Makkah News and Updates

Mobile library at Masjid al Haram

__________________

General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque
develop a mobile library in the courtyards of Masjid al Haram

الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي تستحدث مكتبة متنقلة بساحات المسجد الحرام

امتدادا لفعاليات " خدمة الحاج وسام فخر لنا " التي أطلقتها الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي
وتشتمل على أنشطة ثقافية وتوجيهية وتحفيزية وترحيبية إضافة إلى توزيع أعدادا كبيرة من الهدايا المتنوعة .

وفي هذا التوجه دشنت الرئاسة خدمة المكتبة المتنقلة وهي عبارة عن عربتين قولف تتنقل في ساحات المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي لبث روح القراءة والتعلم والتأكيد علي قيمة الكتاب وتذكيرا بانطلاق دعوة الإسلام بقوله تعالي (اقرأ).

إلي جانب برنامج (مكتبة طالب العلم) والذي يعني بتوزيع مكتبة متخصصة لطلبة العلم الشرعي تحوي مجموعة من الكتب والمجلدات المنهجية التأصيلية.

هذا وتتواصل جهود الادارات التوجيهية والارشادية والخدمية والفنية وتتضافر في تفعيل الحملة التي اطلقها معالي الرئيس العام لشؤون ا لمسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي الشيخ الدكتور عبد الرحمن بن عبد العزيز السديس برعاية كريمة من صاحب السمو الملكي الامير خالد الفيصل أمير منطقة مكة المكرمة رئيس لجنة الحج,

وتعد الحملة تعبيراً حضارياً للعناية بقاصدي المسجد الحرام , وإشعارهم بالحفاوة والتكريم وذلك انفاذا لتوجيهات ولاة الأمر – حفظهم الله -

http://www.gph.gov.sa/index.cfm?do=c...6&categoryid=2
http://www.makkah-now.com/news.php?action=show&id=14075

Google translation: An extension of the activities of " Haj Service Medal pride for us, " launched by the General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque and include cultural activities and guidelines, motivational and a welcome addition to the distribution of a large number of diverse gifts.

In this orientation, the presidency launched a mobile library service which is about two Colv vehicles moving in the streets of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque infuse the spirit of reading and learning and emphasize the value of the book and a reminder of the launching of the call of Islam, saying the Almighty (read) .

In addition to the program (library science student), which means the distribution of specialized library for students of forensic science contains a collection of books and folders methodology Altaeselah.

This continues the efforts of departments guidelines and guidance, service and technical and combine to activate the campaign launched by His Excellency President General Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Aziz al -Sudais under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Governor of Makkah Region Chairman of the Hajj Committee.

The campaign is an expression of cultural care Bakasidi the Grand Mosque, and notified the hospitality and recognition and enforcement of the directives and rulers - Allah save them.

at the Grand Mosque

بتوجيهات معالي الرئيس العام لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي الشيخ الدكتور/ عبدالرحمن بن عبدالعزيز السديس بدأت الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي يوم أمس بعد الانتهاء من غسل السجاد وتعقيمه وتعطيره بإعادة فرش المسجد الحرام بعدد إجمالي(12000اثني عشر ألف سجادة) على ثلاث مراحل حسب الأولوية بداية بالدور الأول ثم الدور الأرضي وانتهاء بالمطاف وذلك وفق الخطة الموضوعة من قبل إدارة النظافة والفرش بالمسجد الحرام لإعادة فرش المسجد الحرام.

الجدير بالذكر أن الرئاسة العامة تقوم سنوياً خلال موسم الحج من كل عام برفع السجاد من جميع المواقع بالمسجد الحرام لأسباب عملية وأيضاً تسهيلاً لحركة ضيوف الرحمن داخل المسجد الحرام أثناء أداء المناسك وتقوم بإعادته بعد أن يمنَّ الله عز وجل على حجاج بيته الحرام بأداء مناسكهم ومغادرتهم إلى أوطانهم وتأتي هذه الخدمات التي تقوم بها إدارات الرئاسة بالمسجد الحرام خدمةً للزوار والمصلين والمعتمرين بالمسجد الحرام .

http://www.gph.gov.sa/index.cfm?do=c...0&categoryid=2

Google translation: Under the guidance of His Excellency President General for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh / Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Aziz Al Sudais began the General Presidency for the Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque yesterday after the completion of washing carpets and disinfected and Tattiyrh re brushes Grand Mosque number Total (12000 twelve thousand carpet ) in three stages according to priority the beginning of the first floor and ground floor and ending Palmtaf and according to the plan by the Department of Hygiene and brushes the Holy Mosque to re- brushes the Grand Mosque.

It is worth mentioning that the General Presidency of the year during the pilgrimage season each year to lift carpets from all locations Holy Mosque for practical reasons and also to facilitate the movement of pilgrims inside the Grand Mosque during the performance of rituals and the reinstatement after to bless God Almighty on the pilgrims home Sacred perform rituals and departure to their home countries these services come by the Holy Mosque presidential administrations service for visitors and worshipers and pilgrims the Holy mosque.

during this year's Hajj Season

Madinah, Muharram 4, 1435, Nov 7, 2013, SPA

As many as 1,238,044 pilgrims have visited Madinah during this year's Hajj season until yesterday.

The President of Statistics and Reports Department of Pilgrims-Guides National Foundation in Madinah Hani bin Jamaan Al-Husseini pointed out that:

- 755,920 pilgrims visited Madinah during the first season before the performance of Hajj rituals and
- 482,124 pilgrims have so far visited Madinah during the second season after Hajj rituals.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/print.php?id=1165483

The complete construction and development documentary of World's Biggest Clock, Tallest Clock Tower and 2nd Tallest Building of the World.

The Makkah Clock - SYNOPSIS

On August 19, 2011/1432H during the last days of the holy month of Ramadan, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, inaugurated a masterpiece of engineering ingenuity in the Holy City of Makkah: the biggest clock in the world directly next to the Holy Ka`ba. It contributes to the worldwide scientific community as a member of the Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) and serves Muslims all over the world with the Makkah Time.

Bensalem Bouabdallah's stunning documentary The Makkah Clock explores the engineering breakthrough behind the development, fabrication and installation of the largest clock ever built. Each of the 4 clock faces is 43 meters in size. One of the clock drives weighs over 21 tons. The Makkah Clock Tower is 607 meters high and currently the second tallest building in the world.

Shot over the course of 4 years in 10 countries across Europe, in the Middle East and the United States, it tells the astonishing story from the initial idea to the inauguration of one of the most innovative construction projects of the 21st century.

Along with its partners, the German SL-Rasch Institute for Scientific Architecture faced some unusually big challenges: the high-rise building was already under construction when it was decided that the central tower should be crowned with an impressive Islamic-designed clock that should be visible from over 7 kilometers. The original 450-meter-high building, however, was not designed to support a 150-meter-tall addition. Undeterred by this, the specialist engineers and lightweight experts of SL-Rasch came up with a unique and groundbreaking solution.

The documentary The Makkah Clock reveals the Holy Site in Makkah in a way that has never been seen before and not least proves the eternal unity of science and Islam.

 Content Source: http://themakkahclockfilm.com/

Lighting Systems

for the Royal Clock Tower

Lighting Systems for the Royal Clock Tower in Makkah, 2011

Even by nighttime the 43 m face of the four Clocks, fixed on each side of the Tower, 425 meters above ground, should be seen clearly in a distance up to 8 kilometers.

The task to illuminate the world’s biggest clock was an unprecedented technical and logistical challenge. Research and engineering alone took about five years. With their mutual broad experience and the long lasting cooperation of both teams, SL-Rasch and Bartenbach LichtLabor developed the complete lighting concept, which includes 24 10-kilowatt beacon lights, 21 000 flashing bulbs and 2 million LEDs. These lights are among the most powerful and advanced in the world.

LED Lighting

Creating a clock face that could be seen both at day and at night, through bright sun and harsh sand storms, required a host of tests under different climatic conditions. However, not just one and the same color combination provided a suitable contrast for both day and nighttime environments. Although black and white offered excellent visibility during the day, it had a very poor contrast ratio of only 1:10 at night.

Extensive testing continued until it became clear that a dark clock face with white clock hands presented optimal visual acuity at night – more than double the original contrast ratio.

Description

Specific physiological testing experimented with a variety of colors, including blue and red. Finally it turned out that green light provided the highest level of sharpness on the eye and consequently it was decided to have a nighttime combination of white and green.
But unfortunaly there was no way to design a clock face which occurs purely white at day, and is also transparent to green back-lighting during night. The light engineers consequently developed a light screen by arranging LED pixels so they appear as one homogenous radiating surface.

The final design incorporated some 2.2 million separate lighting fixtures in the clock faces, pediments and LED media screens. All the lighting fixtures could be integrated without affecting the ornate mosaic tiles, and were designed to be accessible and easily replaced without the use of any tools.

The same LED pixel technology was used on the Clock’s carbon fiber hands and the twelve hour indicators. Other elements of ornamentation such as the lettering, mosaic framing and the Kingdom’s emblem were all visually improved with the use of LED technology, ensuring that each part was in keeping with the project’s aesthetic requirements.

The LED fixtures on the clock face are fitted with a flat, white-flashed glass cover, which distributes green light at night and illuminates the clock face evenly. Each individual LED is part of a grid of 1000 lights whose intensity can be regulated by a system of control points.

Media Screens

Containing some 1.2 million individual light fixtures, the LED media screens skirting the lower section of the Clock Tower are among the most visible features of the entire building. Adjustable for both day and nighttime lighting, the 11-meter-high screens have a total of 250 different dimming settings, which make the screens visible in a variety of conditions. The larger north and south-facing screens, measuring 70 meters in length, display messages such as ‘I seek forgiveness from God’ and ‘Glory be to God. The Supreme’.

The glass fiber screens are covered with 20-millimeter red and black mosaic tiles arranged in a complex lattice pattern. Designed with legibility and acuity in mind the LED lights are spaced approximately 40 millimeters apart and are equipped with dome-shaped glass covers to enable the messages to be read from all angles.

Before being installed in Makkah, a quarter of an entire clock face was erected in order to perform tests. The mock-up served as an opportunity to trial the Clock’s lighting system and to train the installation team so as to avoid any unforeseen complications on site. To monitor the operation of the LEDs, a network of over 70 000 contact sensors was set up. An installation team of 30 workers had to scale the network of catwalks behind the clock face and install each LED fixture by hand. Thousands of meters of electrical cable then had to be laid and attached to a central computer system, and its respective software installed and configured.

Beacon Lights

The beacon lights are designed to shine on special occasions, such as at the beginning of the Hijri months and on Islamic holidays. The lights will beam into the night sky in a varying range of formations and patterns. The entire system comprises 44 rotating or fixed beacon lights. Each light uses a 10-kilowatt xenon lamp and produces a beam equivalent to the power of 2 billion candles – this beam is visible at a range of over 10 kilometers.

Sparkling Lights

The Makkah Clock is also equipped with 21 000 green and white sparkling lights on the spire of the Tower. Each of these fixtures contains one 30-joule xenon flash bulb and 10 flashing green LEDs. The concentration of lights on the spire increases towards the tip of the crescent and was designed to outline the top of the Tower so it is visible from a great distance. To design the sparkling light display, the lighting engineers developed a flash that is emitted from the fixture in two parts: a white flash from the xenon bulb, followed by another from each of the green LEDs. In total, the entire sparkling display can produce 21 000 individual flashes. Tests showed that the xenon flash bulbs were bright enough to be visible in broad daylight, and that the green LEDs could be programmed to flash randomly or to create intricate sequences.

This powerful and advanced light display is controlled by a central computer system capable of creating beautiful patterns, employing hundreds of different combinations of lights and timings to create an awe-inspiring spectacle.

Specification

Clock faces: 1,000,000 LEDs
Clock hands: 20,000 LEDs
Beacon lights: 44 rotating and fixed beacon lights, 1o kW xenon bulbs
Sparklings lights: 21,000 lights, each with one 30-joule xenon flash bulb and 10 flashing green LEDs
Media screens: 1.2 million LEDs; largest media screens measure 70 meters in length

http://www.sl-rasch.de/p_1601-light.html

The 7 old Minarets

of Masjid al Haram before Saudi expansion

منارات الحرم المكي قبل التوسعة السعودية

في عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم لم تكن هنالك مآذن يصعد عليها المؤذن لينادي للصلاة كما قرأنا في كتب التاريخ ومما سمعناه من كبار السن الذيح أدركوا الأذان من المنائر قبل دخول مكبرات الصوت في العصر الحديث، بقدر ما كانت الحاجة إلى مكان عالٍ يرفع فيه المؤذن صوته للإعلام بالصلاة.

بل كان سيدنا بلال بن رباح يصعد لسطح المسجد ويؤذن, ويوم فتح مكة أذن فوق سطح الكعبة, وعلى هذا الأساس ومرور السنين وتزايد المسلمين ودعت الحاجة لإيصال الصوت بشكل أكبر نشأت فكرة المنائر (المآذن) في المساجد, فكان أول من بنى المنارات هم الأمويون في مساجد الشام, ولم تنشأ المنارات في المسجد الحرام إلا في العهد العباسي.

وحيث أن المسجد الحرام هو قبلة المسلمين ومهوى الأفئدة لزم الأمر أن يتم توثيق كل ما فيه عبر الأزمنة, ومنها تأريخ منائره لأنها غدت رمزًا لشعيرة الأذان العظيمة وخصوصا لأنها في أطهر بقعة, وقد اهتم الخلفاء والسلاطين والملوك ببناءها وعمارتها بأفضل ما يمكن, ثم إن هذه المنارات بقيت قائمة حتى بداية عهد الملك سعود بن عبد العزيز رحمه الله حيث أزيلت أيام التوسعة وتم إنشاء منائر جديدة تحمل الطابع العمراني الحديث وارتفاع أكبر من سابقتها ولكن لا يؤذن عليها لوجود البديل عن صعودها وهي المكبرات الصوتية ذات المدى البعيد.

GTrans: At the time of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him were not there minarets rising by the muezzin to call for prayers as we read in history books and what we heard from the older Alveh realized prayer from the minarets before entering the loudspeakers in the modern era, as it was the need for a high place raises the muezzin voice to inform prayer.

It was our master Bilal bin Rabah ascend to the surface of the mosque and authorized , and on the conquest of Mecca authorized above the surface of the Kaaba, and on this basis and the passage of the years and increasing the Muslims and called for the need to deliver sound more idea arose minarets in mosques , was the first who built minaret are Umayyads in mosques Sham , did not arise minarets in the Grand Mosque , but in the Abbasid era.

Since the Grand Mosque is the kiss of Muslims and aerated hearts needed to be documented everything in it through time , including the history of Mnaúrh it became a symbol of the ritual prayer great , especially because it is in the purest spot, was interested caliphs and sultans , kings built and architecture best they could , then that these minarets list remained until the beginning of the reign of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz , may Allah have mercy on him where they were removed days expansion was to create a new منائر bear the physical character , modern and high larger than its predecessor , but not authorized by the existence of alternative ascent which audio amplifiers with the long-term.

 

يصف الأديب إبراهيم المهتار المكي منائر المسجد الحرام في شهر رمضان قديمًا:-

كَأَنَّ المَنَائِرَ إذْ أُسْرِجَتْ قَنادِيلُهَا في دَيَاجِي الظَّلامِ
عَرَائسُ قَامَتْ عَليها الحُلِيُّ لِتَنْظُرَ بَيتَ إِلَهِ الأَنَامِ

Google translation: The writer describes Ibrahim Amahtar-Makki منائر the Grand Mosque in the holy month of Ramadan old: -

Minarets if it saddled Guenadelha in Diaja dark
The brides ornaments for consideration by the house of the God of creatures

The 7 old Minarets




1- منارة باب العمرة:
1- Minaret of Bab al Umrah

أمر ببناءها الخليفة العباسي: أبو جعفر المنصور, وهي أول منارة تُبنى في المسجد الحرام.

ومرت هذه المنارة بثلاث مراحل لتعميرها, حيث عمّرها وزير صاحب الموصل محمد الجواد الأصفهاني بعد أن سقطت, ثم امر أمر السلطان سليمان خان بتجديدها فهدمت وأعيد بناؤها, وجددها الشريف سرور عام 1201 هـ وجعلها بدورين, وهي قبل الهدم كانت تطل على حارة الشبيكة في الجهة الشمالية الغربية للحرم.

Google translation: Was built by the Abbasid Caliph: Abu Jafar al-Mansur, the first minaret built in the Grand Mosque.

And passed the minaret in three stages to reconstruction, where the old and the Minister of the owner of Mosul, Muhammad al-Jawad Isfahani after he fell, and then ordered the command of Sultan Suleiman Khan renew فهدمت and rebuilt, and renewed Sharif pleasure in 1201 AH and make it two roles, namely before demolition was overlooking the lane lattice on the north side Bank of the Haram.

2- منارة باب السلام:
2- Minaret of Bab as Salam

وتقع في الجهة الشمالية الشرقية للمسجد الحرام, وتشرف على سوق سويقة في عهدنا الحالي , بناها الخليفة العباسي محمد المهدي على باب السلام, حيث كان أمره بتوسعة المسجد الحرام عام 168 هـ بدورين, وفي زمن الناصر فرج بن برقوق تهدمت المنارة سنة 810 هـ, فعمّرها سنة 815 هـ.
وجُددت مرة أخرى في عهد السلطان مراد خان الثالث العثماني سنة 983 هـ.

GT: It is located in the north-east of the Grand Mosque , and supervise the market stalk in the covenant current , built by the Abbasid Caliph Muhammad al-Mahdi on the door of peace , where he was ordered expanded the Grand Mosque in 168 AH roles , and in the time of Nasser Faraj bin plum destroyed the lighthouse year 810 AH, Fmrha Year 815 e .
And renewed again in the reign of Sultan Murad Khan III Ottoman e 983 years .

3- منارة باب علي
3- Minaret of Bab Ali

بنيت في عهد الخليفة محمد المهدي عندما عمّر منارة باب السلام, وكانت بدور واحد فلما آلت إلى الخراب أمر السلطان سليمان خان بعمارتها مرة أخرى وجعلها بدورين وكان ذلك سنة 970 هـ, ويظهر من خلفها جبل أبو قبيس وحارة القشاشية في العهد القريب.

Google translation: Built in the reign of Caliph Muhammad al-Mahdi when Omar minaret door to peace , and the role of one when fallen into ruin is Sultan Suleiman Khan بعمارتها again and make it two roles was in the year 970 AH , and it appears from behind Mount Abu Qubeis and hot Alakecashih in the Covenant near .

4- منارة باب الوداع (الحزورة):
4- Minaret of Bab al Wadaa

أنشأت في زمن الخليفة محمد المهدي عندما قام بتوسعة المسجد الحرام, وفي سنة 771 هـ سقطت المنارة في عهد الملك الأشرف شعبان بن حسين سلطان مصر, حيث أمر ببناءها من جديد وانتهت عملية إعادة تعميرها بداية شهر المحرم عام 772 هـ, وكانت المنارة بدورين, وتقع في الجهة الجنوبية الغربية للمسجد الحرام حيث تطل على شعب أجياد.

Google translation: Established at the time of Caliph Muhammad al-Mahdi when he expanded the Grand Mosque, in the year 771 AH fell lighthouse in the reign of King Ashraf Shaaban Bin Hussein Sultan of Egypt, which is built again and ended the process of reconstruction of the beginning of the month of Muharram in 772 AH, and the lighthouse Bunk, located in the south-western side of the Grand Mosque, where overlooking on Ajyad people.

5- منارة باب الزيادة
5- Minaret of Bab al Ziyadah

تم إنشاؤها عهد الخليفة المعتضد بالله العباسي بدورين لما بنى زيادة دار الندوة بين باب الزيادة وباب القطبي, وأنشأها من جديد الأشرف بارسباي عام 838 هـ بعدما سقطت, وقيل أنها عُمّرت مرة أخرى عام 1113 بعد أن تهدمت, تقع في الجهة الشمالية للحرم أمام حارة الشامية.

Google translation: Created the reign of Caliph المعتضد God Abbasi roles for structures increase Seminar House between the door of the increase and the door of the Arctic , and established the New Ashraf Barsbaa year 838 AH after he fell , and was told that they baptized again in 1113 after being destroyed , located on the north side of the campus in front of hot maize .

6- منارة السلطان قايتباي
6- Minaret al Sultan Qaitbay

بناها السلطان المملوكي الأشرف قايتباي سنة 880 هـ, حيث بنيت خلف مدرسته في الجهة الشرقية من المسجد بين باب النبي وباب السلام بثلاثة أدوار, وتطل على شارع المسعى في حارة القشاشية.

Google translation: Built by the Mamluk Sultan al - Ashraf Qaytbay year 880 AH , was built behind the school in the eastern side of the mosque between the Prophet door and the door to peace in three innings, and overlooking the street in the endeavor lane Alakecashih .

7- منارة باب المحكمة (السلطان سليمان خان

7- Minaret of Bab al Mahkama

بناها السلطان سليمان بن سليم خان في الجهة الشمالية للمسجد الحرام بين مدارسه الأربعة الملاصقة للحرم والواقعة أمام مدخل باب المحكمة, حيث قام بعمارتها قاسم أمين العمارة السلطانية عام 973 هـ, وتقع المنارة بالتحديد بين مدرسة المحكمة الكبرى ومدرسة رئاسة القضاء, وتعد المنارة هذه الأكثر ارتفاعا وعلوًا.

Google translation: Built by Sultan Suleiman Bin Salim Khan on the north side of the Grand Mosque between the schools of the four adjacent to the campus and in front of the entrance door of the court , where he بعمارتها Qasim Amin architecture Bowl in 973 AH , located minaret specifically between School High Court School and the presidency of the judiciary, is the minaret this most points and Exalt .

 

هذا وقد ذكر بعض المؤرخون أن هناك منائر أخرى للحرم لا يُعلم من بناها ولا من هدمها, مثل:

منارة باب إبراهيم التي هدمها بعض أمراء مكة لإشرافها على بيته.
ومنارة باب الصفا حيث كانت علما لباب الصفا ولا يصعد عليها لضيق بناءها.
ومنارة على الميل الذي يهرول عنده من يسعى بين الصفا والمروة.

Google translation: This Some historians have stated that there are other منائر to campus did not know who built and demolished , such as :

Minaret door Ibrahim demolished by some princes of Mecca for the oversight of his house.
Minaret and Safa door where the note to the door of Safa and climb it to narrow build.
Minaret and the tendency at which jogs who seek between Safa and Marwa .

SOURCE: http://www.makkawi.com/Articles/Show.aspx?ID=912

Masjid al Haram, August 1917

1.4 million Haj pilgrims
visited Madinah this year

10 November 2013

More than 1.44 million Haj pilgrims visited Madinah this year, recent statistics have revealed.

Hani Jamaan Al-Husseini, head of the statistical reports unit at the Guides Organization in Madinah, said 755,920 pilgrims visited the city before the Haj and 482,124 after the Haj. He said 119 pilgrims died in Madinah this year, which includes 70 people who died before the Haj. “Their bodies were buried in Madinah in collaboration with the Haj missions of their home countries,” he said.

He said the Center to Help Missing People assisted 14,415 pilgrims return to their groups. A total of 9,486 pilgrims lost their way before the Haj.

Al-Husseini said the statistical unit compiles daily reports on the number and nationality of pilgrims arriving and leaving the city, deaths, and those who lost their way. These are posted on unit’s website and copies are also sent to various government agencies.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/475221

Madinah, Muharram 7, 1435, Nov 10, 2013, SPA

534,326 pilgrims have so far arrived in Madinah, 380,852 pilgrims left, and 153,412 pilgrims remained in Madinah.
This came in statistics issued by the Secretariat of Hajj Committee in Madinah region yesterday.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/print.php?id=1166287





Rain on Madinah

8 November 2013