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Monday 17 November 2014
Residents living in Saudi Arabia, especially in Madinah, feel like they are at home in the Kingdom with its customs and traditions.
An Egyptian resident, Amir Zaki Ahmed, who works in a company in Madinah, spoke to Arab News about this: “I’m glad I came to work in Madinah and I never expected that I would travel outside Egypt and come to the Kingdom to work near the Prophet’s Mosque. I am working next to the Prophet's mosque on a project to expand the mosque, and I believe it is an honor for me to work on this project.”
He added, “I love Saudis; they are simple and have high morals, and I love the traditional Saudi outfit. Egyptians always demonstrate love and respect for them, and the biggest proof of the brotherly relationship and interdependence between the two groups is that thousands of Saudis travel to Egypt yearly for tourism, in addition to the presence of Egyptians in the Kingdom who work in different cities.”
Describing the project he is currently working on to expand the Prophet’s Mosque, he explained that the city of Madinah is on the verge of a new stage of development.
Ahmed said that some of his favorite dishes are kabsah, mandi and snacks such as mutabaq, yoghmush, manto and Madini mint tea.
He said that life is totally different in Madinah compared with other cities in the world. He notes that Madinah residents do not feel bored in the city with its ease of movement, and the easy availability of all requirements for living due to the closeness of markets, shops, parks, and even luxury hotels.
http://www.arabnews.com/news/661241
Monday 1 December 2014
For five years, Egyptian expatriate worker Mohammed Ismail feels life has a different taste. The 35-year-old works at a private company and was at first reluctant to make the move to Madinah. He wasn’t sure that he would be able to get used to the new atmosphere. “Unlike my expectations, I was filled with joy to live in this holy city,” he told Arab News with a huge smile on his face, adding that Madinah has a special and distinguished flavor.
One of the best features of the city, according to Ismail, is that one can’t feel boredom. “I have set a schedule for myself to see as much as I can in Madinah,” he said. First on his list, is the Prophet’s Mosque. “I feel serenity, calm and comfort when I visit the mosque,” Ismail explained, pointing to the large expansion projects at the mosque to develop the place.
The touristic and archaeological sites as well as the continuous projects in the city makes Madinah an attraction for expats from different nationalities. The city awaits the finalization of The Haramain High Speed Rail as well as tens of multiple projects of roads, bridge and other schemes. “This attracts workers to come live in this area, and you can see the large numbers of expats who live here,” Ismail said.
The man also praised the government of the Custodian of the two holy mosques for its role in advancing Madinah and giving it the utmost care. “If it wasn’t for this care, Madinah wouldn’t have become the capital of the Islamic culture in 2013 where it hosted numerous numbers of important activities and conferences,” he said referring to the two important educational venues in the city, Taiba University and the Islamic University.
“I sincerely wish I will be able to stay in this city all my life,” Ismail concluded.
dear sister ummi taalib I'm very proud to updating about holy cities for all of you
Thanks for your comment
Thursday, 4 December 2014 - 12 Safar 1436
MAKKAH — Arabic Language Professor at Umm Al-Qura University Abdulaziz Al-Harby has proposed that the location of Maqam Ibrahim (Prophet Ibrahim’s place of standing) be shifted from the middle of the circumambulation area to its outer edges to make room for pilgrims, Makkah daily reported.
Al-Harby said there isn’t any Islamic text stating that the location of Maqam Ibrahim is fixed and cannot be moved. “It was moved to where it is today as it used to be closer to the Kaaba,” said Al-Harby.
Researcher and Consultant at the Qur’an and Sunnah Research Center Ahmad Bin Qassim Al-Ghamdi said there is evidence that the monument was moved to where it is today by Omar Bin Al-Khattab to facilitate the expansion of the Grand Mosque.
Haj Research Center founder and renowned architect Sami Angawi said the monument is the last untouched structure in the Grand Mosque.
Journalist and author Faez Jamal is against relocating Maqam Ibrahim. “The monument never stood as an obstacle to pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba. What needs to be done is to regulate praying behind it as pilgrims start to clutter and restrict movement of other worshipers,” said Jamal. Engineer Jamal Shaqdar said relocating Maqam Ibrahim will affect the entire Islamic world and not just Saudi Arabia.
“The current location of the monument is actually quite strategic in crowd management. We should make use of this and conduct a strategic study on crowd management and facilitate pilgrim movement accordingly,” said Shaqdar.
The Haj Research Center conducted a study on the movement of pilgrims in the circumambulation area. The study monitored the obstruction caused by Maqam Ibrahim, the Black Stone, Ismael’s Stone, the Yamani corner of the Kaaba, the Al-Multazim corner of the Kaaba, the starting point of the circumambulation area and the Zamzam entrance. The study showed that Maqam Ibrahim does not pose any obstacle to pilgrims. It is the behavior of some pilgrims who insist on praying right behind the monument or standing by it for too long that causes crowding. “Interested readers can look into the entire study on the website www.hajjbook.info,” said Angawi.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20141204226467
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon
Friday 5 December 2014
The Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has started checking the water and flood drainage systems of the Haramain high-speed railway project to sort out any technical problems before its launch.
“The first stage of civil works and the Madinah to Rabigh line are 90 percent complete,” an SRO source told a local newspaper recently. The contractors also delivered the second stage of the project that includes laying down rail lines and installing communications and signaling systems, which would be checked mid-2015, the source said.
Al-Rajhi consortium had won the civil works of the first stage of the project estimated at over SR6.7 billion, which would be completed by the end of 2014.
The second phase of the project, worth SR30 billion, was awarded to a consortium consisting of Al-Shoula group, a Saudi company, and several Spanish companies. The firms are responsible for railway tracks, communication systems, signals, electrification of lines, operations, maintenance for 12 years and establishing a training center.
“The technical and supervisory committees conduct tours on a weekly and monthly basis. The government is monitoring the performance of contractors with periodic reports and field visits,” said Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry.
He said work is taking place at several intersections in Jeddah, including on King Abdullah Street, Palestine Street, Tahlia Street and Airport Road.
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/669991
Thursday 4 December 2014
The executive committee of the Makkah Public Transport Project decided to remove six educational facilities belonging to the General Directorate of Education, as their location is on the same path along the Makkah train project.
The city's mayor and chairman of the executive committee of the Public Transport in Makkah, Osama Al-Bar, informed the General Directorate of Education about the need to speed up the evacuation of the facilities. Al-Bar explained that the General Directorate has been given enough time in advance to provide alternatives sites for these facilities.
The buildings slated to be demolished are King Abdulaziz Secondary School of Boys in Al-Azizia district, the Scout Center in Al-Azizia district, Al-Saadia Elementary School for Boys in Al-Tayseer district, as well as the Musab bin Omair Middle School for Boys in Al-Tayseer district, the Elementary and Middle Schools Complex 26 for Girls in Al-Otaibih district, and the Hisham bin Abdul Malik Primary School for Boys in Al-Umrah district.
After much concern regarding the razing of the facilities, Abdullah Al-Morshid, an engineers involved in the project, said that even though a date has been set to begin the demolition, the final schedule is the responsibility of the the Makkah govenorate.
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/669516
Mataf expansion updates
30 November 2014
3 December 2014
General statistics
of the Umrah season 1436/2014-15
Until 11 Safar 1436 - 3 December 2014
Total Number of the Mutamirs:
8,966
______________________________________
Number expected for the whole Umrah season
6,000,000
* Mutamir/s: is/are the one who come into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
to perform Umrah rituals and visit the Prophet's Holy Mosque.
Statistics from Ministry of Hajj
Saturday 6 December 2014
To ensure a smooth worshiping experience for everyone at the Grand Mosque this Umrah season, the director of the Gates Administration at the mosque in Makkah, Abdullah Al-Tamih, urged pilgrims not to push and shove while entering and exiting the building for prayers.
''We usually face this serious problem during this season. Even though the mosque administration keeps 125 gates open to access all the floors of the Grand Mosque including its basement, we usually face overcrowding,'' Al-Tamih told Arab News regarding the beginning of the Umrah season.
The official added that 475 workers including female and temporary recruits work at the gates to welcome and assist the pilgrims. ''Digital sign boards have been placed at the gates to show whether there is any space inside; a green signal means there is space while the red signal is a warning to pilgrims that the mosque is full,'' he said.
As part of the third stage of the Grand Mosque's expansion, the Bab Ali has been reserved to bring in bodies for funeral prayers, while 17 gates have been equipped to welcome pilgrims with special needs.
Al-Tamih pointed out that other workers in his department also play a vital role in ensuring the smooth flow of pilgrims. They make sure that worshippers engage in their prayers without experiencing any kind of crowding or bustle by directing the traffic in and out of the mosque, he said.
His team also prevents pilgrims from bringing food, drinks, suitcases and personal belongings into the mosque, which would inconvenience other worshipers.
Al-Tamih called on pilgrims to cooperate with the gate officials, while maintaining the cleanliness of the mosque.
As part of the activities during the Umrah season, Undersecretary at the General Administration for Guidance, Ibrahim Al-Barkati, told Arab News that his department organizes classes and records sermons and lectures for the pilgrims, as well as the issuance of fatwas. According to Al-Barkati, his department also oversees guidance activities inside and outside the mosque and supervises classes in various languages on the correct form of worship.
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/670486
King Fahd's Gate
King Abdulla's Gate
by almiskeenah
Jibreel Alaihis Salam came to our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam the day after the Mir’aj to teach him Wudhu and Salat…and Allah Ta’ala knows best…but it is knowledge passed down through the ‘Ulema and Awliyah that the brown marble pieces inserted into the white marble of the Shadharwan is where the Mubarak teaching occurred…
…Ahmad transmits in his Musnad and al-Hakarn in his Mustadrak from Zaid ibn Haritha RadhiAllahu anhu that our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihiwasallam said: “Jibreel came to me at the beginning of what he revealed to me and taught me how to do Wudhu and the Prayer…”
…Al-Bukhari transmits that the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Jibreel descended and led me in prayer, and I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him and then I prayed with him,” and he counted out five times on his fingers…
source: http://almiskeenah.com/archives/13591
The brown marble stones mark the place
where Jibril (as) taught the Prophet 
how to do wudhu and salat
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
Please wait...
