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#4411 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:14

Hajjar ensures Haj readiness

Monday 11 August 2014

Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar met with Haj establishments and other Haj-related councils in Makkah on Sunday to assess the shortcomings of the last season and find ways to improve services this year.

Amin Fatani, Haj Ministry director in Makkah, said the minister’s visit was aimed to ensure the readiness of these establishments to implement operational plans that had been recently approved for the upcoming season.

“The minister has approved a new method for developing control committees in Makkah, whose task are not limited to monitoring shortcomings, but also to coming up with solutions to problems as they occur,” he said.

“Simple mistakes are dealt with immediately by notifying offices responsible for the flaw, while other offices are referred to investigation and from possible prevention from providing pilgrim services, depending on the severity of the error.”

Several issues, including grouping of pilgrims during the stone-throwing ritual and movement between cities and pilgrim accommodation, were addressed.
Spots for various groups of pilgrims would be designated ahead of time, said sources.

“Establishments are working well with the new e-system, which the ministry has worked hard to improve,” said Talal Qutob, chairman of the board for Iran’s pilgrims, who appreciated the visit of the Haj minister to the Haj “tawafa” establishments in Makkah.

Qutob said operational plans for Iran’s pilgrim establishment, which had been sent to the minister, would be studied and implemented.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/614561

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#4412 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:15

‘Umrah-plus’ tourism drive set to begin after Haj

RICH CULTURE: Traditional style wooden balconies in the Old City of Jeddah.

Monday 11 August 2014

The “Umrah-plus” tourism program, which will allow pilgrims to visit the Kingdom’s tourist resorts, will be implemented following the end of the upcoming Haj season, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).

He said pilgrims from more than 65 countries would benefit from the program, which would be introduced with the support of Foreign and Interior ministries.

“The SCTA will also target expatriates working in the Kingdom, as well as foreign visitors, in a bid to boost domestic tourism,” he said.

Prince Sultan said, however, that tourist visas would not be issued yet because of big pressure on domestic tourism and delays in implementing tourism projects and developing infrastructure facilities.

“There are no plans to transform SCTA into a ministry at present,” he said, adding that a decision on the matter would be taken by higher authorities considering the need to restructure various economic sectors.

“The SCTA is an independent body and directly reports to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and its board of directors include representatives from 12 ministries,” he explained.

Prince Sultan said the SCTA would press for government loans to implement tourism projects, including hotels and recreational centers, adding that he would discuss the matter with Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf.

He said the tourism sector would be able to create thousands of job opportunities for Saudi nationals.

“We will work with Saudi universities to develop academic programs to meet manpower requirements in the travel and tourism sector,” the prince said.

The SCTA chief opposed the concept of religious tourism for Haj and Umrah trips.

“We provide facilities for the guests of God. As I said before, we will help Umrah pilgrims to visit the Kingdom’s tourist resorts.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/featured/614591

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#4413 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:25

Makkah Museum

معرض عمارة الحرمين الشريفين

Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture

Old Haram Columns exposed in front of the Museum

Old Haram Columns exposed in front of the Museum

__________________________

To Visit the Makkah Museum

''Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture''

There is a ''regulary BUS'' from the Holy Mosque
to the museum and bring you back

Location: http://goo.gl/maps/0duYi

http://www.makkah-now.com/183204.html

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#4414 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:33

Tragedy as pregnant British woman
and two of her sons are killed in car crash
during pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia

Mother-of-five Imrana Bhamji died with son, 4, and daughter, 6, in Medina
Husband Muhammed, 35, and other daughters aged 7, 8 and 10 in hospital
Family had moved from Blackburn to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 5 weeks ago
Their relatives in England have paid tribute, calling the crash a 'tragedy'

9 August 2014

A pregnant British mother and two of her children have been killed in a car crash on their way home from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Imrana Bhamji, in her 30s, died with her four-year-old son Zakariya and daughter Aysha, six, in the holy city of Medina when their car hit a lorry in heavy fog.

Her husband, Blackburn-born Muhammed, 35, and their three other daughters - Fatima, seven, Huafiza, eight, and Humairah, 10 - are in hospital in a critical condition, reports claim.

The family moved from their home in Blackburn, Lancashire, to settle in Riyadh eight weeks ago, according to the Lancashire Telegraph.

Mr Bhamji, the report said, had recently taken up a role as a teacher in the city.

As the burial palce of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, Madina is the second holy city after Mecca.

Along with thousands of Muslims, the family are believed to have taken part in a pilgrimage to the holy cities.

On Saturday, they were driving through the outskirts of Madina, the capital of Al Madinah province, in heavy fog when they were hit by a lorry.

They were taken to King Fahad Hospital but Imrana and her youngest children were pronounced dead.

Paying tribute, Mr Bhamji's sister Shamima told the Lancashire Telegraph: 'As a family, we are devastated at this time.

'We are sadly facing this tragedy and we are flying out to Saudi Arabia to join the family and my brother.

'They were finishing their pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.' She added: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with them.'

A vigil has been held at the Noorul Islam mosque in Blackburn, where the family were members before they emigrated.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office added: 'We are aware of an incident in Madina involving British nationals. We can confirm the death of three British nationals in this incident.

'We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.'

Blackburn MP Jack Straw has been contacted by MailOnline for a comment.

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#4415 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:38

Sisi performs umrah
during Saudi Arabia state visit

Saudi Arabia opens Kaaba for As-Sisi

14 Shawwal 1435 - 10 July 2014

Usualy Kaaba's door only open for the Washing of the Kaaba
on 1st Shaban and 15 Muharram ... but opened in Shawwal

11 July 2014

President Abdel-Fattah As-Sisi and his accompanying delegation performed yesterday (Sunday) Umrah rituals and the Holy Kaaba was opened in honor of him after his meeting with King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

http://www.el-balad.com/1094320

Tuesday, 12 August 2014

JEDDAH — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has performed Umrah in Makkah while on an official state visit to Saudi Arabia this week.

Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah that can be made at any time of the year.

Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz received Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi at his palace in Jeddah on Sunday evening, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two heads of state discussed both regional and international issues, as well as the Gaza conflict. They also discussed ways to boost bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140812214491

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#4416 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:40

Supermoon in Makkah

SUPERMOON: The supermoon, or pedrigree moon, is seen behind the Tower Clock building in Makkah on Sunday evening, August 10, 2014.

A supermoon is so called when it appears at its largest and brightest compared to other full moons as it orbits closer to our planet.

A supermoon will happen three times this year, with Sunday night's sky show the second.

The first one occurred on July 12 and the third will take place on Sept. 9.

https://www.facebook.com/TheArabNews...type=1&theater

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#4417 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:41

Haj operators offer competitive packages

Tuesday 12 August 2014

Haj operators in Riyadh have come up with competitive travel packages for domestic pilgrims for Haj 2014.

Around 200,000 pilgrims from within the Kingdom are expected to perform Haj this year. The Passport Department is expected to begin issuing Haj permits to local pilgrims soon.

The Dawah Center in Rawdah is offering an eight-day package for SR2,500 for singles, which includes all three meals.

Moulvi Ramzan of the center said: “We have divided the groups by the languages spoken by the pilgrims. The languages include, Tamil, Urdu, Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali and Tagalog.”

The Dawah groups in Shifa and Dallah have also arranged their own package to suit the purse of the pilgrims.

The travel operators undertake to process the Haj permits necessary for the pilgrimage. Pilgrims are required to fill out the standard forms issued by the Passport Department and submit them with the copies of iqama, passport, certificate of vaccination against meningitis, employer’s consent letter and three photographs of the pilgrim.

Local pilgrims are allowed to perform Haj once in five years. Those intending to perform pilgrimage this year could log on to the online service of the Ministry of Interior to check their eligibility.

The Kingdom makes arrangements for the pilgrims to offer their sacrifice through the Saudi Project for Utilization of Haj Meat in coordination with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/614981

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#4418 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:42

Arrival of the first Haj pilgrims

S. African pilgrims arrive on Aug. 25

Tuesday 12 August 2014

South African pilgrims are expected to arrive in Jeddah on Aug. 25, Ebrahim Edries, the country’s consul-general, told Arab News on Monday.

Edries expressed gratitude and appreciation for the services rendered by the government to pilgrims irrespective of where they come from.

South African pilgrims will be ferried by the Kingdom’s national carrier, Saudi Arabian Airlines. Edries said the first group will comprise 120 pilgrims, who will be flying in on a regular flight.

Saudi Arabian Airlines operate three flights a week to Johannesburg, he added.

The consul-general explained that pilgrims coordinate with the South African Haj and Umrah Council, which sets a quota of 2,000 pilgrims from among the thousands of Haj applicants.

“We have a large database, which has registered a large number of applicants over the past 10 years,” he said. “The council picks prospective applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Since the country has a set of quota of pilgrims allowed to perform Haj every year, “applicants often have to wait a long time before they can perform Haj,” he said. “The database contains registrant information of first-timers only.”

“South Africa has some 26 Haj operators who would serve pilgrims through their offices in Johannesburg,” said Edries.

The consul-general said that the South African Haj and Umrah Council would also fly out a medical team and a group of 20 volunteers to help pilgrims during their stay in Makkah and Madinah.

Edries described his country as a secular state that has a Muslim population of 3 million.

“South Africa used to send 7,000 to 10,000 pilgrims every year prior to the introduction of the quota system,” he said.

Haj Ministry spokesman Hatem Qadhi, meanwhile, said that the ministry has approved operational plans for the six “tawafa” (Haj guidance) establishments in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.

He added the ministry has also specified that all Umrah visitors leave the country by Aug. 11.

Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar met Sunday with Haj establishments and other Haj-related councils in Makkah to assess shortcomings during last year’s season and to find ways to improve services ahead of this year’s Haj.

Hajjar’s first meeting was with the chairmen and members of the National Tawafa Establishment for South East Asian pilgrims and the National Tawafa Establishment for pilgrims coming from Arab countries. During the meeting, the minister emphasized the need for intensifying the preparations and arrangements and praised the effort exerted by authorities to ensure quality and efficiency.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/615011

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#4419 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 17:03

Roukaya19 wrote:

View original post

I believe this is the family sister Taalibah mentioned. She knew them personally.

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Actions are judged by intentions, so each man will have what he intended.
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#4420 [Permalink] Posted on 14th August 2014 10:53

Rare pic of the old little Jamarat

Rare pic of the old big Jamarat

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#4421 [Permalink] Posted on 14th August 2014 10:54

Over 12,000 Syrians to perform Haj

Wednesday, 13 August 2014 - 17 Shawwal 1435

MAKKAH — As many as 12,000 Syrians will be coming to the Kingdom to perform Haj this year.

The pilgrims will be coming from Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt and other countries hosting Syrian refugees, Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar said.

"The Syrian pilgrims will be issued with Haj visas by the Saudi embassies in these countries," he added.

Hajjar said the arrival of the pilgrims would be worked out in collaboration with the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces.

About 2,000 Syrians, currently staying in the Kingdom on visit visas, will be granted Haj permits, he said.

The minister on Monday started an inspection tour of the six Tawafa (pilgrim guidance) establishments within his efforts to assess the readiness of all the government and private sector organizations for the upcoming pilgrimage.

During the tour, which will continue until Aug. 21, the minister will also visit the Unified Zamzama Office in charge of providing the Zamzam water to the guests of God and the General Syndicate of Cars, which is responsible for their transport.

He will also proceed to Madinah to meet with officials of the Unified Agents Office, the Private Establishment for Guides and other private and government bodies involved in providing Haj services.

Hajjar said the preparations for this year’s Haj season started immediately after the end of last year's pilgrimage.

"Meetings with Haj missions of more than 75 countries were held during the past three months to discuss the affairs of their pilgrims, including their arrival and departure," he said.

The minister said he discussed with the Tawafa establishments for Arab and South East Asian pilgrims their operational plans, programs and services to be extended to the pilgrims to enable them perform the Haj rites in ease and comfort.

Hajjar said more than 6 million pilgrims came to the Kingdom to perform Umrah this year. He added that there had been a substantial drop in the number of complaints made by pilgrims, a decline he attributed to the huge financial and human resources deployed by the Kingdom to extend the best possible services to the pilgrims.

Hajjar also said his ministry was making strenuous efforts and is closely coordinating with the health and foreign affairs ministries to take precautionary measures against the possible spread of the Ebola virus during the Haj season.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Tawafa Establishment for Arab Pilgrims, Faisal Nouh, said his establishment will be serving more than 300,000 pilgrims coming from 19 Arab countries. He said about 116 field offices have been established for this purpose.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140813214570

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#4422 [Permalink] Posted on 14th August 2014 10:56

Mataf expansion progress

New Ottoman Porticos under construction

10 August 2014

New Ottoman Porticos under construction

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#4423 [Permalink] Posted on 14th August 2014 10:58

Holy Mosque expansion

28 July 2014

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#4424 [Permalink] Posted on 14th August 2014 11:00

NIGERIA: Kano state

Haji: All Female Muslim Pilgrims
To Attend Medical and Pregnancy Test

August 10, 2014

The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has directed all intending female pilgrims to attend medical and pregnancy tests scheduled to commence on August 11.

Nuhu Badamasi, the Public Relations Officer of the board gave the directive when he spoke in Kano on Friday.

He said all prospective pilgrims were expected to attend the medical screening, while only female pilgrims would undergo the pregnancy test.

Mr. Badamasi said the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, directed all the state pilgrims welfare boards to conduct the medical and pregnancy tests on the intending pilgrims in order to know their individual health status.

“The medical and pregnancy tests are absolutely necessary and compulsory, so any pilgrim who refuses to attend it can lose his or her Hajj seat”, he said.

He said the exercise, which would be conducted at the Hajj camp, would start with pilgrims from Rano, Bunkure, Kibiya, Kura and Dawakin Kudu Local Government Areas.
‎
“After these local governments, the exercise will continue with pilgrims from other areas until all the pilgrims are covered.

“It is a law that any female intending pilgrim found to be pregnant even at the last point of boarding the plane will not be allowed to go to the holy land”, he said.

http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article...pregnancy-test

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#4425 [Permalink] Posted on 14th August 2014 11:01

Encyclopedia of Friday sermons getting ready

Thursday, 14 August 2014

RIYADH — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance has prepared a four-volume encyclopedia of Friday sermons, which will soon be published for distribution among mosque imams.

The ministry's acting undersecretary Abdulmohsen Bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that a number of specialists have participated in the compilation of the encyclopedia.

He was replying to criticisms that some imams prolong their sermons, which they turn into political discourses.

"The Friday sermon is not an occasion for voicing personal opinions. It is rather a tool to admonish worshippers to fear God in their day-to-day life," he said.

The undersecretary said the imams should advise the congregants at Friday prayers to follow Allah's orders and distance themselves from everything wrong. He should also remind them of Islamic teachings they might have forgotten.

"The ministry is keen to direct the imams to give more attention to the theme of their sermon, which should be of religious and social nature," he said.

Al-Asheikh said various topics were included in the encyclopedia for the imams to use.

He said, among others, the topics include the explanation of the true meaning of monotheism, national security, unity of the nation, rules of worship, rights of neighbors and good behavior.

He said the imams will be asked to tackle many other social topics, including the harms of drugs, smoking, corruption, theft and traffic accidents, which claim many lives in the country each day.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140814214632

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