Makkah News and Updates

Masjid al Haram, Makkah

By JEDDAH: MD AL-SULAMI ARAB NEWS STAFF

Published: May 5, 2012 02:19 Updated: May 5, 2012 02:19

More than 100 imams, who attended a workshop in Makkah, have stressed the role of mosques in development and called for spreading the Islamic culture and values for moderation and tolerance.

The workshop, “The Mosque and Friday Sermon: Responsibility and Contribution to the Building of Man,” was organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Dawa and Guidance under the directives of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.

The workshop made 47 recommendations aimed at making Makkans good Muslims capable of contributing to the development of the country in general and to the uplift of Makkah region in particular.

The workshop underlined the important role imams play in propagating Islamic values and noble principles. One of the recommendations urged imams to highlight the fact that Islam is a religion of progress and civilization and should also focus on the values of honesty, integrity and straightforwardness. “The imams should emphasize that Islam prohibits corruption and aggression against the properties of others, especially government land,” the recommendations said.

The workshop asked the imams to highlight in their Friday sermons the blessings of security, stability and progress being enjoyed by the Kingdom through its application of Shariah and its adherence to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

It asked the imams to stress the fact that Islam is a religion, which is suitable to all times and places and that it is a moderate religion, which is against extremism and fanaticism.

The recommendations particularly asked the imams of the Makkah region to speak about the sanctity and unique features of Makkah, the city that saw the advent of Islam. Imams were also asked to highlight the development projects in the region and to ask Makkawis to contribute effectively to the development of their region.

The imams were told to lay much emphasis on the moderate nature of Islam and to correct misconceptions that distort its image.

“The imams should recognize the strenuous efforts the government is making for progress and development and to inform citizens about corruption,” one of the recommendations said, asking the imams to spread the culture of showing hospitality to pilgrims and visitors.

The recommendations also urged the imams to inculcate in society the spirit of reconciliation and staying away from petty disputes. “The imams should use modern technological means in their guidance and enlightenment efforts and should also interact with the youth to know their problems and aspirations,” the workshop suggested.

The recommendations asked the imams to guide the worshippers to be real partners in the government’s efforts aimed at progress and development.

The workshop was a result of weekly meetings the governor holds at his home with scholars, imams and important personalities in Makkah.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article625033.ece

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07-05-2012

الرياض / أكد مدير عام المشاريع والدراسات بالرئاسة العامة لشؤون الحرمين الشريفين، المهندس عبد المحسن بن حميد، أن مشروع توسعة المطاف سيكون مع بداية العام الهجري، وبعد انتهاء موسم الحج المقبل.

وقال ابن حميد، إن العمل في مشروع توسعة المطاف يتطلب شهورا متواصلة للعمل لذا يجب أن تكون هناك مهلة كافية لئلا يتداخل العمل في مشروع التوسعة مع موسم شهر رمضان المبارك.

مشيرا إلى أن الأعمال التي يجري تنفيذها حاليا لا علاقة لها بمشروع توسعة المطاف، بل هي خاصة بمياه زمزم، حيث سيتم إزالة سقف بئر زمزم، المكون من الكتل الخرسانية واستبدالها بتربة تسمح بتسربات للمياه تعزز تدفقات مياه زمزم نظرا للاستهلاك الكبير المتوقع لمياه زمزم خلال السنوات المقبلة بعد الانتهاء من توسعة خادم الحرمين الشريفين.

وأوضح أن مشروع المواضئ في ساحات الحرم المكي الشريف يأتي في إطار مشروع كبير يضم أكثر من 2500 دورة مياه جديدة، يجري إنشاؤها حاليا.

مشيرا إلى أنه سيتم الاستفادة من جزء كبير منها خلال موسم رمضان المقبل لهذا العام، لافتا إلى أن هذه المواضئ تم إنشاؤها بعد تجربة أثبتت نجاحا ولاقت قبولا عند كثير من رواد المسجد الحرام بسبب قربها من محيط الحرم ولكونها بديلا فعالا لتجديد الوضوء يخفف من الضغط على مياه زمزم المباركة.

وأوضح المهندس بن حميد، أنه سيتم الاستفادة من مشروع خادم الحرمين الشريفين لتوسعة المسجد الحرام خلال موسم شهر رمضان المقبل كمرحلة أولية.

http://www.bab.com/news/full_news.cf...t_id_cache=242
 

 

08 May 2012

MAKKAH – Muhammad Taha Fakieh, an official of the Grand Mosque Development Committee in Makkah, said owners of nearly 2,000 properties acquired for the Grand Mosque expansion have yet to receive compensation due to their delay in completing the necessary procedures.

“Compensation was distributed among more than 50 percent of real estate owners after they furnished the required documents, including original title deeds, and completing other procedures. Owners of more than 1,900 properties have so far not completed the procedures,” he said.

The official also urged them to expedite the procedures and receive the compensation.

Fakieh said that the concerned authorities are striving to complete demolition of properties located around the Grand Mosque, especially in Ghazza, Raqoubah and Al-Naqa to facilitate prayer areas for the worshippers.

There are some sites to be used as parking areas for Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) buses to ease the flow of traffic to the Grand Mosque.

According to Fakieh, the committee has so far expropriated more than 4,600 plots in two phases. He said that properties opposite to the water tank located in Umrah region near the water dam on Haj Street, as well as real estate on the road leading to it will soon be demolished for the expansion works.

The new SR80 billion project launched last August by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, comprise of three phases: construction of a new building; expansion and development of courtyards around the mosque, including walkways, tunnels and toilets; and development of service facilities for air-conditioning, electricity and drinking water.

The expansion of the northern courtyard alone would add 300,000 square meters to the holiest shrine in Islam.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20120508123635

 

May 9, 2012

A group of private Saudi divers said they have built what they describe as the first underwater mosque in history and that they performed prayers inside it just after it was completed, Almadina Arabic reports.

The divers used massive plastic pipes filled with sand to construct the symbolic mosque under the water off the northwestern town of Tabuk, close to the border with Jordan, according to the newspaper.

“One of our colleagues came up with this idea last summer and we decided to carry it out,” diver Hamadan bin Salim Al Masoudi, said.

“We have just completed the construction of the mosque. When we put the final touches on it, it was time for afternoon prayers, so we performed group prayers in the first underwater mosque in history,” he added.

The story follows last Wednesday’s announcement that the shipbuilding arm of Dubai World has signed a deal to develop undersea hotels in Dubai with a Swiss firm.

Drydocks World unveiled an agreement with BIG InvestConsult, which holds the technology rights, to build the World Discus Hotel.

http://www.constructionweekonline.co...-built-in-ksa/


 

Divers constructing what they claim to be the world's first underwater mosque