggest challenge for the authorities in Haj. However, the phenomenon has been reduced to a large extent thanks to the efforts of the Emir of Makkah region and the Minister of Interior.

The minister also announced the establishment of a 1.6-million-square-meter integrated city to serve visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque. The ministry is also studying the establishment of a similar city in Makkah.

He said Umrah companies or external agents for an Umrah companies have to mention the number of pilgrims, their arrival and departure dates, and country of origin.

The Kingdom has cut back the number of pilgrims that may perform Haj this year due to construction work at the Grand Mosque.

The authorities had decided to reduce by half the number of pilgrims coming from within Saudi Arabia, and by about 20 percent those from abroad.

The expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah would add 400,000 square meters (4.3 million square feet), raising its capacity to accommodate 2.2 million people at the same time.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130729175209

 

Madinah expects 13,000 'mutakifs'

Monday, July 29, 2013

MAKKAH — Vendors selling fruit and vegetables of dubious origin have been gathering in Al-Nikasa and Al-Mansour Street neighborhoods of Makkah since the beginning of Ramadan.

Al-Nikasa is considered a key artery in Makkah, and is the city’s most outlying district both southerly and westerly. A number of residents have complained that the vendors obstruct traffic in the district, and that they sell products of unknown origin.

Alleging that many of the street vendors are foreigners violating residency regulations, a number of residents demanded official intervention to end the phenomenon.

Saad Al-Matrafi complained that the stalls hold up traffic in the neighborhood. He also said the merchandise is kept in the scorching heat for hours, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption.

Saeed Al-Rasheedi, another resident, claimed that consuming vegetables purchased at the stands had caused him stomach problems in the past.

Mohamed, a resident of Al-Nikasa, said the stalls are a recurring feature in Ramadan. He called on the authorities to intervene, as the fruit and vegetables sold represent a health risk.

Additionally, Mohamed claimed that the stall operators discard rotten produce in the street, thus polluting the environment.

Mohamed Al-Subhy alleged that many vendors in Al-Nikasa are violators of the residency system.

Khalid Al-Nadawi claimed this was true of many Al-Mansour Street vendors as well.

Al-Nadawi accused shop and home owners of renting their places cheaply to illegal residents. He explained that the vendors find their customers in African and Asian communities, as they sell indigenous spices at low prices.

A source at the Makkah municipality affirmed that the municipality coordinates with the police to rectify such violations.

He claimed that the municipality regularly patrols the streets to prevent street vendor violations. The source called on all Makkah residents to cooperate with the authorities to eradicate the problem.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130729175165