Makkah News and Updates

Monday 4 August 2014

Special plans put into operation in Makkah to ease traffic congestion during the Ramadan and Eid holidays were a resounding success, says Director of Makkah Traffic Col. Salman Al-Jamiei.

“Regulating the movement of millions of pilgrims and visitors flocking to the Grand Mosque during the holy month is a challenging task for Makkah traffic police. The traffic plans succeeded in minimizing snags on roads and streets leading to the central zone around the Grand Mosque and other places,” Al-Jamiei told Arab News.

Traffic officers booked 200 parking violations, and 300 other violations of unauthorized transporting of pilgrims during the holidays, he said, adding that the police also took penal measures against 500 motorcyclists for ferrying passengers illegally.

All Civil Defense, Red Crescent and traffic police forces were kept ready at exit points and roads to meet any eventuality as 80 percent of the pilgrims and visitors to Makkah started leaving soon after the Eid prayers at the Grand Mosque on Monday.

“Preparations were made at all exit points of the holy city to do away with traffic bottlenecks that might occur because of the huge outflow of vehicles carrying returning pilgrims since the first day of the Eid,” Al-Jamiei said.

No vehicle was allowed to enter or remain at the central zone soon after the Eid prayer in order to avoid any likely traffic problem and the same system is in force even until the filing of the report. Officers in cars and on motorcycles continuously patrol the roads to solve any traffic problem that may arise.

“After the Eid prayer, all pilgrims and those who were in itikaf (a period of retreat in a mosque, especially in the last 10 days of Ramadan) started returning home, and special traffic plans were implemented for their hassle-free movement with total success,” Al-Jamiei said.

The plans included appointing field officers to assist pilgrims and worshippers to travel in buses from their lodgings to the Grand Mosque and back, stopping any vehicle carrying pilgrims outside the entrance to the city and ensuring total freedom from bottlenecks on roads, he added.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/611371

Monday 4 August 2014

An Indian pilgrim and educationist has called on Saudi authorities to keep a buffer zone between hotels, shops and residential buildings and the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

“This will make the Grand Mosque stand out from other buildings and reduce congestion in the immediate surrounding area,” said Kunnampally Abubakr, who came to the Kingdom recently with his wife, Jameela, to perform Umrah.

Speaking to Arab News, he also urged the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) to exert greater efforts to preserve the country’s Islamic heritage in Makkah, Madinah and other places.

Abubakr, who worked in Saudi Arabia for 31 years, highlighted the remarkable progress achieved by the Kingdom in different sectors, especially in the field of higher education.

He praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for setting the stage for the Kingdom’s educational renaissance. “King Abdullah deserves special praise for establishing a university in Riyadh exclusively for women,” he said. Abubakr advised Saudi authorities to organize the arrival and departure of Umrah pilgrims more efficiently, while underscoring the government’s endeavors to enhance facilities for pilgrims.

“Pilgrims should be informed in which terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport they will be landing in order to avoid confusion for them, as well as for those coming to airport to receive them,” he said.

Abubakr, who has worked as assistant Arabic professor in India and translator and administrator in the Kingdom, emphasized the need for building low-cost housing facilities in Makkah and Madinah to accommodate ordinary pilgrims who cannot afford staying at five-star hotels.

He said his current visit gave him an opportunity to meet with his old friends in Yanbu, Jeddah and Riyadh after having left the Kingdom for good three years ago. “I have worked in Yanbu for 20 years and I consider this industrial city as my second home.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/611366

Monday 4 August 2014

There has been no fresh case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the past 25 days, the Ministry of Health announced.

And there is additional good news. Two patients — a 49-year-old citizen in Hofuf and a 44-year-old medical official in Madinah — made a full recovery from the infection this week.

Unfortunately, a woman connected with medical work in Jeddah, died on the last day of Ramadan, bringing the death toll to 298 and the total number of cases to 721 since September 2012.

A total of 396 patients made a full recovery during this period.

Health Minister Adel Fakeih confirmed in a press statement that the ministry is taking the downward trend of the virus very seriously.
“Precautionary measures are still in force,” he said.

MERS, which is thought to originate in camels, causes coughing, fever and pneumonia. The disease is thought to have an incubation period of around two weeks and testing by the authorities can take several days.
Saudi Arabia and the World Health Organization have said they are imposing no travel or other restrictions due to MERS for the upcoming Haj, but have encouraged very young or old pilgrims, and those suffering from chronic disease, not to come this year.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/611376

Monday, 04 August 2014 - 08 Shawwal 1435 H

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has banned the issuance of Haj and Umrah visas for Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia because of concerns about the spread of the Ebola virus in these countries, according to Dr. Khalid Marghalani, MOH spokesman.

The ministry constantly coordinates with the ministries of Haj and Foreign Affairs to take all necessary measures at borders and airports. “We have communicated the instructions to the officials of all ports of entry. We have trained our personnel on how to identify and deal with Ebola cases and control virus infection, should it happen,” he added.

For his part, Dr. Hussein Shareef, Ministry of Haj’s undersecretary for Haj affairs, said the ministry would take all preventive measures to ensure public health and safety.

Khalid Al-Khaibari, General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) spokesman, said there are no direct flights between the Kingdom and these three African countries except during the Haj season.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140804213542

Tuesday, 05 August 2014 - 9 Shawwal 1435 H

MAKKAH — Ministry of Haj spokesman Hatem Qadhi said the first batch of Haj pilgrims are due to arrive in the Kingdom on Aug. 16. The pilgrims will arrive from South Africa and the ministry has approved all operational plans for the six Tawafa (Haj guidance) establishments in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.

He added the ministry has also specified all Umrah (minor pilgrimage) visitors should leave the country by Aug. 11, noting the current season was successful and peaceful. Meanwhile, nearly 80 percent of Umrah pilgrims have already left Makkah and the remainder are preparing to leave on schedule.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140805213636

 

Government, charity trusts unite
to restore historical mosques


RESTORATION: The Shafi Masjid, one of the oldest mosques at the Harrah
Al-Mazloum in the historical Balad district in Jeddah, is being renovated.

Tuesday 5 August 2014

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development had no right to announce the result of excavations taking place in the Kingdom, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) announced Monday.

“The SCTA is the sole authority to make such announcements,” said Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Ghabban, vice president of SCTA for antiquities and museums. He was referring to a French Ministry announcement on the discovery of the oldest Arabic inscriptions in the southern Saudi region of Najran. The findings were the result of excavations carried out by a Saudi-French joint archaeological team.

“This discovery and many other similar discoveries in the Kingdom’s northwest indicate the most ancient use of the Arabic alphabet,” he said.

“This discovery is in the advanced stages of scientific verification before being announced to the media by SCTA, according to the convention that regulates Saudi and international joint scientific missions,” Al-Ghabban said.

The SCTA is the only body authorized, on the basis of this international convention, to announce the archaeological discoveries after finalizing the scientific studies, he said, adding that it was a practice followed globally.

Al-Ghabban further disclosed that there are more than 30 joint scientific teams who carry out excavation work on several archaeological sites across the Kingdom in accordance with scientific administration protocols and under the full supervision of the SCTA.

He added that SCTA is the authorized entity to announce the scientifically verified discoveries, as it has been doing it over the past years. “We will announce the recent discovery about the emergence and evolution of the Arabic alphabet once the testing and scientific stages are completed.”

According to the French Ministry report, epigrapher Frédéric Imbert, a professor at the University of Aix-Marseille, found the Nabatean Arabic inscription about 100 km north of Najran near the Yemeni border. “The first thing that makes this find significant is that it is a mixed text, known as Nabatean Arabic, the first stage of Arabic writing,” he said. This script had previously only ever been seen north of Hejaz, in the Sinai and in the Levant.

The second is the fact that these inscriptions are dated. The period indicated corresponds to the years 469-470 AD. This is the oldest form of Arabic writing known to date, which represents the “missing link” between Nabatean and Arabic writing, said a spokesman from the ministry.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/611841
http://www.arabnews.com/news/art-culture/611411 By Frederic Imbert

The study of thousands of graffiti in Saudi Arabia, hitherto neglected by researchers, we deliver a photograph of the Arab and Muslim society of early Islam completely new. Carved in stone, analyzed by mass, the High Islamic era graffiti written in Kufic called archaic characters have shed new light on the early history of Islam in the seventh-eighth century of the Christian era and first and second century of the Hegira that we knew only by relatively late and hagiographic texts.

Since the mid-1980s, Frédéric Imbert is interested in Islamic epigraphy. His research led him to Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and graffiti from the dawn of Islam in Saudi Arabia in recent years. This is a true "Islam stones" from the title of one of his publications he reveals his knowledge of classical Arabic and history texts. Professor, he taught at the University of Aix-Marseille. This specialist in linguistics, languages ​​and literatures of the Arab world and its markets is Director of the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at the IREMAM, the Institute for Research and Studies on the Arab and Muslim world.

Summary of its communication

Recent epigraphic surveys carried out in Saudi Arabia in November 2012 as part of the Oasis Arabian Mission (CNRS, UMR 8167) have revealed new Arabic texts dating from the first two centuries of the Hegira. It is essentially Islamic graffiti epigraphic mission gave order to identify and analyze. In a first exploration around the city of Najran (South Arabia, near the Yemeni border) our attention was particularly drawn by fifty graffiti collected on piles of rocks at a place called al-Murakkab . Systematic surveys have revealed the presence of a core of very ancient texts of which is dated 59 AH (678 AD). Curiously, it is associated with text representations engraved size men with arms raised in the said position of praying. Undoubtedly these human figures are contemporary epigraphic texts; above one of them, the name al Haytam-b. Bishr is engraved and is repeated in various other sites around Najran.

However, the most spectacular discovery on the site was a unique and autograph graffito 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab, a companion of the Prophet and the second Caliph of Islam, murdered 24/644. During a second exploration north Saudi, epigraphic mission noted 200 graffiti clustered on some cliffs near dumat al-Jandal. Three unpublished texts mentioning two caliphs and princes of the Umayyad dynasty (661-750) were discovered on this occasion. Recent fieldwork enable support the hypothesis of local shrines specifically dedicated to the etching of prayers and invocations whose formulas are repeated by hundreds and that we now call "walls pardons."

French: http://www.canalacademie.com/ida1034...-Saoudite.html 11/02/2013

Rock face covered with drawings and graffiti in kufi arabic from the Islamic period (Arabia 7th-8th centuries AD). The rock fell from the mountain and rolled down in the sand to finish… overturned. All the texts are therefore upside-down. Their content is mainly religious: calls for pardon and mercy, declaration of faith, of divine omnipotence (Photo F. Imbert, Mission Dûmat al-Jandal 2012). Prof. Frederic Imbert, a specialist of arab and islamic epigraphy, is taking part in the graffiti conference.

http://graffiti.hypotheses.org/33

Wednesday 6 August 2014

Authorities are gearing up to ensure the timely departure of foreign Umrah pilgrims over the next few days as the current Umrah season draws to a close.

Almost 90 percent of foreign Umrah pilgrims had left the Kingdom by the end of Ramadan, while remaining pilgrims continue to leave the country daily.

The last departure date for foreign pilgrims is Aug. 11, according to officials.

“We will begin welcoming Haj pilgrims from abroad after that date,” Ali Al-Ghamdi of the Haj Ministry told Arab News. “More than six million pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah despite a reduction in the overall number of visas this year,” he said.

“The majority of Umrah pilgrims are leaving from Jeddah, followed by Madinah, while many leave via land and sea, in particular from Yanbu,” he said.

“We have not noticed any delay in departures, as our electronic system effectively monitors pilgrim movement,” he said. “The Haj Ministry has also kept an eye on pilgrim facilities and services in both Makkah and Madinah and this includes ensuring effective transport means between the two cities,” he said.

“Haj Minister Bandar Hajar conducted a review meeting on Monday morning at his office in Jeddah to oversee final stage departure plans. The Haj Ministry is coordinating with civil aviation and passport authorities in executing the most efficient pilgrim departure plan to avoid delays.” The official attributed the successful implementation of the Umrah plan to the newly introduced electronic service.

Al-Ghamdi emphasized that the Haj ministry is determined to replicate last year’s success.

Haj pilgrims from South Africa will be first foreign pilgrims to arrive into the Kingdom later this month, he said.

“All three terminals at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) are working at full capacity to facilitate the easy departure of foreign Umrah pilgrims,” a KAIA official told Arab News. “There are 70 counters working to process documents. More than 20,000 pilgrims leave through the Haj terminal every day,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/612296
Wednesday, 06 August 2014 - 10 Shawwal 1435

MAKKAH — The head of the transportation committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry said this year's Umrah season has provided a SR6 billion boost to the local economy.

Saad Al-Qurashi told Al-Watan daily that this figure includes accommodation, transport and food services.

“The average Umrah visitor spends about SR1,000 and Umrah pilgrims visiting Makkah spent at total of more than SR6 billion, which allowed for a very profitable Umrah season,” he said.

He pointed out this year's Umrah season was very good and complaints have significantly declined from last year.

He noted five-star hotels in Makkah central area reported 100 percent occupancy rates, while accommodation around the central area had an average 60 percent occupancy rate.

“Umrah companies have become very experienced and can manage to avoid losses and deal with any obstacles they may face,” he said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140806213717

Wednesday, 06 August 2014 - 10 Shawwal 1435

MAKKAH — Haj Minister Bandar Al-Hajjar will next week start a field tour of all Tawafa (Haj guidance) establishments to review their operation plans for the Haj season, Makkah daily reported Tuesday.

The minister, who makes these field tours every year, is keen to check preparations well in advance to ensure the best of services for pilgrims. Hajjar had received in his office in Jeddah on Monday the heads of the Tawafa establishments and the members of the coordination council for domestic pilgrims.

He asked them to make every effort to ensure pilgrims are provided with consummate services that will enable them to perform their rites in peace and comfort.

The minister asked all the Mutawifeen (Haj guides) to work together to make the Haj season a success.

The heads of the Tawafa establishments praised the great facilities provided by the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to pilgrims and visitors.

They cited in this connection the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques, the widening of the mataf (circumambulation area) in the Grand Mosque and numerous development projects in the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140806213721 Wednesday 6 August 2014

About 100,000 Bangladeshis will be arriving for this year’s Haj, according to Bangladesh’s new Consul General A.K.M. Shahidul Karim.

“Looking after the well-being of such a huge number of pilgrims and the welfare of 700,000 workers from my country residing in the Western Region of the Kingdom is quite a challenging task,” Karim said, adding that he would also be focusing on expanding the labor market for his countrymen.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/612276 Wednesday 6 August 2014

The Embassy of Saudi Arabia suspended visas of 7,200 pilgrims from three African countries — Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia — as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease among the pilgrims during the forthcoming Haj season.

Mohammad Al-Homoud, charge d’affaires at the Saudi Embassy in the Guinean capital Conakry, said the decision to suspend the visas was issued some time back.

“The governments in these countries were very much understanding of the decision, which aims mainly to boost prevention measures against the spread of the virus because the second wave of it has already kicked off,” added Al-Homoud.

He said these countries also want to make sure its citizens are free of the virus, adding: “The fact that the virus is still spreading compels us to continue the suspension of visas for this Haj season.”

The talks between the Saudi Embassy in Conakry and the governments of these countries started four months ago.

Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador in Guinea Amjad Bedaiwi told local media that the Kingdom has put a condition that the suspension of visas will be reviewed only after World Health Organization (WHO) issues a clear cut statement that citizens in these countries are allowed to travel for Haj.

Bedaiwi said the embassy extensively discussed the issue with the Guinean government, an Islamic state, where the number of its pilgrims comes to nearly 7,000 as against 400 others from both Sierra Leone and Liberia.

On the other hand, Jeddah health department issued strict directions to air and sea borders’ outlets to enhance its procedures and prevent the coming of the Ebola virus-infected pilgrims.

An official source at Jeddah health department stated that the measures involve monitoring the epidemic in general and checking all the incoming passengers from the neighboring African countries that recorded cases of the disease to ensure that no one with a case of infection with the virus enters the Kingdom.

Dr. Khalid Obaid Bawaked, assistant director of Public Health Department in Jeddah, said the measures will ensure that the virus will not enter the country.

“The Ebola virus is a very dangerous disease once its first symptoms appear. The precautionary measures and the enforcement of the strict health conditions are very important, mainly because of the forthcoming Haj season where the guests of God come from all around the world,” said Bawaked.

“The Ebola hemorrhagic fever caused by the virus is one of the most known lethal diseases,” he said, adding that the virus was first discovered in 1976 in a tropical district to the west of Sudan, near Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of Congo).

But the virus did not record any case outside middle and east Africa. There are five strains of the virus — Bundibugyo, Ebola-Cote d’Ivoire, Ebola-Reston, and the Ebola-Zaire and Sudan.

The virus enters the body by touching the body fluids of an infected patient, such as his blood or the other fluids. The virus can be transmitted also to humans when dealing with wild animals carrying the virus such as chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, antelopes and fruits’ bats, whether sick or dead.

Up till now, there is neither an effective qualitative cure for the disease nor vaccine. The treatment is generally limited to providing supportive care.
Severe conditions of the disease require the provision of intensive supportive care for patients who often suffer from dehydration, and badly need the administration of fluids using solutions containing electrolytes.

And because there is no effective cure or vaccine for the prevention or treatment of the disease up till this very day, precautionary and preventive measures are the only way to limit cases of infection and deaths among people.

WHO recently said death cases as a result of the Ebola virus in Africa had increased to 887 deaths. The WHO statement added that there are 1,603 cases of infection with the virus in four west African states, of which there are 485 cases in Guinea, 468 in Liberia, 646 in Sierra Leone and 4 in Nigeria.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/612306 Tuesday 5 August 2014

Pilgrims from Ebola-endemic countries will be identified at disembarkation points in the Kingdom, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Health.

“Although Umrah and Haj visas are not issued to pilgrims from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea due to the prevalence of the Ebola hemorrhagic fever in these countries, pilgrims from other countries will still be checked upon entry into the Kingdom,” he said.

“The ministry has fielded special teams at air, land and sea entry points to identify pilgrims who are suffering from the disease,” Sami Badawood, Jeddah Health Affairs director, told Arab News on Monday.

“Infected pilgrims will immediately be quarantined and treated,” he said. “Authorities have been advised not to issue Haj or Umrah visas to these three countries,” he said, while the US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention has urged all US residents to avoid non-essential travel to endemic African countries in the wake of the virus.

Badawood said that his ministry has been carefully following online instructions issued by the WHO on the issue. The ministry also sporadically issues quarantine requirements to Saudi missions abroad.

An Ebola outbreak has been ongoing in Sierra Leone since May 2014 and has also affected Liberia and Guinea.

More than 825 people have died to date, making this the largest outbreak of Ebola in history.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/611901

6 August 2014

عمر المضواحي، طارق الثقفي - مكة المكرمة

وسط صمت مطبق، تسابق مجموعة بن لادن السعودية الزمن للانتهاء من وضع أساسات بناء أعلى مئذنتين في العالم وبارتفاع 420 مترا للمئذنة الواحدة، ضمن ورش العمل الضخمة في مشروع توسعة خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز التاريخية للمسجد الحرام، ليرتفع بذلك عدد المآذن من 13 إلى 15، فيما قالت رئاسة الحرمين الشريفين إن عدد منارات الحرم المكي لم يحسم بعد.
وسيتم نصب المئذنة الأولى في الطرف الشمالي الغربي لمبنى التوسعة الشمالية الجديدة بالقرب من جبل الكعبة، فيما وضعت أساسات المئذنة الأخرى في أقصى الجهة الشمالية الشرقية في حي الشامية جهة امتداد المروة، لتشكل ارتفاعا يناهز نصف ارتفاع برج الساعة.
واطلعت «مكة» على ملخص لدراسة خلصت إلى توضيح الحدود الجيولوجية للحوض المائي في وادي إبراهيم، واستعراض قراءات المخزون الجوفي لمياه بئر زمزم، إلى جانب تحديدها للأسباب التي تؤثر في تدهور هذا المخزون، ومن أهمها الأعمال الإنشائية العملاقة وأعمال التفجير التي تؤثر في باطن الأرض.
من جانبه، قال وكيل إدارة المشاريع بالرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي المهندس محمد الوقداني لـ«مكة»: إلى الآن لم يثبت لها رقم محدد، فهناك 8 مآذن جديدة يجري العمل بها في منطقة الشامية وحدها، وإلى الآن لم يحدد رقم معين لعدد المنارات الجديدة، والتي يجري إنشاؤها على مراحل مدروسة.
وسط صمت مطبق، تسابق مجموعة بن لادن السعودية الزمن للانتهاء من وضع أساسات بناء أعلى مئذنتين في العالم وبارتفاع 420 مترا للمئذنة الواحدة، ضمن ورش العمل الضخمة في مشروع توسعة خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز التاريخية للمسجد الحرام الشريف.
وسيتم نصب المئذنة الأولى في الطرف الشمالي الغربي لمبنى التوسعة الشمالية الجديدة بالقرب من جبل الكعبة، فيما وضعت أساسات المئذنة الأخرى في أقصى الجهة الشمالية الشرقية في حيّ الشامية جهة امتداد المروة، لتشكل ارتفاعا يناهز نصف ارتفاع برج الساعة الذي يعد أعلى مبنى مسلح في العالم بارتفاع 817 مترا، وثاني أطول برج في العالم بعد برج خليفة في دبي الذي يصل ارتفاعه إلى 828 مترا.
ويمكن الآن وبوضوح مشاهدة أساسات خراسانية لقاعدة المئذنة الأولى القريبة من جبل الكعبة بأبعاد 30 م ×30 م بمساحة 900 متر مربع، وهي تعد مسطحا ضخما بالنسبة لمباني مكة المكرمة من دون أي تفاصيل تذكر حيالها سواء من مجموعة بن لادن السعودية التي تتولى عمليات تصميم وتنفيذ مشروع توسعة الحرمين الشريفين، أو من رئاسة شؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي المشرفة على أعمال توسعة المسجد الحرام، والتي لم تصدر حتى الآن أي معلومات تكشف عن تطورات المئذنتين العملاقتين.

15 مئذنة
المؤكد الآن، أن ظهور قواعد المئذنتين العملاقتين في طرفي المصطبات والساحات الشمالية لمشروع التوسعة التاريخية سيرفع مجموع مآذن الحرم المكي الشريف إلى 15 مئذنة بدلا من 13 مئذنة فقط كما هو مقرر رسميا للمشروع.
ويبلغ عدد مآذن المسجد الحرام حاليا 9 مآذن فقط بارتفاع 90 مترا للمئذنة الواحدة، 7 منها موزعة على بناء التوسعة السعودية الأولى في عهد الملك سعود بن عبدالعزيز رحمه الله، و2 تم وضعهما فوق مباني توسعة الملك فهد بن عبدالعزيز رحمه الله.
فيما ستوضع على مباني التوسعة الشمالية الجديدة 4 مآذن أخرى بالحجم والارتفاع الطبيعي بدلا من اثنتين فقط، كانتا في منتصف مباني التوسعة بحسب ماكيت المشروع، وذلك تنفيذا لأمر خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز الذي طلب إضافة منارتين عند النهاية الطرفية لمباني مشروع توسعته التاريخية، وإعماره الشامل للمسجد الحرام.
وكان خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز أمر بإضافة مئذنتين جديدتين لتوسعته التاريخية للحرم المكي الشريف لتصبح 4 مآذن فقط وبالحجم الطبيعي خلال استعراضه لمجسم توسعة صحن المطاف مساء السبت الموافق 27 رمضان لعام 1432هـ وأمره السامي ببدء أعمال توسعة صحن المطاف.


ماكيتات جديدة
وانتشرت قبل أشهر صور جديدة لماكيتات التوسعة الجديدة للمسجد الحرام، ظهرت فيها بجلاء منارتان عملاقتان ضمن مشروع التوسعة، أثارت جدلا واسعا بين المهندسين والمراقبين لمشروع التوسعة، وامتد مؤخرا لشبكات التواصل الاجتماعي في تويتر وفيس بوك ليكون محل أخذ ورد بين المهندسين والمعماريين حيال إيجابيات وسلبيات المئذنتين العملاقتين ووظائفهما في التوسعة الجديدة.
وبعيدا عن الجدل، يبدو أن بناء المئذنتين بهذا الحجم الضخم والارتفاع الشاهق سيثير مخاوف جدية على وضع عمق منطقة حوض وادي إبراهيم، ومدى تأثيرهما على سلامة مصادر المياه المغذية لبئر زمزم المبارك.
وبحسب أماكن بناء قواعد المئذنتين الجارية الآن على قدم وساق ـ كما تظهرها الصور ـ من المرجح أن يكون موقع المئذنة الشمالية الغربية والقريبة من جبل الكعبة مثار علامات استفهام كبيرة كونها بلا شك تقع داخل نطاق منطقة يحظر فيها رسميا إنشاء المباني الشاهقة بسبب تماسها مع منطقة حوض وادي إبراهيم، وتأثيرها المباشر على تغذية جميع آبار الحوض الجيولوجي بمصادر المياه وأهمها بالتأكيد بئر زمزم.
ويأتي بناء هذه المئذنة تحديدا لتشكل تحديا جديدا يتقاطع مع دراسات علمية سابقة أجريت من هيئة المساحة الجيولوجية وهيئة تطوير مكة المكرمة والمشاعر المقدسة ورئاسة الحرمين وأمانة العاصمة وعدة شركات استشارية عالمية بالتعاون الكامل مع مجموعة بن لادن السعودية، اتفقت جميعها على وضع شروط مشددة على طبيعة الإنشاءات والمباني وارتفاعاتها في هذه المنطقة الجيولوجية الحساسة، لتكون خطا أحمر لا يقبل المساس به.
واطلعت “مكة” على ملخص لإحدى الدراسات العلمية الرسمية أنجزها فريق علمي مشترك ضم خبراء من هيئة المساحة الجيولوجية، وهيئة تطوير مكة المكرمة والمشاعر المقدسة، وعدة شركات استشارية عالمية بالتعاون الكامل مع مجموعة بن لادن السعودية خلصت إلى توضيح الحدود الجيولوجية للحوض المائي في وادي إبراهيم، واستعراض قراءات المخزون الجوفي لمياه بئر زمزم، إلى جانب تحديدها في شكل علمي دقيق للأسباب التي تؤثر في تدهور هذا المخزون، وهي أسباب متعددة ـ كما أشارت الدراسة ـ ومن أهمها الأعمال الإنشائية العملاقة، وإزالة الجبال المحيطة بالحوض بمواد التفجير التي تؤثر في باطن الأرض، حفاظا على سلامة مصادر المياه.
كما أن حجم المنارتين الضخم الذي يستند على قواعد عميقة بعرض 30 ×30 مترا مربعا لكل مئذنة يعني أنه سيتم تهيئتها لمسطحات بنائية هائلة الارتفاع من دون توضيح مسبق وشفاف لمحتويات التصميم قبل تنفيذه، وطبيعة استخداماته الوظيفية لمسطحات المئذنتين كونها جزءا أصيلا داخل حدود المسجد الحرام.
وتظهر صور تصميم المئذنتين استنادهما على قاعدة يعلوها بناء مكعب الشكل له أربع واجهات طولية ومستطيلة مفتوحة وبارتفاع يتجاوز 150 مترا تقريبا قبل أن تعلوه أولى شرفات المئذنة في شكلها التقليدي ومن فوقها بناء أسطواني مشابه لتصميم المآذن الأخرى بارتفاع 270 مترا تقريبا.
يذكر أن مجموعة بن لادن السعودية التي تشرف تقليديا على تنفيذ مشاريع توسيع وعمارة الحرمين الشريفين في مكة المكرمة والمدينة المنورة أثارت قبل عامين جدلا واسعا عندما تم تسريب صور لماكيت تصميم ضخم لتوسعة المسجد النبوي الشريف احتوى على مآذن شاهقة الارتفاع قبل أن يهدأ الحديث حولها بعد أوامر سامية قضت بتعديل التصاميم التي استندت على تغيير مكان المحراب النبوي في بناء المسجد النبوي الشريف وإعادة النظر فيه بناء على توصيات هيئة كبار العلماء السعودية.

مآذن الشامية شاهقة وأطول من سابقاتها
رئاسة الحرمين: عدد المنارات لم يحسم بعد

فضلت الرئاسة العامة لشؤون الحرمين عدم الإفصاح عن عدد المنارات في المسجد الحرام بعد اكتمال توسعة الملك عبدالله، مؤكدة أن ما أشير حول الرقم 13 من عدد المنارات غير صحيح، في ضوء العمل المتواصل لاستكمال المشاريع في الساحات الشمالية.
وأوضحت على لسان وكيل إدارة المشاريع بالرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي المهندس محمد الوقداني، أن المنارات في المسجد الحرام تاريخ شاهد على الحقب الزمنية المختلفة التي مرت بها مكة المكرمة على مختلف العصور، كانت وما زالت هي البعد الثقافي والمنبري والصوت المجلجل للأذان، والذي كان يعبر عن جماليات الصوت المتفرد من مؤذني المسجد الحرام.
وقال: توجد حاليا في المسجد الحرام تسع منارات، اثنتان في باب الفتح، ومثلهما في باب العمرة، واثنتان في باب الملك عبدالعزيز، ومنارة في الصفا، واثنتان في باب الملك فهد، وأزيلت منها اثنتان في باب العمرة، كما أزيلت اثنتان عن باب الفتح. فالمآذن إلى الآن لم يثبت لها رقم محدد، فهناك ثماني مآذن جديدة يجري العمل بها في منطقة الشامية وحدها، وإلى الآن لم يحدد رقم معين لعدد المنارات الجديدة، والتي يجري إنشاؤها على مراحل مدروسة.
وأوضح الوقداني أن ارتفاعات المآذن في التوسعة من جهة الشامية شاهقة مقارنة بالأخريات، إذ تختلف عن الخمس مآذن المتبقية في المسجد الحرام، والتي لا تتجاوز ارتفاعات كل منها 95 مترا، وهو ارتفاع يبدأ من الساحات.

لماذا الارتفاع؟

الارتفاعات الجاري العمل عليها للمآذن في منطقة الشامية لصالح توسعة المسجد الحرام شاهقة جدا، والأصل في الارتفاعات هو إعلان الأذان في العصور التي مضت نظرا لعدم وجود مكبرات للصوت، حتى باتت موروثا إسلاميا لجميع المساجد.
تم التعارف عند عموم المسلمين على وجود مآذن في جميع جنبات المساجد وامتداداتها، ولكنها تختلف باختلاف الثقافات، لكن الجميع يشترك في تقسيماتها، من قاعدة، وشرفة أولى، وعصب المئذنة، والشرفة الثانية، والغطاء.
العالم الإسلامي يراقب عن كثب سير المشاريع لأعظم توسعة في تاريخ المسجد الحرام، حيث وضعت المئذنتان العاشرة والحادية عشرة، كمئذنتين رئيستين على الباب الرئيس في التوسعة الجديدة، والذي يحمل اسم الملك عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز.

خالد الغامدي- باحث إسلامي

المنارات تاريخ حضارات

أبرز المحطات الرئيسة التي شهدتها مآذن الحرم هي التوسعة السعودية الأولى، حيث أعيدت تهيئة المآذن بقالب عصري مختلف وبإشراف هندسي أكثر دقة، ووفق تصاميم جميلة من النقوش والزخارف، وتترصع جميعها بهلال في أعلاها.
تاريخيا تعد مئذنة العمرة في الجزء الشمالي الغربي، الأقدم، ومرت بعدة مراحل مختلفة، وكانت الحقبة العثمانية هي بداية وجود المآذن في المسجد الحرام، ابتداء بالمنصور العباسي، مرورا بالسلطان جقمق، ووصولا للسلطان سليمان خان، وجاء بناؤها على نسق طابع الروم آنذاك، إلا أن شكلها تغير واختلف وأصبح على الطراز الإسلامي المحض والزخرفة الإسلامية.
أما منارة السلام - كما يطلق عليها معظم الباحثين التاريخين - فشيدها الخليفة العباسي المهدي في 168هـ، وكان شكلها يختلف عن بقية المنارات إذ تعددت طوابقها وكانت أرحب في المساحة حتى تم هدمها في زمن الناصر بن برقوق وأعيد بناؤها في وقت لاحق.
كان لبناء المسجد الحرام القديم سبع مآذن، واحدة عند باب العمرة، والثانية عند باب الوداع، والثالثة عند باب الزيادة، والرابعة عند باب قايتباي، والخامسة عند باب السلام، والسادسة عند باب علي، والسابعة عند باب السليمانية.

سعد الجودي – أستاذ التاريخ الإسلامي الحديث

http://www.makkahnewspaper.com/makka...3#.U-JAiaPm5sI

Google Translation:

Amid a deafening silence, raced Bin Laden Group, Saudi Arabia time to finalize the foundations of building the highest minarets in the world and rising 420 meters of the minaret of one, within the workshops huge project to expand the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the historic Grand Mosque, bringing the total number of minarets from 13 to 15, with the presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, said that the number of beacons Grand Mosque in Mecca had not yet been decided.

The minaret will be the first monument in the northwestern tip of building the new Northern Expansion near Mount Kaaba, while the foundations of the minaret and put the other in the far northeast side neighborhood in hand along the Levantine Marwa, to form a rise of about half the height of the clock tower.

And seen «Mecca» a summary of the study concluded that to clarify the geological boundaries of the basin water in the valley of Abraham, and the review of readings aquifers for water well of Zamzam, along with identified for reasons that affect the deterioration of this stock, and the most important construction giant and the work of the bombing that affect in the ground.

For his part, said agent management projects the General Presidency for the Holy Mosque and the Mosque of the Prophet Mohamed Wagdany for «Mecca»: to now did not prove its specific number, there are 8 new minarets being worked out in the Levantine alone, and until now did not specify a particular number to the number of lighthouses new, which is being created on the stages studied.
Amid a deafening silence, raced Bin Laden Group, Saudi Arabia time to finalize the construction of the foundations of the highest minarets in the world and up to 420 meters per minaret, within the workshops in the huge project to expand the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the historic Grand Mosque Sharif.

And will be a monument minaret first in the northwestern tip of building expansion the new Northern near Mount Kaaba, while developed the foundations of the minaret, the other in the far northeast side neighborhood Levantine hand along Marwa, to form a rise of about half the height of the clock tower, which is the tallest building armed in the world, up 817 meters, and the second tallest tower in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which rise up to 828 meters.

It can now clearly see the foundations of the concrete for the base of the minaret, the first near Mount Kabah dimensions of 30 m × 30 m with an area of ​​900 square meters, which is flat, huge for buildings Mecca without any details remember about it either from Bin Laden Group, Saudi Arabia, which oversees the design and implementation of the project expansion of the Two Holy Mosques, or the presidency of the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque supervising the work of the expansion of the Grand Mosque, which has not yet made any information reveal developments minarets giants.
15 Minarets

Certainly, now, that the appearance of rules minarets giants on both sides of terraces and squares of the North expansion project will raise the total historical minarets of the Haram al-Sharif to 15 instead of 13 minaret minaret just as is the decision formally to the project.

The number of the minarets of the Grand Mosque minarets 9 currently only up to 90 meters per minaret 0.7 distributed them to build the first Saudi expansion in the reign of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, and 2 have been placed above the buildings and expansion of King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him.

As will be placed on buildings expansion Northern New 4 minarets other size and height natural instead of just two, were in the middle of the building expansion, according to mock draft, and so, as ordered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who declined to add beacons at the end of a building project expanded historical reconstruction destruction of the Grand Mosque.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz ordered the addition of two minarets new to expanded historical Holy Mosque into 4 minarets only natural size during its review of the stereo expansion dish of the day on Saturday evening 27 th of Ramadan for the year 1432 and ordered the High commencement of expansion works dish of the day.

New Models

And spread a few months ago a new photo of the models of the new expansion of the Grand Mosque, showed a clear Mnartan giants within the expansion project, created a sensation among engineers and observers for the expansion project, and extended recently to social networks Twitter and Facebook to be a place of taking the Lord between engineers and architects about the pros and cons of minarets giants and their respective functions in the new expansion.

Away from the controversy, it seems that the construction of minarets in this huge size and high altitude would raise serious concerns about the development of the depth of the basin area of Wadi Ibrahim, and the extent of their impact on the safety of water sources feeding the holy well of Zamzam.

According places building rules minarets ongoing now in full swing, as shown by the pictures is likely to be site minaret North West and near Mount Kabah teased big question marks being undoubtedly fall within the scope of the exclusion zone formally established high-rise buildings because on contact with the basin area and the Valley Ibrahim, and their direct impact on feed all wells geological basin water resources, the most important is certainly the well of Zamzam.

The construction of this minaret specifically to form a new challenge intersects with scientific studies earlier conducted by the Geological Survey and Development Authority Mecca and the holy sites and the Presidency of the Two Holy and the Secretariat of the capital and several international consultancy firm to cooperate fully with the Bin Laden Group, Saudi Arabia, which have agreed to put strict conditions on the nature of the construction and buildings the gains in this region geological sensitive, to be a red line does not accept untouchable.

And seen "Mecca," a summary of one of the scientific studies Official accomplished scientific team shared included experts from the Geological Survey, and the development of Mecca and the holy sites, and several international consultancy firm to cooperate fully with the Bin Laden Group, Saudi Arabia concluded to clarify the geological boundaries of the basin water in Wadi Ibrahim, and review readings aquifers for water well of Zamzam, along with identified in the form of rigorous scientific reasons that affect the deterioration of this stock, which causes multiple study also indicated is the most important construction giant, and the removal of the mountains surrounding the basin materials bombing that affect in the ground, in order to preserve on the safety of water sources.

The size of the minarets huge, which is based on the rules of deep width 30 × 30 square meters per minaret means that it will be configured to plate constructivism enormous rise without clarification prior and transparent to the contents of the design before implementation, and the nature of the uses of functional surfaces minarets being an integral part within the boundaries of the Grand Mosque.

The picture show minarets Astnadahma design on the base topped cube-shaped building has four interfaces and longitudinal rectangular open up more than 150 meters before the first balconies topped minaret in its traditional form is above a cylindrical building design is similar to other minarets rising almost 270 meters.

The Bin Laden Group, Saudi Arabia, which oversees traditionally on the implementation of expansion projects and the building of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina raised two years ago a sensation when it was leaked images to mock the design of a huge expansion of the Prophet's Mosque contains the minarets towering before restless talk around after orders Semitic ruled that the amendment was based on designs that change the location of the oracle of the Prophet in the construction of the Prophet's Mosque and reconsidered based on the recommendations of the senior scientists Arabia.

Shami towering minarets and longer than its predecessors
Presidency of the Two Holy: The number of lighthouses has not been decided yet

I preferred the General Presidency for the Two Holy non-disclosure of the number of lighthouses in the Grand Mosque after the completion of the expansion of King Abdullah, stressing that the figure indicated about 13 the number of lighthouses is not true, in light of the ongoing work to complete projects in Northern squares.

She explained in the words of agent management projects the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Mosque of the Prophet Mohamed Wagdany, the lighthouses at the Grand Mosque Join witness to the eras of different experienced by Mecca at various times, was and still is the cultural dimension and Almenbri and audio Alcilgel for the ears, and that was expresses the aesthetics of the unique sound of Mwzni Grand Mosque.

He said there are currently at the Grand Mosque nine beacons, two in the door opening, and two in the door of Umrah, and two in the door of King Abdulaziz, and a beacon in Safa, and two in the door of King Fahd, and removed two of which are in the door of Umrah, also removed two from the door opening. Valmazn now has not been proven to have a specific number, there are eight new minarets being worked out in the Levantine region alone, and until now did not specify a particular number to the number of the new beacons, which are being created on the stages studied.

He explained that Wagdany heights of minarets in the expansion of the high-rise compared to the point of Levantine Balochriat, as different from the minarets of the remaining five in the Grand Mosque, which does not exceed the heights of each of them 95 meters, a height starts from the squares.

Why the rise?

Highs ongoing work on the minarets in the Levantine in favor of the expansion of the Grand Mosque very high-rises, and rises in the asset declaration is a prayer in which the ages ago due to lack of loudspeakers, even become a legacy for all Islamic mosques.

Were dating when all Muslims on the presence of minarets in all corners of the mosques and their extensions, but differ in different cultures, but everyone involved in the subdivisions, from the base, and the first balcony, and the backbone of the minaret, and the second balcony, and cover.
Islamic world is closely watching the progress of the projects for the greatest expansion in the history of the Grand Mosque, where minarets and placed tenth and eleventh, two major Kmizntin President on the door in the new expansion, which bears the name of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

Islamic scholar Khaled Algamde-

Lighthouses History of Civilizations

Highlighted the main stations which witnessed the minarets of the campus is the first Saudi expansion, where minarets returned create a modern template and under the supervision of various geometric more accurate, and in accordance with the designs of the beautiful patterns and motifs, and all Ttrassa crescent at the top.

Historically longer minaret Umrah in the northwestern part, the oldest, and passed through several different stages, and was the Ottoman era is the beginning of the existence of the minarets at the Grand Mosque, beginning Mounsour Abbasi, passing through Sultan Jaqmaq, and ending of Sultan Suleiman Khan, and was built along the lines of the character of the Romans at the time, but that change shape and become disagreed on the Islamic model of pure and Islamic ornamentation.

As a beacon of peace - as they are called most researchers dates - Vhidha Abbasid Caliph al-Mahdi in 168 AH, and was formed differs from the rest of the lighthouses as colorful decks were welcome in the area until it was demolished in the time of Nasser bin plum and reconstructed at a later time.

Was for the construction of the Grand Mosque old seven minarets, one at the door of Umrah, and the second farewell at the door, and the third at the door of the increase, and the fourth at the door of Bey, and fifth at the door of peace, and sixth at the door of Ali, and seventh at the door of Sulaymaniyah.

Saad Judi - professor of Islamic history talk

Thursday, 07 August 2014 - 11 Shawwal 1435

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Haj has approved 62 companies to offer low-cost Haj packages, Al-Watan daily reported.

The charges will depend on the level of Haj services provided and were classified according to eight levels, from SR5,000 for a A-class Haj to SR2,500 for an H-class package.

The head of the department in charge of local Haj pilgrims, Fayez Al-Barakati, said the low-cost Haj program was enacted according to the demands and needs of citizens and residents alike.

He explained the ministry has implemented a certain mechanism to oblige low-cost Haj providers not to charge pilgrims more than their actual costs.

He pointed out that the costs were defined by the ministry as follows: SR5,000 for A1 class Haj, SR4,800 for A2 class, SR4,400 for B class, SR4,150 for C class, SR3,600 for D1 class, SR3,100 for D2 class and SR2,500 for H class.

He stressed that the ministry has copies of the procedures governing such providers that will be distributed to pilgrims and that such companies are obliged to contract with catering companies that have been approved by Makkah Municipality.

The ministry has expanded the low-cost Haj program to accommodate 41,000 pilgrims this year, up from only 17,000 last year.

Pilgrims’ housing approved

Meanwhile, the head of the pilgrims housing committee in Makkah said it has approved the issuance of 4,894 housing permits for buildings that can accommodate almost 1.57 million pilgrims.

“The total number of approved rooms is 303,107 and most of the approved buildings are in Aziziyah neighborhood, while 65 buildings were not approved for housing pilgrims,” he said.

He noted 60 percent of the approved buildings are new because the expansion projects in Makkah removed almost 90 percent of old buildings that were previously used for housing pilgrims.

“Twenty-eight teams have begun monitoring housing for pilgrims to make sure that are adhering to ministry’s rules and regulations,” he said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140807213901 Thursday, 07 August 2014

MAKKAH — At the request of the Syrian pilgrims affairs office, the Ministry of Haj has approved 2,000 Haj permits for 2,000 Syrians who are in the Kingdom on visit visas. Deputy Minister of Haj Husain Al-Shareef said this approval was granted after the ministry has consulted with concerned government bodies.

The head of the Syrian pilgrims affairs office said Syrians were allocated 12,000 Haj permits this year, so 2,000 of them will come from nationals residing in the Kingdom while the rest will arrive from Syria. He added Haj visas for these Syrians would be issued by embassies in Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and Lebanon from the beginning of next month.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140807213910 Thursday 7 August 2014

A court in Colombo ruled Monday that the Haj quota of pilgrims in Sri Lanka will be handled by the ministry which deals with Bhuddist and other religious affairs.

The court order was given as a sequel to a dispute between the government Haj committee and a group of travel agents who were interested in taking a larger share of the quota of 2,240 pilgrims allotted to Sri Lanka by the Saudi Ministry of Haj.

In a directive sent to the Sri Lankan missions in Riyadh and Jeddah, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sassana and Relgious Affairs , M.K.B Dissanayake has said that as per the court order, the distribution of pilgrims will be handled by the ministry and any interference will be treated as a contempt of the court.

The distribution of pilgrims was done earlier by a team of Muslim officials under the direct supervision of a Muslim minister.

Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice Mohan Peiris on July 14 called on the parties involved in the dispute to settle the matter amicably when the aggrieved parties took legal action against the government’s distribution committee.

The Serendib Haj and Umrah Association had filed a case against the Haj Pilgrims Committee which had distributed the quotas in a biased manner.
The case was subsequently taken before a panel of three Supreme Court Judges.

The Haj Pilgrims Committee of the Religious Affairs Ministry is presided by Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, and its co-president is Deputy Minister Abdul Cader.

This committee is responsible for the distribution of the quota among 90 agents.

In a statement made earlier to Arab News, Minister Fowzie said the island has more than 3 million Muslims and his ministry has so far received more than 7,000 applicants for the forthcoming Haj. He pointed out that Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar had explained the difficulties faced by the Saudi authorities in accommodating a larger number of pilgrims because of the ongoing construction work at the holy sites.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/612821