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13 Muharram 1436 / 6 November 2014
KISWAH LOWERED: Officials at the Grand Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram) lower the Kiswah, the cloth that covers the Kaaba, to its original length on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014. The Kiswah was raised partially before Haj. Mohammed bin Abdullah Bajodh, general manager of the factory that makes the special cloth cover, said it has been the practice to raise the lower portion of the cloth in the 9th day of the month of Dhu’l Hijah to prevent it from being spoiled and impeding the circumambulation of the Kaaba during congestion.
https://www.facebook.com/TheArabNews...52888675832125
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Thursday, 6 November 2014 - 13 Muharram 1436
MAKKAH — The first two phases of the King Abdullah Project for the expansion of the mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) have been completed within the stipulated period of time, the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques announced on Wednesday.
Sheikh Abdurahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, said that the expanded facility can accommodate 70 percent more pilgrims.
He said the first phase of the mataf expansion in the eastern direction with all its floors would be opened for worshippers once prayer mats and the shelves for keeping the Holy Qur’an are arranged and the Zamzam supply facility is organized.
Demolition of the remaining old structure of the Grand Mosque between the Safa hillock and the central area facing the King Fahd expansion structure, including the King Abdulaziz Gate with two minarets over it and three floors, started last week as part of the third and final phase of the expansion. With the completion of this phase, the total area of the project would be 81,567 square meters.
Al-Sudais said the third phase would consist of 22 escalators, 12 lifts for the disabled and elderly pilgrims, and Zamzam water drinking areas.
The new structure will have gates much wider than the existing ones to facilitate smooth flow of pilgrims and crowd management in a larger scale, especially during the peak Haj and Umrah seasons, in view of the fact that gates in the southern direction of the mosque witness huge rush.
The chief of the holy mosques presidency said there will be a number of new bridges that connect the courtyards with the mosque’s first floor.
The existing bridge that links the Ajyad Road with the first floor will be replaced after the mataf expansion.
There will be two alternative bridges at Al-Umrah Gate and Al-Fatah Gate instead of the gates that are being demolished in the mosque’s southern and western directions as part of the ongoing expansion work.
Al-Sudais said work is under way to reinforce the remaining structure of the mosque before beginning the third phase of the demolition work.
Workers have started removing lamps, chandeliers, decoration lights, fans, amplifiers, clocks, as well as the Abbasid-era pillars from the old structure prior to its demolition.
Barriers are being placed on the roof, first floor and the basement before beginning the demolition work.
The demolition work will be completed in accordance with the time-bound plan, Al-Sudais added.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20141106223546
November 2014 - by Orhan Durgut
https://twitter.com/orhandurgut/stat...79774434009088
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Old Haram under demolition
5 November 2014
New Mukabariah updates
7 November 2014
Mataf expansion updates
4-7 November 2014
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Makkah, 15 Muharram 1436 - 8 November 2014
Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah, on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, led the ceremonial washing of the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Saturday.
With Prince Mishaal were various officials and members of the diplomatic corps, including Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques; Mohammed bin Nasser AlKhozim, vice president for public affairs of the Grand Mosque; and Makkah City Mayor Osama Al-Bar.
Prince Mishaal and his companions washed the interior of the Kaaba with Zamzam water mixed with rose water. They wiped the walls with pieces of cloth soaked in the water mixture.
Al-Sudais had said that the ceremonial washing is a sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet washed the Kaaba after the Makkah victory, he pointed out.
http://www.arabnews.com/news/656871
Ceremony of Washing Kaaba
VIDEO (52:20): www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoasiDpTKYY
Monday 10 November 2014
The King Abdulaziz Gate or Bab Malik Abdulaziz, one of the main gates leading to the Grand Mosque in Makkah has been closed as part of the mosque’s ongoing expansion project.
The King Abdulaziz Gate is located right opposite Ajyad Street, which also serves as a taxi stand for visitors. It is also near the escalators, which connect the general disembarkation point inside the tunnel from where visitors can easily access the mosque.
According to sources, two of the three doors of King Abdulaziz Gate were closed after Haj while the remaining gate was closed to the public on Saturday, following the washing of the Kaaba.
Now the worshippers who previously used the King Abdulaziz Gate are directed to the King Fahad Gate to enter the Grand Mosque. Twenty-six entrances besides the King Abdulaziz Gate are being closed, Ahmed Al Mansouri, spokesperson of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs told Arab News.
Al Mansouri said that there would be a number of new bridges connecting the courtyards with the mosque’s first floor. He added that the existing bridge that links the Ajyad Road with the first floor would be replaced after the Mataf expansion.
“There will be two alternative bridges at Al-Umrah Gate and Al-Fatah Gate instead of the gates that are being demolished in the mosque’s southern and western directions as part of the ongoing expansion work,” he said.
http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/657721
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