less than 2 months left for 2010 Hajj

أمانة مكة تجند 21 ألف شخص لخدمة ضيوف الرحمن

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كشف أمين العاصمة المقدسة أسامة البار أهم ملامح الخطة التشغيلية لأمانة العاصمة المقدسة والخاصة بأعمال موسم حج عام 1431هـ.

وقال البار أن الأمانة أنهت كافة استعداداتها ووضع خططها التشغيلية وبرامج عملها استعدادا للموسم، حيث تضمنت الخطة جميع الجوانب المهمة وتم التركيز بشكل كبير على نتائج القطاعات العاملة في الموسم الماضي 1430هـ والاستفادة منها بما يضمن تطبيق أقصى درجات المرونة في التنفيذ والسرعة في الانجاز وبما يتلاءم مع ظروف الموسم التي لا تقبل التأجيل. وقال البار انه تم تجنيد (21650) شخصا لتنفيذ الخطة التي تشمل جميع المجالات.

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21,650 hands mobilized for Haj work


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By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 17, 2010 23:52 Updated: Oct 17, 2010 23:52

MAKKAH: Over 21,000 people have been mobilized to implement Makkah municipality’s plans for Haj 2010 and make the annual event a huge success, said the city’s Mayor Osama Al-Bar.

“We have mobilized around 21,650 people to implement the plan in various fields. In order to keep Makkah’s central area around the Grand Mosque clean and tidy, there will be over 7,000 cleaners who will be provided with equipment to work around the clock,” he said.

Al-Bar said the municipality would implement the plan in coordination and cooperation with all agencies and government departments concerned including the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, police and the Guides Organization.

“University students and health institutes will be hired to work as temporary health monitors. There will also be central units to deal with emergency situations such as rain, flash floods, rockslides, fires and the like,” he said.

“Some 200 electric compressors will be used to dispose of garbage. During the Haj days, there will be over 6,000 cleaners working round the clock in Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat,” he said, adding that the cleaners will be strictly monitored and supervised.

The municipality also has some 1,310 rubbish bins with a total capacity to collect more than 1,300 tons of garbage at the holy sites during the Haj. The Haj plan also includes a string of measures to ensure a healthy environment during the annual pilgrimage. “The monitoring and supervision of markets, stores, fast-food outlets and restaurants will also be beefed up,” he said.

There are about 2,300 commercial shops and stores for foodstuffs in Makkah and around 2,229 temporary stores will be set up in the city during the pilgrimage. This is in addition to some 643 temporary shops, stalls, bakeries and barber shops that will be set up in the holy sites.

“The officials concerned will monitor all these places and ensure that they are meeting the required health and safety standards. Samples of all foodstuffs will be tested at the designated laboratories, and the expired foodstuffs will be seized,” he said.

Referring to sacrificial animals, Al-Bar said that a comprehensive plan is in place to monitor all animals brought to slaughterhouses in line with established health and safety standards.

“Some 57 centers have been set up at various entry points to the city to monitor the animals. Moreover, teams of vets will carry out field inspections to prevent outbreaks of any contagious diseases among the animals as well as to ensure that they are fit for consumption,” he said.

He added that the slaughterhouses in the holy sites have a total capacity to slaughter half a million animals.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article163348.ece


Pilgrims to use 50% of Mashair Railway this year
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By MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 21, 2010 00:06 Updated: Oct 21, 2010 00:21

JEDDAH: About 30 to 50 percent of the Mashair Railway (Makkah Metro) will be used this Haj season, according to Abdullah Al-Khodairy, undersecretary at Makkah governorate and chairman of the Executive Haj Committee.

Speaking about new services being provided to pilgrims this year, he said: “The expansion of masaa (the running area between Safa and Marwah) has been completed and will facilitate the sai'e ritual of pilgrims.”

“The restriction on small vehicles entering Makkah and the holy sites and the measures taken to stop illegal pilgrims from squatting in public places will also contribute to the success of Haj this year,” he said.

Al-Khodairy chaired a meeting on Tuesday to organize a media campaign to inform the public on Haj regulations and instructions.

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will launch another major awareness campaign titled “No Haj Without Permit” on Saturday. The campaign aims at encouraging Saudis and expatriates to obtain Haj permits before proceeding to the holy places for Haj.

Meanwhile, Brig. Ayed Al-Harbi, commander of the Passport Department’s Haj forces, said the awareness campaigns last year were instrumental in helping pilgrims enter the holy places without difficulty.

He stressed the need for translating the content of the campaign into different languages to ensure that the message has been passed on to different nationalities.

He also called for stopping illegal vehicles carrying pilgrims at the first checkpoint to reduce pressure on the main checkpoint.

Al-Harbi referred to the Haj-related information available on the Passport Department’s website, saying that a large number of people from abroad and within the Kingdom have visited the site.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article165895.ece

Haj influx begins via land, sea, air routes
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King Abdul Aziz International Airport - Hajj Terminal
By MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 19, 2010 00:52 Updated: Oct 19, 2010 00:52

JEDDAH: Pilgrims have started pouring into Saudi Arabia from all around the world to perform Haj — the fifth pillar of Islam — this year.

They are arriving via 16 land, sea and air inlets, while both the government and private sectors have completed all arrangements to receive and enable them perform their rituals in ease and peace.

So far, at least 62,500 pilgrims have arrived from various Arab and Islamic countries on board 276 flights and immediately proceeded toward Makkah or Madinah.

All organizations providing Haj services are ready now to receive the guests of God. Among them is the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), which started executing its Haj plan at a very early stage.

It started implementing its strategy by operating the Haj terminals where pilgrims will be received before they are transported either to Makkah or Madinah.

GACA also coordinates with other government departments to make sure that pilgrims are well received and given a pleasant send-off. The first batch of pilgrims arrived on Oct. 9 and will continue to arrive until Nov. 12. They will start departing from Nov. 18 until Dec. 21.

According to GACA, there are six Haj flights every hour and 144 flights every day. The number of Haj flights peak on the second week of November, reaching 200 flights every day.

The Passports Department has completed all its arrangements to receive the pilgrims at the entry points.

Students from the Passport Institute started their posts at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah, Prince Muhammad ibn Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah and the Jeddah Islamic Seaport (JIS), in addition to other inlets.

They were thoroughly trained to handle all passport work, computers, fingerprinting, identifying forged documents and other security matters.

The United Agents' Office also began its work at all entry points. The office has supplied enough manpower and equipment to process pilgrims heading toward one of the two holy cities.

In Jeddah, director of health affairs Dr. Sami Badawood said a total of 589 staff from the Health Ministry, including doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators, will monitor the health of pilgrims at KAIA, while 140 will be stationed at the JIS.

He said the ministry's personnel would ensure that all the pilgrims have adhered to health regulations and that they are free from any contagious diseases.

Badawood said medical staff would provide immediate health care to pilgrims who need it and will transfer critical cases to hospitals in Jeddah, which have completed all arrangements to receive and treat the guests of God.

The number of pilgrims coming from outside is expected to be higher than the 1.7 million that arrived last year, especially as swine flu fears have dissipated.

Meanwhile, the six Tawafa (service providers) establishments have rented out 95 percent of available accommodation for pilgrims in Makkah alone.

The Haj companies and tourist agencies have also had similar success. They are currently authenticating their accommodation contracts with the Haj Ministry.

In contrast to last year, no Arab or Islamic country has so far announced that it will send no pilgrims this year. Between 340,000 and 350,000 Arab pilgrims are expected to perform Haj this year.

The Haj Ministry has employed more than 1,700 qualified Saudis on a temporary basis to help in seven areas, including the Jamarat bridge, emergencies, counting of pilgrims and other administrative assignments.

Makkah Mayor Osama bin Fadl Al-Bar said 21,650 people have been mobilized to implement the Makkah municipality's Haj plan, including more than 7,000 workers with 670 pieces of equipment to clean the Holy City around-the-clock. He said about 200 rubbish compressors been installed to minimize waste.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article164125.ece

I am leaving Scotland for Hajj next week inshallah its my first time and am soooo excited inshallah cant wait!!!!

I am leaving Scotland for Hajj next week inshallah its my first time and am soooo excited inshallah cant wait!!!!Mashallah this is a very good news! :)

May Allah help you to accomplish all the rituals and accept your hajj

wa salam

Al-Farsi allocates 25 spaces in Mina to domestic Haj firms

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By ARAB NEWS

Oct 22, 2010

MAKKAH: Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsi allocated 25 spaces in Mina to domestic Haj companies to compensate for the space acquired for the ongoing Mashair Railway (Makkah Metro) project.

Undersecretary for Pilgrims affairs in the Haj Ministry Sahl Al-Sabban, made the statement in a meeting with the officials of the Tawafa establishments in Makkah.

He said the new projects for the current Haj season include the Holy Sites Railway and the Frequent Transportation Service for Pilgrims from non-Arab African countries and Iran and also for pilgrims from Turkey, Europe, America and Australia and East Asia.

The total number of pilgrims to receive the frequent transportation service, for which SR320 million has been spent, is estimated at 750,000, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He said a new SR250-million floodwater drainage project has also been introduced in Arafat.

In another development, Public Relations Director of the General Presidency for Prophet's Mosque Affairs Abdul Wahid Al-Hattab said in Madinah that the new shading project in the court yards of the Prophet's Mosque covered an area of 104,000 square meters on its three sides and will benefit 200,000 worshippers. As part of the expansion project, 888 toilets and 1,823 taps for ablution have been set up with special provisions for visitors with special needs in the eastern side of the mosque. The project also includes 182 umbrellas installed on poles at the height varying between 14.4 meters and 15.3 meters, he said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article166851.ece

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Distribution center for Zamzam water opens
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Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen and other officials at the opening ceremony of the Zamzam water distribution center,
which is part of the King Abdullah Zamzam Water Purification Project in Kudai, on Saturday.

By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS - Oct 2, 2010

MAKKAH: Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen opened the Zamzam water distribution center, which is part of the King Abdullah Zamzam Water Purification Project in Kudai, on Saturday.

King Abdullah launched the SR700 million project in the last 10 days of Ramadan.

The king is financing the project considered the first of its kind in the history of Zamzam.

In the first phase, 10-liter cans of Zamzam water will be distributed.

There will be 20 outlets for distribution and the center will have a capacity to distribute 37,500 cans daily.

The distribution will be open for 12 hours from 9 am to 9 pm.

Any person intending to buy Zamzam can get it from the center in Kudai. The center’s capacity can be increased to 200,000 cans daily at a later stage.

The lion’s share of Zamzam water will be used to meet the requirements of worshippers at the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

The project includes two warehouses to store 1.7 million bottles and cans, including a store for daily use with a capacity of 200,000 bottles.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article152508.ece

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أخبار الأخيرة | وزير المياه والكهرباء السعودي يطلق عملية توزيع ...
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/10/02/121037.html

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ظاهرة فلكية نادرة : القمر يتعامد على الكعبة المشرفة مرتين خلال اسبوع واحد فقط
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بمشيئة الله تعالى تشهد مكة المكرمة ظاهرة فلكية نادرة حيث يتعامد القمر على الكعبة المشرفة مرتين في أسبوع واحد وخلال أربعة أيام فقط وفق ما أعلنت الجمعية الفلكية بجدة .

وقال رئيس الجمعية الفلكية بجدة المهندس ماجد ابوزاهرة : ان هذا سيكون حدث نادر لانه لم يرصد في وقت قريب حدوث تعامدين للقمر في أسبوع واحد. وقد بينت الحسابات الفلكية لحركة القمر حول الارض ان ميل القمر عند التعامد سيبلغ عرض مكة ومتوسطا على خط زوالها ويكون فوق الكعبة المشرفة
وبين ابوزاهرة أن التعامد الأول سيكون في فجر يوم الاثنين 17 ذو القعدة الموافق 25 أكتوبر حسب تقويم أم القرى عند الساعة 1:26:19 فجرا بالتوقيت المحلي ويكون وجهه مضاء بنسبة 96.5 في المائة.

أما التعامد الثاني سيكون بمشيئة الله تعالى فجر الجمعة 21 ذو القعدة الموافق 29 أكتوبر . وسيتميز هذا التعامد بأنه يحدث قبل أذان الفجر بـ 36 ثانية عند الساعة 5:5:24 فجرا ويكون وجهه مضاء بنسبة 65.5 في لمائة .
وستكون فرصة للمتواجدين داخل المسجد الحرام لرصد تعامد القمر حيث يظهر فوق رؤوسهم تماما. وهذه الظاهرة الفلكية مفيدة في تحديد اتجاه القبلة للمناطق البعيدة عن مكة المكرمة حيث يمكن تحديدا القبلة بالنظر إلى القمر في لحظة التعامد من أي منطقة يرى فيها القمر عند ذلك التوقيت فاتجاه القمر هو نفسه اتجاه القبلة.

pics inside: http://www.burnews.com/news.php?action=show&id=18525


A rare astronomical phenomenon:

the moon is perpendicular to the Kaaba twice during the week and only one

God willing witness Mecca rare astronomical phenomenon where the moon is perpendicular to the Kaaba twice in one week and only four days as announced Astronomical Society in Jeddah.

The head of the Astronomical Society in Jeddah, Al Majid Abuzahrp: This will be a rare event because he did not monitor the soon to occur Tamedin of the moon in one week. The calculations showed the movement of the moon around the earth to the moon at the tendency will be orthogonal view of Mecca and an average extinction on the line and be above the Kaaba
And the orthogonal Abuzahrp that I will be at dawn on Monday, 17 Zul 25 th October as Umm Al-Qura calendar at 1:26:19 am local time and have a face lighted up by 96.5 per cent.

The second will be orthogonal, God willing dawn Friday, 21 was previously approved October 29. And this will be characterized as orthogonal occurs before dawn to 36 seconds at 5:5:24 at dawn and have a face lighted up by 65.5 percent.

It will be an opportunity to present inside the Grand Mosque to monitor perpendicular moon where it appears over their heads completely. This astronomical phenomenon is useful in determining the direction of the Qiblah to areas away from Mecca where they can kiss given specifically to the moon at the moment orthogonal view of any area in which the moon at that time Vatjah the moon is the same direction of Mecca.

translate from/pics inside: http://www.burnews.com/news.php?action=show&id=18525

Fifth floor of Jamrat Bridge opens for Haj

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By MUHAMMAD AL-SULAMI | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 24, 2010 00:37

JEDDAH: The fifth floor of the high tech Jamrat Bridge in Mina will be open to pilgrims this Haj season, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs said Saturday.

“The opening of the fifth floor will facilitate the stoning ritual at Jamrat,” said Habeeb Zainul Abideen, deputy minister for municipal and rural affairs.

Abideen was addressing a conference on medicine attended by 500 delegates. He described Haj as the largest congregation of people in the world and highlighted the Saudi government’s efforts to avoid stampedes and other accidents during the annual event.

Abideen said the irresponsible behavior of some pilgrims causes problems not only for Saudi Haj managers, but also fellow Hajis. He urged all pilgrims to follow safety instructions.

There are 90 cameras around Jamrat to monitor the movement of pilgrims and prevent possible stampedes. These cameras will also enable Haj managers to assess how many pilgrims each floor of the bridge can hold.

“We have also arranged for vehicles to carry pilgrims with special needs to help them perform the stoning ritual without any difficulty,” he said.

Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, spoke about new plans for crowd management at Jamrat as well as in the mataf, the circling area around the Holy Kaaba where pilgrims perform tawaf, and the masaa, the running area between Safa and Marwa where Hajis perform saie.

Out of the 2.5 million people who come for Haj every year, 700,000 pilgrims walk to the holy sites, he said, adding that 75,000 buses and other vehicles are used to transport the other pilgrims.

The Haram Mosque in Makkah can hold 700,000 worshippers, while the mataf can hold 53,000 and the masaa 118,000.

Dr. Ziyad Maimish, assistant undersecretary at the Health Ministry for preventive medicine, said the ministry would mobilize about 17,000 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff and 39 mobile medical teams for Haj duty.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article168372.ece

Great work Roukaya19 :)


الحج تمنع القنوات الفضائية داخل المخيمات
الرياض – سلطان العثمان

أكدت وزارة الحج ممثلة في الإدارة العامة لشؤون حجاج الداخل على جميع شركات ومؤسسات حجاج الداخل التقيد بلوائح وتعليمات الدليل الصادر من قبلها هذا العام (1431ه)، ومنها عدم عرض القنوات الفضائية للحجاج داخل مخيماتهم. ورأت إذا لزم الأمر ذلك بأن تقتصر قنوات العرض على القنوات المحلية السعودية، واشترطت على الحملات تخصيص خيمة لتقديم الرعاية والخدمات الطبية في كل من مخيم الرجال والنساء مع رفع بيان بأسماء الفريق الطبي، ونسخة من الشهادات المعتمدة من الشؤون الصحية، كما أكدت على ضرورة تأمين عمالة كافية بزي موحد للقيام بواجبات النظافة ومتطلبات الخدمة وذلك بمعدل عامل واحد لكل ( 30) حاج مع التأكد من أن كافة العمالة داخل المخيمات تحمل شهادات صحية من الجهات المعنية قبل السماح لهم بممارسة أي عمل، بالإضافة إلى إلزام الحملات بتقديم خدمات النقل والسكن والإعاشة ورعاية الحجاج بأسعار معقولة وفق ما تم الاتفاق عليه مع الحاج، وأن تكون حافلات النقل صالحة فنياً لنقل الحجاج ومكيفة ومهيأة بوسائل السلامة والراحة للركاب مع توفير مرشد في كل حافلة ملم بمنطقة المشاعر المقدسة، وشددت الوزارة على مسؤولي الحملات بضرورة التقيد بدليل التعليمات العامة والتنظيمات الصادرة من قبلها لضمان تقديم أفضل الخدمات لحجاج بيت الله الحرام، ودعت جميع الحجاج من المواطنين والمقيمين في حالة وجود أي شكوى أو ملاحظة على الحملة التي تعاقد معها التقدم بها إلى وزارة الحج حتى منتصف شهر محرم كآخر يوم لاستقبال الشكاوى.

Thanks GulfArabia! ...I don't know how really people are interested about this thread but I can fulfill it with some news. I use to do this in french forums (I'm francophone) and specially with Hajj&Omrah news, about Bait al Haram, Makkah clock, etc...

Haj plan being put in place
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/img/2007/12/hajj.jpgBy MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 23, 2010 00:02 Updated: Oct 23, 2010 00:02

JEDDAH: The Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques will today start implementing its plan for this year's Haj season, aimed at enabling the guests of God to perform their rituals in peace.

The strategy will remain in place until the end of the pilgrimage season, Dul Hijjah 30 (Dec. 6), Deputy President of the Presidency Muhammad ibn Nasser Al-Khuzaim announced Friday.

“The plan is aimed at ensuring an ideal atmosphere for worship inside the Two Holy Mosques and their surrounding plazas and courtyards,” he told Arab News, adding that under the plan, pilgrims will be guided on how to perform the Haj rites correctly.

Al-Khuzaim said the presidency is keen to provide all necessary services and prepare all facilities to be used by the pilgrims.

He said over 5,700 people including official staff, temporary employees and seasonal workers will carry out the plan and added that the number of preachers has also been increased this year.

According to Al-Khuzaim, the President of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques will hand over the new Kaaba kiswa (dress) to the chief guardian of the Grand Mosque on the first day of Dul Hijjah and said all carpets inside the Grand Mosque will be rolled out to avoid impeding the movement of pilgrims and prevent the spread of any contagious diseases.

He said the blessed Zamzam water would be distributed among Hajis at their accommodation, but urged pilgrims not to take it inside the mosque to avoid spillages on the floor and making it slippery.

Al-Khuzaim said there were 43 locations with 340 taps spread across the ground, first, second and top levels of the Masaa where pilgrims can drink Zamzam water. He said these facilities are not be used for ablution.

He added that four Zamzam water points with 110 fountains were established around the Tawaf area.

Al-Khuzaim said the Masaa has been expanded and all its floors, including the underground, ground, first, second and roof levels, have been made ready for pilgrims.

He said the passages for pilgrims and wheelchairs have been greatly expanded to allow easy movement and said 74 marble lockers have been placed on the ground floor for the storage of shoes.

The deputy president said amplifiers were placed in the courtyards and plazas of the two mosques so that worshippers could easily listen out for prayer calls and added that seven temporary bridges and mobile stairs have been installed to facilitate the easy movement of worshippers.

Al-Khuzaim said 62 bathrooms have been set up near the eastern Al-Fath door with 100 taps for ablution.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article167580.ece

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All-expenses-paid Haj for 50 converts!

http://www.coolfreeimages.net/images/hajj/hajj_01.jpg
By MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 24, 2010 00:40 Updated: Oct 24, 2010 00:40

JEDDAH: Fifty Muslims who recently embraced Islam from Europe and Latin America will perform Haj this year as the guests of the International Association for New Muslims.

"The association, an offshoot of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, will bear the whole cost of their pilgrimage," said Sheikh Khaled Romaih Al-Romaih, secretary-general of the association.

He said the association would host new Muslims from European countries such as Britain, Italy, Belgium and Ukraine in addition to pilgrims from Latin American countries including Brazil.

"The association would arrange for a number of Islamic scholars and preachers in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to educate and guide the pilgrims on the rituals of Haj as well as clear their doubts on religious topics. Islamic study classes and lectures will also be delivered on the dos and don'ts of performing the rituals," he said.

According to Al-Romaih, the pilgrims will be selected in coordination with Islamic centers concerned in those countries.

"Priority will be given to those countries with the largest number of new Muslims. Selection will also be made from online applicants at the association's website (www.4newmuslims.org) fulfilling all criteria and conditions," he said.

Al-Romaih said new Muslims who have already performed Haj would not be considered. "Only those who embraced Islam six to 12 months ago would be entitled to apply. The applications, attached with the certificate showing when the applicant embraced Islam, should be presented to the Islamic centers concerned," he said.

The association meets all expenses of guest pilgrims, including their transportation, accommodation and Haj visa fee.

"Officials of the organization will receive the pilgrims at the airport, and they will be provided with accommodation at hotels in the central Haram areas in Makkah and Madinah," he said. Al-Romaih said that the special Haj program for new Muslims would include conducting cultural competitions and distribution of prizes and souvenir gifts.

"After the performance of their obligatory rituals, they will be taken on a 10-day trip to Madinah. Their tour includes visiting historical Islamic sites and the King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex during their stay in the city.”

The association is a nonprofit organization mainly concerned with looking after the affairs of new Muslims worldwide, in coordination with various Islamic institutions and establishments working in the same field.

More than 400 new Muslims have so far been benefited from its Haj sponsorship program. They include reverts from Europe, Latin America and Africa, as well as the United States, Japan and Australia.

According to the Central Haj Committee, as many as 300,000 pilgrims have already arrived from abroad for Haj this year. The committee, which met in Makkah on Saturday, discussed the Haj plans of the Health Affairs Department, Makkah police, Civil Defense, Red Crescent Authority and the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article168419.ece

can anyone show maktab 12 on google maps??

Giant Makkah clock to be ready next month

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__g-D4Xvh1yM/TGIvScPhMGI/AAAAAAAAAiM/nTWzkRYEc9g/s1600/The+Abraj+Al-Bait+Mecca+clock+the+world%27s+largest+4.jpg
Saturday, October 23, 2010

A giant clock tower constructed in Islam’s holiest city of Makkah as one of the world’s highest towers will be completed next month and will be linked to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), a Saudi newspaper said Saturday.

The third face of the clock skyscraper, which was launched on a trial basis last month, has been completed while the fourth side will be finished in early November, Sahafaonline Arabic language network reported.

“The fourth side is located south of the Makkah Grand Mosque…it will be finished early next month to mark the end of the project that will be one of the most important hallmarks for Muslims around the world,” it said.

“The clock timing will be linked to UTC after the fourth and last side is completed…a 23-metre crescent on the watch has been constructed and is believed to be the largest man-made crescent in the world….loudspeakers have also been installed on top of the watch to transmit prayers call, which can be heard within a distance of nearly seven km.”

UTC, also referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), Universal Time (UT), or "Zulu" is an international time scale used in astronomical and aviation publications, weather products, and other documents.

Formerly and still widely called GMT, UTC nominally reflects the mean solar time along the Earth's prime meridian. UTC is expressed using a 24-hour clock but can be converted into a 12-hour clock--AM and PM.

Inaugurating the clock tower last month, Saudi officials said they hoped it would establish Makkah as an alternate time standard to the Greenwich median.

The tower's height will reach 601 metres when it is completed, making it the world's second tallest building -- ahead of Taiwan's 509 metre Taipei 101, but well behind the Burj Khalifa, the 828 metre skyscraper in Dubai.

More than six times larger in diameter than London's famed Big Ben, the clock faces, with the Arabic words "In the Name of Allah" in huge lettering underneath and will be lit with two million LED lights.

The tower, which took two years to construct, is equipped with an elevator to take visitors to the surrounding balcony below the four clocks.

In August, the clock tower triggered panic among Muslim pilgrims when it was shrouded with fog, mistaken for smoke from a fire.

Civil Defence vehicles rushed to the tower site after receiving numerous calls from pilgrims saying that the building is engulfed in smoke.

http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/giant-makkah-clock-to-be-ready-next-month-2010-10-23-1.307663

Fifth floor of Jamrat Bridge opens for Haj

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4142093586_f2a21e732b_z.jpg?zz=1
By MUHAMMAD AL-SULAMI | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 24, 2010 00:37

JEDDAH: The fifth floor of the high tech Jamrat Bridge in Mina will be open to pilgrims this Haj season, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs said Saturday.

“The opening of the fifth floor will facilitate the stoning ritual at Jamrat,” said Habeeb Zainul Abideen, deputy minister for municipal and rural affairs.

Abideen was addressing a conference on medicine attended by 500 delegates. He described Haj as the largest congregation of people in the world and highlighted the Saudi government’s efforts to avoid stampedes and other accidents during the annual event.

Abideen said the irresponsible behavior of some pilgrims causes problems not only for Saudi Haj managers, but also fellow Hajis. He urged all pilgrims to follow safety instructions.

There are 90 cameras around Jamrat to monitor the movement of pilgrims and prevent possible stampedes. These cameras will also enable Haj managers to assess how many pilgrims each floor of the bridge can hold.

“We have also arranged for vehicles to carry pilgrims with special needs to help them perform the stoning ritual without any difficulty,” he said.

Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, spoke about new plans for crowd management at Jamrat as well as in the mataf, the circling area around the Holy Kaaba where pilgrims perform tawaf, and the masaa, the running area between Safa and Marwa where Hajis perform saie.

Out of the 2.5 million people who come for Haj every year, 700,000 pilgrims walk to the holy sites, he said, adding that 75,000 buses and other vehicles are used to transport the other pilgrims.

The Haram Mosque in Makkah can hold 700,000 worshippers, while the mataf can hold 53,000 and the masaa 118,000.

Dr. Ziyad Maimish, assistant undersecretary at the Health Ministry for preventive medicine, said the ministry would mobilize about 17,000 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff and 39 mobile medical teams for Haj duty.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article168372.ece

Abdullah to host 1,300 pilgrims

http://www.rsis.edu.sg/nts/HTML-Newsletter/alert/images/A_packed_house750.jpg
By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 25, 2010 00:05 Updated: Oct 25, 2010 00:05

JEDDAH: As many as 1,300 Muslims around the world will perform Haj this year as guests of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh said on Sunday.

He said the guest pilgrims would come from Turkey, Ukraine, Moldavia, Belarus, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Seychelles, Vietnam, China, Indonesia and North Cyprus.

“Some of the guest pilgrims will be arriving from African and South American countries,” Al-Asheikh said, adding that his ministry has made all preparations to receive them and provide various services.

So far 15,368 Muslims around the globe have performed Haj during the past years as guests of the Kingdom. The program has been managed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance.

“We have set out a special program for the king’s guests and set up a number of committees to supervise various services rendered to these guests,” Al-Asheikh said.

Earlier, King Abdullah announced his plan to host 2,000 Palestinian pilgrims, including relatives of prisoners serving life sentences, released prisoners as well as relatives of martyrs.

King Abdullah invites thousands of pilgrims from different countries, including leaders of Muslim communities and senior government officials, to perform Haj every year.

Meanwhile, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal warned Haj service companies against exploiting pilgrims. “Those who cheat pilgrims will face stiff punishment,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the governor as saying.

Prince Khaled told everybody to follow the government’s Haj instructions, including a ban on vehicles carrying less than 25 passengers from entering Makkah and other holy places.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article169131.ece

Earlier, King Abdullah announced his plan to host 2,000 Palestinian pilgrims, including relatives of prisoners serving life sentences, released prisoners as well as relatives of martyrs.


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3,000 hospital beds readied for Haj

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41174000/jpg/_41174944_hajjafp.jpg
By MD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 26, 2010

JEDDAH: A number of hospitals, health centers and clinics will be serving the pilgrims during this Haj season with more than 3,000 beds, according to Makkah Health Affairs Director Dr. Khaled bin Obaid Zafar.

“This year's health plan for Haj consists of preventive, curative and emergency services to the guests of God at all air, land and sea inlets. Medical examinations and tests will be conducted on pilgrims at these entry points. Vaccinations will be given to those who have not already taken them. Pilgrims who are sick will get necessary treatment and medicines while critical and emergency cases will be transferred to hospitals,” Zafar told Arab News on Monday.

Zafar said the Health Ministry has already advised Saudi embassies abroad not to grant Haj visas to aspiring pilgrims unless they meet health requirements.

“Pilgrims with no vaccination certificates will be vaccinated at the entry points,” he added.

Zafar said the reports of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be followed up. The annual Haj provided a rare opportunity for health officials to observe and study the effects of mass congregation of people from all over the world.

He said the Health Ministry has coordinated with the municipalities to combat causes of contagious diseases.

Zafar said in addition to the general hospitals, there are 31 health centers in Makkah that will be providing health care to pilgrims. He added that there will be five health centers inside the Grand Mosque and five others in the plazas surrounding it in addition to five centers at the car parks along the Makkah-Jeddah Expressway.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article170106.ece

Haj Terminal arrivals cross 300,000

http://www.goafrica.co/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Jeddah-Airport-640x250.jpg
The Haj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah.
By FATIMA SIDIYA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 25, 2010

JEDDAH: The Haj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah has received more than 300,000 pilgrims in the last two weeks, which is twice the number received last year during the same period, according to airport officials.

Officials took local media representatives on a tour of the Haj Terminal on Monday.

Mohammad, a wheelchair-bound 93-year-old pilgrim from Pakistan, said through tears and thankful prayers that this was his second time to come for Haj.

Describing the procedures for receiving pilgrims as “complicated but organized,” Samir Mira, an official of Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport, said the Haj Terminal — the enormous, shaded outdoor facility located near the North Terminal — could receive up to six flights per hour.

“First all pilgrims go to the health section for inspection, then to the Passport Department, which takes longer because of the fingerprinting operation,” said Mira.

“The pilgrims then visit the Ministry of Haj section and finally to their Haj agencies, which organize the housing and transportation,” he said.

The official added that long queues in the process can occur due to difficulties in dealing with the many different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the pilgrims.

Adnan Al-Saggaf, deputy executive manager Ports Projects Management and Development Company, a private company in charge of the airport operations, said there are 22,000 employees at the Haj Terminal.

He added that the employees face the challenge of shifting operations from receiving pilgrims to seeing them off within a five-day window during which the Haj takes place.

Answering a question about women employees at the Haj Terminal, Al-Saggaf said they are mainly working in security operations and nursing. He did not give a percentage of the women staff.

Mira said flight delays can lead to bottlenecks in jet traffic at the terminal, thus airlines are urged to keep to their schedules.

“There will be fines imposed on airlines delaying their flights,” he said. “This can also lead to preventing them from participating in the coming Haj seasons.”

Mira said three national and 75 international carriers operate Haj flights. The national carriers ferrying the pilgrims are Saudi Arabian Airlines, Nasair and Al-Wafeer.

This year, the airport has more hotel rooms, boarding lounges, air-bridges and immigration counters.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article170096.ece

^^ For a second there I thought the Malaysian flag was the American one! :D

^^ same here XD

Sorry...I wanted to post the pic of article on Arab news, but don't know how. So I put an other one. In other forums, I use to copy and stick, but here doesn't work for pics. Where I can lear to post articles with the pics? Help!

Makkah mayor promises mega projects’ completion by 2012

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Jabal Omar development
October 17, 2010

MAKKAH: Dr. Osama Al-Bar, the Mayor of Makkah, member of the Central Haj Committee and Chairman and Chief Executive of the Makkah Development Authority, has promised that a number of large projects currently underway in the city will be completed by 2012.

Al-Bar told Saudi Gazette that this has been ordered by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

He said the projects that have been earmarked include the King Abdul Aziz Highway between Makkah and Jeddah, running parallel to the existing highway. He said construction has already started and that it will be a prototype for future road developments in the region.

Another project is the construction of eight slaughter houses with modern equipment and an automatic cleaning system, which is also now nearing completion.

These slaughter houses will operate under the Islamic Development Bank.

The arrangements have been made to slaughter one million animals during the days of sacrifice. There are five other slaughter houses operating under the mayoralty’s authority.

Al-Bar said there are four pedestrian tunnels, named after King Abdullah, now being built.

The tunnels will connect Al-Hujun district and Al-Jarwal District with the Grand Mosque. These tunnels are expected to reduce traffic in the area.
A housing project of 5,000 units has also started.

These houses will be given to citizens particularly those whose houses have been demolished.

This will be an additional benefit, apart from compensation already paid out by King Abdullah, said Al-Bar.

He said nine stations are almost completed, which are part of the multibillion railway project linking Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifa.

Al-Bar said the King wants other projects also completed by 2012, including the new annex east of the Grand Mosque, the Jabal Omar project near the Grand Mosque, and the high-speed rail between Makkah and Madina.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010101885574

"No permit, no pilgrimage"[/CENTER]

By GALAL FAKKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 24, 2010

Squatting pilgrims will not be allowed: Prince Khaled Al-Faisal

MAKKAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal launched the third phase of a major Haj awareness campaign here on Saturday, urging foreign Haj missions to do more to ensure their pilgrims follow safety instructions and the Kingdom’s regulations.

The media campaign, which began two years ago, has been successful in reducing the number of pilgrims squatting in public places by 70 percent, especially among pilgrims who come from outside Makkah.

However, Saudi employee Shaker Angawi voiced his fears over whether the growing charges imposed by Haj service companies, ranging between SR2,000 and SR10,000, would undermine the “No Haj Without Permit” campaign.

“This amount is very high and many people will not be able to afford it, especially those Saudis and expatriates who want to perform Haj with their family members,” Angawi told Arab News.

Prince Khaled said the government would continue the campaign over the coming years to put an end to the trend of pilgrims squatting.

“The use of Haj permits will have a great impact on the successful implementation of the government’s Haj plan,” the governor told the gathering, also attended by Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy. “It will give us the exact number of people performing the Haj and make preparations for their housing, food and transportation accordingly,” he said. Prince Khaled thanked all employees and officials involved in making the Haj operation a big success, especially Haj Ministry officials and security officers. The governor urged pilgrims to focus their attention on worship, prayers and meditation and respect the Kingdom’s regulations.

“The rules and regulations are set for the benefit of pilgrims and not to put restrictions on them,” he said. Prince Khaled acknowledged that eradicating pilgrims squatting in public places during Haj was not an easy task. Abdul Aziz Al-Rashid, who organizes domestic Haj trips, called for an intensive campaign in all the Kingdom’s regions to enlighten the public on the need to obtain Haj permits before proceeding to the holy sites. He also called for a balanced Haj service fare that would not harm operators as well as pilgrims. He also called for establishing camps that could accommodate a large number of pilgrims at lower rates.

These camps, Al-Rashid believed, would be the answer to pilgrims squatting in public places, adding that they should be supervised by the Haj Ministry and Ministry of Interior.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article168417.ece

the complete hajj infos

Article - Gulf News - Hajj - Hajj News - Ramadan - Saudi Arabia

hajj news online

http://hajjnewsonline.com/

Gaza pilgrims to travel to Mecca next week
October 29

CAIRO (Ma'an) -- A senior official at the Palestinian embassy in Egypt said Friday that the transfer of Gaza pilgrims to Saudi Arabia would begin on 3 November as the Hajj journey starts for tens of thousands of Muslims.

The official said the move was authorized by Ambassador Barakat Al-Farra, who had arranged with embassy staff and local officials to facilitate the travel of the pilgrims, in particular their exit from Gaza into Egypt.

An unconfirmed number of pilgrims will pass through the Rafah crossing and travel by bus to the Cairo International Airport, and then on to Mecca.

According to officials, permits for Gaza pilgrims were facilitated by Egyptian Interior Ministry staff, and all expectations were that the trip for the Hajj travelers would go smoothly.

In 2008, Gaza residents who hoped to perform the sacred pilgrimage were variously told that they had to apply for the permissions lottery organized by Saudi Arabia via the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and the Hamas government in Gaza. Permits were issued via the PA, angering Gaza officials, who then refused to allow travelers to pass through the Rafah crossing unless those selected by the Gaza government's lottery could also pass.

As a consequence, no pilgrims from Gaza were able to make the pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, which involves travel to Mecca as an act of solidarity between Muslims, proof of submission to God, and as a remembrance of the miracle of water, which sprung forth when the wife of Abraham was abandoned with her infant son in Mecca.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=328774

Kingdom bans smoking at airports

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By FATIMA SIDIYA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 19, 2010

JEDDAH: A ban on smoking inside all Saudi airports and a SR200 fine for violators were approved Monday by Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation and chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

Abdullah Al-Rahimi, president of GACA, said the new rule has been prepared by GACA in cooperation with other relevant bodies, and that the aim is to create a healthy, clean and smoke-free environment at airports across the Kingdom.

Al-Rahimi said airports have been asked to implement the ban starting Dul Hijjah 1 (Nov. 7). He also called on airport staff and passengers to stop smoking inside airports and to cooperate with airport security in respecting the ban.

Abdul Hameed Abalary, director of the Central Department for Aviation Security, said the new regulation consists of 11 articles, and that GACA will stringently enforce it.

Special smoking areas will be designated inside the Kingdom’s airports for smokers. Airport employees who smoke will be fined, have their airport security cards confiscated and issued official warnings.

Fines will be issued by airport security, which operates under the Royal Air Force. Smokers who are fined will be asked for their Saudi ID cards or iqamas. All money generated will be deposited to a special anti-smoking fund belonging to the Ministry of Health.

Asked how foreign visitors who do not have iqamas will be fined, GACA spokesman Khaled Al-Khaibari said they constitute a small percentage of people who use airports and are usually familiar with smoking restrictions in their home countries. He added that airport staff will announce warnings over microphones, and that warning boards will also convey the message.

Asked whether the new rule will be successful in stamping out the problem, Al-Khaibari said yes, as it will be implemented stringently.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article164086.ece

http://signs4free.com/signs/images/smoking_sign_1.jpg

Two South Africans pedal their way to Hajj

http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/travel/article171688.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/South+Africans.jpg
From Cape Town to Arafat, Nathim Cairncross, right, and Imtiyaz Ahmad Haron are on a cycling journey to Haj.

By K.S. RAMKUMAR,
RAMKUMAR@ARABNEWS.COM

Published: Oct 27, 2010 20:40

Two young South Africans have pedaled their way to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Haj. Nathim Cairncross, 28, and Imtiyaz Ahmad Haron, 25, both from Cape Town, said on arrival at the Saudi border before reaching Tabuk that they felt happy they were fulfilling their dream of performing Haj. “Pedaling our way to the Kingdom from Cape Town was a grueling experience. We wanted to travel this way so that we are prepared to experience the rigors of performing the pilgrimage,” Cairncross, a town planner by profession, told Arab News over the telephone on Monday night.

Both set out on their journey for the annual pilgrimage on Feb. 7 on their bicycles. They pedaled through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Turkey, Syria and Jordan before reaching the Saudi border. “This is our first Haj. We could have come for Haj by plane, but it was our cherished desire to travel differently, so we chose to use our bicycles, as cycling is what we both love the most,” Cairncross said.

Both pedaled 80 to 100 km daily and took rest in mosques or tents after dusk and set out again after dawn. “People have been very cooperative and courteous. At every place that we passed through, they welcomed us and were happy to know that we were going for Haj. Food was never a problem as people took delight in offering us the choicest dishes. Of course, it was tiresome to pedal throughout the journey, especially when negotiating mountainous regions,” Cairncross added.

Language was a big problem for both of them. “Once we entered the Arab countries, we decided to pick up Arabic, especially while traveling through Syria and Jordan. This suited us well when we reached the Saudi border where the security officials were very friendly and welcomed and greeted us. They were also happy to know that we have undertaken this arduous journey to fulfill our Haj dream,” Cairncross said. “We came with a very small budget and we found to our delight there were people readily prepared to offer us the local cash and meet our needs.”

Both did not encounter any serious problem on their way through nine countries in the course of their nine-month journey. “All we did was to change tires and tubes, and fix the pedal chain from time to time.

Asked why they chose to ride bicycles, Cairncross said: “This gives us a lot of opportunity to meet and interact with different people in different countries. Additionally, we continued with our Dawa work wherever we stopped for our overnight stays.”

Both Cairncross and Haron are students of Islamic law and have studied Shariah. “I joined a university and completed a course in town planning and am working in the field of construction,” Cairncross said.

Both of them are single and love sports. While Cairncross is interested in wind surfing along beaches and seas, Haron, an economics graduate, excels in kickboxing and mountain climbing.

After the pilgrimage, both propose to return home via West Africa.

http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/travel/article171409.ece


For more informations visit:
http://cape2mecca.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html

Facebook page Cape 2 Mecca Cycle 'C2MC':
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cape-2-Mecca-Cycle-C2MC/330709716520

Makkah metro ticket set at SR250
http://www9.0zz0.com/2010/10/26/00/705876238.jpg
Published Sunday, October 31, 2010

Muslims wishing to use Makkah’s first metro when they converge on the holy city next month for their annual pilgrimage will have to pay SR250 for a ticket that will serve them for seven days, a local newspaper reported on Sunday.

Three different types of tickets will cover all holy sites in Makkah and will allow the pilgrims to take the train into the city to perform their rites before returning to their residence inside or outside the city, Ajel online newspaper said, quoting Habib Zain Alabidin, Undersecretary at the Saudi Ministry of Municipal affairs.

“The ticket’s price is set at SR250 that will cover a full trip into and out of Makkah for seven days…another ticket is priced at SR100 for four days,” he said.

Officials said last week the train has a capacity to transport 170,000 passengers in its first stage and two million when the third and final phase is completed.

Saudi Arabia has allocated nearly SR6.7 billion (Dh6.6 billion) for the metro, which begins service next month for the first time in Makkah’s history. Officials expect the project to largely contribute to easing road congestions caused by the accumulation of thousands of cars near Makkah.

Dubbed the “Holy Rituals Train”, the project is part of a costly programme by Saudi Arabia to tackle massive traffic congestions in and around the city and facilitate access to all sacred sites in Makkah.

The train project, initiated three years ago, followed a series of incidents that have killed thousands of pilgrims in stampedes, building collapses and other accidents during the few days of the Haj season.

More than two million Muslims from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Co-operation Council countries and other nations descend on Makkah every year to perform Haj.

China Railway Construction Corp, part of a Saudi-French-Chinese consortium which won the contract, is carrying out the project, involving nearly 5,000 workers. The train is the Gulf’s second metro system after the Dubai Metro.

http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/makkah-metro-ticket-set-at-sr250-2010-10-31-1.311272

250 ريالا قيمة تذكرة قطار المشاعر

كشف وكيل وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية للمشاريع المركزية في المشاعر المقدسة حبيب بن زين العابدين عن تقسيم تذاكر قطار المشاعر المقدسة إلى ثلاث فئات: «سوار باللون الأزرق لمحطات «عرفات1» و«مزدلفة1» و«منى1»، وآخر باللون الأصفر لمحطات «عرفات 2» و«مزدلفة 2» و«منى2»، وثالث باللون الأخضر لمحطات «عرفات 3» و«مزدلفة 3» و«الجمرات منى 3». وقال أمس (السبت) في جدة إن سوار الإركاب لفئات الحجاج، يشمل رحلة الحج كاملة (منى وعرفات ومزدلفة والجمرات) لمدة سبعة أيام بمبلغ 250 ريالاً للحاج. بينما خصص «سوار» أيام التشريق لمنسوبي الجهات الحكومية ومدته أربعة أيام بـ100 ريال، مشيراً إلى توزيعها على الحجاج قبل موسم الحج، وأنه سيتم بيعها لفئة رحلة الحج كاملاً، ولفئة أيام التشريق للفئات النظامية الأخرى، ولمنسوبي الجهات الحكومية عبر إداراتها، بينما ستوزع وزارة الشؤون البلدية والقروية التذاكر على شركات حجاج الداخل.

http://www.burnews.com/news.php?action=show&id=18715[/QUOTE]

Makkah Clock Royal Tower, a Fairmont Hotel,

opens its doors to pilgrims for Hajj

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5078715874_aa9ab58e8b_z.jpg
01 November 2010

MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia: Fairmont Hotel & Resorts announces the opening of Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, located only a few steps away from the Masjid Al Haraam and the Holy Ka'aba Islam's most sacred site. Its unique and distinctive features will ensure a landmark presence offering warm and welcoming hospitality to its guests.

The hotel is the focal point of the iconic Abraj Al Bait Complex, which is part of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project whose mandate is to upgrade the precincts of the Two Holy Mosques. Makkah Clock Royal Tower is the tallest concrete building in the world, with 76 stories reaching 577 meters (it's 601 meters) and housing 858 rooms and suites. It is an integral feature of the development - the 40-meter clock, whose four facades are visible from 17 kilometers away and more than five times larger than Big Ben in London, will announce daily prayers to the Muslim world through amplifiers, thus reaching a radius of 7 kilometers.

Mr. Mohammad Arkobi, Vice President & Managing Director, FRHI Makkah KSA, expressed his joy and pride in opening the hotel in Makkah and commented, "This event is a momentous opportunity to provide a new amenity to Muslim pilgrims and visitors from all over the world. We are honored to offer exceptional services to Holy Land pilgrims and look forward to ensuring our visitors have truly memorable experiences with us. We also hope to demonstrate our sincere commitment to caring for our communities, a hallmark for our brand and colleagues."

The Tower houses a lunar observatory center, in addition to a museum for Islamic icons and objects of arts, serving to preserve and promote the region's culture and heritage. The hotel demonstrates smart technology design, featuring 10 thousand kilometers of fiber optic cable for speedy communications and Internet connection for the guests. The property's 76 elevators will provide comfortable transfers during Azan (calls to prayer) and high-occupancy Umrah and Hajj seasons and the hotel also features easy access to the Haram, as well as two large prayer rooms for male and female guests.

Guests at Makkah Clock Royal Tower will enjoy a variety of international cuisines including the innovative "Al-Dira", which offers local flavors from the various districts of the Kingdom and will introduce guests to the culture of oriental Saudi cuisine.

For those planning functions in the city, Makkah Clock Royal Tower offers a selection of meeting rooms and event spaces while a 24-hour business center, high speed and wi-fi Internet access and translation services ensure business transactions are conducted effortlessly.

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20101101082110

Crescents monitoring project:

the new moon of Dhu al-Hijjah next Saturday is not possible

مشروع رصد الأهلة: رؤية هلال ذي الحجة السبت المقبل غير ممكنة

http://tdjamaluddin.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/crescent-hilal.jpg

Said the project to monitor the Islamic Crescents: The sighting of the crescent of the argument on Saturday is not possible either with the naked eye or by using a telescope from all regions of the Islamic world.

He explained the project in a statement issued yesterday, it is possible to see the crescent from somewhere in the world that day, so are some Islamic countries that will be enough to start the month of Dhul-Hijjah on Sunday, the seventh of November to be on Tuesday, November 16 the first day of Eid al-Adha where.

The project of the Islamic Crescent Observation: that, for States that require sighting of the moon from within its territory and will not be able to see him next Saturday or the States that would investigate Crescent on Sunday, is expected to begin the month of Dhu al-Hijjah on Monday, the eighth of November to be on Wednesday, November 17 the first day of Eid al-Adha where.


قال المشروع الإسلامي لرصد الأهلة: إن رؤية هلال ذي الحجة يوم السبت القادم غير ممكنة سواء بالعين المجردة أو باستخدام التلسكوب من جميع مناطق العالم الإسلامي.
وأوضح المشروع في بيان أصدره أمس أنه من الممكن رؤية الهلال من مكان ما في العالم في ذلك اليوم لذا تعتبر بعض الدول الإسلامية ذلك كافياً لبدء شهر شهر ذي الحجة يوم الأحد الموافق السابع من نوفمبر ليكون يوم الثلاثاء 16 نوفمبر أول أيام عيد الأضحى فيها.
وأضاف المشروع الإسلامي لرصد الأهلة: أنه بالنسبة للدول التي تشترط رؤية الهلال من داخل أراضيها والتي لن تتمكن من رؤيته يوم السبت القادم أو الدول التي ستتحرى الهلال يوم الأحد فمن المتوقع أن يبدأ شهر ذي الحجة يوم الإثنين الثامن من نوفمبر ليكون يوم الأربعاء 17 نوفمبر أول أيام عيد الأضحى فيها.

http://www.burnews.com/news.php?action=show&id=18766

RAIN !!!! Allahouma zid wa barek (ameen!)

ameen! :)

“Mekkah Metro” Marks A Green Hajj For Pilgrims

http://www9.0zz0.com/2010/10/26/00/699734448.jpg
November 1, 2010

A high speed train (no!..low speed train) to Mecca in Saudi Arabia will cut down on carbon emissions during hajj this year, but its reach is limited.

Every year, around three million Muslims from across the world prepare for the spiritual journey of a lifetime. Many will have been saving up for the trip for years and will be prepared to travel thousands of miles to reach their destination: Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj.

As one of the five pillars of Islam, every Muslim who has the financial and physical ability is encouraged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca which is Islam’s most holy site. The question is can this spiritual pilgrimage, which leaves behind a trail of waste and carbon emissions, really be transformed into something more green?

Progress Towards A ‘Green Hajj’

The concept of a ‘Green Hajj‘ has already been discussed here at GreenProphet following the UN-backed Muslim Seven Year Plan which announced plans to encourage Muslims to be more environmentally friendly. Although there was talk of printing Qur’ans on sustainably sourced paper, reducing energy consumption at mosques and places of worship, many were cynical as to whether these plans would ever materialize. However, this year for the first time ever, pilgrims will be able to reduce their carbon footprint during hajj by travelling between Mecca’s holy sites via a very green form of public transport- the train.

From this November 2010, the high speed train will be able to transport 130,000 passengers between the holy sites which will help reduce the number of vehicles on the roads and make hajj journeys more eco-friendly. Sadly, only pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states will be able to purchase tickets and make full use of the trains this year. (My auntie and her family are going to hajj this year from the UK and I was going to ask her for a blow-by-blow account of using the metro but I guess that won’t be happening.)

Reducing Congestion and Pollution

The Mekkah Metro, as its been dubbed, is only in the first stages and is operating at 33 percent of its total capacity. It will be fully operational by hajj season 2011 and will carry around 500,000 passengers by then at the rate of 72,000 passengers an hour in a single direction. By the final stage in 2012 the metro, which has elevated tracks to avoid busy roads, will be able to transport up to two million people. This rail network is expected to reduce traffic by approximately 30,000 cars- so not only will it reduce congestion but it will also cut the noxious emissions which cars release.

The introduction of the train network is clearly an important step towards making hajj more environmentally-friendly but there is still a lot more to be done. It is estimated that 100 million plastic bottles are left behind every year after the hajj season and food packaging is still a big issue that needs to be tackled alongside the carbon emissions of the travellers. Although the flora and fauna around the two holy sites in Saudi Arabia are protected by a hima, a middle-eastern form of environmental protection, more is needed before a truly ‘Green Hajj’ is realized.

http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/11/mekkah-metro-green-hajj/

Ticket prices set for Haj train

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November 2, 2010

JEDDAH: Ticket prices for the holy sites’ train has been set by the Higher Haj Committee headed by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, at SR250 for the entire Haj season for local and GCC pilgrims, and SR100 for other pilgrims only for the last three days of Haj.

Fahad Abu Tarboosh, Director General of the holy sites’ train project, said that tickets are sold to Haj Companies as packages, meaning to only licensed pilgrims who will be issued with special wristbands. “We sell ticket packages to the companies.

“If the company has 10,000 pilgrims, they will buy only 10,000 tickets,” said Abu Tarboosh.

He said some companies have been offering tickets cheaper than SR250, but this was their way to attract pilgrims.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010110286608

More than 100K sacrificial sheep arrive in Jeddah

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November 2, 2010

JEDDAH: More than 100,000 Somali sheep arrived Monday at the Jeddah Islamic Port, part of efforts to cover the high demand for Adahi, sacrificial animals, during the Haj and Eid Al-Adha season.

The sheep add to the 400,000 that have arrived in Jeddah and more than one million will be imported, said Sulaiman Al-Jabri, head of the Livestock Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a livestock importer.

He expressed regret over increasing prices, up to SR2,000 for each animal, and said officials have worked to facilitate their importation.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has already made it very easy to import sheep, especially from Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti, through the port in Jizan, in the southern part of the Kingdom,” he said.

Increasing prices for sheep feed led the Saudi government to financially support its importers, which has helped keep prices at acceptable levels as demand has increased in a number of countries, Al-Jabri said.
“The prices of sheep in the exporting countries have been increasing for years, especially after the increase of imports from neighboring countries,” he said.

More than one million sheep, 750,000 from Somalia and 350,000 from Sudan, will be imported by the Al-Jabri Company, the main provider of the Saudi Project for Utilization of Sacrificial Animals, he added.

Those imports will help settle prices, but there is a huge demand, Al-Jabri said.

“Unfortunately, we do not have enough sheep and we consume a high number of them,” he said. Saudi Arabia imports 75 percent of its sheep and 60 percent of them come from Sudan and Somalia, he said.

The Islamic Development Bank is the only bank responsible for the coupons of Adahi and transporting them to Islamic countries after the season of Haj.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010110286605

Sacrifice website
By ARAB NEWS
Published: Sep 26, 2010

JEDDAH: Pilgrims intending to purchase sacrificial animal coupons can do it through www.adahi.org, a website set up by the Islamic Development Bank, using credit cards, Ahmed Muhammad Ali, president of IDB said.

The bank is charging SR410 ($109 or Euro 83) for a sheep and the amount covers services such as slaughtering of the animal at the bank’s Mina facility and transportation of its meat to poor Muslim countries.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article147114.ece

Holy cities to be tobacco-free

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By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 1, 2010

RIYADH: As Haj pilgrims flock to the Kingdom from across the world, the Ministry of Health has intensified its campaign to make Makkah and Madinah completely tobacco-free.

“We require the cooperation of pilgrims to make the two holy cities among those with the lowest tobacco consumption in the world,” said Dr. Sameer Al-Sabban, executive director of the Anti-Smoking Campaign in Makkah, adding that the program has been intensified this year.

The sale of tobacco is strictly banned in the five-km radiuses of the Grand Mosque and Holy Mosque in Makkah and Madinah. Billboards and posters with anti-smoking messages, information regarding anti-smoking clinics and fatwas on the subject are on display in the two cities. Buses carrying pilgrims have anti-smoking posters on them, and folders containing pamphlets, flyers, postcards and stickers will also be handed to pilgrims at the Jamrat during Haj.

“A team of scouts and health officials have taken positions at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to raise awareness about the health risks caused by this ugly habit,” said Al-Sabban.

“It’s a pity that smokers gather at the back side of the Grand Mosque to smoke which is hazardous to the entire environment of the holy city. These Saudi youths look for smokers within the holy city and politely give them Miswaks and booklets full of illustrations which can be understood by all people,” he said.

To assist pilgrims, the ministry has set up six anti-smoking clinics in the holy city as part of the campaign. The clinics are open to male and female smokers and services are offered free-of charge.

Makkah is the ideal place to quit smoking, said Al-Sabban, adding that one million of the five million people who die of smoking every year across the world are Muslim. “This is mainly because of their extravagant lifestyles and lack of knowledge of the hazards of smoking,” he said, adding that smokers not only harm themselves but also other people who come near them through passive smoking.

Haj is an ideal opportunity for smokers to quit and those who realize the ill effects of smoking will discontinue for their own sake, he said. A group of Saudi physicians and psychiatrists is helping the anti-smoking campaign, while a host of well-known websites are assisting with the campaign’s promotion.

It is estimated that in the Kingdom 35 to 40 percent of people above the age of 15 smoke. Around 24 percent of male students between the ages of 13 to 15 years smoke, while eight percent of female students smoke. The Kingdom joined the anti-tobacco agreement in May 2005. Saudi Arabia ranks fourth among world countries in tobacco imports and consumption. More than 15 billion cigarettes, worth $168 million, are smoked by Saudis each year, according to figures issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Health Ministers Council.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article177769.ece

Anti-smoke Sign on Hostipal in Mina
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The door which the Imaams use to enter. And the white dome is the place under which the Imaams lead the prayers from.

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Looking into the Past ...
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/44641538@N04/8142841470/in/pool-lookingintothepast/

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qadem https://www.facebook.com/QADEEM1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3jjV_rj7_nQ#at=99

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Haram ex https://www.facebook.com/mahammad.hanif.9/photos

Poor sheep. :(

مكة: الأمطار تصرع بـ 3 شبان... وتحتجز 20 عائلة

الاربعاء, 03 نوفمبر 2010
مكة المكرمة - «الحياة»
Related Nodes: الأمطار أحدثت تجمعات للمياه في العديد من الأحياء. (أحمد محمود)
قضى ثلاثة شبان (سعودي ووافدان) أمس صعقاً في مكة المكرمة، عقب هطول أمطار غزيرة استمرت نحو ثلاث ساعات. وأدت إلى احتجاز نحو 20 مركبة تقل عائلات عدة، قبل أن تتدخل فرق الدفاع المدني لإنقاذها، كما أطفئت ساعة مكة المكرمة نتيجة لشدة انهمار المطر.

واعتبر الناطق الإعلامي في إدارة الدفاع المدني في العاصمة المقدسة المقدم علي المنتشري الحادثة عرضية، مبيناً أن ضحاياها كانوا على ارتفاع أكثر من ألف قدم (جبل الرحمة)، على رغم إطلاق «مدني مكة» تحذيرات عدة تطالب بضرورة توخي الحذر أثناء هطول الأمطار، وتنادي بعدم الصعود إلى الأماكن المرتفعة، نظراً إلى تزامنها مع حالات صعق كهربائية.

وفي سياق متصل، عزا أمين العاصمة المقدسة الدكتور أسامة فضل البار (في بيان أصدره أمس)، تجمع مياه السيول إلى انسداد في شبكة تصريف مياه الأمطار، إضافة إلى أن شبكات تصريف الأمطار لم تكتمل بعد في بعض المناطق، «كما هي الحال بمنطقتي العوالي والنوارية».

إلى ذلك، ذهب مدير إدارة الدفاع المدني بالعاصمة المقدسة العميد جميل أبوأربعين إلى أن كمية الأمطار الغزيرة التي هطلت على مكة المكرمة أمس وأدت إلى ارتفاع منسوب المياه بها، كانت كفيلة باختبار الخطط التي أعدها «مدني مكة» سابقاً.

وعلى الصعيد ذاته، أوضح الناطق الإعلامي لهيئة الأرصاد وحماية البيئة حسين القحطاني أن الأمطار الغزيرة التي هطلت على مكة المكرمة كانت ضمن توقعات هيئة الأرصاد في تقاريرها اليومية، وهي نتاج ما يعرف بانخفاض غور البحر المتوسط، متوقعاً أن تستمر الأمطار إلى مساء اليوم (الأربعاء)، ملمحاً إلى أن الهيئة تبث رسائلها التحذيرية على مدار الـ 24 ساعة.

http://ksa.daralhayat.com/ksaarticle/198870

vQFyJBZnVqQ&feature=player_embedded#!

Mecca: rain kill 3 young men ... Holding 20 families

Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Makkah - the «life»
Related Nodes: rain caused pools of water in many neighborhoods. (Ahmad Mahmoud)

He spent three young men (and Saudi Oalfdan) electrocuted yesterday in Mecca, after heavy rains continued for about three hours. And led to the detention of about 20 vehicles carrying several families, to intervene before the Civil Defense Corps to the rescue, and was extinguished an hour Mecca as a result of the intensity of the downpour.

He said media spokesman in the Department of Civil Defense in the capital of the Holy Lieutenant Ali Montashari the incident accidental, noting that the victims were at a height of more than a thousand feet (Mount Mercy), despite the launch of «civil Mecca» warnings several calls for the need to exercise caution during heavy rainfall, and to discourage the climb to high places, as synchronized with the cases of electric shock.

In a related context, attributed the Secretary of the capital of the Holy Osama al-Fadl bar (in a statement issued yesterday), collected flood water to a blockage in the storm water network, in addition to the drainage in rain is not yet complete in some areas, «as is the case zones Awali Alnuarip ».

, The gold head of civil defense in the capital of the Holy Brigadier General Jamil Oboorbain that the amount of heavy rains in Makkah yesterday and led to the rise of water level, was enough to test plans prepared by the «civil Mecca» earlier.

And at the same, said media spokesman for the Meteorology and Environmental Protection Hussein Al-Qahtani that the heavy rains which lashed the Mecca were among the expectations of the observations in the daily reporting, which is the product of what is known down Gore Mediterranean, expecting the rain to continue into this evening (Wednesday), suggesting that the broadcast warning messages over the past 24 hours.

لاحوول.. وحنا كل ما ترش غرقنا ..!؟ ^^

Poor sheep. :(

Tasty sheep:cry:

Thunderstorm in Makkah kills three pilgrims

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Al Nour Mountain

By Abdul Nabi Shaheen, Correspondent
Published: 16:44 November 3, 2010

Riyadh: Three men, planning to perform Haj, were killed in a thunder storm in Makkah on Tuesday night. The men, who included a Saudi and two Pakistanis, were struck by thunderstorms following heavy rain.

The incident tool place on top of Al Nour Mountain, in which the Cave of Hira, where the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is said to have worshipped God before experiencing revelations, is located. The three were visiting the historical spot, before embarking on a Haj pilgrimage a few days later.

Meanwhile, Prince Khalid Al Faisal, the governor of the Makkah region and chairman of the Central Hajj Committee, has emphasised that the Saudi government has made every effort to deal with the heavy rains.

The weather was so bad that it stopped traffic in several streets in the holy city, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world have converged.

Traffic came to a standstill and many traffic accidents were reported across the city.

The governor, during a visit to the pilgrims’ terminal at the King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah on Tuesday, announced that 1.5 million pilgrims had already arrived in the city.

“He who tours the pilgrims’ terminals those days will think that he is in an international airport. These are great efforts exerted by those working in these terminals. You have seen how pilgrims are treated and served,” the governor said.

Abdullah Rehaimi, the president of Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation, said the authorities have developed a plan, to ease flight traffic at both arrival and departure times.

In a statement, he pointed out that authorities are hoping to make use of the arrival phase which is 34 days, and began on the first of Dhul Qaida (month 11 in the Hijri calendar) and ends on Dhul Hijja 4 (month 12 of the Hijri calendar), and the departure phase, starting on Dhul Hijja 14 and ending on Muharram 15.

The pilgrims’ terminal complex in the airport has capacity for 3,800 passengers per hour.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/thunderstorm-in-makkah-kills-three-pilgrims-1.705945

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http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.843.403/p843x403/582528_272445522871966_840448778_n.jpg
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http://www.aleqt.com/a/570196_174740.jpg

masj h http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSmHbt2a0f4
lSmHbt2a0f4


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Dokae: http://www.stark-ingenieure.de/stahlbau-fassadenbau_en/articles/haram-expansion-fassadenplanung_en.html

adhan : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnsDexlSW7o

http://jazarah.net/ar/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Mecca.jpg

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http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/523052_360294397365199_203238813070759_989194_722094608_n.jpg

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19 30 mecca http://www.haraj.com.sa/111048700/%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1_%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%A7_%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7_82_%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9_%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1_%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B5%D9%84_%D9%84%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A9/


masj http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1h-h4oxcCs

http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/5c46dbe2835b11e1ab011231381052c0_6.jpg
http://web.stagram.com/p/166735323102601936_5850663

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http://www.arabianbusiness.com/photos/makkah-clock-tower-replicas-get-royal-seal-of-approval-450903.html

http://estacaochronographica.blogspot.ca/
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http://www.republika.co.id/berita/dunia-islam/islam-mancanegara/11/10/05/lsl8yg-proyek-perluasan-masjidil-haram-terus-berlangsung

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/Images/newsimages/4208/16AW36J_0704-7.jpg

timelapse Makkkkkah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ956LZmTa4&list=UUGrOy38ZK8ZmZ17oxw_aX8w&index=6&feature=plcp

mas...jid ha..ram http://gajahmenta.blogspot.ca/

makkah clock nuage http://www1.alwatan.com.sa/Pictures/Detail.aspx?Picture_ID=2045

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Pilgrim arrivals cross 1.5 million

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article179707.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau+pilgrim+arrivals.jpg
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal distributes gifts among pilgrims who arrived at Jeddah Islamic Port on Wednesday during an inspection tour. (AN photo by Ghazi Mahdi)
By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 4, 2010 02:23

JEDDAH: More than 1.5 million pilgrims have already arrived in the Kingdom for this year’s Haj through King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah and Prince Muhammad Airport in Madinah, said Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the Haj Terminal at KAIA, the governor said he hoped the squatting of pilgrims in public places would end soon as a result of the measures taken by the government, including the Haj permit system.

He also referred to the precautionary measures taken by the Civil Defense and other agencies to protect pilgrims from flash floods. “All Haj-related departments have taken measures to face any eventualities during the Haj season,” he added.

Prince Khaled, who was accompanied by Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed and Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy, inspected the arrangements being made at the Haj Terminal to serve pilgrims.

The Makkah governor also opened a new unit to combat forgery at the Haj terminal. Col. Khalafullah Al-Tuwairaki, commander of passport officers at the terminal, briefed Prince Khaled on the unit’s mission and facilities.

Abdullah Rehaimi, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, said his organization is currently implementing a 34-day Haj operation plan.

He said the Haj Terminal, which spreads over an area of 90,000 square meters, could receive 3,800 pilgrims per hour.

On Wednesday, the governor visited the Jeddah Islamic Port and received a group of pilgrims who came from Sudan by ship.

Prince Khaled also inspected the expansion of the port’s northern container station, which is being implemented at a cost of SR543 million. He laid the foundation for a laser inspection system at the port’s Red Sea Gateway for Containers. The project will cost SR44.19 million.

Addressing a ceremony on the occasion, Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry highlighted the remarkable progress achieved by Jeddah Islamic Port.

Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said a meeting of heads of health departments was held in Riyadh on Wednesday to discuss how to implement the directive of Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif, chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, with regard to coordinating health services offered by various government departments to the guests of God.

The meeting reviewed the preparations of the various departments for Haj and efforts to combat infectious diseases.

“The meeting also decided to establish a unified department for the transfer of emergency cases, which will be based at Mina Emergency Hospital,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, traffic police have finalized traffic plans for this year’s Haj. Maj. Gen. Suleiman Al-Ajlan, assistant commander of traffic during Haj, said vehicles that are not licensed to carry pilgrims would be impounded until Dul Hijjah 12 and fined SR1,500 if found at the entrance to Makkah and SR3,000 for those at the entrances of the holy sites.

He said there would be changes in the traffic plan this year because of the new monorail, adding that the Mashair Railway will carry at least 160,000 pilgrims this year.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article179574.ece

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/Images/newsimages/3687/01AW36R_0311-20.jpg
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal distributes gifts among pilgrims

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/Local/News_Detail.aspx?ArticleID=27815&CategoryID=5

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/263813_176970019031495_100001554931911_461266_8214266_n.jpg

Hajj resume http://en.wathakker.net/Hajj/

http://en.wathakker.net/Hajj/

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http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/299331_117416228361919_100002806286136_70332_1077324361_n.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJXT6MItP-E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk3HHyds3gM&feature=related

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309255_117416761695199_100002806286136_70335_464618268_n.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PiBVoFdKEY

toil.et http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpy5x7Nchck&feature=player_embedded#!



http://www.okaz.com.sa/new/Issues/20121020/Con20121020541608.htm

scand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLVuyO10CNI&feature=channel&list=UL



egypt..retou.r http://www.flickr.com/photos/hclm49/2080837283/



http://atjehpost.com/gallery/article/image/20121008_123535_masjidil-haram-saat-menjelang-isya.jpg

http://static.republika.co.id/uploads/images/detailnews/kabah-di-masjidil-haram-makkah-_121008145013-743.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c0.0.800.382.44365361803/p843x403/427936_490459737645429_663361799_n.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/live.makkah.madinah


http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/603288_413452282038063_894565674_n.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr4GaSAoFuE


برج ساعة

http://www.al-madina.com/files/imagecache/node_photo/154673.jpeg

http://www.al-madina.com/files/154673.jpeg
http://www.al-madina.com/node/380912

http://www.makkah-now.com/contents/newsm/5784.jpg



ab4h8qCGCaM

توسعة المسجد النبوي


http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/382446_398526976877087_1384658431_n.jpg


http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/391655_4165262381295_2096216941_n.jpg[/IMG]



[IMGhttp://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/539498_4177195519616_6195833_n.jpg




http://www.spa.gov.sa/readsinglenews.php?id=1028901&scroll=1

http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/113266_1347364859_9295.jpg
http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/113267_1347364873_2167.jpg
http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/113268_1347364886_3314.jpg

سقيا مياه زمزم بالمسجد النبوي / تقرير (واس)24/10/1433 هـ T06.jpg/11/09/2012

minar...et http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIY1a3_vIdk&feature=relmfu




..t http://avb.s-oman.net/showthread.php?t=1678187


car.t http://www.al-madina.com/node/396287

mas.jid na.bawi http://www.up-king.com/almaciat/sqtnmc3m85ayeisjozew.jpg
http://abofares.3abber.com/post/71664

wheel chair http://www.alriyadh.com/2012/07/21/article753485.html


expansi.on http://www.blhosin.com/vb/showthread.php?p=209524

garde.n http://www.al-madina.com/node/394945


ha.j http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/how-the-mourning-of-the-9th-of-av-became-the-highlight-of-ramadan/2012/07/29/

h.ira http://www.flickr.com/photos/13923758@N06/4783678172/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamranasgharshaikh/7610973746/in/photostream/


http://www.alriyadh.com/2012/07/28/article755455.html


Mak-clo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrj8agC6fo8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIx88eanoeg&list=UU6e9QUNWuJqi27CAqeV6vpA&index=1&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pty5BdJoV7w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tLEw2l0A-I

expan ...sion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dMqcTvjlPA

basemen...t http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llRGmfT8UEs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OLlBmbITjw&feature=channel&list=UL

http://www.alriyadh.com/2012/07/14/article751709.html

museu....m rrriyyyadh: http://www.aljazeera.net/news/pages/9b949ade-a024-4c5d-a531-6576e777b9ff


blog http://www.oumra.blogspot.ca/

exp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q46Ptb5Tlvw

Kaba...h http://www.flickr.com/photos/na5wadotcom/5271334837/in/photostream/

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مشروع وقف الملك عبد العزيز

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Construction at Mina forces Haj operators to cut pilgrim numbers

[IMG]http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article66364.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_railway.jpg
By DIANA AL-JASSEM| ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 4, 2010 02:22

JEDDAH: The area for tents in Mina has decreased by 30 percent this year because of ongoing construction projects in the holy sites, something that experts say has limited the number of people who will be able to perform Haj.

“Only around 1.75 million foreign pilgrims will be performing Haj this year. This low number is because of the little area that is available for tents,” said Saad Al-Qurashi, head of the Haj Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

“The area designated for tents has decreased by 30 percent. This is because of the various construction projects that are taking place there including the monorail. As a result, there is space for fewer tents for pilgrims,” he added.

Al-Qurashi said the Ministry of Haj should not carry out its projects in areas that are used by pilgrims. “They can carry out their construction projects in the mountain areas. The Mina towers are successful structures; they’ve built six towers on a mountain which was empty and not used by pilgrims previously,” Al-Qurashi said, adding that the ministry should look for alternative areas where projects can be carried out without affecting the tent city.

The JCCI’s Haj Committee has made a recommendation to the ministry that future projects be carried out along the mountain areas in Mina. “This would increase available space for tents,” said Al-Qurashi.

Earlier this week, Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy confirmed about 1.75 million foreign pilgrims will be performing Haj this year and that they would be joined by some 250,000 domestic pilgrims. The minister said the government would carry out more projects for the welfare of pilgrims, and that the ministry is exchanging expertise and information to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims to the Jamrats.

Haj service operators have been complaining that they are unable to accommodate a large number of pilgrims because of limited space and unavailability of tents.

“Last year we received 1,200 pilgrims. This is because we had space to accommodate 1,500 pilgrims. We always take fewer pilgrims to ensure our pilgrims have a comfortable Haj and space for buffets and other services,” said Mohammed Al-Manjoumi, organizer for Haj service operator Noor Al-Islam.

“This year, our space has decreased considerably. We’re only able to have 1,000 pilgrims and so we’ve only allowed 700 pilgrims to ensure they have a safe and comfortable stay,” he added.

Abu Usama, an official with Al-Balad Al-Amin, another Haj service operator, said his organization has only allowed 600 pilgrims this year due to limited spaces. “In the past we were able to accept 750 pilgrims,” he said.

Muhannad Al-Ghrabawi, an official with Al-Ashraf Haj service operator, said his company has rented tents enough for 500 pilgrims. “Prices have increased because of a limited number of tents available this year. We’ve rented tents for 500 pilgrims, but we’ve only accepted 400,” he said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article179590.ece

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269188_10150250511438954_794078953_7192333_7669293_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267601_10150250512913954_794078953_7192359_984532_n.jpg

http://www.tohajj.com/images/hrm/Hrmen088.gif
www.tohajj.com


http://www.chiba11.com/vb/showthread.php?p=3905

A Hindu priest’s journey to Islam

http://static.blogstorage.hi-pi.com/photos/rossignol.blogspace.fr/images/gd/1274275948/Le-pelerinage-a-la-Mecque-la-Kaaba.jpg
[/CENTER]
November 4, 2010
Sikandar Zulqarnine

MAKKAH: Returning to his room after praying Isha Salah, Abdur Rahman, 42, an Indian national, sits down with a pen and a mind full of thoughts. He is writing the story of his life, “Pandit bane Musalmaan” (Hindu priest becomes Muslim) in his mother tongue, Hindi.

He works as a storekeeper in Saudi Binladin BTAT Construction Company at the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project opposite to the Grand Mosque.

Sushil Kumar Sharma, he was known as when he first came to Jeddah on May 12, 2002. His hometown is Amadalpur, a small village in the north Indian state of Haryana. He was born in an orthodox Hindu family who were privileged with conducting religious rituals in the village’s temple.

While staying in the company’s accommodation in Jeddah, a colleague of his gave him some Islamic books in Hindi. He was then transferred to Riyadh to work for a project at Princess Noura University for Women.
“It was at the company’s housing camp that I met a number of Muslims from India and Pakistan who explained me the religion of Islam,” said Abdur Rahman.
“Among them was one of my closest friends, Saleem who hailed from Rajasthan (a northwestern state of India). Both of us shared the same room. During leisure time he narrated the stories of Prophets of Islam and read out Hadeeth (sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him).
“My heart trembled. I began to question myself. What would happen to me after death? Will my sins put me in the hellfire forever? I was afraid of punishment in the grave for the sinners and non-believers,” he recalled.
“I began to spend sleepless nights. I knew it was time for me to embrace Islam and become a true follower of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). At last my lifelong search for truth ended here.

“The next day morning I revealed my intention to embrace Islam to my friend Saleem and other colleagues in the camp. There was jubilation in the company. Everyone was happy, they congratulated and hugged me.
“It was also the system of universal brotherhood with no difference of caste, color, creed or race that attracted me towards Islam,” Abdur Rahman said.
The following day a meeting with the members of the Cooperative Office for Call and Guidance in Al-Batha, Riyadh, was arranged. The Imam of the camp’s mosque asked him to say the Shahada.
“I recited La ilaha illAllah Muhammad-ur-Rasool Allah wholeheartedly, accepting Allah as my Lord and Muhammad (peace be upon him) as His Messenger. The Imam suggested me to change my name to Abdur Rahman, which I readily accepted.”

Soon, Abdur Rahman was transferred to Bahra, a town located near the Makkah-Jeddah highway. “The project engineer there was very pleased to know I had embraced Islam. He was very kind towards me and extended all help and cooperation,” Abdur Rahman said.
“But I wanted to be closer to Allah. I prayed to Allah to transfer me to Makkah. My prayers were answered and I was transferred to the project I’m working on currently which is located in close proximity of the Grand Mosque.”

His main concern now is his family back home.

“I now have a big task before me: To take the message of Islam to my family members.” Abdur Rahman has a wife and two sons – 16- and 7-years-old.
“I have told them on phone that I have accepted the religion of Islam and have become a Muslim. At first they did not believe me. My wife told me she would decide only when I return to India on vacation. Everyday I am making Du’a and pleading Allah to guide them to the right path and soften their hearts to accept Islam,” said Abdur Rahman with tears in his eyes.
“I may also face lots of opposition from relatives, friends and co-villagers. But I am determined to face them. I am confident that Allah will help me,” he added.
Abdur Rahman also had some words of advice for everyone else.
“I would like to convey the message to all non-Muslims of the world to accept Islam and be successful in this life and in the hereafter. It also saddens me to see so many Muslims not following the religion of Islam as preached by Prophet of Allah. I appeal to them to stop imitating other people.”

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010110486735

Hussain Guisti

The saudi man who raise money and
made the northess mosque in the world a reality

http://www.saphirnews.com/photo/art/default/2498756-3515767.jpg?v=1290521372

http://d2oadd98wnjs7n.cloudfront.net/medias/188201/pictures/full/20120318211149-Midnight_Sun_Mosque_648x432.jpg?1332130361

http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/01293/Mosque_Canada_J_1293935cl-8.jpg

http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00855/Hussain_Guisti_m_855541artw.jpg

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQrfJtRcNkSnXXFj5SlnIMnCwS4Bw7zCDx3eZWr_ie0db8AIInm1Q

ifgsY4wWl9c

fQlUAU5-uZ4

fQlUAU5-uZ4

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/2010/11/28199c20-b6d1-490d-99c3-022cfe057041HiRes.JPG

Hussain Guisti of the Zubaidah Tallah Foundation that helped build the mosque is overcome with emotion after calling the first "call to prayer" at the Canadian Arctic's first mosque in Inuvik, where it will to serve as spiritual home to the area's fledgling Islamic community.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/5719138726_2af8efdc0b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildrose/5719138726/)
Midnight Sun Mosque - Inuvik (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildrose/5719138726/) par Wild Rose Dogs (http://www.flickr.com/people/wildrose/), sur Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5878621650_203165b9aa_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/us_mission_canada/5878621650/)
Midnight Sun Mosque (http://www.flickr.com/photos/us_mission_canada/5878621650/) par US Mission Canada (http://www.flickr.com/people/us_mission_canada/), sur Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6099/5901541619_41086025ab_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/trilliumarts/5901541619/)
Midnight Sun Mosque in Inuvik (http://www.flickr.com/photos/trilliumarts/5901541619/) par gizmo4223 (http://www.flickr.com/people/trilliumarts/), sur Flickr


http://almasjid.wordpress.com/page/2/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/ali-pics/4967995574/

no music : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XORleI-PwhY
video ara http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNX-2-IffYw&feature=related

article: http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/456792-canadas-midnight-sun-mosque.html

Mecca Projects on SSC

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/Portals/0/Images/2011/nov/10world1.jpg


MECCA l TOPPED OUT l Abraj Al Bait l 601M
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=192169

MECCA l U/C l Holy Mosque Expansion
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=566372

MECCA l U/C l Mataf Expansion
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1437182

MECCA l U/C l Shariah Arch
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1576977

MECCA l U/C l Jabal Omar Project
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=300295

MECCA + MADINAH l U/C l High Speed Rail Link"
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=710292

MECCA l U/C l Al-Masha'er Metro Project
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=722754

MECCA l U/C l Makkah Gate Project
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1369311

MECCA l U/C l Jabal Al Kaaba Hotel
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1465168

MECCA + MADINAH l PRO l Cable Car Systems
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1499836

MECCA l PRO l Redeveloping Central Area
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=593481

MECCA l U/C l Jabal Khandama Development
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=203203

MAKKAH l PREPARATION l METRO LINK
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1351035

Mecca l Prep l King Abdullah Medical City
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1527726&highlight=makkah

MECCA l COMPLETED l Jamarat Bridge
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=307843

MECCA l APPROVED l Jabal Al-Sharashif & Goaz AL-Nakkasah Development
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1491675

MECCA l U/C l West Gate.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=523938

MECCA l Pro l City of Knowledge project
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1487618

MECCA l PRO l Makkah North Gate Project (Haramain Access Project)
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1487614

MAKKAH l PRO l Al Haram Library
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1057285

MECCA l PRO l Al Shamiya
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=423549

MECCA l U/C l Rawabi Abraj Al Bait
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=542438

MECCA l PRO l Drb Al Khalil
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=509693

MECCA l PRO l King Abdullah Center for Dialog
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1244895

Mecca | App |Mecca Gateway Cultural Oasis
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1221533

MECCA l PRO l Ajyad Al Masafi Development
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=775666



Madinah Projects on SSC



MADDINA l U/C l Prophet’s Mosque Expansion
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=552744&highlight=madinah

MADDINA l U/C l Madinah Airport Expansion
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=729120

MECCA + MADINAH l U/C l High Speed Rail Link
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=710292&highlight=madinah

MADDINA l PREPARATION l QUBA'A MOSQUE EXPANSION
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1562399

MADDINAH l U/C l Knowledge City.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=363711&highlight=madinah

MECCA + MADINAH l PRO l Cable Car Systems
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1499836




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source http://irandefence.net/showthread.php?p=1023545

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Archeologist in Australia: http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article251445.ece

3 domes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/israrahmed/6541979633/in/pool-73337237@N00/


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المحكمة العليا تدعو إلى تحري رؤية هلال شهر ذي الحجة

Supreme Court calls to sight the crescent of Dhu al-Hijjah

http://ireland.mysteriousworld.com/Content/Images/History/MoonPhases.jpg

دعت المحكمة العليا عموم المسلمين في جميع أنحاء المملكة إلى تحري رؤية هلال شهر ذي الحجة مساء يوم السبت 29/11/1431هـ حسب تقويم أم القرى ، فإن لم ير فيُتحرى مساء يوم الأحد 1/12/1431هـ حسب تقويم أم القرى .
جاء ذلك في بيان صدر عن المحكمة العليا فيما يأتي نصه :
الحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وبعد : فنظرا للتقارير الواردة الى المحكمة العليا من اللجان المشكلة لترائي الأهلة في مناطق المملكة بمشاركة مدينة الملك عبدالعزيز للعلوم والتقنية المتضمنة عدم رؤية هلال شهر ذي القعدة لا بالعين المجردة ولابواسطة المناظير ليلة السبت 1/11/1431هـ حسب تقويم أم القرى ، ونظرا لثبوت دخول شهر شوال يوم الجمعة 1 / 10 / 1431هـ حسب تقويم أم القرى .
وبناء على الأمر السامي البرقي رقم 6605/ب وتاريخ 15/ 6 / 1430هـ وعلى قراري هيئة كبار العلماء رقم /2/ في 13/8/1392هـ ورقم / 108/ في 2/1/1403هـ وعلى لائحة تحري رؤية هلال أوائل الشهور القمرية الصادرة بقرار مجلس الوزارء رقم 143 وتاريخ 22/8/1418هـ ، فإن المحكمة العليا بالمملكة العربية السعودية ترغب من عموم المسلمين في جميع أنحاء المملكة تحري رؤية هلال شهر ذي الحجة مساء يوم السبت 29/11/1431هـ حسب تقويم أم القرى الموافق 6/نوفمبر تشرين الثاني /2010م ، فأن لم ير فيُتحرى رؤية الهلال مساء يوم الأحد 1/12/1431هـ حسب تقويم أم القرى الموافق 7/نوفمبر تشرين الثاني /2010م .
وترجو المحكمة العليا ممن يراه بالعين المجردة أوبواسطة المناظير إبلاغ أقرب محكمة إليه وتسجيل شهادته لديها ، أو الإتصال بأقرب مركز لمساعدته في الوصول الى أقرب محكمة .
وتود المحكمة من جميع المترائين الانضمام الى اللجان المشكلة في المناطق لهذا الغرض ، وتأمل ممن لديه القدة على الترائي الإهتمام بالأمر والمشاركة فيه والإحتساب لما فيه من التعاون على البر والتقوى .
والله الموفق ، وصلى الله وسلم وبارك على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين .

http://www.burnews.com/news.php?action=show&id=18801

Supreme Court called for all Muslims in all parts of the Kingdom to sight the crescent of Dhu al-Hijjah on the evening of Saturday, 29/11/1431 AH according to a calendar or villages, not seen Vihry on the evening of Sunday, 12.1.1431 AH according to a calendar or villages.

This came in a statement issued by the Supreme Court with the following text:
Praise be to God, prayer and peace upon the Messenger of Allah and after: Due to reports to the Supreme Court of the committees formed to sight the crescent in the Kingdom's regions with the participation of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology that are included do not see the crescent of the month Dhul not with the naked eye and Aboistp perspectives on the night of Saturday, 11/01/1431 AH according to the calendar Umm Al-Qura, given the evidence of the holy month of Ramadan on Friday, 10/01/1431 AH according to a calendar or villages.

Based on the Royal telecopy number 6605 / B Date 15/06/1430 e and resolutions of the senior scientists / 2 / on 8/13/1392 e No. / 108 / in 02.01.1403 e and a list of sight the new moon the first lunar month of the decision Council of Ministers No. 143, date 08.22.1418 e, the Supreme Court in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes of all Muslims in all parts of the Kingdom of sight the crescent of Dhu al-Hijjah on the evening of Saturday, 29.11.1431 e as Umm Al-Qura calendar, 6 / November / 2010, did not see the Vihry sighting of the crescent on the evening of Sunday, 01.12.1431 e as Umm Al-Qura calendar, 7 / November / 2010.

And requests the Supreme Court who see with the naked eye perspectives to inform the nearest relative or the court and record their testimony, or contact the nearest center to help him access to the nearest court.
The Tribunal wishes from all Almtraiin to join the committees formed in the regions for this purpose, and hopes of those who have straightedging Turaii the interest and participation in the matter and for the computation of cooperating in righteousness and piety.
God bless you, and may Allah bless him and bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions.

*************

Entrance to the inside of the Kaaba is gained through a door set 7 feet above the ground on the north-eastern wall of the Kaaba, which acts as the facade. It is accessed by a wooden staircase on wheels, usually stored between the arch-shaped gate of Banu Shaybah and the well of Zamzam.

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vi; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQUA5b4_DkQ&feature=player_embedded

remote control
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Construction Aid Engineers

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Construction-Aid-Engineers/135385723198158[/CENTER]


http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/110680_1343263512_206.jpg
His Highness the Emir of Medina announce the date of the events suitable selection of the city as the capital of culture 2013, (SPA) 06.09.1433 H - 26/07/2012

http://www.spa.gov.sa/readsinglenews.php?id=1018179&scroll=1

سمو أمير منطقة المدينة المنورة يعلن موعد انطلاق فعاليات مناسبة اختيار المدينة عاصمة للثقافة2013م



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zFR7evkGy58&feature=related
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بعد ثبوت رؤية الهلال

الأحد الأول من ذي الحجة والوقوف بعرفة منتصف الشهر الجاري


video inside: http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/11/06/125139.html

-

Request for information
about this old pic

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa211/saher_taif/MAKKAH%20KABA%20OLD%20PICS/adec.jpg?t=1204477633

I would like to know why there is tents on the mataf all around the Kaaba on this old pic.This is the only old pic I found with tents on mataf. Is it for shadow during hot days? or what?

Also to know ''in english'' what is written under the picture. And any information about this pic, the year, hajj season, summer or winter, special day, etc...

http://www.jurnalhaji.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/masjid-nabawi-lawas1.jpg


http://www.eb7ar.com/pics/history/makkah/b/23.jpg
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Says November 16 to be Eid al-Adha holy day

Saudi sets start of hajj pilgrimage for November 15

http://www.dobuy.co.uk/cbh/images/mk5.jpg
RIYADH (Agencies)
The annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca will begin on November 15 after Saudi authorities on Saturday set November 16 for the Eid al-Adha holy day and festival, following the sighting of the crescent moon.

The kingdom's official SPA news agency says the court confirmed the sighting of the new moon Saturday. According to the lunar calendar, hajj begins nine days into the 12th month of the year - making the start Nov. 15 this year in the Gregorian calendar.

The ruling means the annual hajj will now start on November 15.

More than 1.5 million Muslims from all over the world have already converged on the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in western Saudi Arabia for the hajj, the world's largest annual gathering.

Officials estimate a total of about two million will take part in this year's hajj.

Eid al-Adha, which commemorates biblical patriarch Ibrahim's (or Abraham's) acceptance of God's command to sacrifice his son Ismail (or Ishmael), always falls on the 10th of Dhul al-Hijja on the Islamic calendar.

As Ibrahim was allowed to sacrifice a ram instead, Muslim families mark the day by ritually sacrificing sheep, goats, cows and other livestock, the meat of which is also shared with the needy.

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/11/06/125143.html

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https://lh4.ggpht.com/fVPTNVL9lSiJ8416pHj4xFMETpQrfGH7hQ1GMGxO90EJIUEyDWNT-0NvK28KaD5pJyLS=w705
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.ostrobar.masjid.haram

'Asr Adhaan called by Sheikh 'Issam ibn 'Ali Khan
Inside al Mukabariyya
October 2011

QAVeGAeJbU4#!


08ZoagK-o0g&feature=player_embedded

new http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfw-YKtUbZk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYFGhCTwY9c&feature=player_embedded#!

http://www.facebook.com/salat.min.haramayn/photos_albums?filter=1

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bAqg2vdbRVI&feature=related

http://widyagama.ac.id/iwan-nugroho/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/masjid-haram-outdoor-sound.jpg
http://widyagama.ac.id/iwan-nugroho/?attachment_id=2175

http://cdn3.staztic.com/screenshots/comostrobarmasjidharam-2-0.jpg


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http://www.adcoins.net/showthread.php?p=81121
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Excellent pilgrimage assured

http://www.gif-anime.org/im/gif/drapeau/arabie-saoudite/arabie-saoudite17.gif
By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 7, 2010

MAKKAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal inspected the preparations for Haj in the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah on Saturday and expressed confidence that this year’s annual pilgrimage would be much better than those in previous years in terms of services.

He said the use of the Mashair Railway would bring about remarkable improvements in the transportation of pilgrims between the holy places. Established at a cost of SR6.5 billion, the new railway will have a capacity to transport 72,000 pilgrims an hour.

Nine stations have been constructed in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah, each having three stations. This is the second largest project implemented by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs after the SR4.5 billion high-tech Jamrat Bridge project in Mina.

Prince Khaled was accompanied by Prince Mansour bin Miteb, minister of municipal and rural affairs, Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy and Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry. The tour began from the nonstop transport system, which will be used this year to transport 780,000 pilgrims from Iran, Turkey, Europe, Australia, US, and those from non-Arab African countries. The system will enable the transportation of 44,000 pilgrims between the holy places within an hour.

“It will reduce the time for reaching Muzdalifah from Arafat from five hours to 20 minutes,” an official statement said, adding that the system would be developed further to transport three million pilgrims in the future.

Prince Khaled also inspected the fourth floor of the high-tech Jamrat Bridge in Mina as well as the helipad to take pilgrims suffering from chronic diseases to specialized hospitals using the Saudi Red Crescent Authority’s air ambulances. This is the first time an air ambulance service has been set up near the Jamrat.

Meanwhile, Prince Khaled chaired a meeting of the Central Haj Committee at the governorate office in Muzdalifah and reviewed preparations for Haj in the presence of ministers and top officials.

The governor urged government departments and private agencies to mobilize all their resources to serve pilgrims and make the Haj operation a resounding success.

He thanked the various ministries and departments for carrying out new service projects in the holy places. “This year we have completed a number of major projects including the Mashair Railway, the last phase of the Jamrat Bridge project and the rainwater drainage system,” he explained.

He said expansion work at King Abdulaziz Airport’s Haj Terminal was completed before the Haj season, adding that this helped pilgrims enjoy quick services at the airport.

He said the new Red Crescent helipads in Mawiya, Wadi Qadid, Shumaisy and Al-Laith would benefit pilgrims.

Speaking about the Haj awareness campaign, Prince Khaled said it would contribute to reducing the number of pilgrims who squat in public places.

He said more than 112,000 pilgrims have already registered with domestic pilgrim companies and obtained Haj permits. “The figure is much higher than in previous years and shows that the media campaign is bearing fruit,” he said.

In a related development, the Civil Defense department said it has installed about 500 CCTV cameras in Makkah and the holy places to monitor the movement of pilgrims 24 hours a day.

The department has 460 centers in Makkah and the holy places in addition to 40 field units stationed outside the city.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article181883.ece

http://sustg.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/saudi-motorcycle-SUSTG-photo-courtesy-of-bashphoto.jpeg
http://sustg.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Mecca-Construction-SUSTG-Bashphoto.jpeg
http://sustg.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/makkah-city-construction.jpeg
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http://sustg.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/makkahmosqueheader1-1024x683.jpg

[A new mosque under construction in Makkah, near a well-to-do neighborhood. Saudi Arabia's economic growth has fueled commercial and religious projects across the Kingdom.


http://sustg.org/amazing-photos-from-the-growing-and-changing-but-still-traditional-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia-slideshow/

http://topislamicwallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Makkah_Alharam_rare_view.jpg

http://topislamicwallpapers.com/2012/09/25/al-haram-rare-view-mecca-wallpapers/

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"Smokers fined at Jeddah airport"

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article182812.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_smokers.jpg
Signs warn passengers and visitors against smoking at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. (SPA)

By DIANA AL-JASSEM |ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 8, 2010 00:40 Updated: Nov 8, 2010 00:40

JEDDAH: Twelve people were fined SR200 each for smoking at King Abdulaziz International Airport’s north terminal on Sunday morning, the first day of a nationwide smoking ban in the Kingdom’s airports. All 12 people were caught smoking between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation and chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), issued the ban. Airports across the Kingdom were asked to implement it starting Dul Hijjah 1 (Nov. 7).

“The airport has been working with the Ministry of interior to get people’s data. Through recorded data, we can recognize smokers and inform them by SMS,” said GACA spokesman Khaled Al-Khaibari.

To make people aware of the ban, GACA launched an awareness campaign in cooperation with travel agencies and government offices. “We used loudspeakers to announce the ban many times in different languages, in addition to distributing brochures for airport visitors and staff. Pilgrims who have no idea about the decision will be allowed to continue their journey without paying fines, but they could be stopped in the future,” said Al-Khaibari.

Serafi Mega Mall has implemented a similar smoking ban at its premises in Jeddah. Anas Al-Serafi, director of Serafi Mega Mall, banned smoking inside the mall as of Sunday. “This decision is the first of its kind in the Kingdom. Our aim is to create a healthy, clean and smoke-free environment at the mall,” said Al-Serafi.

“The management at the mall has been asked to implement the ban starting Sunday. All customers and staff will be forced to stop smoking inside the mall’s cafes, shops and play areas,” he added.

Al-Serafi said the ban will be welcomed by visitors to the mall. “We cannot issue fines, but smokers will be asked to stop smoking or forced to leave the mall. Posters and signs will be on display at the mall to warn people,” he said.

He also said the new rule might lead to a decrease in visitors. “The rule will be implemented stringently. Saudis abide by this rule while traveling abroad. Smoking is banned in malls in Europe and other Arab countries such as Bahrain, the UAE and Syria,” he said.

“The mall holds a number of healthy campaigns and social exhibitions to encourage moral behavior. As a result, it has become the duty of the mall’s management to ensure a healthy and safe environment for visitors,” said Al-Serafi.

Abdullah Sultan, assistant general manger of IN10SO, a popular car racing and entertainment center at Serafi Mega Mall, said he expects difficulties in light of the decision.

“This decision is considered a good step but this can affect us negatively. Most of our customers are youth who are used to smoking. It is not only the youth who smoke, but families too. They will not accept it lightly,” said Sultan.

“We should ban smoking gradually. We should, as a first step, have a separate area for people who smoke and keep the rest smoke free. The rate of smokers at the mall is very high with over 80 percent smoking. Forcing the customers to stop smoking would lead to a decrease in visitors,” he added.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article182751.ece

http://www.m5zn.com/uploads/2011/1/2/photo/010211080101l100wei7uh.jpg

P-C-T m-taf expos

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http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/375301_278592822188280_100001126946132_778403_1441447764_n.jpg

B6NoaRVlQcw


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6tJGMQrEA4A

m-taf rond

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417838_221265121299089_100002468089830_441114_350479730_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/423816_221265641299037_100002468089830_441116_374083825_n.jpg

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http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429052_231604013598533_100002468089830_463048_1366988279_n.jpg

it's getting bigger!

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new mataf spirale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQaJtczU7M4&feature=autoplay&list=ULS-QWrJqpQtc&lf=mfu_in_order&playnext=4

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6854189553_203cb8c391_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasan_al-kh/6854189553/in/photostream/
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Confusion prevails over Haj quota allotment among Palestinians

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/78218854.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF8789219B309651A2344B3FB6181489C6D6AAA28382E54C7043A3F313F10AF4B8936EE7
Palestinians On Hajj Pilgrimage Cross Border At Rafah Into Egypt - 03
By MOHAMMED MAR'I | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 6, 2010

RAMALLAH: Several families of Palestinian prisoners in West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday accused Palestinian Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash of depriving them from making the annual Haj pilgrimage to Makkah.

The ministry said that Custodian of the Two Holy King Abdullah invited 2,000 Palestinians to attend the Haj, as his guests, with transportation and housing costs covered by the king. It added that the invitees will be selected equally from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

However, people from Hebron said that Al-Habbash dropped the names of 204 pilgrims from Hebron, East Jerusalem, the 1948 Arab areas, and from Jordan.

They added that their names were dropped after they were instructed to prepare themselves to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Haj pilgrimage.

On Friday, the East Jerusalem's pilgrims protested Al-Habbash’s measure in front of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s Office in Ramallah.

The Palestinian Minister of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Issa Qaraqi' said that his ministry was informed in the last hour of preparations that Al-Habbash dropped the 204 names for Gaza Strip.

He added that the Al-Habbash's decision was against the understandings between the two ministries.

The pilgrims from Hebron and East Jerusalem called on President Mahmoud Abbas to intervene to allow them to make the Haj pilgrimage since most of them are "disabled, blind or infected with cancer."

http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article181795.ece

120-year-old lady going for Hajj!

Born in 1890 Going for Hajj in 2010

India's Munni Begum ready for pilgrimage

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AB8T0fiGnqU/TLOWR-j-TRI/AAAAAAAACds/Cm5zPa-lJ5k/s1600/Oldest+Haj+pilgrim+Munni+Begum+of+India+is+120+year+old..JPG
November 8, 2010

Munni Begum is 120 year old and is about to go for Haj, after special permission as her name didn’t figure in the draw of lots.

Begum gave birth to eight sons and daughters, heads a huge family that lives in Kho Nagorian in Jaipur.Family unhidden that Munni Begum was born in August 1890. Begum has 52 grandsons and granddaughters beside 96-odd great grandsons and great granddaughters other than Two dozen great-great-grandchildren [and their kids too].

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AB8T0fiGnqU/TLOZ91YTKXI/AAAAAAAACdw/4tf6LW91vYU/s1600/Munni+Begum+120+year+oldest+woman+Haji.JPG

Begum has seen Three centuries, and now is all set for the pilgrimage she has waited for her entire life. On Saturday she reached the office of Haj Committee to fill the form. The Central Haj Committee officials from Delhi gave her special permission.

The Rajasthan Haj Welfare Society has requested the Saudia Arabia government that special attention should be paid to her because of Munni’s age.

Munni Begum is perhaps the oldest woman on record to embark for the holy journey. Begum herself says:

“I wished to go for Haj ever since i was married in my teenage,
and thus my wish is going to be fulfilled after over a century.”

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AB8T0fiGnqU/TLOckUKMsfI/AAAAAAAACd0/TL1VDRPpwMM/s1600/Oldest+haj+pilgrim+munni+begam+120+years+elderly+woman+from+India.JPG

In recent years the pilgrims have begun going at a comparatively younger age, still a large number of Indians who go to Hejaz [Arabia] are over sixty. And Munni Begum clearly beats them as well. One hopes that along with other Hajis, she also manages to perform the Haj and returns safely. Amen

http://hajjnewsonline.com/2010/11/08/120-year-old-munni-begum-is-about-to-hajj/

vKYH05Si0LE

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/262958_283900035043458_1672767000_n.jpg
The first hour in the Kingdom was in Mecca next to the Grand Mosque in Mecca 1352, up 30 meters above the ground

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A7wFuwCCYAE-0CT.jpg
صورة قديمة جدا لـ مكة المكرمة حيث مكان مولد النبي ويظهر المنزل الذي بنته أم هارون الرشيد

http://www.qwled.com/vb/t281248.html

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Kaaba key keeper passes away at 82

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Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheibi
By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 8, 2010 00:38 Updated: Nov 8, 2010 00:38

MAKKAH: Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheibi, the keeper of the Holy Kaaba’s key, passed away Sunday morning. He was 82. His body was buried in the Maalla cemetery after funeral prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Al-Sheibi family has been holding the position of the Kaaba key keeper since the time of jahiliya (pre-Islamic period). It was inherited by the eldest member of the family and did not transfer from father to son. Age was the basis for the key’s inheritance.

All Muslim rulers have respected Al-Sheibi family being the custodian of the Holy Kaaba and its key. The family of the present custodians is linked with Sheiba bin Othman Abitalha who lived during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Al-Sheibi family has been holding the position since the time of Qusay bin Kilab who lived before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). King Faisal gave the Kaaba key to Sheikh Ameen, brother of Abdulaziz. Sheikh Abdulaziz has been keeping the key for the last 16 years. Al-Sheibi family has been serving the Holy Kaaba for the last 15 centuries. There are 370 members in the family and most of them live in Makkah.

The Holy Kaaba is cleaned twice a year; once in the middle of the lunar month of Shaaban and the second in the middle of Dul Qaada using Zamzam water mixed with rose water and perfumed with Oud.

According to Abdulaziz, the Holy Kaaba was kept open three times a month for people to enter and pray inside. But when the number of people seeking to enter the holy edifice increased it was stopped.

The key of the Kaaba does not change with the change of its door. During the time of King Khaled, the door was changed but the key remained unchanged. The Holy Kaaba’s door is 2.40 meters high and 1.70 meters wide. The present door is made of pure gold.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article182745.ece

http://ne3matullah.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/sau-kaaba.jpg
Sheikh Saleh Al-Hosain, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques,
hands over the Kaaba cover to Saleh bin Zainul Abideen Al-Sheibi, the new custodian of the Kaaba key, on Sunday

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Door of the Kaaba

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One old key of the Kaaba

Une expansion majeure pour la Mosquée du Prophète (ou Masjid al Nabawi) à Médine


Le roi Abdallah d’Arabie saoudite, serviteur des Deux Saintes Mosquées, a ordonné une nouvelle expansion de la Mosquée du Prophète à Médine afin d’accueillir plus de 1,6 millions de fidèles, a annoncé le ministre des finances saoudien Ibrahim Al-Assaf, le 29 juin dernier.

Le ministre Al-Assaf a déclaré que la nouvelle expansion de la mosquée du Prophète fait partie des efforts du roi Abdallah dans le service à l'Islam et aux musulmans, dont le dernier est l'expansion sans précédent de la Grande Mosquée de La Mecque, dont les travaux sont actuellement en cours.

Il a ajouté que l'expansion de la mosquée du Prophète fournirait un grand service aux pèlerins et aux visiteurs qui pourront prier confortablement dans la mosquée et la cour environnante.

Il a expliqué que le projet d'agrandissement de la mosquée du Prophète serait mis en œuvre en trois phases. La première phase pourra accueillir plus de 800.000 fidèles ainsi que la seconde et troisième pourront en accueillir autant ce qui doublera la capacité d’accueil de la mosquée à plus de 1,6 millions de fidèles.

La Mosquée du Prophète a été agrandie à deux reprises. La première a été réalisée au cours du temps du roi Abdoul Aziz, fondateur du royaume saoudien, en 1949. Les travaux de l'expansion avait commencé en juillet 1951 et ont pris neuf ans pour terminer. La seconde, ordonné par le roi Fahd, avait commencé en 1984 et a été achevé en 1994.

Actuellement, le rez-de-chaussée de la mosquée a une superficie de 98.500 mètres carrés pouvant accueillir 167.000 fidèles, le toit a une superficie de 67.000 mètres carrés pouvant accueillir 90.000 fidèles et les cours environnantes ont une superficie totale de 235.000 mètres carrés pouvant accueillir 450.000 fidèles.

La superficie totale de la mosquée et son esplanade est de 400,500 mètres carrés pouvant accueillir 707,000 fidèles, mais aux périodes de grande affluence la mosquée acceuille plus d’un million de fidèles.

Lors de l’annonce officielle de la nouvelle expansion aucun plan du projet n’a été présenté pour nous donner une vision du résultat.


***********


Les travaux de la nouvelle expansion de la Mosquée du Prophète (ou Masjid al Nabawi) débuteront après le Hajj(ou pèlerinage)


Les travaux du projet de l’expansion de la Mosquée du Prophète à Médine sont prévus de commencer après la saison du Hajj (ou pèlerinage)de cette année.

Il y aura une phase de démolition afin d’agrandir la superficie de la cour environnante du côté est et ouest de la mosquée. Plusieurs bâtiments seront affectés: un hôpital, des hôtels, une bibliothèque, des commerces et autres édifices.

Les travaux d'agrandissement faciliteront la circulation des piétons. La conception architecturale des bâtiments à proximité sera prise en considération. Les places publiques à proximité de la mosquée et ainsi que les services publics seront également améliorés. La zone sera également développée en tant que le « cœur de la ville ». Les hôtels existants dans la zone d'expansion seront autorisés à opérer jusqu'à ce que les travaux commencent.

Jusqu’à maintenant aucun plan officiel de l’expansion de la mosquée n’a été présenté pour nous donner une vision d'ensemble du résultat. Aussi, il n’y a eu aucune mention s’il y aura d'une nouvelle partie ou l’ajout d’un nouvel étage de la mosquée. Lors de la dernière expansion de la mosquée qui avait débuté au milieu des années 80, les concepteurs avaient agrandi l’espace aménagé sur le toit consacré à la prière, tout en prévoyant aussi la possibilité d’ajouter un étage supplémentaire pour pouvoir accueillir plus de pèlerins à l’avenir.

Le Président des Affaires des Deux Saintes Mosquées, le Cheikh Abdoul Rahman Al-Sudais, qui est également imam de la Grande Mosquée de la Mecque, a décrit le nouveau projet d'expansion sans précédent, en disant que la zone de la mosquée et des cours environnantes couvrirait une superficie de 1,1 million de mètres carrés après l'achèvement du projet.

Il a aussi exprimé ses remerciements et son appréciation au Serviteur des Deux Saintes Mosquées le roi Abdullah, pour son ordre afin de mettre en œuvre une expansion majeure de la Mosquée du Prophète pour accueillir plus de 1.600.000 fidèles.


Source:

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/new-expansion-prophet%E2%80%99s-mosque-ordered-king

http://www.arabnews.com/work-prophets-mosque-after-haj

http://www.hajinformation.com/mainfr/j2010.htm


Photos :
http://www.kapl-hajj.org/madina.php

http://alharamainprojects.com/clock_Project/Madina/about.html
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=86876380&highlight=madinah#post86876380
SPA :
http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/92042_1321712623_2342.jpg
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=86029364&postcount=1148


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La Grande Mosquée d’Alger

par AlI EL HADJ TAHAR

http://www.liberte-algerie.com/images/resized/images/images_editions/5954/13_200_150.jpg
24 Mars 2012

Nous diffusons à compter d’aujourd’hui une série d’articles sur le projet de la Grande mosquée d’Alger, ses motivations, son intérêt et ses conséquences socio-économiques sur le pays.


1re partie - Coût faramineux et minarets superflus: http://www.liberte-algerie.com/contributions/cout-faramineux-et-minarets-superflus-la-grande-mosquee-d-alger-1re-partie-174635

2e partie - La concurrence par le gigantisme: http://www.liberte-algerie.com/contributions/la-concurrence-par-le-gigantisme-la-grande-mosquee-d-alger-2e-partie-174704

3e partie - Entre “tradition et modernité”: http://www.liberte-algerie.com/contributions/entre-tradition-et-modernite-la-grande-mosquee-d-alger-3e-partie-174792

4e partie - Aucune valeur ajoutée algérienne: http://www.liberte-algerie.com/contributions/aucune-valeur-ajoutee-algerienne-la-grande-mosquee-d-alger-4e-partie-174879

5e partie et fin - Du salafisme à l'économie d'énergie: http://www.djazairess.com/fr/liberte/175009
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بيع 120 ألف تذكرة لقطار المشاعر

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عـلـن رئـيـس لـجـنـة الـحـج والـعـمـرة بـالـغـرفـة الـتـجـاريـة الـصـنـاعـيـة بـمـكـة الـمـكـرمـة الشيخ سعد بن جميل القرشي عن بدء بيع تذاكر قطار المشاعر المقدسة لشركات ومؤسسات حجاج الداخل في حج هذا العام، وشمل البيع 100 ألف تذكرة لحجاج يمثلون 150 شركة ومؤسسة من الداخل و20 ألف تذكرة خصصت لحجاج الكويت والبحرين، وقال القرشي في تصريح نشر بصحيفة اليوم: إن تذاكر قطار المشاعر قسمت إلى 3 فئات على شكل أساور تربط على معصم الحاج بحيث تسهل عملية تنقل الحجاج بالقطار داخل المشاعر المقدسة : سوار باللون الأزرق لمحطات عرفات1ومزدلفة1 ومنى1، وآخر باللون الأصفر لمحطات عرفات2 ومزدلفة2 ومنى2 وثالث باللون الأخضر لمحطات عرفات 3 ومزدلفة 3 والجمرات منى 3 ولمدة 7 أيام بمبلغ 250 ريالاً للحاج، بينما خصص سوار أيام التشريق لمنسوبي الجهات الحكومية ومدته أربعة أيام بـ «100» ريال.

Sell 120 thousand tickets for the Al-Mashaaer train

Google trans:Publicly Chairman of the Hajj and Umrah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Makkah, Sheikh Saad bin Jameel Al-Qurashi started selling train tickets holy sites for companies and organizations of pilgrims inside at this year's Hajj, which included selling 100 thousand tickets for the pilgrims representing 150 companies and institutions from home and 20 thousand tickets allocated for the pilgrims of Kuwait and Bahrain , said Qurashi said in a statement published in the journal today:

The Al-Mashaaer train tickets were divided into 3 categories in the form of bracelets linking to wrist-Hajj so as to facilitate the movement of pilgrims by train inside the holy sites: bracelet blue stations, Arafat 1 Muzdalifah 1 Mona 1, and another in yellow plants Arafat 2 Muzdalifah 2 me 2 and a third color Green plants Arafat 3 Muzdalifah 3 and pebbles Mona 3 and 7 days $ 250 SAR for the pilgrim, while the days of al bracelet allocated to employees of government agencies and a four-day b «100» Real.

http://www.burnews.com/news.php?action=show&id=18915
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UAE pilgrims will not benefit from Haj train

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5 novembre 2010

Riyadh: A Saudi official at the Central Haj Committee (CHC) has disclosed that pilgrims from the UAE, Qatar and Oman will not benefit from the train services to be launched for the first time during the coming Haj season.

The new service will carry pilgrims between Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa only.

The chairman of the Haj and Umrah Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Saad Al Qurashi, said that this year the train will only serve domestic pilgrims, in addition to pilgrims from Kuwait and Bahrain.

In statements released yesterday, Al Qurashi explained that domestic pilgrims and those from Kuwait and Bahrain were selected for the train service, only because the train track happens to pass through them.

Metro

Meanwhile, all preparations have been completed for the first phase of the holy sites metro.

More than 100 officials from Haj establishments in Saudi Arabia and other GCC states were briefed on the operation plan and the train stations. They were instructed how to arrive at the camps in Mina and Jamarat Bridge.

The train's operation committee urged all Haj establishments to follow instructions and hire qualified staff.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/uae-pilgrims-will-not-benefit-from-haj-train-1.706511


Kiswa : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPAwTeQ_B3M

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Makkah districts to have a bigger slice of the pie this time

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4948317968_0576435d6f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29070131@N02/4948317968/)

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 10, 2010

MAKKAH: Real estate investors say districts located away from the Grand Mosque in Makkah will have a larger share of Haj profits this year due to many groups opting to house their pilgrims away from the city’s central district and benefit from cheaper rents.

Mansour Abu Rayyash, head of the real estate committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expects SR5.1 billion will be generated in housing foreign pilgrims this year.

He added that the average cost of rent per pilgrim is SR3,000 and that 1.7 million foreign pilgrims will be performing Haj this year.

Groups are also housing pilgrims away from the Grand Mosque because of ongoing construction in the central areas. One of those districts that often receives a large number of pilgrims is the city’s Aziziyah district, which is a prime location due to its proximity to Mina and the holy sites.

Housing a pilgrim in Aziziyah costs between SR2,200 and SR4,500.

The price of rent for a single pilgrim close to the Grand Mosque could reach up to SR7,000 and even more.

Many Haj service operators are also choosing new buildings in the Al-Adl, Al-Maabda, Jabal Al-Noor and Al-Muaisem districts. All of these buildings were issued licenses by the Haj Ministry’s pilgrim housing committee.

Real estate investor Muhammad Al-Shehri said that the Al-Bank plot in Aziziyah will house many Haj groups, especially those from India, Pakistan and the Gulf countries. The cost of rent is SR2,800 per pilgrim, he said.

“Expansion projects in the north side of the Grand Mosque have led many pilgrims to rent in neighborhoods away from the central area, especially in neighborhoods that did not house pilgrims previously, such as the Al-Shoqiya, Al-Khalediya and Al-Muaisem areas. It is the Haj groups which are selecting these buildings,” he said.

Zuhair Haddad, head of the pilgrim housing committee, said over 6,000 buildings have been licensed to house pilgrims in districts across the city.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article184594.ece

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20,000 health officials deployed to serve pilgrims

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By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 10, 2010

RIYADH: The Ministry of Health has deployed over 17,000 health officials in Makkah, Madinah and ports of entry in western region to serve Haj pilgrims, ministry spokesman Khaled Al-Mirghalani told Arab News on Wednesday.

A total of 5,930 health officials have been stationed in Makkah, 12,078 in Madinah and 1,229 at the ports of entry. The officials include consultants, specialists, general practitioners, pharmacists, technicians, nurses, administrative staffers and drivers.

"Besides taking the required vaccination against meningitis, every pilgrim should carry a health kit," a health official from the ministry advised.

She added that leaders of the Haj groups should see that they have the kit as well as a first aid kits in their vehicles.

Explaining the contents of the health kit, the official said: "Firstly, they should take the medicines that are needed in case of sudden illnesses such as cold, fever, skin allergies, muscle cramps and stomach disorders. They include paracetamol, cough syrup, skin cream, antiseptic ointment, and laxatives and antacid."

The second part of the medicines include the regular medicines that a pilgrim consumes for his or her ailments, such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma that are recommended by their doctors.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article185668.ece

Makkah abuzz as Haj draws near

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By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 11, 2010

MAKKAH: There are only 72 hours to go before pilgrims head to the nearby tent city of Mina on the first leg of their five-day journey of a lifetime.

All roads across the Kingdom are leading into the holy city where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received the first verses of the Holy Qur’an more than 14 centuries ago.

It was from this holy city that the last Prophet first propagated the pure and simple message of Islam — a message that has since captured the hearts and minds of more than a billion followers across all continents.

Haj is one of the five essential pillars of Islam, and on Monday about 3 million pilgrims will spend a day on the vast plains of Arafat renewing and reinforcing their faith.

The weather this year is pleasant, but in the past Arafat has frequently seen temperatures soar beyond 50 degrees Celsius.

On Wednesday evening, Makkah’s temperature was recorded at 25 degrees. The evening was particularly pleasant with a cool breeze blowing across this city surrounded by mountains. The sprawling courtyard and carpeted rooftop of the massive Grand Mosque, which houses the Holy Kaaba, was filled with pilgrims who appeared happy and relaxed.

International and domestic flights packed with men, women and children continued to land at five-minute intervals at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Parking lots across Jeddah are occupied by gleaming coaches that have brought in pilgrims from neighboring Arab countries.

Traffic flowed smoothly on the four-lane expressway to Makkah from Jeddah. One reason for the lack of congestion on the highway was the strict enforcement by the Passport Department of its “no-permit-no-pilgrimage” policy. At the Jeddah pickup points for Makkah-bound passenger vehicles, young Saudis refused to transport those who lacked permits.

“We don’t want to take the risk. Many of our colleagues have been arrested and their vehicles impounded because they were ferrying people without official permits into Makkah,” said Dhafer Muhammad from his white Toyota Cressida in the Bab Makkah district of Jeddah. “They are checking each and every car. If you have the permit, come along, if not, sorry.”

His friend, Waleed Mahdi, seemed desperate for passengers. He already had two Indians sitting in his Toyota Camry, and he was looking for two more passengers to make his journey profitable. He got the passengers he needed in Arab News and Turkish national Mehmut Ahmet Misiri.

“Yallah; come in,” he said, but he hesitated when he realized that the Turkish man was wearing ihram, the two pieces of seamless cloth that all pilgrims have to wear before starting the pilgrimage.

“Do you have the permit?” queried Mahdi. “Yes,” replied the Turkish man. However, the piece of paper that he produced said something else. He had an iqama issued in Makkah, and his contention was that he could travel into and out of the holy city anytime. The driver, however, said if he was a resident of Makkah he should not have donned the ihram in Jeddah.

He agreed to take him but on the condition that he put on a long coat over his ihram, which Misiri eventually did. There were three additional checkpoints on the expressway besides the regular Shumaiysi post. Since none of the occupants in the Camry was in ihram, the policeman waved the vehicle past. Some others, however, were not lucky and were seen pleading with the policemen to let them pass.

Reaching the Holy Mosque was no hassle at all. Everything was well organized with traffic policemen guiding cars and other vehicles in the right direction. No one was being allowed to park anywhere near the mosque. Therefore, the main thoroughfare, Ibrahim Khalil Road, was orderly, and pilgrims on foot had a relatively peaceful time.

The focus inside the mosque is the Holy Kaaba. Pilgrims gaze at it for hours. Sometimes their eyes get moist, and they raise their hands in prayer. Many, many others circumambulate the Kaaba. The innermost open area of the beautiful mosque called the "mataaf" was packed with the faithful. Among them was Riad Mustafa, an Egyptian doctor, and his wife, Mirfat.

“This is our first journey to Makkah. It is amazing. This is the Kaaba in whose direction we turn to throughout our lives. Really seeing it is such a transforming experience. Hearing the calls to prayer booming out of this mosque is the most spiritually exhilarating moment,” said Mustafa.

His wife was delighted by the inner peace. “Last night, I called up home and had my parents listen to the prayers via my cell phone. They were crying at the other end. The real beauty of Islam is here in Makkah where Muslims from across the globe have converged,” said Mirfat.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article185928.ece

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T35njq7nhbg/Sx0MRGoIQII/AAAAAAAAFCk/vQeYDCiy_y4/s1100/SSL22391.JPG

Returning Hajis find Makkah a city transformed

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By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 12, 2010

MAKKAH: The first thing that strikes you upon entering the holy city from Jeddah is the number of mighty yellow-and red-colored cranes on the skyline from all the ongoing construction projects in Makkah.

Where once stood old buildings, multistory hotels and even hills, there is now leveled land fenced off by metal sheets. Inside, construction workers are busy erecting massive towers that will house pilgrims in the coming years.

One of busiest areas on the Holy Mosque’s western side when you enter from Jeddah used to be the Shamia district. It is completely under construction now. This district used to house hundreds of pilgrims from South Asia and Arab countries. Some of the pilgrims who have been to Makkah in the past look longingly at the area and try to figure out where they had stayed on past visits.

“Everything has changed in five years ,” said Mukhtar Nadwi, a pilgrim from Saharanpur, India. “I was here in 2005 along with my wife and my mother. We used to stay at a hotel just opposite Bab Al-Umrah, which is one of the many imposing gates leading into the Holy Mosque. I went there last night to see if I could find the place, but there is no trace of it. The whole area is unrecognizable.”

He wondered where the Bangladeshi man who helped his aging mother those days was.

Pakistani national of Yemeni origin Syed Ashfaq Muscati is also amazed by the speed with which Makkah's skyline has changed.

“I was here six years ago, and our group of pilgrims was staying in an old building located behind Ibrahim Khalil Road,” he said. “The whole area is now part of the massive Jabal Omar project. I remember the tiny Pakistani eatery where we would go to have our favorite subcontinental food — all that is gone. We are told that huge buildings will be coming up here.”

Both Nadwi and Muscati are this time staying in Makkah's Aziziah district. It is quite a distance from the Holy Mosque, but pilgrim establishments and tour operators are providing shuttle services between Aziziah and the Holy Mosque. The free shuttles operate through the tunnels that have been specifically created for these 40-seat coaches.

“It is an excellent service. They drop us at the basement of the Makkah Clock Tower, and in a matter of minutes we are in the courtyard of the Holy Mosque. We take a similar route going back,” Nadwi said.

Aziziah district is one of Makkah’s best-planned areas, featuring comfortable accommodation and a road network leading straight to the Holy Mosque through a tunnel reserved for pilgrims.

Since the beginning of the massive construction projects around the holy city, Saudi authorities have been promoting Aziziah as a planned Haj township. Although it is a considerable distance from the Holy Mosque, because of the construction and consequent congestion, it is nonetheless a viable housing alternative.

In the past, Aziziah used to be favored by Emiratis, Indonesians and Bahrainis. They would deliberately opt for Aziziah in order to avoid problems associated with buildings closer to the Grand Mosque.

The lack of residential space in the areas in the immediate proximity of the Grand Mosque has forced many private tour operators, especially from India and Pakistan, to cut down on the number of pilgrims they would normally bring in during Haj time.

“People back home in Pakistan have now become very conscious of where they will be staying,” said Zahiruddin Jamaluddin Abro from Sukkur in Pakistan’s Sindh province.

“They demand that we tell them the name of the hotels we arrange for them to stay in and the areas in which these hotels are located. They then go on Google and find out the exact location and distance between their hotel and the Grand Mosque.”

He added that in the past, Pakistani Haj operators had no such problem, hiring the best possible hotels very close to the Grand Mosque.

“People are ready to pay, they need services. Our business runs on word of mouth. If we don’t deliver what we have promised then next year nobody would come to us. The returning pilgrims would approach the media, and then all our credibility would be lost,” he added.

Abro says they now tell would-be pilgrims about the lack of residential space around the holy city.

“What we are doing instead is telling those pilgrims staying in Aziziah that they will be shifted to hotels close to the Grand Mosque after Haj,” he said. “After Haj, these nearby hotels will be empty, and most of their current occupants will head to Madinah. Our Haj package is generally 40 days, and so we make sure that our pilgrims pray at ease and in peace after Haj.”

Sri Lankan pilgrim Inayat Mohibullah and his wife have no complaints despite staying quite far from the Grand Mosque.

“We are staying in a district that is near the Ruseifah parking lot. Everyday, we walk to this place because we can’t afford the high rates these taxi drivers demand,” Mohibullah told Arab News, while digging into his favorite chicken at Al-Tazaj.

“It takes us 40 minutes on foot. We did get into taxis on a couple of occasions, but the road is so crowded with pilgrims that it is better to walk than sit in a vehicle that moves literally at a snail’s pace."

He said Haj was all about endurance and sacrifice.

“It is the journey at the end of which one is like a newborn baby,” he said. “For that to happen, one will have to go through small difficulties. What amazes me and touches me, however, is the helping nature of the pilgrims. The other day I saw an old man with a deeply furrowed face pushing a wheelchair with his wife in it. He was having difficulty negotiating a steep incline. There were so many young men who went rushing toward them to help the old man. It is this feeling and these images that keep our spirits and our adrenaline high as we look forward to the five-day rituals that we have to perform beginning Sunday.”

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article187159.ece

12,000 American Muslims to make pilgrimage to Mecca

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By OMAR SACIRBEY RELIGION NEWS SERVICE
Nov. 11, 2010, 5:56PM

Some 12,000 American Muslims are expected to join an estimated 2.5 million pilgrims in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca for the hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage that this year runs Sunday through Thursday.

The number of pilgrims expected is about the same as in recent years, said Nail Al-Jubeir, a spokesman for the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington, D.C., which limits pilgrimage visits to once every five years.

Islam requires followers who are physically and financially capable to complete the hajj once in their lifetime.

Crowding and catastrophic stampedes have led Saudi authorities to issue special hajj visas; since 1990, more than 2,500 pilgrims have been killed in stampedes, and hundreds more die each year as a result of sickness, heart attacks, traffic accidents and other incidents.

Most problems have occurred at an elevated platform known as the Jamarat, from which pilgrims throw stones at walls representing the devil. To ease crowding, Saudi authorities have gradually expanded the Jamarat to five levels and added exits.

Despite efforts to limit the number of pilgrims, hundreds of thousands of mainly Saudi residents still try to perform hajj without permits. "Quite a few people get turned back because of overcrowding," Al-Jubeir said.

Many unauthorized pilgrims evade detection and camp in the hills surrounding Mecca, where Muslims believe Islam's prophet Muhammad received his first revelation from God in 610 A.D.

For American Muslims, the most difficult part of the journey may be the return home. In recent years, many Muslims returning from travel abroad have complained about religious profiling and lengthy searches and questioning at airports and border crossings.

In response, Muslim civil rights groups have issued travel advisories for pilgrims, telling them to expect questioning and advising them what types of questions are legal, such as name and residency, and which are not, including questions about religious or political beliefs.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/7290498.html

U.S. Muslim Journeys to Makkah for Hajj 2009

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Haj a time of wonder for young S. African convert

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Israel Ponty Moletsane is on the journey of a lifetime. (AN Photo)

By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 13, 2010

MINA: Israel Ponty Moletsane truly is on the journey of a lifetime this year. The 29-year-old South African radio producer converted from Christianity to Islam last year, and now he has traveled to the holy land to perform the Haj.

Moletsane said he learned about his new faith while working at the Channel Islam International radio station in Johannesburg over the last five years. He said many puzzling questions he had about religion were answered after reading the Holy Qur’an.

“I was a Catholic, but as I grew up I became a type of born-again Christian,” Moletsane told Arab News. “I learned everything one step at a time. I was doing the comparison all the time. This is when I realized the contradictions in our holy book. That prompted me to learn more about the Holy Qur’an and Islam. I decided to accept Islam, but I did not have the courage to make my decision public.”

The change came last year when Channel Islam International sent scholar-broadcaster Maulana Moosa Akoodie to report from the Haj.

“My colleagues in the studios in Johannesburg and I were putting him on air,” Moletsane said. “When he was about to go on air from the plains of Arafat, I asked him to pray for me. I thought it would be a personal thing.

Maulana Akoodie, however, mentioned my name in his prayer that was being broadcast live. Hundreds of English-speaking listeners were tuned in. I was moved by the gesture, and suddenly I found all the courage in the world to go public with what I had already believed in my heart. An hour or so later I recited the 'shahada' live on air.

At the other end in Arafat, Maulana Akoodie was listening via telephone. We were then deluged with congratulatory calls. Among them was a call from Yaqoob Vahed of Al-Imdaad Foundation. He instantly announced that he would sponsor my Haj trip next year. That is how I am here. I am chronicling my journey through my audio dispatches and Facebook for Channel Islam International.”

For the new convert, the trip to the holy places has been almost magical. “The highlight of my whole journey was the first look at the Holy Kaaba. It is toward the Kaaba that the world’s Muslims turn toward in prayer,” Moletsane said. “When I saw the Holy Kaaba I could feel the presence of Allah. It was an indescribable feeling.”

Moletsane said his visit has been full of pleasant surprises that have reinforced his decision to convert.

“I came here on Oct. 18, and I landed in Madinah. It is a beautiful, very peaceful city. I was impressed by the side-by-side living of the entire community. One day I lost my phone. I forgot it at a counter in one of the shops. I went there the following day, and I found it exactly where I had left it. It had run out of battery. The shop owner said he couldn’t call anybody because the cell phone was off. He was more than happy to see the phone returned to its rightful owner,” Moletsane said.

“You don’t find such stuff happening in South Africa. Our government is fighting to curb the menace of crime. Also last week when I was separated from my colleague and had no phone on me, there was this group that spoke no English that offered me a phone to contact my colleague. This shows the spirit of brotherhood that pervades here during the Haj.”

He said there are many South Africans, including his parents, who only have mistaken perceptions about Islam.

“They don’t know much about Islam,” Moletsane said. “I am from a small town in one of the South Provinces of Free State. There people don’t know much about Islam. I don’t blame them. Nobody told them about Islam. They think this is an Indian culture.”

He shared many of those misgivings with other uninformed South Africans at one time. “I had all the negative images about them,” Moletsane said of Muslims. “I believed everything that the media said about them. I hated Muslims like many other people — the kind of stuff that you can expect from born-again Christians. I linked Muslims with terrorism. It was all due to media manipulation. Like other South African Christians, I would think that this religion was only for Indians and that it is not for us Africans and that it is not for black people. Having come into the fold of Islam, I discovered that was not the case.”

Channel Islam International presenter and talk show host Ebrahim Moosa said Moletsane’s story is being followed widely in many nations where the radio station is popular.

For Moletsane, his time in Saudi Arabia continues to be a source of wonder. “This is not an ordinary structure,” he said while talking about the Holy Kaaba. “It was built by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). This is out of this world. I was very emotional when I cast my glance at the Kaaba, and I remembered all those who had asked me to pray for them. Tears rolled down my eyes, but I didn’t make any effort to stop them. May Allah accept my Haj, and may He protect all those who helped me in my journey of discovery of the true religion.”

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article189846.ece?comments=all

30,000 cars with illegal Hajis turned away

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Passport police stop vehicles to check pilgrim permits at the Shumaisy checkpoint on Jeddah-Makkah Expressway on Friday night.
By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 13, 2010 00:17 Updated: Nov 13, 2010 00:17

MAKKAH: Assistant Commander of the Haj Passport Forces Col. Owaid Al-Sahli said approximately 30,000 vehicles carrying unlicensed pilgrims have been barred from entering the holy city at 18 checkpoints situated at the entrances to Makkah since they were set up on Nov. 6.

The checkpoints have been established to turn away pilgrims attempting to enter the holy city without the permits required as part of the government's crowd-control policy.

Hundreds of Saudi and expatriate drivers have been detained for attempting to smuggle domestic pilgrims in car boots, trucks and buses. Foreign drivers were handed to the Passport Department for deportation. Saudis caught doing the same face prison time and fines.

People with official business in Makkah not related to Haj must carry a letter from their sponsors approved by the Passport Department.

“Officials specialized in identifying forgery are posted at the checkpoints,” Al-Sahli pointed out.

Regarding the traffic arrangements the commander said two more lanes have been reserved on the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway for vehicles carrying pilgrims who arrived at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport. Buses on those dedicated lanes have been specially approved to pass all other checkpoints once they have been searched and cleared at the departure point.

Women pilgrims are being checked by women officials.

Al-Sahli said they occasionally encounter men disguised in burqa attempting to enter Makkah without permits during Haj or women who do not have permits but try to enter as female relatives of permit-wielding male pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the Passport Department turned away 381 pilgrims who were attempting to enter the Kingdom with fake documents or counterfeit visas, Passports Department spokesman Lt. Col. Badr Muhammad Al-Malik said.

The recently implemented fingerprinting and photographing of those entering the Kingdom was cited as helping authorities identify people who have committed immigration infractions in the past.

“The fingerprint records helped identify those who attempted to enter the Kingdom after deportation in the past or returned to the Kingdom with changed passports containing details contrary to their earlier details recorded in the Kingdom,” Al-Malik said.

In another development, Director General of Passports Maj. Gen. Salim Al-Belaihid said all branches of the Passport Department would work during the Eid Al-Adha holidays to undertake services, such as issuing emergency exit/re-entry visas.

Al-Belaihid ordered all directors of branch offices to report for duty on time and regularly so that they can ensure that all works are undertaken properly and promptly.

The director general urged all citizens and expatriates not to seek the services of the Passport Department during the holidays unless the matter is extremely urgent. The government holiday began on Thursday and lasts two weeks.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that Saudi missions abroad have stamped 1,761,395 Haj visas until Tuesday, when the visa issuance stopped.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article188484.ece

Mecca as it appeared 125 years ago

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Last Updated: Nov 13, 2010

In the spirit of Eid al Adha, the photography gallery The Empty Quarter in Dubai is exhibiting historical photographs of Mecca originally published by the Dutch scholar Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje in 1889.

Snouck Hurgonje (1857-1936) is the founder of contemporary Islamic studies in the Netherlands, and believed that racial and religious diversity can go hand in hand with peaceful coexistence. His life was filled with still-relevant ideological controversies and revolutionary statements.

He had an intrinsic curiosity, distinct knowledge of Islam and fluency in Arabic that allowed him, even as a foreigner, to enter the city forbidden to non-Muslims. After Snouck Hurgronje successfully defended his dissertation, Het Mekkaansche Feest (The Meccan Celebration), in 1880 at Leiden University, he wanted to study Islam in its very centre; he arrived on the Arabian Peninsula on August 28, 1884.

He spent his first months in Jeddah, learning the local dialect and preparing to seek approval to enter Mecca. He gathered a circle of influential friends around him, not in the least because of his photographic equipment. At the time, photography was mysterious and new and most likely helped him break down social barriers.

About this time he symbolically took a Muslim name, Abd al Gaffar. There are some who doubt whether he truly converted to Islam, but he does describe a circumcision in remarkable detail, and he received a visit from the qadi of Jeddah, and his travel companion addressed him as "a brother in God".

When Snouck Hurgronje finally set foot in Mecca on the eve of February 22, 1885, he circled the Kaaba, kissed the Black Stone and drank the holy water of Zam Zam.

"I made acquaintance with modern Meccan society at first hand, heard with my own ears what that international population learns and teaches … I have studied the ideal and the reality … in mosque, divan, coffeehouse and living room," Snouck Hurgronje wrote.

He described the "neighbours of Allah" as a heterogeneous society focused on trade. He spoke highly of the freedom enjoyed by women. The book that gained him international recognition, Mecca in the Latter Part of the 19th Century, is an important historical source and deals with social and family life, funeral customs and marriage.

During his intense five months in Mecca, he struck a friendship with a doctor who coincidentally shared the same Arabic name, Abd al Gaffar, and his fascination for photography. Together they struggled with the heavy camera and hand-retouched negatives in a portable darkroom. Until 30 years ago, it was assumed the photographs in the album Photographs of Mecca were the sole work of Snouck Hurgronje, but scientific research has recognised Dr al Gaffar as the first Meccan photographer.

Snouck Hurgronje's "medieval dream" ended abruptly in August that year, after French media falsely accused him of wanting to steal a historical artefact. He left the city under armed escort, leaving his pregnant Ethiopian slave wife and photo equipment behind. He never returned.

Mecca: A Dangerous Adventure – Snouck Hurgronje's early photographs 1885: The Platinum Series runs until December 6 in The Empty Quarter, Gate Village Building 2, Dubai. For more information, see www.theemptyquarter.com

To see more pictures from the exhibition, click below
100 Years old Makkah

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Friday sermon stirs millions in Makkah

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By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 13, 2010

MAKKAH: About two million pilgrims listened with rapt attention to Imam Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais’ soul-stirring 40-minute sermon on Friday from the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The sermon was carried live on state television and many Arab, African and Asian television stations. On many occasions during the sermon the congregation was reduced to tears as the imam spoke about the tough times that Islam faces in these critical times.

Calling for the liberation of Palestine, Al-Sudais said now is the time for Palestinian factions to bury their differences.

“These differences have only added to the miseries of our brothers and sisters in Palestine. This inhuman blockade has made life hellish for them. Now is the time for Muslim countries to unify their ranks and liberate Palestinians from the shackles of this inhuman bondage,” he said. “All differences among regional countries should be and can be resolved in the true spirit of Islam. The best example of our unity is this congregation in which every Muslim from every corner is united through the love of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Holy Qur’an.”Al-Sudais described Palestine as the single biggest problem confronting the nation of Islam.

“Every day brings a new form of misery for them,” he said, breaking down in tears. “O Allah, unite all Muslim nations.”

The congregation responded with a vociferous “Aameen.”

The imam repeatedly stressed the value of unity. “Our divisions have given our adversaries the ruse to exploit us. We are fragmented despite being in such a large number. Unity is the key to our well-being. The message of Haj is unity. Let us pray for the unification of Muslims throughout the planet.”

The imam also stressed the need for hope and optimism with trust in Allah at all times of adversity. He quoted the Holy Qur’an: “And never give up hope in God’s soothing mercy: Truly no one despairs of God’s soothing mercy except those who have no faith.”

Al-Sudais congratulated the pilgrims for undertaking the most important journey of their lives. “This was your lifelong dream. You always wanted to be here. You always wanted to carry out this important task of Haj. Well, here you are in the holy land. You are lucky. It is all due to the blessings of Allah the Almighty. I congratulate you. From here you should take the most important message of Islam and that is tawheed (the oneness of Allah).”

Referring to Iraq, he said the cycle of unending wars has destroyed that nation. “Again, it is the lack of unity and petty issues that have been responsible for the tragedy in Iraq,” he said.

Al-Sudais thanked the Saudi leadership, led by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, for landmark projects to provide ease and comfort to the pilgrims during the various rituals of Haj.

“The train services for pilgrims that go into operation this year are a remarkable achievement. May Allah protect this leadership, and may He grant them long life,” he said.

The Makkah Metro is ready to service pilgrims during this Haj. Saudi Arabia has poured billions of riyals into various infrastructure projects in Makkah, Mina and Arafat. The cost of such projects has never been passed onto the pilgrims.

Al-Sudais also paid rich tribute to all those Saudis who have dedicated themselves into the service of pilgrims. “You deserve congratulations for helping the guests of God. Allah has bestowed this rare honor on you to help the pilgrims, and you have not let the pilgrims down. May Allah keep you safe.”

“I've never experienced such calmness,” retired Nigerian military officer Salisu Ali said of Al-Sudais’ sermon. “I don’t speak Arabic nor do I understand it, but the verses that he was quoting from the Qur’an are all too familiar to us. And I could understand in what context he was quoting them. I couldn’t control my tears because everyone was crying. The sheikh moved us all.”

An aged Pakistani woman, Begum Jahanara Sarwat, said she never felt such peace.

“We keep hearing all these bad stories and depressing events," she said. "However, today I did not feel weak at all. Why should I? We are this many people,” she added as she gestured to the throng of faithful. “Is it possible for our enemies to destroy us? These are momentary setbacks, my son. Don’t lose hope. Allah se acche ki ummeed rakho (Expect good from Allah)."

Every corner of the Grand Mosque was filled by pilgrims as early as 10 a.m. even though the time for Friday prayer was scheduled for 12:05 p.m. The relatively hot weather did not deter the pilgrims from performing the prayer on roads and in alleyways surrounding the mosque.

The congregation thinned an hour after the prayer, and outside the mosque pigeons fluttered past the minarets and swooped down on any vacant space available in the mosque’s massive courtyard.

Spirituality combined with anxiety was evident on many pilgrims’ faces. With just 24 hours remaining before pilgrims begin the trek to the valley of Mina in the first leg of the five-day journey, the pilgrims’ minds are clearly focused on the rituals that they will perform in fulfillment of their obligations.

“We are a little anxious. Being in Makkah is an overwhelming experience," said Syed Abbas, an elderly Indian man making his first pilgrimage. "There are so many people here. We come from a small town. Even performing circumambulation or tawaf is a big task."

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article188466.ece

Holy Sites Train makes 1st passenger trip today

http://www9.0zz0.com/2010/10/26/00/705876238.jpgNovember 13, 2010

MAKKAH: The new Holy Sites Train will take on board its first passengers Saturday at 2 P.M., transporting up to a capacity of 3,000 pilgrims between Mina, Muzdalifa and Arafat via the Al-Jamarat Bridge.

The light rail track service represents a new dawn for the pilgrimage, replacing the 4,000 buses previously used and reducing crowding and waiting time as visitors are shuttled between the holy sites faster and more easily than ever before.

With some 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims descending on Makkah for the annual Haj, the train – which for this year’s pilgrimage will be at 35 percent of its operational capacity – is the most significant development in bids to ease what has on occasion been fatal congestion.

The train project, when completed next year, has a projected capacity to transport 100,000 pilgrims per hour between the holy sites.

Security, meanwhile, is as tight as ever, and Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Interior, has said he cannot rule out an Al-Qaeda attempt to disrupt the five-day ritual, which begins Sunday, although the group has not attacked pilgrims in the past. “We cannot trust them. We do not rule out any attempt to disturb the security of the Haj,” Prince Naif said after a parade of military skills by security forces and Civil Defense Wednesday. “We are ready for any act that might take place.”

The head of Saudi General Security, Gen. Saeed Al-Qahtani, said “these men are ready to face any situation when needed”.

Authorities are continuously on alert to the danger of fatal incidents during the pilgrimage, and Wednesday’s parade saw the Civil Defense bring out dozens of fire engines, ambulances, cranes that can lift up to 160 tons, smoke extractors and lifeboats, all of which have been used at some point in Haj incidents in the past.

The Kingdom has spent unceasingly to expand the capacity of Makkah to accommodate the ever-increasing number of pilgrims.

The area has seen deadly stampedes in the past, mainly at the Al-Jamarat Bridge in Mina, where pilgrims rush while performing the symbolic rite of stoning the devil.

In January 2006, 364 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at the entrance to the bridge, and 251 were trampled to death in 2004. In July 1990, 1,426 pilgrims were trampled or asphyxiated to death in a stampede in a tunnel, also in Mina.

The deaths prompted authorities to dismantle the old bridge and replace it with a multi-level bridge. The last of the three levels will be opened this season, and pilgrim traffic has been made one-way to ensure a smooth flow.
The new structure has numerous entrances and exits, while crowds are monitored with 30 cameras equipped with software that measures crowd density.

Congestion is also a problem in the Grand Mosque which has a capacity of 700,000 in addition to 180,000 in its plaza. Final figures for this year are not yet definite, as pilgrims continue to arrive from abroad, and the number of local ones is still uncertain.

Efforts to combat congestion have included targeting persons who conduct the pilgrimage without going through official channels. The “No Permit, No Haj” scheme, which has introduced more stringent measures on both local pilgrims and pilgrims from abroad, has been hailed as a success by the Kingdom’s authorities. By Tuesday last week, police at checkpoints and other sites had prevented 29,000 illegal pilgrims from entering Makkah.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010111387301

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King Abdullah advised rest

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Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah
By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 13, 2010

RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is indisposed due to a disc problem, a Royal Court statement said Friday.

“In line with King Abdullah’s policy of transparency in his relations with his sons and daughters of the Kingdom, the Royal Court announces that the king has a back problem. Doctors have advised him to take rest as part of a treatment regime,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the statement as saying.

In another statement the Royal Court said King Abdullah ordered that studies will resume in all educational institutions under the General Education Department and the Higher Education on Nov. 27 instead of Nov. 22.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article188518.ece

King delegates Naif to oversee Haj

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Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif
By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 13, 2010

RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has appointed Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif to oversee the Haj pilgrimage, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Prince Naif's designation came a day after doctors asked the king to rest due to a disc problem.

Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, is on private vacation in the Moroccan city of Agadir.

Naif, who is also chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, has been in Makkah this week, supervising security arrangements for the annual pilgrimage, in which some two million Muslim pilgrims will gather in the holy city of Makkah.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article189344.ece

Mashair Railway set for historic opening

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By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 13, 2010

MAKKAH: Director General of Projects at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs Abdul Rahman Al-Shahwan made on Saturday an inspection tour of the Mashair Railway to ensure that the train service is ready to carry pilgrims in huge numbers. Al-Shahwan was accompanied by station commander of Muzdalifah Col. Moaed Al-Joaed and newsmen.

The officials started the tour from Station No. 3 in Muzdalifah. Next they visited the stations in Mina beginning from the station on the fourth level of Jamrat Bridge, and then went on to the stations in Arafat and the rail control room there.

Only 35 percent of the work for the Mashair Railway has been completed.


The first train will be flagged off at 12 a.m. early Monday.

The nine trains have a capacity to transport 30,000 pilgrims an hour. Each train is 300 meters in length. When the SR6.65 billion project is completed, there will be 20 trains in service carrying up to 72,000 pilgrims an hour. They are projected to transport more than half a million pilgrims in 10 hours.

Studies are also under way to extend the service to the Grand Mosque.

The double-track 20-km Mashair Railway in the southern side of the holy sites runs on elevated tracks beginning from the fourth level of the Jamrat Bridge above the King Abdulaziz Road in Mina to Muzdalifah and ends at Station No. 3 in Arafat. The project has nine elevated stations. There are three stations each in Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. The length of each station with two platforms is 300 meters and each platform has the capacity to hold 3,000 pilgrims.

Tickets are sold to domestic pilgrim companies at SR250 per ticket, which can be used on all Haj days. On the last day all pilgrims can use the trains at the rate of SR100.

The huge influx of pilgrims will be controlled just like pilgrims are controlled at the Jamrat Bridge. They will be taken in groups of 3,000 to stations on Sunday night.

The train service will also be used in the Umrah and Ramadan seasons to take pilgrims to Makkah from stations close to their residences to King Abdulaziz Street and from there to the central zone by bus.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article189808.ece

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Pilgrims set out for Mina

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By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 14, 2010

MINA: Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims began their slow and steady trek to the tent city of Mina on Saturday night in the first leg of their five-day journey. Almost all pilgrims will be in their tents by Sunday afternoon. They will spend a day in contemplation before moving to the Plains of Arafat Monday in what is described as the most significant ritual of the pilgrimage.

Earlier in the day, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah appointed Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif to oversee Haj. Prince Naif, who is also chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, has been in Makkah this last week, supervising security arrangements for the pilgrimage.

Prince Naif's designation came a day after doctors asked the king to rest due to a disc problem.

In Makkah, hundreds of buses and smaller shuttles packed with pilgrims were headed toward Mina. Young and healthy pilgrims, however, decided to walk the distance. Saudi authorities said all arrangements were in place for the world’s largest Muslim gathering.

The logistics required to support the millions of pilgrims are astounding.

Interior Ministry officials told foreign journalists that all preparations for Haj were complete. In addition to the thousands of vehicles, pilgrims will use a train service to travel between the holy sites. The Mashair Railway is expected to reduce congestion on roads leading into and out of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

Thousands of food outlets have been set up to cater to the faithful. Bakeries are equipped to prepare 10 million loaves of bread a day. The Ministry of Health is geared and waiting to serve the guests of God. It has opened dozens of health centers in the holy sites to aid the faithful who should find Haj easier this year thanks to the moderate weather. Local temperatures varied between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.

The Civil Defense has also made arrangements in the event of rain and flash floods. “We’ve made special plans based on detailed studies analyzing the possible dangers that could be caused by the geography of Mina, which is surrounded by mountains on all sides,” said Brig. Gen. Fhaid Al-Faidi, head of the Civil Defense in Mina.

Over 100 Civil Defense teams and paramedics are at hand to deal with any eventuality; the teams also have some 200 motorbikes at their disposal.

Al-Faidi called on pilgrims to follow instructions and said the Civil Defense is working closely with Tawafa establishments. “We’re receiving constant weather forecasts about rain. We’ve also got a note of key areas where rain could cause serious issues. There’s also a team of divers at our disposal, along with boats and other flood-related rescue equipment — these are located in the north side of Mina where flooding could be a problem if it rains,” he said.

A special team is in place to monitor the level of pollution in Mina’s 12 tunnels. “The team has advanced equipment to reduce pollution, if the need arises. Tunnels will also be closed if the quality of air is not suitable,” said Al-Faidi.

Among the early arrivals to Mina were old and young pilgrims who felt it was better to start out in advance rather than getting caught up in the general rush on Sunday.

“We came in early because the weather is pleasant, and we came on foot from Makkah,” said Ibrahim Taj, a Sudanese national. “It took us two hours to reach Mina, and we took a lot of breaks,” he said.

Shaukat Piracha of Pakistan's Aaj TV was also among the early arrivals in Mina. “This is fascinating. I am not here to report on the event. I am here in my personal capacity. I decided to come in early to avoid traffic congestion,” he told Arab News. “Mina is not a city of tents; it is a city of lights as well. I have never seen such magnificent illumination. Hats off to Saudis for such meticulous arrangements.”

“I have been waiting for this moment all my life,” said an excited Malaysian citizen, Habib Rasool. “I am overwhelmed by this sea of white tents. I had an idea about what to expect, but then the picture in my mind’s eye was nowhere near what I experienced here today.”

Traffic moved swiftly down the highway from Jeddah. Busloads of pilgrims and trucks packed with sheep drove along the right lanes while police escorting VIPs whizzed by on the left. The four checkpoints on the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway are fully manned but caused no delay. In Mina, traffic congestion is being kept to a minimum by keeping small vehicles away. Only 4x4 vehicles with permits were being allowed in.

If spirituality and peace could ever be personified then it is here — the tent city in Mina surrounded by Jabal Al-Noor (Mountain of Light) and other hills, an abode of millions of pilgrims who are all set to sacrifice their self to the will of God.

At the time of writing this report, the tent city was not yet crowded; however, it was already teeming with life. As each group of pilgrims enters the valley of Mina, it reverberates with chants of “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” (O God, here I am answering your call).

Once in the city and in their fireproof tents, the pilgrims busy themselves reciting the Holy Qur’an and performing prayers or trying to locate relatives. Many try to catch some sleep after a tiring journey from Jeddah and Makkah that on average takes five hours.

On Monday morning, the pilgrims will move toward Mount Arafat where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his last sermon more than 14 centuries ago. The pilgrims will then return to Mina after spending the night in Muzdalifah. They will throw stones at Jamrat Al-Aqaba representing the devil and sacrifice animals to mark the Eid Al-Adha, which starts Tuesday and will spend the final two days in Mina to take part in the symbolic stoning of the devil.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article189820.ece

http://khadimharamain.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/31.jpg

http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/52014335.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921F7C3FC3F69D929FD7FDB8999BC7C4B6BB3D3B064B381FE534549B23220B913C2B01E70F2B3269972

وسط أجواء مفعمة بالطمأنينة والخشوع في ظل توافر كافة الخدمات
تصعيد حجاج بيت الله الحرام إلى مشعر منى لقضاء يوم التروية.. اليوم

http://www.alriyadh.com/2010/11/14/article577018.html

Hajj transportation woes eased :)

y5WOWN7vGCw&feature=channel

http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7D615ACD-A23F-4EB1-91D4-E3BB1D88E402.htm?GoogleStatID=22


Words from a pilgrim

WWyx6BOkwHc&feature=player_embedded#!

يصعدون غداً الاثنين على جبل عرفات

ملايين الحجاج يتوافدون على مشعر منى لقضاء يوم التروية

with a video: http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/11/14/126078.html

***

Pilgrim transportation geared like well-oiled machine

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article189905.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/6421780070198624.jpg
Transportation services for disabled and elderly pilgrims
By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 14, 2010

MAKKAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also chairman of the Supreme Commission for Monitoring Pilgrim Transportation (SCMPT), commended the efforts of various government departments to serve pilgrims including their safe and comfortable transportation.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said all facilities and utilities are of the optimum level.

"Transportation, one of the most vital tasks during the Haj, receives immense attention from the rulers of the Kingdom, and hence efforts have been made to improve infrastructure such as roads, tunnels, bridges on all roads used by pilgrims. The SCMPT has been set up under the chairmanship of the Makkah governor and includes the minister of Haj, minister of transportation, and director of Public Security in order to monitor and supervise the transportation of pilgrims between cities and in the holy sites," the prince said.

"Immense progress has been made during the past years in the sector of pilgrim transportation. A number of companies specializing in the sector with more than 20,000 high-tech buses with the total capacity for 900,000 pilgrims have also been established," the prince said.

An executive committee with undersecretaries of Makkah governorate, Ministry of Haj, Ministry of Transport, director of traffic and secretary-general of the SCMPT has been set up in order to monitor the operations of the transportation of pilgrims on a daily basis during the Haj season.

A technical committee examines the fleet of buses used for the transportation of pilgrims on a periodic basis, he said.

Their inspections cover the safety arrangements in the buses, maintenance, efficiency of drivers and the technicians at the companies, he said.

Annually workshops are conducted to monitor the activities of the Tawafa establishment, Car Syndicate and transporting companies to draw up plans and make necessary arrangements for the transportation of pilgrims, he said.

The prince also stressed the importance of the completion of the third phase of the nonstop chain transportation system benefiting 780,000 pilgrims from Iran, non-Arab African countries, Turkey, Europe, Australia, America and South Asia.

Special arrangements have also been made for quick pilgrim movement in the holy sites, the prince said. There are also round the clock bus services to enable pilgrims stationed in distant districts in Makkah to reach the Grand Mosque.

Studies are also under way to expand the courtyards of the Namirah Mosque, he said.

He also said the new train service will be fully operational next year for the transportation of 500,000 pilgrims at the rate of 72,000 pilgrims an a hour between stations in the holy sites.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article189920.ece

http://www.aleqt.com/a/469175_133862.jpg

http://www.aleqt.com/2010/11/14/article_469175.html

***
http://www.sa3atzaman.com/news/wp-content/uploads/65704_1289652094_10871.jpg

I pray to Allah SWT we all shall have a chance to perform Hajj in our life time, Ameen plz make dua for all Muslim to become Haji

The Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is currently the largest
annual pilgrimage in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that
must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can
afford to do so. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and
their submission to God (Allah in the Arabic language).The pilgrimage occurs from the8th
to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj changes from year to year. Ihram is the name given to the special state in which Muslims live whilst on the pilgrimage.

Subhan Allah, i pray to Allah SWT we all shall have a chance to perform Hajj in our life
time, Ameen plz make dua for all Muslim to become Haji.

More than 300 media personnel participate in broadcasting Hajj

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I9rWHlzvPww/TODy-qHc7uI/AAAAAAAAADs/ucMAApT_IlI/s320/Arafah.jpg
15th November 2010/Arafat, Dhu Al-Hijjah 09, 1431

Hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Information, more than 300 media men and intellectuals from around the world have gathered at the holy sites in Makkah to participate in live broadcasting of the overall process of this year's Hajj rituals. Thirty news media organisations representing satellite TV channels and international news agencies are participating in the live broadcasting of this year's Hajj season around the clock.

The corridors of the information centers in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Masha'r of Arafat and Mina that prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Information, are packed with media men who are competing to cover the movements of the pilgrims among the holy sites and broadcasting the facts of this great and major Islamic occasion.

http://www.hajinformation.com/display_news.php?id=2190

mkoLBbu9TAg&feature=player_embedded#!

Not so easy for pilgrims...

wHLTYJeUaxM&feature=player_embedded#![/CENTER]

Pilgrims on Makkah Metro Mashair! :)

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/11/15/126147.html


http://www.aleqt.com/a/469630_134144.jpg
MIND THE GAP

Muslims pilgrims gathered on Monday on Mount Arafat

http://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/2007/12/18/20071218PHOWWW00242.jpg
November 15, 2010

Riyadh - Nearly three million Muslims gathered on Monday on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia to perform one of the most important rituals of the Hajj pilgrimage.

The pilgrims will fling pebbles at three pillars in a practice known as the stoning of the devil.

Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry said more than 1.7 million of this year's pilgrims came from outside the Kingdom, travelling by land, sea and air from 181 different countries.

Tight security was in force for the event just outside city of Minna, located east of Mecca, following a fire which broke out earlier in the Hajj, damaging around 30 tents used by pilgrims, but causing no casualties.

Mount Arafat, also known as the Mount of Mercy, is where the Prophet Mohammad is said to have delivered his Farewell Sermon to Muslims who accompanied him for the Hajj 14 centuries ago.

The stoning ritual coincides with the Eid al-Adha, or the feast of sacrifice, which starts on Tuesday for most Muslims around the world, although some Shi'ites will celebrate on Wednesday.

At sunset the majority of pilgrims - on foot, in wheelchairs or by bus -will descend Arafat and head to al-Muzdalifa.

This year, though, a new Chinese-built, $2bn metro line opened connecting Mecca with Minna and al-Muzdalifa, which lie along the route to Mount Arafat.

Seat allocation 'racism'

The 18km rail link was expected to operate at one-third of its normal capacity and has been reserved for Saudi and Gulf nationals, as well as diplomats and other important persons.

Mahmoud Rifai, 32 year-old pilgrim, said the train should have been reserved for the elderly and infirm, while Abu Hassan Hudhayfah, a communications engineer from Sudan, said allocating seats to Gulf nationals was a type of "racism".

The Saudi government said the restrictions were put in place because the light rail was in a pilot phase until next year.

During the Hajj, pilgrims dress in simple white robes, marking ihram, or ritual purity. Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, should be carried out at least once in a lifetime, if the person can afford it.

Other practices of the Hajj include reciting prayers while walking counter-clockwise seven times around the cube-shaped structure of the Kaaba, towards which Muslims face to pray, in Mecca.

The Hajj also includes walking back and forth between the hills of al-Safa and al-Marwa and drinking from the blessed Zamzam Well in Mecca.

Saudi authorities said more than 15 million litres of Zamzam water were distributed to pilgrims this year.

http://www.news24.com/World/News/Mecca-Pilgrims-mark-pivotal-day-of-Hajj-20101115

itJdXsRgrFc&feature=player_embedded

cdTjkilhgIs&feature=channel

Not so easy for pilgrims...

wHLTYJeUaxM&feature=player_embedded#!

lol this channel is doing it on purpose,, :ohno:

Civil Defense braced for Jamrat crowd control

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3139/6548312894968415989.jpg
By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 16, 2010

MAKKAH: The Civil Defense has prepared a time-bound plan aimed at crowd control at Jamrat Bridge while the pilgrims start performing the stoning ritual from Tuesday morning.

A new feature of the plan, copies of which have been distributed among various Tawafa organizations, is that pilgrims arriving at Jamrat by the Mashair train will be regrouped to perform the stoning ritual at all levels of the complex. The plan also focused on avoiding overcrowding of pilgrims at the entrances and exits of the multi-level bridge complex during peak hours, according to Brig. Gen. Zuhair Seibiyah, commander of Civil Defense at Jamrat. He said that more than 1,300 officials will implement the plan, under which pilgrims will be allowed to perform stoning between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. over the remaining four days of the pilgrimage.

“All the arrangements are in place to prevent overcrowding of pilgrims on the ground and first floor of the bridge and disburse them to perform the ritual at all the five levels of the bridge,” he said.

Seibiyah also said the Civil Defense has made special arrangements to receive pilgrims using the Mashair train on the fourth floor of the bridge.

“Then, escalators will be used to take them to other floors as part of measures to avoid congestion and stampedes. With completion of all the five levels, the massive bridge structure has the capacity to handle 400,000 pilgrims per hour,” he said. “It has also virtually multiplied the capabilities of the Civil Defense units to quick intervention in the event of emergency situations."

The Civil Defense commander said the force has doubled its monitoring points from 51 to 102 at the Jamrat facility. Members of the forces at these points will be engaged in overseeing pilgrims’ movements and would rush to help those pilgrims suffering from exhaustion and fatigue.

“They will take such pilgrims to the health centers that have been set up at all levels of the bridge. The members will also undertake emergency medical evacuation. They will be on alert to cope with any emergency situations, such as stampede,” he said while noting that the state-of-the-art facilities at the bridge, including escalators and helipad, have made the mission of his forces much easier in the event of medical evacuation of those injured or affected with serious illness.

Seibiyah urged the Tawafa organizations to strictly enforce the force’s plan for crowd control as well as to ensure performing the ritual only at the time designated for pilgrims under each organization. “The Tawafa organizations should also adhere into the directives of the force to avoid chances of stampede, prevent camping of pilgrims on the bridge or carry baggage together with them," he said.

Seibiyah said that Jamrat Civil Defense force have set up closed circuit TVs and cameras at all the entrances and exits of the bridge to closely monitor the movement of pilgrims entering and leaving the facility after performing the ritual.

“We conducted intensive training programs and workshops for the members of the force well before the beginning of the Haj season. These programs were aimed at enabling the forces to carry out their mission effectively and tackle any emergency situations,” he said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192148.ece

http://hajjnewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_0892-450x300.jpg
Helipad

Hajj 2010 - The Big Picture (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/hajj_2010.html)

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/hajj2010_11_15/h02_25932377.jpg
A general view shows the Saudi holy city of Mecca, as seen from the top of Noor mountain, late on November 13, 2010.

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/hajj2010_11_15/h07_25871105.jpg
Saudi special forces take part in a military parade, preparing for the Hajj in Mecca on November 10, 2010.

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/hajj2010_11_15/h11_25946455.jpg
Muslim pilgrims are seen on their way towards a rocky hill called Mount Arafat, on the Plain of Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010.

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/hajj2010_11_15/h09_25935643.jpg
Thousands of tents housing Muslim pilgrims are crowded together in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010.

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/hajj2010_11_15/h25_25932197.jpg
Muslim pilgrims stand on top of Noor mountain where the Hiraa cave is located overlooking Mecca late on November 13, 2010.

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/hajj2010_11_15/h28_25891675.jpg
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba at the center of the Grand mosque in Mecca during the annual Hajj pilgrimage November 11, 2010.

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/hajj2010_11_15/h31_25903943.jpg
n shadows and sunlight, thousands of Muslim pilgrims pray inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Friday, Nov. 12, 2010.

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/hajj2010_11_15/h26_25889911.jpg
The Grand Mosque and the four-faced clock, atop the Abraj Al-Bait Towers are seen from the top of al-Noor mountain in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Nov. 11, 2010.

Visit the www.Boston.com website for more pics.

توسعة المسجد الحرام

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/486358_564683150223891_2082072199_n.jpg


wash http://www.slaati.com/inf/news-action-show-id-54154.htm

http://www.daralakhbar.com/articles/2274508-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A1_%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84_%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%81_%D9%81%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AC%D8%AF_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85_


http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/media/news/images/2011/photo_1320737765070-1-0.jpg

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qV2Hr8oLSY

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http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/makkah-hajj-reuters-670.jpg?w=670&h=350
http://dawn.com/2012/11/08/saudi-nets-16-5-bn-from-pilgrims-paper/

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airpo...rt médi...na http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/119779_1352113148_7998.jpg


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A5OuO_7CUAEGiED.jpg


http://an7a.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%83%D9%8A3.jpg

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http://www.5minute5.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Oct29-Album.jpg
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/10/hajj-2012-a-sacred-journey/100394/

ha...j p...ic http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/muslim-pilgrims-flood-mecca-haj-20121021

ha...jj pi...c http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=447&GalleryID=968&gpid=1

a.jj pic http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/10/hajj-2012-a-sacred-journey/100394/

http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1394330.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Muslim+pilgrims+perform+their+prayers+in+the+Grand+Mosque+of+the+holy+city+of+Mecca

source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/millions-of-pilgrims-arrive-in-mecca-for-the-annual-1394419

Geat p,ic : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/24/hajj-2012-muslim-pilgrimage-mecca-photos_n_2010818.html#slide=1681790


http://us.images.detik.com/content/2012/10/28/157/isi-1-MAKAH-dari-Udara.jpg

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http://foto.detik.com/readfoto/2012/10/28/114020/2074217/157/3/melihat-mekkah-dari-udara991105462


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http://islamicartdb.com/photos/saudi-arabia/makkah-mecca-photos/page/2/


http://www.facebook.com/TabungHaji?filter=1

http://amirfuadh.blogspot.ca/2010/03/umrah-ziarah-16-feb-1-mar-2010-part-1.html

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Hajj 2010 - The Big Picture (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/hajj_2010.html)
Subhanalllah ... so Beautiful! ...Jazakallah for sharing

I saw those one in 2008 ...are beautiful too http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/the_hajj_and_eid_aladha.html

Eid Mubarak!

sorry to disappoint you Mr...
what you call "Wahhabism" is just exist in the head of some people, specially if you know that this expression was promoted during the Khumaini's revolution (around 350 years after Mohammed Bin Abdul wahhab died!)
the other wrong thing you brought over here the 40% of Saudis are so called Wahhabis (because they reject asking blessings and asking the graves of dead people) in this case you are talking about more than 85% of the Saudis :)
unless you call Umer Bin AL-Khattab and Uthman Bin Affan and all the Amawis and Abbasys Wahhabys as they demolished most of the prophets wives and some of the big Sahabas (Companions) houses to make expansions to the Masjed :)

for us, making the the Masjid in Makkah or Madinah enough and comfortable for the worshipers is priority.on the other hand its not allowed in islam to keep such places inside masjeds "if any muslim have a doubts I would be more than happy to provide him/her with a dozen of ayat and hadiths about this"

have a look at this...
p3CT2ZLSrcY&feature=related

Makkah Metro carries 66,000 pilgrims on first day

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192173.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_metro.jpg
An aerial view of one of the metro stations in Arafat. (AN photo)


By AMJAD PARKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 16, 2010

ARAFAT: The Makkah Metro, formally known as the Mashair Railway, handled an estimated 66,000 pilgrims on its first full day of operations, according to railway sources.

They added that trains had been transporting Hajis from the early hours of Monday morning until 11 a.m. the same day. They were due to resume services later on in the afternoon.

There are almost 60 Malaysians involved in the running of operations as well as scores of Chinese, Pakistani and Indian technicians.

According to a Malaysian manager at one of the Arafat stations, the trains made 22 trips in total on its first full day of operations.

"Each train has 12 coaches and can bring in 3,000 pilgrims," said the official, who did not want to be identified. "The one thing that is different here in Arafat is the number of people. I am learning lessons in crowd management here."

The station manager is employed by Malaysian Railways and works in the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur. “The station that I manage in Kuala Lumpur doesn't have these many passengers,” he added.

"The other important lesson I am learning is about communication. There are so many nationalities speaking so many different languages. To get our message across, and that too the right message, is the most challenging aspect. It is all a learning experience and I would want to come back here."

He also said that station staff had been brought into the Kingdom on short-term contracts. "Once the five days of Haj are over, then we will submit our recommendations to make the service better. You can call this a trial and so far it has been pretty successful,” he said.

“The facilities at this station are still in the developmental phase. There are so many things to be carried out and streamlined and once all that is done, this will solve the problem of the movement of pilgrims from Makkah to Mina and Mina to Arafat and back."

It is understood that although the service is supposed to be fully automated, drivers were used to operate the trains this year. The aim is to ensure that the metro is operating autonomously after two years once all improvements are implemented and it is made open to all pilgrims.

At the moment, only domestic and Gulf pilgrims are able to use the service, which is operating at a third of its capacity.

The state-of-the-art station in Arafat was quiet, with the silence punctuated occasionally by announcements in Arabic as well as English messages recorded by Arab News correspondent Roger Harrison.

Among the technicians working there was Ali Abbas Mustafa from Egypt. He has worked with Egypt Railways and was hired to provide services to pilgrims. "This is not just any other duty. It is an honor to serve the guests of God. People here are so excited to get on the train. Trains are not a rarity in Egypt but here in Saudi Arabia it is a new thing and that is why it is attracting so much attention," he said.

The double-track 20 km Mashair Railway runs on elevated tracks beginning from the fourth level of the Jamrat Bridge above King Abdulaziz Road in Mina through Muzdalifah and ends at Station No. 3 in Arafat.

The service has nine elevated stations, three each in Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. The length of each station is 300 meters and each platform can hold 3,000 pilgrims.

Costing SR6.5 billion, the new railway will have the capacity to transport 72,000 pilgrims an hour.

This is the second largest project to be implemented by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs after the SR4.5 billion high-tech Jamrat Bridge project in Mina.

Habib Zain Al-Abidine, deputy minister of municipal and rural affairs, said the railway will have 10 trains in the first phase, each 300 meters long.

The railway can transport pilgrims from one holy site to the next within around five minutes.

Zain Al-Abidine said the railway would operate throughout the year. The second phase of the project will link the Mashair Railway with the Grand Mosque in Makkah, with a station on Umm Al-Qura Road.

It will also be linked to the Haramain Railway that will connect Makkah to Madinah and Jeddah.

The railway will have 20 trains in its next stage, each with 12 carriages and each carriage holding 250 passengers. About 20 percent of passengers will be seated while the rest are standing. Trains can reach speeds of up to 120 km per hour.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192120.ece

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From Mina to Arafat in Mashair Metro

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Mina reverberates with 'Labbaik'

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Pilgrims spend time in prayer and reflection in Masjid Al-Khaif on the Day of Tarwiyah. (AN photo by Khidr Al-Zahrani)
By ARAB NEWS TEAM

Published: Nov 14, 2010

MINA: The valley of Mina, which otherwise remains deserted throughout the year, came alive Sunday as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims poured into the city chanting “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” (O God, here I am answering Your call). Official estimates have put the number of pilgrims at 2.5 million.

Mina is the first stop for pilgrims on the way to the Plains of Arafat for the Haj climax on Monday.

Once in the city and in their fireproof tents, the pilgrims busied themselves reciting the Holy Qur’an and performing prayers or with efforts to locate relatives. Many tried to catch some sleep after a tiring journey from Jeddah and Makkah. Till late afternoon, pilgrims were still making their way into the holy city.

“Stage one has gone very well for us," said Muhammad Taj and his wife Fatima from Khartoum, Sudan. “We started after Fajr from Makkah and were here in our camp by 8 a.m.," said Taj. He said some of the streets were clogged "but our driver knew the best way out."

According to Taj, finding their location in Mina was not difficult. "Since we speak Arabic and since we had come here three days before to familiarize ourselves, it was quite easy. We knew where we were located beforehand."

“I’ve heard some scary stories associated with Haj, but I have not encountered them yet. It’s early days however, so you never know. Inshallah, we will find the Haj a very fulfilling experience,” said 55-year-old British pilgrim Nazir Parkar, who was accompanied by close friend Mushtaq Parkar, 49.

“Whenever I need to speak Arabic, I let him (Mushtaq) deal with it.”

“Yes, I can speak my best broken Arabic despite six years working in Kuwait!” added Mushtaq.

Some pilgrims said they were delayed because they had a tough time performing Tawaf Al-Qadum in Makkah's Grand Mosque before heading to Mina. Ozair Zulfiquar, a Jeddah-based Pakistani expatriate, admitted that the delays were expected. "Such things do happen in this mass movement of people,” he said. "We had a difficult time circumambulating the Holy Kaaba ... There were too many people. We had to do it on the Grand Mosque's first floor."

Though Zulfiquar looked tired after a long journey, his spirits were high. “I told my wife who came from Pakistan that Haj entails immense hardships. So she was mentally prepared for the onerous task. Now we are under the protection of Allah,” he remarked.

A member of the Indian Haj delegation, Meraj Ahmed, congratulated Saudi Arabia for making exceptional arrangements. "They have done a remarkable job," he said. Ahmed is a former minister in India's Uttar Pradesh state. He said Mina has undergone a complete change. "This is not the Mina I visited 10 years ago. It is now the most modern city with most modern facilities. He, however, complained about haphazard arrangement in the Indian pilgrim camps. "Many Indian Hajis came complaining to us about lack of facilities."

The pilgrims arrive in Mina with mixed feelings of trepidation, joy and reflection. They think of the rituals they must perform so there is trepidation. They count themselves lucky to be in the tent city on the 8th Dul Hijjah. Their joy is unequalled. And the whole exercise reminds them of life gone by, the wrongs they committed and the time they wasted. So it is natural to reflect on the past and pray for inspiration in the future.

On the Plains of Arafat on Monday they will bare their hearts before Almighty Allah and beseech Him to forgive them and bless them. What tops the list of their prayers is often secret, perhaps something that they would admit to no one but God. However, there are some pilgrims who will confide their wishes. It is not surprising that a huge range of requests will be made to God on the Plains of Arafat. Some prayers are for the general good of humanity.

Shahbaz Alam Chaudhry from Lahore, Pakistan, said he would be praying for all those who have lost their lives in natural and man-made tragedies in Pakistan. "We as a country are going through a bad phase. But when we come here we become optimistic. Pakistan was created under exceptional circumstances and we will be praying for its protection. We are confident Allah will answer our prayers," he said, wiping away his tears.

The great number of pilgrims from Pakistan and India is something that is immediately apparent. “There was a time in the 1970s and 1980s when only a handful of people came to Saudi Arabia for Haj,” said Atif Ansari, a Saudi of Pakistani origin. “The growing number indicates the social and economic progress of South Asian Muslims."

Scores of policemen directed vehicles as they inched forward bumper to bumper. “Everything is proceeding very well,” a police officer remarked.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article190955.ece

Haj pilgrims ascend to Mount Arafat

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By SARAH EL DEEB | AP

Published: Nov 15, 2010

MOUNT ARAFAT: Nearly 3 million Muslims performing the annual Haj pilgrimage in the Kingdom climbed their way up Mount Arafat on Monday, chanting that they have come to answer God’s call.

The white-robed pilgrims began their ascent at the crack of dawn, covering the Mountain of Mercy at Arafat in an endless sea of white as their chants, "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” (O God, here I am answering Your call), reverberated overhead.

The climb at Arafat is one of the cornerstones of the pilgrimage, which is required from every able-bodied Muslim at least once in their life time. It’s the site where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his farewell sermon and Muslims believe on this day the doors of heavens open to answer prayers and grant forgiveness.

As they began their climb from the tent-city in the valley of Mina, many of the pilgrims looked tired from lack of sleep, having spent the entire night praying. Charities and vendors along the way handed out food packages and umbrellas to shield the climbers from the harsh sun.

One of the pilgrims, Wassim Ahmad, from Mumbai, India, said this was his first Haj and that he felt like a child, reborn.

“Today is like judgment day,” said the 29-year-old. “We have come to pray to God ... a new child has been born.”

Alone and obviously on her first hajj, 46-year-old Egyptian, Um Sayed, kept asking people for directions.

“There is nothing greater than feeling that you are going to meet God,” she said. “The whole body shivers.”

Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa are the three stops on the pilgrims’ journey during the hajj, as worshippers trace the steps of Prophet Muhammad.

The Hajdraws millions of worshippers each year, the sheer numbers a challenge in preventing stampedes at holy sites, fires in pilgrim encampments and the spread of disease.

This year Saudi authorities have taken new measures to improve crowd management, including launching a new light-rail system to transport pilgrims between the shrines.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article191731.ece

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Holy Kaaba gets new kiswa

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Workers change the kiswa of the Holy Kaaba on Monday. (SPA)
By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 16, 2010 00:12 Updated: Nov 16, 2010 00:31

MAKKAH: The Holy Kaaba in Makkah was given a new kiswa, or covering, on Monday morning, a tradition that takes place on Dul Hijjah 9 every year.

Officials from the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs took down the old kiswa and replaced it with a new one, which is made from pure silk at Makkah’s Kiswa Factory.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and the Kiswa Factory. The changing of the kiswa is done in a particular way with the new kiswa hung over the old one from the top and then the old one removed from underneath.

The Kiswa Factory was built in Makkah about 74 years ago by the Kingdom’s founder King Abdul Aziz. A new kiswa is made every year by Saudis who work at the factory.

The black kiswa is made with 670 kg of pure silk, and 150 kg of gold and silver thread that is used for sewing the Qur’anic verses. It is 658 square meters in size and consists of 47 pieces, each 14 meters long and 95 cm wide. It costs about SR16.8 million ($4.5 million).

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192119.ece

Cameroon village converts to Islam,
thanks to king’s humanitarian gesture

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Cameroonian pilgrims who are performing Haj as guests of Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah with Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.
By SAEED AL KHOTANI | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 16, 2010 00:16 Updated: Nov 16, 2010 00:25

MINA: An operation to separate a pair of Cameroonian conjoined twins, conducted by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, has eventually led to the conversion of an entire Cameroonian village to Islam.

This was revealed by a dignitary from the African state, Sultan Omar, during a visit to Al-Rabeeah at the Mina Emergency Hospital. The twins, Rahima and Hamidah, were separated in April 2007.

"The successful operation conducted by Al-Rabeeah has led to the chief and members of the whole tribe of my home village Banky, estimated to be home to 1,100 people, and many others from other parts of Cameroon to embrace Islam spontaneously and without any pressure. They were all moved by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s humanitarian gesture,” he said.

Omar was accompanied by a delegation of 26 Cameroonian Muslim converts in a courtesy visit to express gratitude to Al-Rabeeah. “We not only owe it to Al-Rabeeah, we also owe it to King Abdullah who ordered for the twins to be separated at his personal expense. This was a humanitarian gesture that we all saw,” he said.

Omar requested Al-Rabeeah to convey his and his accompanying delegation’s gratitude to King Abdullah.

Omar and his delegation, who are performing Haj as guests of King Abdullah, praised the Kingdom’s Haj services. They also thanked the Kingdom for helping Cameroon, particularly with the building of a number of mosques, a dam and a wheat project.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192144.ece

‘Spread radiant image of the Prophet’

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By SIRAJ WAHAB, SYED FAISAL ALI & AMJAD PARKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 16, 2010

• Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh calls for end to injustice
• Pilgrims seek mercy in Arafat plains
• Stoning of Satan begins today

ARAFAT: Nearly three million pilgrims on Monday stood on Mount Arafat, also known as the Mount of Mercy, and the plains surrounding it from where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave his farewell sermon more than 14 centuries ago.

It was from here that the Last Prophet’s Companions set out across the four corners of the world preaching the simple message of Islam. The Prophet’s last sermon, simple and pure as it was, became the magnet for millions to join the fold of Islam. The Prophet preached about the oneness of Allah and talked about piety being the only barometer of one’s closeness to Allah.

The men and women who formed a massive stream of white on Monday got on to any type of transport they could find or just set out on foot to seek forgiveness.

The “wuquf” or standing of pilgrims draped in two white unsewn pieces of cloth in the plains of Arafat is the climax of the annual pilgrimage. It was also an extraordinary symbol of Islam’s unity and equality. One of the focuses of pilgrims in Arafat is Masjid Al-Namirah, from where the Prophet addressed his Companions during his farewell pilgrimage, an act that was reenacted by the Kingdom’s Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh on Monday.

In his sermon, Al-Asheikh urged Muslims to fear Allah both in private and public, and to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet to achieve success in life. He also discussed major problems faced by Muslims across the world, in addition to outlining Islamic creed and deeds.

He stressed that terrorism needs to be rooted out. “The cause that helps the growth of terrorism should be removed and the injustices faced by oppressed societies should be stopped, its perpetrators should be punished regardless of whether they are individuals or groups,” he said.

“While all agreed that terrorism is the worst evil, the real issue is not terrorism alone but there are also evils such as poverty, unemployment, ill health and the consequences of natural disasters,” Al-Asheikh added.

He said the abuse of the Last Prophet in the West should be countered by highlighting his humanity, love and mercy. “Help your Prophet by spreading the radiant image of his personality of mercy and affection and by emulating those qualities in your daily life and inviting people to it. That is the fitting reply to those who make false charges against him,” he said.

Al-Asheikh called on Muslims not to allow their enemies to draw them into conflicts and bloodshed that lay their economies to waste. He also urged the people of the West to adhere to the principles of human rights and justice that they believe in. “We hear about escalating violations against Muslims and their faith and other important Islamic features. Such practices do not help achieve stability and will only worsen the situation and spread hostility and hatred,” he said.

Islam is a religion of moderation and does not support any kind of extremism. It is a religion of universal character fit for all times and people and does not approve of discrimination based on color or nationality. Its values have withstood opposition for around 1,400 years, he said. “Islam is the power of tomorrow and the civilization of the future. It is a religion of justice. It is against a globalization that empowers the strong and rich over the weak and poor with no concern for unemployment, poverty and rising prices.”

He said stability and security could only be achieved by obeying the rulers. He also called on the Iraqi people to respond to the call made by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Abdullah to stop bloodshed and bury their differences, and urged the people of Sudan to unite for their own welfare. Outside the mosque, people spent the day in worship and supplication, praying for their needs, and also for the welfare of the Kingdom and its rulers, particularly Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal for the excellent services provided to pilgrims this year.

Saudi national Awad Bafaqer sobbed uncontrollably while seeking forgiveness from God. “Islam is the best religion in the world and I am proud to be a Muslim. I have only one prayer on my lips: May God unite all Muslims. If we are united, we will be victorious here and in the hereafter,” he said. Bafaqer had arrived in Arafat straight from Jeddah.

Getting to Arafat was not without difficulties for many pilgrims. However, despite the hardships, every pilgrim Arab News spoke to told of how reaching the plains of Arafat was a dream come true. “Arafat is very peaceful, I feel a connection with God. Today is the day of Haj and today I feel like I can speak to Allah and find a connection where I feel like I’ve been heard,” said 44-year-old Imtiyaz Bobat of London. “I’ve been praying for my late younger sister. She had meningitis and she passed away recently. My whole Haj has been for her. I’ve been praying to Allah to forgive her for any shortcomings she may have had and also for her very young children. I’ve been praying to Allah to help me become more pious so I can be a better Muslim and of course my parents who have had to endure the loss of a child. I’ve been praying for an end to sufferings in Palestine, Afghanistan and everywhere else in the world. Insha Allah we will have peace,” he said.

“It’s been a very huge day for me, lots of people here, as they make dua and ask Allah for forgiveness. There’s been so much unity here, obviously it’s such a peaceful place and everyone is here with one intention,” said fellow British pilgrim Salim Bhayat of Coventry, UK.

“You have maulanas performing prayers in the background. It’s my first Haj, I’ve never done Umrah and I’ve come on my own. I’ve been praying for my family and friends and peace in the world. That’s all I want in my life. Obviously, you make your own connection with Allah, it’s an individual experience. It’s unexplainable. No words can explain how you feel inside,” he said.

“Praying in Masjid Al-Namirah does not have a special significance while performing the pilgrimage. But everyone wants to pray in it. And I feel myself fortunate enough to get a chance to see this majestic mosque and pray inside it,” said Abdur Rehman Abdul Wahab from Kuwait.

“Haj is never tiring but always rewarding. Whoever performs it becomes as pure and innocent as a newborn child. This is Allah’s way of showering His choicest blessings on the believers,” said Saleh Al-Sheikh, a Syrian-American.

“I’m here to answer the call of Allah and pray for peace and tranquility in my motherland. Those planning to harm us should never succeed in their mission. I also prayed for the unity of the Muslim Ummah, which is the need of the hour,” said Iranian Haider Ali Najafi.

“Arafat reminds me of our beloved Prophet. He asked us to undertake this journey and here we are. We have been undertaking this journey for the last 14 centuries and Muslims will continue to do so until the Day of Judgment,” said Muzaffar Hikayati from the United Arab Emirates.

Local food and drink companies distributed their products for free, and each time distribution trucks opened their doors hundreds flocked to catch food and drinks thrown from them. At sunset, pilgrims started their journey to Muzdalifah where they will spend the night and collect pebbles to perform the symbolic stoning of Satan on the following three days.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192125.ece

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We have done everything to ensure safety: Al-Qarni

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Gen. Muhammad Al-Qarni


By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 16, 2010 00:15 Updated: Nov 16, 2010 00:25

MAKKAH: The Civil Defense has done everything possible to guarantee the highest level of safety on the Kingdom’s flagship Mashair Railway, said Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Qarni, commander of the Civil Defense’s Haj Operations Center.

“The Civil Defense is ensuring all trains and tracks are strictly being maintained according to designated safety regulations; this is being done through the Civil Defense’s Haj Operations Center,” said Al-Qarni.

“The control room is monitoring trains on 30 screens while the movement of pilgrims is being tracked with 500 cameras covering all places in Makkah and the holy sites,” he added.

A number of Civil Defense teams have been deployed along the railway track and at stations in case of emergencies. “The company that is operating the trains is also working in collaboration with the Civil Defense to ensure everything is as safe as possible,” he added.

Some Civil Defense officials are also present in the train’s control room to monitor safety, said Al-Qarni, adding that naming and assigning numbers to locations in the holy sites is something that helps pilgrims and officials locate tents easily.

“The numbering will certainly help the Civil Defense teams to rapidly reach emergency locations,” he said.

Al-Qarni commended the new chain bus service for pilgrims, which saves pilgrims a lot of time traveling from Mina to Arafat and back. A circular road has been set apart exclusively for the chain service.

“The chain bus service, the train service, the completion of the Jamrat Bridge, and the expansion of Arafat have considerably helped minimize accidents and are allowing the emergency services to operate in a more effective way,” he said.

Al-Qarni said the Civil Defense has become more efficient by adopting modern technology and that they can easily identify likely accident spots not only in Haj but also elsewhere in the Kingdom around the year.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192128.ece

Mobily networks register 46% traffic increase on Arafat day

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By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 17, 2010 00:08 Updated: Nov 17, 2010 00:09

MAKKAH: Arafat Day usage on Mobily's networks in the Makkah area jumped by 46 percent as compared to last year's usage figures, according to an official statement issued by the company on Monday.

"The performance of our networks, whether that be 2G, 3G exceeds international benchmarks," said Mobily Vice President for Corporate Communications and Public Relations Humoud Al-Ghobaini.

Meanwhile, Mobily's free public WiFi also witnessed increased usage, mostly from public officials and workers tasked with serving pilgrims.

Mobily is the official partner with Makkah province. Mobily distributed hundreds of thousands of umbrellas and provides free public WiFi during the Haj.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article193340.ece

Haj pilgrims perform devil stoning ritual

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By SYED FAISAL ALI, SIRAJ WAHAB AND AMJAD PARKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 16, 2010 15:42 Updated: Nov 16, 2010 19:50

MINA: Pilgrims performed the symbolic stoning of the Satan on the first of the three days of stoning, as Muslims around the world celebrated Islam’s biggest holiday, Eid Al-Adha — the festival of sacrifice.

Massive crowds of pilgrims filed along a giant ramp that houses the walls in the Mina valley, pelting the first one. The stoning lasts three days until the end of Haj on Sunday.

Many of at least 2.5 million pilgrims who are performing Haj this year have expressed their happiness at the spacious new Jamrat Bridge and expansion along the Masa'a area in the Grand Mosque, easing access and preventing stampedes and pile-ups.

Instead, the biggest problem this year appeared to be traffic on roads, as the throngs of pilgrims moved between Mina, the nearby holy city of Makkah and other ritual sites.

Some buses transporting pilgrims couldn’t move because they were surrounded by sleeping “unlicensed” pilgrims camped out in parking lots. Further snarling the logistical nightmare, Saudi authorities shut down some roads to vehicles to allow the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims moving on foot to pass.

Expressing particular delight at the now-complete five-story Jamrat Bridge, many pilgrims said that overcrowding has become a thing of the past. Unlike previous years, tension and anxiety was not seen on the faces of pilgrims who had completed the first day of one of the most crowded rituals of the annual pilgrimage.

The stoning at Jamrat is, potentially, the most perilous part of Haj due to so many people converging at one place at one time. Nearly three million people pass through the pedestrian bridge during the three-day ritual to throw stones at three pillars representing Satan and re-enacting what Prophet Abraham did thousands of years ago.

After performing the stoning, pilgrims buy tokens to have a sheep slaughtered and the meat distributed to the poor.

In order to ease traffic, the Ministry of Haj had asked Tawafa establishments and other domestic Haj organizers to stick to the schedules assigned to them when sending pilgrims to the Jamrat.

Police officials said there was no overcrowding at the bridge, which was being manned by a large contingent of police officers and stewards to control crowds.

Col. Zuhair Sebaih, head of the Civil Defense forces on the Jamrat Bridge, said the bridge’s ground floor was the busiest of the five floors on the first day of stoning. He added that pilgrims arriving via the new Mashair Railway are using the top floor.

“The train project was a huge success in Haj because it managed to lower the level of traffic jams and crowds. There have been no recorded injuries or accidents with the exception of a very few numbers of pilgrims who fainted because of exhaustion. These people were mainly elderly,” he said.

“The giant projects that were carried out by the Saudi government at the holy sites have played an important role in easing the movement of pilgrims from Makkah to the holy sites and then their return,” said Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Makkah governor and president of the Central Haj Committee.

“Projects such as bridges and tunnels were ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan to ease the movement of pilgrims,” he added.

“This is my first Haj, and, by the grace of Allah, we completed all of the rituals with ease and without any trouble,” said Egyptian pilgrim Samir Al-Fakeeh. “This is really unbelievable that 2.5 million pilgrims performed Haj without any incident whatsoever. Just amazing,” he added.

“Alhamdulillah, the stoning was peaceful and smooth and everybody is safe and sound. What more can we expect?” said Sabir Al-Jassaram from Kuwait.

Expressing satisfaction over the Jamrat expansion, Kuwaiti pilgrim Salem Al-Hummadi said, “Now overcrowding is a thing of the past … the bridge is so spacious that it can take over five million pilgrims and they all will be able to stone the devil smoothly without any incident.”

The new bridge contains a wider column-free interior space and expanded Jamrat pillars many times wider than their pre-2006 predecessors. Additional ramps and tunnels have been built for easier access, and bottlenecks were engineered out.

Shumael-e-Nabi, an Indian who was on Haj for the third time, was amazed at the speed at which work was carried out at the Jamrat Bridge and in the Grand Mosque. “When I performed the Haj for the first time in 1998, the round shape seemed to be a hindrance in performing the stoning ritual,” he said.

He was back for Haj in 2007 and then again got a chance to perform Haj in 2008. “I was very happy to see the oval shape of the Jamrat when I performed the Haj in 2007 and the addition of two floors to the bridge have helped ease the flow of pilgrims even further,” he said.

Another pilgrim, who came for the second time to perform Haj, said that first time he performed Haj he was very nervous especially during the stoning ritual. “It was awful and very tough. It was a real test of all your capabilities. It was literally impossible for old and infirm pilgrims to perform this very important ritual. But now everybody can perform this ritual without any difficulties,” said Saleem Qureshi from Britain.

Ruqaiya Marwan, a pilgrim from New Zealand, was in awe at the sight of the holy places. She was happy to see the facilities but said pilgrims need to behave better. “There were some good pilgrims and some not so good pilgrims. I was very afraid of performing the stoning ritual, but went ahead on the insistence of my fellow pilgrims. It was not as bad as I had heard it would be. It could be much better if the pilgrims take care of each other,” she said.

The ground and lower levels were completed in time for last year's Haj. Construction on the fifth level was completed in time for this year’s Haj.

The bridge has five floors with 12 entrances and 12 exits for more than three million pilgrims to pass through as they performed the stoning. This year 300,000 pilgrims per hour were allowed for stoning the Jamrat. The new bridge has an advanced early warning system to prevent overcrowding and stampedes.

The new SR4.2 billion Jamrat Bridge is 800-meters long and 100 meters wide. Earlier the length of the bridge was 600 meters and the width was 80 meters. And it had only two stories. All the three Satan symbols have been extended to 40 meters long and 16 meters wide.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192777.ece

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Seeing the Kaaba was ‘incredible,’
says South African who came on bicycle

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Nathim Cairncross, left, with fellow cyclist Imtiyaz Haron outside the Prophet's Mosque during their stay in Madinah. (AN photo)

By AMJAD PARKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 17, 2010

MINA: One of two young South African cyclists who rode all the way from Cape Town to Makkah has spoken of his happiness at finally being able to perform Haj.

Nathim Cairncross, 28, and Imtiyaz Haron, 25, arrived in the holy city on Nov. 2, understandably exhausted after covering an estimated 11,000 kilometers in the space of nine months.

They had told Arab News previously that they cycled to Makkah to physically prepare for the rigors associated with performing their first pilgrimage. "However, [Haj] was not as difficult as we thought it would be," Cairncross told Arab News from his base in Aziziyah on Tuesday. "Alhamdullillah it's gone very well. I think it was important not to get caught up in the crowds of people."

He added that while they undertook the journey for many personal reasons, they also wanted to improve their spiritual wellbeing. "It was a very tough journey, and you definitely have to be open-minded and flexible," he said.

Their trek took them from South Africa through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Palestine before finally arriving in the Kingdom.

"It wasn't just a religious journey," said Cairncross. "It was also about seeing Africa and the sights in other countries too."

He added that in Zimbabwe they did some voluntary work, teaching local children how to count, read and write.

The cyclists did not encounter any serious problems on their journey, and were often very well looked after by the locals in the cities they traveled through. Both pedaled 80 to 100 kilometers a day and would rest from dusk till dawn.

"There was ample food in Africa. We managed to get really good connections in the big cities. They offered us food, water and accommodation," added Cairncross.

Although language was a barrier, they picked up Arabic as they traveled through Syria and Jordan. This served them in good stead when they reached the Saudi border, where they were greeted and welcomed by border guards.

For the cyclists, who had seen so many famous landmarks on their arduous journey, by far the best sight they encountered was when they entered the Grand Mosque. "Seeing the Kaaba was incredible," said Cairncross. "That feeling you get, it was like the cherry on the cake. The wildlife, the nature throughout Africa, nothing compares."

He added that once they reached Makkah, linking up with South African tour group Khidmatul Awaam, the cyclists decided to temporarily go their separate ways. "Me and Imtiyaz never spent time together when we went to the Grand Mosque or while we did our Haj. We thought it was important to be alone and surrounded by strangers," he said.

Cairncross also commended the organization of the pilgrimage, adding that a lot of credit must go to the Saudi authorities. He said from what he has seen, the Kingdom has constantly been improving its management of Haj every year. "We're still hoping to meet some of the Saudi Royal family," he added laughingly.

While he politely declined to say what he prayed for at Arafat, Cairncross did add that it was important to be as well prepared as possible when performing the pilgrimage.

He also said he and Haron planned to sell their bicycles in a bid to fund a plane ticket back to Cape Town. If that fails, he added, they hope a sponsor would step in to help them get home.

Both Cairncross and Haron are students of Islamic law and have studied Shariah teachings and law. "I joined a university and completed a course in town planning and am working in the field of construction," Cairncross said.

Both of them are single and love sports. While Cairncross is interested in wind surfing along beaches and seas, Haron, an economics graduate, excels in kickboxing and mountain climbing.

(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cape-2-Mecca-Cycle-C2MC/330709716520).

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article193333.ece

Recovering king receives visitors

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article193313.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_king.jpg
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah receives a visitor on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha
at his palace in Riyadh on Tuesday. Deputy Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam looks on. (SPA)


By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 16, 2010 23:56 Updated: Nov 16, 2010 23:56

RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah received on Tuesday princes, ministers, officials and citizens who came to greet him on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha at his palace in Riyadh.

The king is currently taking rest on the advice of doctors following a slipped disc. Speaking on the occasion, the king said: "Brothers, thank you, I wish success and thanks to every Saudi citizen inquiring about my health. I thank Allah that I am fine and in good health as long as you are fine."

Referring to his illness, the king said, "I don't know what this illness is. Some people call it a slipped disc and some others sciatica ... However, if Allah wills everything will be fine."

I wish you all success and thank all citizens and others from far and near who expressed concern over my health. Let me please shake your hands although I cannot stand up," the king told the visitors.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article193314.ece

Jamrat expansion pays off

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article193318.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_jamrat.jpg
Haj pilgrims move toward Jamrat Al-Aqabah to stone Satan in a symbolic rejection of temptation on Tuesday. (AN photo by Khidr Al-Zahrani)

By ARAB NEWS TEAM

Published: Nov 16, 2010 23:59 Updated: Nov 17, 2010 00:18

MINA: Pilgrims performed the symbolic stoning of the Satan on the first of the three days of stoning, as Muslims celebrated Eid Al-Adha — the festival of sacrifice. Massive crowds of pilgrims filed along a giant pedestrian bridge that houses the walls in the Mina valley, pelting Jamrat Al-Aqabah.

MINA: Pilgrims performed the symbolic stoning of the Satan on the first of the three days of stoning, as Muslims celebrated Eid Al-Adha - the festival of sacrifice.

Massive crowds of pilgrims filed along a giant pedestrian bridge that houses the walls in the Mina valley, pelting Jamrat Al-Aqabah.

Many of the nearly three million pilgrims expressed their happiness at the spacious new Jamrat Bridge and expansion along the Masa'a area in the Grand Mosque.

Instead, the biggest problem this year appeared to be traffic on roads, as the throngs of pilgrims moved between Mina, the nearby holy city of Makkah and other ritual sites.

Some buses transporting pilgrims couldn't move because they were surrounded by "unlicensed" pilgrims camped out in parking lots. Further snarling the logistical nightmare, Saudi authorities shut down some roads to vehicles to allow the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims moving on foot to pass.

Expressing particular delight at the now-complete five-story Jamrat Bridge, many pilgrims said that overcrowding has become a thing of the past. Unlike previous years, anxiety was not seen on the faces of pilgrims who had completed the first day of one of the most crowded rituals of the annual pilgrimage.

The stoning at Jamrat is, potentially, the most perilous part of Haj due to so many people converging at one place at one time. Nearly three million people pass through the pedestrian bridge during the three-day ritual to throw stones at three pillars representing Satan and re-enacting what Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) did thousands of years ago.

In order to ease traffic, the Ministry of Haj had asked tawafa establishments and other domestic Haj organizers to stick to the schedules assigned to them when sending pilgrims to the Jamrat.

Police officials said there was no overcrowding at the bridge, being manned by a large contingent of police officers and volunteers.

Head of the Civil Defense forces on the Jamrat Bridge Col. Zuhair Sebaih said the bridge's ground floor was the busiest of the five floors on the first day of stoning. He added that pilgrims arriving via the new Mashair Railway are using the top floor.

"The train project was a huge success in Haj because it managed to lower the level of traffic jams and crowds. There have been no recorded injuries or accidents with the exception of a very few numbers of pilgrims who fainted because of exhaustion. These people were mainly elderly," he said.

"The giant projects that were carried out by the Saudi government at the holy sites have played an important role in easing the movement of pilgrims from Makkah to the holy sites and then their return," said Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Makkah governor and president of the Central Haj Committee. "Projects such as bridges and tunnels were ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, to ease the movement of pilgrims," he added.

"This is my first Haj, and, by the grace of Allah, we completed all of the rituals with ease and without any trouble," said Egyptian pilgrim Samir Al-Fakeeh. "This is really unbelievable that over 2.5 million pilgrims performed Haj without any incident whatsoever. Just amazing," he added.

"Alhamdulillah, the stoning was peaceful and smooth and everybody is safe and sound. What more can we expect?" said Sabir Al-Jassaram from Kuwait. Another pilgrim from Kuwaiti Salem Al-Hummadi said: "Now overcrowding is a thing of the past ... the bridge is so spacious that it can take over five million pilgrims and they all will be able to stone the devil smoothly."

The new bridge contains a wider column-free interior space and expanded Jamrat pillars many times wider than their pre-2006 predecessors. Additional ramps and tunnels have been built for easier access, and bottlenecks were engineered out.

Shumael-e-Nabi, an Indian who was on Haj for the third time, was amazed at the speed at which work was carried out at the Jamrat Bridge and in the Grand Mosque. "When I performed the Haj for the first time in 1998, the round shape seemed to be a hindrance in performing the stoning ritual," he said.

He was back for Haj in 2007 and then again got a chance to perform Haj in 2008. "I was very happy to see the oval shape of the Jamrat when I performed the Haj in 2007 and the addition of two floors to the bridge has helped ease the flow of pilgrims even further," he said.

Another pilgrim, who came for the second time to perform Haj, said that first time he performed Haj he was very nervous especially during the stoning ritual. "It was awful and very tough. It was a real test. It was literally impossible for old and infirm pilgrims to perform this very important ritual. But now everybody can perform this ritual without any difficulties," said Saleem Qureshi from Britain.

Ruqaiya Marwan from New Zealand was in awe at the sight of the holy places. She was happy to see the facilities but said pilgrims need to behave better. "There were some good pilgrims and some not so good pilgrims. I was very afraid of performing the stoning ritual, but went ahead on the insistence of my fellow pilgrims. It was not as bad as I had heard it would be. It could be much better if the pilgrims take care of each other," she said.

Sudanese national Alla Eldin Saeid was delighted at the completion of the most important ritual of Haj on Tuesday. "I am amazed by this show of unity," he said. "However, my wish is that Muslims all over the world would similarly demonstrate this kind of unity. Why is it that we are united here in Makkah, Mina and Arafat and not when we are outside these holy places?" he commented. Saeid felt that the message of Haj is unity as stressed by the grand mufti in the plains of Arafat on Monday. "There is dire need to for all our countries to forget their differences and come together for a larger good," he said. "We keep abusing the West but there the common people show all kinds of courtesies. If you need help in London or Washington, ordinary people will guide you without asking your religion. This is an Islamic trait but we Muslims have forgotten it. Let us be good Muslims inside and outside the holy places."

Mohammed Coovadia of South African Haj service operators Khidmatul Awaam said: "You know what? The Saudi organization was brilliant. We really didn't have a problem. This year was very exceptional and smooth."

"Of course, this (the stoning of the devil) is an essential part of the Haj experience. It was overwhelming because there is a real story behind the ritual. I thought to myself, this is part of all the essential requirements of the Haj. We did an incredible walk, but you felt every step was a step in the right direction. It doesn't matter where you come from, everyone is in it together, performing this important ritual."

The ground and lower levels were completed in time for last year's Haj. Construction on the fifth level was completed in time for this year's Haj. The bridge has five floors with 12 entrances and 12 exits for nearly three million pilgrims to pass through as they performed the stoning. This year 300,000 pilgrims per hour were allowed for stoning the Jamrat. The new bridge has an advanced early warning system to prevent overcrowding and stampedes.

The new SR4.2 billion Jamrat Bridge is 800-meter-long and 100-meter-wide. Earlier, the length of the bridge was 600 meters and the width was 80 meters. And it had only two stories. All the three Satan symbols have been extended to 40 meters long and 16 meters wide.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article193319.ece

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs562.ash2/148483_1695418633292_1472636923_31792375_3438914_n.jpg

Technology revolutionizes communication in Haj

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article193232.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau-technology.jpg
Jordanian pilgrim Mohammed Ibrahim says modern technology has made preparations for Haj simple. (AN photo)

By SYED FAISAL ALI | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 17, 2010 00:07 Updated: Nov 17, 2010 00:10

MINA: Technology has affected all walks of life. Not only has it made day-to-day life easier, but it has also changed the way we perform our religious duties. This was evident everywhere during Haj.

Earlier, when one planned the pilgrimage, the biggest worry was to do it correctly and if in the course of pilgrimage any mistake happens then how to rectify it.

So people used to carry a whole lot of Islamic literature and even notes from muftis and those who had done the pilgrimage earlier, said one pilgrim, who was turning pages on his iPad to get to know the correct way of performing Haj and about the prayers to be made in the holy sites.

"Ten years ago, when my father was packing his bags for Haj, he had all the essentials: clothes, money and a bit of food - but when it came to prayer manuals, something was wrong," said Mohammed Ibrahim, a tech-savvy Jordanian pilgrim. "I remember him taking all these books and photocopies and notes. It became too much for him to take care of."

But that was the year 2000. Here comes 2010, and today's pilgrims needn't worry about forgetting any of their prayer manuals. There's an app for that.

It covers everything from what pilgrims should pack to what they're allowed to do while on the pilgrimage. And if you forget any of your prayers, don't worry. The MP3 audio files have you covered.

Certainly, technology is changing the way pilgrims perform Haj. And rather than turning away from it, Saudi officials are embracing it wholeheartedly because their goal is to make the pilgrimage as comfortable and accessible as possible.

Inside the Grand Mosque, smart phones are enriching pilgrims' experience. "I have taken hundreds of pictures in Makkah, Madinah and Arafat.

But my father does not have any such pictures to share with us," said Ibrahim.

However, he agreed that for some people taking pictures at the holy places is not a good idea.

Some pilgrims who take guidance from online sites feel they have made things better.

"Availability of online guidance has made performance of Haj easier for pilgrims.

People now log on to a galaxy of Islamic sites to seek guidance and to know fatwa about major Haj-related issues," said Waqar Ahmad Yusufi from London.

Not only that, pilgrims are making use of modern technology to make their pilgrimage comfortable.

Even the Saudi government is applying all modern technology and equipment in making arrangements for Haj. All government-licensed buses now have GPS technology. Officials can monitor, in real time, where each bus is and how fast it is traveling. If a bus breaks down, a team is immediately dispatched to clear the road.

Perhaps the biggest change has been in Mina, the site of deadly stampedes in the past. Apart from building the multilevel Jamrat Bridge to ensure similar tragedy never occurs again, the authorities have completely redesigned the area.

A closed-circuit camera system now monitors all pilgrim movements in real time. At the slightest evidence of another bottleneck, traffic controllers move in to clear the scene.

In the air, the Saudi Telecom has installed more than 1,000 cellphone signal transmitters and receivers in Makkah and nearby areas. The idea, according to one of the STC officials, "is to guarantee effective cellphone coverage for all of the religious sites."

All of this has serious implications for Haj itself.

Some see it as an encroachment into what is, essentially, a religious event.

"How can you focus on circling the Kaaba or concentrate on prayers when the guy in front of you is talking to his wife on his cell phone?" said pilgrim Imran Zahid.

"There can definitely be a disturbance. This is a spiritual journey, a journey to develop ourselves from within. All that Internet stuff can wait."

But he agreed that if the mobile phone is used when absolutely necessary to seek guidance then there is no harm.

But Ibrahim sees things slightly differently. "Having all your books, supplications, and Qur'an in one place allows you to maximize the time you spend in the holy places," he said. "But like everything else, it has to be used appropriately."

As smart phones and tablet PCs become more popular, Ibrahim expects Haj apps to be used more widely.

Just about the only thing they can't do is perform the rituals for you. But somewhere out there, you can bet there's an app in the works for that, too.

"Instead of running after one mufti to another for Haj counseling, I preferred to log on to www.IslamiCity.com which provided answers to all my queries," said Adnan Jaber, a Jordanian.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article193336.ece

Hajj 2010 shows signs of past and present

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Hajj streamlines ritual slaughter

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The rich-poor divide on the Hajj

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11 Egyptian pilgrims die in 48 hours

November 17, 2010

Eleven Egyptian pilgrims have died over the past two days while performing the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, announced Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Abdel Hakam. The corpses have been buried in Saudi Arabia.

Abdel Hakam pointed out that the total number of Egyptian deaths since the start of the pilgrimage had reached 28 on Tuesday night. Wednesday marks the first day of the Muslim Bairam feast, which goes on until Friday.

Nearly 3 million Muslims performing the annual pilgrimage began making their way up the rocky desert Mount Arafat on Monday, chanting that they have come to answer God's call.

The climb at Arafat is one of the cornerstones of the pilgrimage, which is required from every able-bodied Muslim at least once in their life time. It's the site where Islam's Prophet Muhammad delivered his farewell sermon and Muslims mark by making prayers and asking for forgiveness.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/11-egyptian-pilgrims-die-48-hours

Mashair Train reduces traffic by 3,000 buses

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article189904.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/_TRAIN.jpg
November 18, 2010

JEDDAH: The operation this Haj of the multibillion riyal Holy Sites Train, also known as the Mashair Train, has reduced the traffic on the roads by a staggering 3,000 buses, according to Abdul Gadier Al-Jabarti, head of the Haj Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

Al-Jabarti also called on government to control Haj package prices to make the holy pilgrimage more affordable for domestic pilgrims.

He said the Mashair Train was already effectively tackling “unbearable” traffic jams at the holy sites. When it is completed next year the project will reduce the traffic by 30,000 buses.

The SR6.5-billion train project is only operating at 35 percent capacity at the moment. When completed it will be able to transport 70,000 pilgrims an hour. It will eventually be linked to Makkah.

He said the train’s project has contributed to the development of Muzdalifah and also made it possible for several pilgrims to spend the night there.
Al-Jabarti said 240 companies are currently catering for between 170,000 to 240,000 domestic pilgrims.

He said domestic pilgrims are divided into a number of groups.

A new group, known as the “Jamarat Tower Group” is housed at six towers and is the closest to Al-Jamarat Bridge. There are about 18,000 pilgrims in this group and are each charged between SR9,000 to SR15,000 for Haj.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/628/2206013640034444772ascgsl1.jpg

The second group consists of 34,000 pilgrims and each person is charged between SR5,000 and SR7,000 because they are the second closest to Al-Jamarat Bridge.

The second category has 70,000 to 80,000 pilgrims, with each one paying SR4,500 to SR5,500. The last group, furthest away from Al-Jamarat comprises 70,000 to 80,000 pilgrims with each paying between SR2,500 and SR3,500.

He said pilgrims spend between SR1,000 and SR2,000 on gifts and other expenses. Local pilgrims have also spent SR250 on train tickets which are valid for seven days.

Fadhl Albuainain, an economic expert, said the cost of Haj is set to increase over the coming years, and called on the government to tighten control over Haj operators or set a price ceiling.

He said many domestic pilgrims were still sleeping out in the open because of the high costs of Haj.

He suggested that prices should be set between SR1,000 and SR6,000.

Meanwhile, economic sources have estimated that 40 percent of domestic pilgrims are non-Saudis and are legal residents.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010111887558

i hate the way AlJazeera is reporting Hajj this year, they manage to find the negatives in everything and appreciate nothing of what the kingdom has done

I didn't saw and read all what they did but I think Aljazeera shows the 2 parts : the goods and the improvement...and sad realities and difficulties of the hajjis.

Here's an article (not from aljazeera) saying "Good things" about this hajj:


Saudi Arabia less rigid with Muslims during hajj

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November 18, 2010

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s religious police keep such a low profile during the Hajj, it’s hard to imagine that you are in Islam’s holiest city.

The kingdom, where Islam first emerged around 1,400 years ago, applies a strict form of Sunni Islamic Sharia law that imposes gender segregation, forces shops to close during prayer times and prohibits women from driving.

But in Makkah, the enforcement of many of these rules is relaxed during the Hajj, a duty for every able-bodied Muslim. And with the government investing billions of dollars in recent years to make pilgrimage safer and more comfortable, many pilgrims end up going home as goodwill ambassadors for the country.

“We have to thank Saudi Arabia for their services. It’s getting better and better every year,” said Ritha Naji, a US pilgrim performing a “stoning of the devil” rite that has been the scene of numerous deadly crushes in recent years.

The Grand Mosque, home to the Kaaba shrine which Muslims around the world turn to in prayer every day, is the only place in the desert kingdom where women and men can pray together.

Western diplomats say this tolerance is part of wider efforts to improve the country’s image over the past decade after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington in which Saudis were involved.

King Abdullah has tried hard to dispel the association between Saudi Arabia and militancy, promoting an international “interfaith dialogue” through the United Nations.

This year’s Hajj, which ended this week, drew a record 1.8 million foreigners from diverse regions of the world like Nigeria, Russia and Indonesia that apply a less strict form of Islam than Saudi Arabia.

The US ally often comes under fire from human rights groups criticizing its public beheadings and lack of political freedoms in what is an absolute monarchy.

On Wednesday, Amnesty International called on Riyadh to improve the situation of expatriates after an Indonesian maid was reportedly mistreated by her employer.

But during Hajj Egyptians, Indians or Pakistanis, who make up the bulk of millions of expatriates in the country, receive markedly kinder treatment from Saudi officials who refer to pilgrims as “guests of the Merciful,” meaning God.

Polite policemen guide pilgrims around the vast Grand Mosque, while the religious police turn a blind eye to pilgrims taking the kinds of photographs that they had frowned on in previous years.

In the capital Riyadh religious police scour the streets to keep unrelated men and women apart, but in Makkah the sexes mix easily in shops and restaurants. Some eat side-by-side on the ground in front of the Grand Mosque, an impossible sight elsewhere in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s minority Shiites often complain of discrimination and attacks by clerics, yet during Hajj Iranian, Iraqi and other Shiites perform the rites unhindered.

Loudspeakers give instructions to the multitude in many languages, including English and Farsi, as well as Arabic.

Safe Hajj key to Saudi prestige

As pilgrim numbers shot up over the past three decades, staging a safe Hajj became crucial for the image of a monarchy that styles its king Custodian of the Two Holy Sites, a reference to the sacred precincts in Makkah and in Madina where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) set up the first Muslim administration.

A series of disasters have claimed hundreds of lives during Hajj since 1990, including fires, stampedes, hotel collapses and clashes between police and pilgrims staging political protests.

This year the government unveiled a Hajj train linking the holy sites in and around Makkah that cost $1.8 billion to build. It will only be used some six days a year.

“We want to give pilgrims the best possible level of services,” Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz told reporters last week.

Thanks to its oil wealth, Saudi Arabia can afford to waive the fees for the services it provides, including drinking water, toilet facilities, medical and security services, as well as maintenance and expansion of the Grand Mosque itself.

Cold water is on tap at every corner and medics turn up within minutes when someone collapses. Saudi firms distribute umbrellas as protection from the sun.

The plain of Arafat, where pilgrims spend a whole day according to the rites, has a vast sprinkler system covering an area of some 1.3 square kilometers (0.5 square miles).

“The Saudi services for pilgrims are really good. One has to say that,” said Mohammed Idam, a Yemeni cooling under the spray in the afternoon heat at Arafat.

The efforts pay off in the positive message many pilgrims take home with them.“

Our Saudi brothers have expanded many services,” said Moroccan pilgrim Mohammed Hamdush.

“Now they’ve built a train for pilgrims, which is nice.”
.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/78721/saudi-arabia-less-rigid-with-muslims-during-hajj/

A wonderful, amazing, stunning

View of Mecca

like you never seen!

from Al Jazeera


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1022/5185658322_759d84d0df_b.jpg



to see it "more stunning" see the original size:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aljazeeraenglish/5185658322/sizes/o/in/photostream/

***

Thanks Al Jazeera!

***

]A wonderful, amazing, stunning

View of Mecca

like you never seen!

from Al Jazeera


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1022/5185658322_759d84d0df_b.jpg



to see it "more stunning" see the original size:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aljazeeraenglish/5185658322/sizes/o/in/photostream/

***

Thanks Al Jazeera!

***

A visite of Mecca and Holy sites of the Hajj

by AlJazeera

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http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FBEE811B-B720-408E-9F44-4D8FD552190D.htm?GoogleStatID=1

***

Between piety and consumerism

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November 17, 2010

From all corners of the world, Muslims gather annually to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca wearing simple white cloth, leaving behind the comforts of their homes for a brief period.

By forgoing their lifestyles, their only focus is to pray to God as his humble servant and ask for his forgiveness and mercy.

However, with the change of times the surroundings of the Grand Mosque have changed with the appearance of five-star luxury hotels and shopping malls.

These malls offer the material items people crave to have at a time when Muslims are expected to forgo life's luxuries and pleasures.

But in the modern 21st century, few can ignore the need for consumer items, regardless of the location.

Sohail Rahman reports from Mecca.

Young Saudis proud to be in Mina as barbers

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article194489.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_proud+to+be.jpg
No longer stymied by the stigma attached to the profession, a young Saudi
works at one of the makeshift salons near the Jamrat Bridge in Mina. (AN photo)


By GALAL FAKKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010 00:08 Updated: Nov 18, 2010 00:34

MINA: Around 120 young Saudis who graduated from a vocational training course in hairdressing are working around the clock at Mina cutting and shaving pilgrims’ hair.

“I am happy to have an opportunity to serve pilgrims for the first time in my life. I enjoy cutting pilgrims’ hair, which I feel will earn me a lot of reward from God as well as help me generate an income,” said Abdullah, a young Saudi in his 20s.

Abdullah, a resident of Makkah, is one of around 120 young Saudis who graduated from a haircutting course from the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC). These young men are working around the clock at temporary salons set up in Mina to cut and shave pilgrims’ hair.

Some of them are from Makkah while others are from other cities and regions. An ardent desire to serve pilgrims has prompted them to work as barbers to earn livelihoods. What makes them special is the fact that these men are enthusiastic to do a job that an overwhelming majority of Saudis have an aversion toward.

“We are working at specially set up salons near the Jamrat Bridge by the Department for Municipal Investment Development at the Makkah municipality,” said Abdullah.

Abu Sultan, Abdullah’s colleague, sees the job as a realization of a long-cherished dream to serve the guests of Allah. A resident of Taif, Abu Sultan said serving pilgrims like this has changed his mindset and that he no longer shies from doing jobs like this.

“The Makkah municipality has set aside a special location to set up salons free of cost in Mina. The municipality has also furnished salons with chairs, machines, razors and shampoo at its own cost,” he said.

Salem Anbar, another young Saudi hairdresser, considers his job as a way of serving pilgrims. “It is also a big source of revenue for us. I charge SR10 to cut hair with a machine and SR15 to cut with a razor or to shorten with scissors. We are keen to abide by municipality regulations to use only clean apparatus and not reuse blades,” he said.

Anbar earns around SR2,000 a day in Mina and wants to set up his own salon afterward.

“Our readiness to work like this encourages other Saudis to also do the same. Wearing the same uniform and carrying out the same job without any competition or greed to earn more money creates a new attitude to work. It also gives us an opportunity to serve pilgrims,” he said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article194533.ece

Movement a struggle for pilgrims atop mountains

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article194492.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau-mountain-pilgrims.jpeg
A pilgrim relaxes outside their camp perched on top of a mountain in Mina. (AN photo)
By AMJAD PARKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 17, 2010

MINA: Pilgrims in tents in the mountains of Mina expressed despair on Wednesday at difficulties they have experienced in moving around the holy sites.

The majority of those that appear to be affected are either Indian or Yemeni. They are staying in camps high up in the mountains near the tunnels leading to Makkah on King Abdullah Road.

The road up to these pilgrims’ tents is steep, making walking an arduous experience, especially in the unrelenting heat.

Yemeni pilgrims in these camps in particular have suggested they are being discriminated against, even though Indian Hajis not too far away from them are in exactly the same position.

“We urged the Yemeni government to talk to Saudi authorities and give us a better space for this year’s pilgrimage,” Muhammad Al-Khamri of Haj tour operator Summer Tours and Travel told Arab News.

“They said they would, but I reckon that due to some corruption on our authorities’ part, our request was ignored.”

He added that it is not easy for pilgrims in his camp to travel to the Jamrat Bridge to perform the ritual of stoning the devil because they were so far out and also because they have to climb up and down two levels. He also suggested that the lack of a functional transport system only exacerbated their problems.

“Maybe if we can get a cable car that takes us straight to the Jamrat Bridge, then we’ll happily stay in the mountains!” said Al-Khamri jokingly.

However, he did express concern for less mobile pilgrims, especially the elderly and disabled.

“It is difficult for their companions to push wheelchairs up and down the roads. And for those who can walk but are not as mobile, of course we are concerned about them,” he said.

Al-Khamri’s sentiments were echoed by colleague Rajeh Hussain Badi, who is also editor of the Yemeni newspaper Al-Sawah.

“It’s difficult for all pilgrims to travel to and from our camp to perform their Haj rites, let alone those who are less able to walk long distances,” he said.

Badi joked that Yemenis made a prayer 3,000 years ago to be isolated from the rest of the world because they had a beautiful kingdom at the time and did not need anything else. “Now it appears that our prayers have been answered because we’re isolated from everyone else in Mina!”

Yemeni Minister of Endowments and Guidance Hamoud Al-Hattar said his government had been requesting for a change in location for many years.

“However, the Saudi government has politely declined every time because of the space limits in Mina. We can only keep on trying,” he told Arab News.

Meanwhile, Indian pilgrims from Camp No. 47 have complained of similar problems because they are also based in the mountains.

“It’s been really difficult, because I have my 74-year-old father, who is fitted with a pacemaker,” said 37-year-old Syed Ahmed Ali, who was on his first Haj with his wife and elderly parents.

“We’ve been focusing more on solving the problems, not so much on praying and performing Haj.”

He called on Saudi authorities to consider providing a shuttle service that would take affected Hajis at least a little closer to the Jamrat Bridge. He also condemned the attitude of Saudi staff employed by the pilgrims’ Mutawwif Office, saying they had been unhelpful, rude and unsympathetic.

“There are 1,000 people here, and we’re all struggling to walk to the Jamrat every day in this heat,” added 59-year-old Indian pilgrim Arif Malik, who was performing Haj with his wife.

There are an estimated 40,000 Yemeni pilgrims performing Haj this year, while a record number of over 170,000 Indians are believed to be completing their rites in the holy cities.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article194604.ece

Showers fail to dampen spirits of Hajis
on the second day of Jamrat

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By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010

MINA: The skies opened up Wednesday night in the valley of Mina forcing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to scramble for cover.

The rains were not hard but gusty winds increased their impact. Some of the pilgrims refused to look for shelter and instead enjoyed the showers. “This is the sign from God that our Haj has been accepted,” said Iranian pilgrim Ibrahim Mohammadi. “This is rahma (a blessing).”

There was lightning and thunderstorms. The lightning was quite intense, and the skies flashed every few seconds. Inside the tents raindrops created a pitter patter. Many pilgrims busied themselves reading verses from the Holy Quran aloud. Many of them used cell phones to warn others not to venture out.

The roads have become slippery, and the makeshift shops that vendors from Makkah and Jeddah had set up had to fold up.

Pilgrims huddled inside their tents and prayed for the wellbeing of everyone in and around Mina. Those pilgrims who erected makeshift plastic tents fared worse. The winds threatened to rip off their tents. To make matters worse, some had pitched tents at steep inclines on the Mina mountainsides.

Officials from several pilgrim establishments expressed concern. Floods in the past wreaked havoc in areas surrounding Makkah and Mina. “We have taken all precautions and the civic officials have made good arrangements for rain water drainage,” said Naif Al-Muttawa of the Southeast Asian Pilgrim Establishment. “Let us hope these dark clouds will be carried away from here.”

Earlier in the day, nearly three million pilgrims threw stones at all the three walls representing the devil on the second day of a Haj ritual here that represents Prophet Abraham’s rejection of Satan’s temptations.

Civil Defense and Interior Ministry helicopters monitored pilgrim traffic that flowed smoothly on the multilayered Jamrat complex throughout the day.

In the last of the Haj rituals, pilgrims chanting “God is Greatest” threw seven small pebbles at each of the three gray stone walls. The stoning that symbolizes the rejection of evil and temptations will be repeated again on Thursday as the Haj draws to a close. Watched and guided by friendly security officers, pilgrims were directed to approach the stoning site in orderly waves.

On one occasion, a group of Egyptian pilgrims lost its cool and got into a heated exchange of words with security officials. They were pacified after the intervention of top officials.

Interior Minister Prince Naif formally received here the Islamic dignitaries and heads of Haj missions. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had asked him to supervise Haj arrangements to receive the foreign guests.

Among the dignitaries who attended the reception were Sudanese President Omar Bashir, Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Gambian President Yahya Jambi, Gabon President Ali Bongo, Dagestani President Mohammad Salam Muhammidov, Senegalese Premier Solomon Indeni, Yemen's Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Karim Al-Arhabi, GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Atiyyah, Malaysian Foreign Minister Sri Anifah, Lebanese former Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Egypt's former Prime Minister Abdul Aziz Hijazi. The ceremony was also attended by Makkah Gov. Khaled Al-Faisal, senior princes, ministers, ulema, top officials, and ambassadors of Arab and Islamic countries.

The stoning ritual tends to be the most animated, with pilgrims heaving their pebbles along with declarations against the evils they perceive in the world. The ritual is largely symbolic. However, a lot of pilgrims were seen venting their fury while performing it.

“I stoned the devil with all my might today. I was too weak on Tuesday having spent the day in standing at Arafat and sleeping out in the open in Muzdalifah ... I couldn’t really mete out justice to this Satan ... He needs to be stoned vigorously,” said Bangladeshi pilgrim Tufail Muhammad. “This is an act of self-purification,” he said as he completed his stone throwing.

“Alhamdulillah, the stoning was peaceful and smooth and everybody is safe and sound,” said Mokhtar Tayseer from Palestine.

“The pilgrimage has gone much easier than I expected,” said M. K. Muneer, a minister from India's Kerala state. “It was very peaceful and organized. I am very impressed with the arrangements,” he told Arab News. According to him, the beauty of Haj is that nobody gets any preferential treatment here. “Whether one is a minister or a commoner, everyone is wearing the same stuff and performing the same rituals,” he said. “We all know that in Islam there in no difference between rich and poor, black and white but it is only here during Haj that one gets to see those noble principles in practice.”

Though symbolic, some pilgrims felt the stoning act should be perpetuated by the world against those “devils” that ruin the very fabric of coexistence and world peace. “They should be stoned in the same way the devil is pelted with pebbles,” said Egyptian pilgrim Mohammad Abdel Ghani.

For some pilgrims, the stoning of the devil was actually getting rid of the devil within. “This is an act of self-purification,” said Maulana Sadeq from Pakistan.

“By doing this, we are saying that from today on we have decided to live according to the principles of Islam ... That we will not indulge in usury, that we will not harm others, that we will remain steadfast in the defense of Islam.”

“There were, by the grace of God, no injuries and no deaths,” said an Interior Ministry official. “It is an achievement that the whole exercise went off in a much, much better way than last time. We always try to achieve the best possible results. This will not stop us from further streamlining and improving health services in the future.”

“I finished the stoning ritual in a matter of minutes,” said Umar Salama, a Saudi national from Hafr Al-Batin.

“The only difficulty I faced was to get to Jamrat. I had to walk to lot. Once I reached the complex, it was a piece of cake,” he added.

“The experience of the Jamrat today for me was exhilarating, especially being amongst all those people who were casting stones at their own devils. It encouraged me to do the same,” said Saudi-based Somali pilgrim Salim Baker.

“I hope for a new start and I will definitely go back a changed person. It has been a great experience. The traffic was orderly and I didn’t feel like I was going to be crushed at anytime. We did not take much to the Jamrat except our stones and a bottle of water. I took my wife and did not fear for her at anytime. Everything went smoothly.”

“I feel relieved at finally being able to complete these most challenging Haj rites. I feel cleansed, spiritually and mentally,” said Canadian pilgrim Omar Ali.

“I just hope I can build on this fresh start and be the best Muslim I can be. The Jamrat experience was unbelievably smooth, considering the horror stories we’ve heard about stampedes there in the past. But we have no complaints. The authorities have done a fantastic job.”

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article194615.ece

Pilgrims wrap up Haj

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A view of the Holy Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah as pilgrims mark
the third day of Eid al-Adha on Thursday. (AP)
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: Nov 18, 2010 14:02 Updated: Nov 18, 2010 14:11

MAKKAH: Crowds of Muslim pilgrims are performing the final rituals of the annual Haj, stoning symbols of the devil and circling the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site.

Some 2.8 million Muslims from all over the world were participating in the pilgrimage this year, and many are finishing the rites on Thursday.

The pilgrims walked seven times around the Kaaba, a cube-shaped shrine in what is known as the “farewell” circumambulation.

Others were in the desert valley of Mina, several miles away, throwing stones at three walls representing Satan in a symbolic rejection of temptation, a ceremony that has been going on since Tuesday.

While many pilgrims complete their Haj Thursday, some will continue for another day of stoning.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article195300.ece

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5640404682_002a0c1419_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mohsan/5640404682/)
MAKKAH (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mohsan/5640404682/) par Mohsan ** Away for a while ** (http://www.flickr.com/people/mohsan/), sur Flickr

Downpour disrupts retreat of pilgrims from Mina

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By SIRAJ WAHAB, SYED FAISAL ALI & AMJAD PARKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010 23:49 Updated: Nov 19, 2010 00:39

MINA: A downpour that swept Mina disrupted the retreat of pilgrims as Haj 2010 drew to a close on Thursday.

Rains started belting down across the arid valley around 3 p.m. as many of the Hajis began streaming out of the tent city after performing the stoning ritual for the third consecutive day.

Right from noon Mina was enveloped by thick black clouds and a strong wind was blowing across the valley. The skies finally opened up at 3 p.m. Though the rain subsided after a couple of hours it was still drizzling at the time of writing this story. Ankle-deep water flooded all streets from Mina to Makkah and threw traffic off gear.

Vehicles were stranded in the waterlogged streets. Traffic police were seen helping small cars out of the floodwaters. The swirling floodwaters came rushing down the hills and gushed forth into tents sweeping away mattresses and other things lying on the floor. "In some camps, there was total chaos. People were running helter-skelter to escape the torrents," a pilgrim was quoted as saying by an Arab News photographer.

As the rain force decreased, the streets of Mina were littered with all kinds of trash. Watches and costume jewelry were swept downstream as wayside vendors abandoned their wares and ran for cover when the downpour came.

The ferocity of the downpour caught the pilgrims by surprise but it did not surprise officials at the South Asia Establishment for Pilgrims. One of them said: "We were prepared for the rain as it was forecast. Thankfully, the rain came on the final day of Haj when the pilgrims are in Mina. Had it rained earlier the entire administration machinery would have been thrown out of gear."

Saudi television showed images of pilgrims under the heavy rain performing the stoning ritual and the mandatory circumambulation of the Kaaba. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims were still in Mina without finishing the lapidation ritual. According to convention, these pilgrims who fail to leave Mina before nightfall should stay back for another day to complete their rituals.

Many of the pilgrims were ecstatic at the completion of Haj. Prominent Indian Muslim commentator Ausaf Vasfi said everything went smooth. "The Saudi authorities deserve all praise for an excellent job," he said. "The security personnel were very polite and cooperative. Yes, they couldn't speak English but they did all they could to help the pilgrims."

Vasfi said there is a dire need to use the synergy and energy of Haj to liberate Palestine from the clutches of Israel. "That should be our goal. Haj demonstrates that we can unite and we can similarly unite to get Al-Quds liberated."

The pilgrims started heading for home on Thursday night.

Pilgrims have lauded the organization of the whole Haj experience. They did, however, say that Haj authorities should focus more on improving transport links and encourage staff to be more helpful. They added that more needs to be done to reduce pollution during the pilgrimage.

Pilgrims also praised the state-of-the-art Mashair Railway, which links the holy sites of Haj and is due to become fully operational next year. "It's becoming much easier. I've been coming here for the past 10 years," said Haj tour operator Ismaeel Osman from South Africa. "With the rail system, it will become even better. The transport has become much more convenient for the Hajis and it's not like it used to be."

He claimed that the rail system is the key to better organization of the pilgrimage. "You see, the walking is causing the chaos, because pilgrims sleep in the streets, especially the trip from Arafat to Muzdalifah. And if you come a little late, then people start fighting over space."

Mauritian pilgrim Zubeida Sallajee, 48, said she was looking forward to finishing off her rites, which included stoning the devil for the last time before making her way to Makkah.

"I think (the Saudi authorities) are doing a lot (to make the Haj experience as easy as possible). I just have concerns about the cleanliness of toilets in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. Also, the amount of garbage in the roads is unsightly."

Thirty-year-old British pilgrim Imran Rivat, who is on his first Haj with his wife, described the entire experience as life-changing. "It's been amazing, it really has, from start to end," he said. "Everyone tells me that there's (sic) always improvements going on and I really like the new stoning (of the devil) facilities. It looked like it was going to be chaos, but there were a lot of guards there and it went really well."

He added that he plans to go to Madinah next week and recover from the rigors of Haj. "On a personal level, I want to bring my son who's two-years-old. Obviously not for Haj, but probably for Umrah. This is the Kingdom. You hear people refer to the UK as the Kingdom, but nothing compares to Saudi Arabia."

"The arrangements were excellent and great care was taken to avoid the massing of pilgrims on the Jamrat Bridge which has been a scene of tragedy on numerous occasions in the past. I thank Custodian of the Two Mosques King Abdullah, though ailing, for ensuring the best available services to guests of Allah," said Shagufta Jumani, Pakistan's minister of state for religious affairs.

"After stoning the Jamrat, we rushed back to our camps to pick our luggage but then it began raining and we are stuck up in our camps and will leave for Makkah later. But we have no regret. These rains are nothing but the blessing of Allah for us giving us a feeling that our Haj has been accepted," said Mohammed Salamatullah, an Indian pilgrim.

Many pilgrims are making plans to travel to the holy city of Madinah and pray at the Prophet's Mosque, while others are getting ready to go home.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article195686.ece

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Mashair service faces brief glitch

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By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA & MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010 23:50 Updated: Nov 18, 2010 23:50

MAKKAH: The Mashair Railway, which transported pilgrims between Mina and Arafat smoothly on the first two days of the Haj, encountered a brief glitch on Thursday afternoon during heavy rains.

Civil Defense spokesman for Haj, Maj. Abdullah Al-Harithi, said in press statement in Mina that an electrical short circuit at a railway station caused a brief suspension of the service.

“The train service was resumed after the problem was fixed in a few minutes and the incident, which did not cause any injuries, took place at a station and not in the train,” he said, adding that the service is now functioning smoothly. He said the railway stations are equipped with modern technology to extinguish fires and issue early warnings.

Meanwhile, Director of Domestic Pilgrims at the Haj Ministry, Ibrahim Al-Jabri, said the suspension of the train service did not delay the departure of domestic pilgrims on Thursday. Some returning pilgrims told Arab News that the train service was suspended following rains because of safety concerns.

The Civil Defense deployed its manpower in Makkah and the holy sites to face any eventuality following the downpour when it received a Met warning of heavy rains on Thursday afternoon.

“No drowning or injury has been caused by rains in the holy sites or Makkah. However, arrangements have been made to evacuate tents in Mina if floods threaten the tent city,” said Al-Harithi.

A number of rescue teams with heavy equipment including 17 teams with dinghies were put on alert.

Safe roads were marked out so that pilgrims could avoid tunnels that could be inundated in the event of floods.

Air ambulances were also kept ready.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article195690.ece

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Post-Haj cleanup a daunting task for authorities

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A daunting task of disposing off rubbish accumulated in Makkah during the Haj awaits city workers. (AN photo)


By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010 23:47 Updated: Nov 19, 2010 00:11

MAKKAH: Mayor of Makkah Osama Al-Bar said on Thursday that the municipality would start disposing of garbage in the holy sites the moment pilgrims leave Mina.

As the pilgrimage nears its end, Saudi authorities face the daunting task of cleaning up the holy sites.

During the short Haj season, the streets of the tent city of Mina were awash with litter.

The situation in the Arafat plains, where pilgrims spent the Haj peak day on Monday, and in Makkah itself was no better.

Islamic teaching stresses cleanliness, with Muslims taught from an early age that “cleanliness is half of faith” in the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

But as male pilgrims performed the rite of shaving heads on Tuesday, the streets of Mina and the neighborhood of the Grand Mosque in Makkah were strewn with hair and used razors.

The mess appeared to be mostly the work of “unauthorized” pilgrims, without the official permits, who flooded the valley.

Some 2.8 million pilgrims are estimated to have taken part in this year’s Haj, almost 800,000 more than expected based on the number of permits issued, according to Saudi authorities.

Those pilgrims with no places reserved in equipped camps have squatted on pavements, under bridges and on rocky terraces. And where police turned a blind eye, they camped in the street. Colorful bedsheets and blankets were stretched between walls and lamp-posts for shade. Those who were better prepared erected beach tents.

Many of the illegal pilgrims, who flouted the strict rule of “No permit, No Haj,” were foreigners who live in Saudi Arabia. Some were Saudi nationals.

“I work in Makkah, so I decided to perform the Haj,” said an Egyptian who declined to give his name as he sat on a mat spread under the elevated track of the new Mashair Railway.

These pilgrims, many of them with young children, ate and drank in the same place. As their litter grew around them, some admitted that they were at fault.

“We are the reason behind this mess,” said Adnan Naji, 26, sitting with two fellow Egyptians on a straw mat on the road in Mina, while trash flowed out of a bin three meters away.

He explained that some people could not afford to pay for a legal Haj through a licensed group that would charge for decent accommodation, so they “sacrifice for Haj.”

“We came to answer Allah’s call for Haj,” said Al-Sayyed Ali Jad, 24, who works in construction, like Naji.

Meanwhile, binmen in yellow overalls toiled nonstop, pushing overflowing orange bins, sweeping the streets and loading large garbage containers onto lorries.

The garbage is for the time being collected at 131 temporary dumps within Mina, as moving it outside is impossible because of crowds.

Al-Bar said the garbage was being removed to the various dumping grounds with the help of 900 mechanized garbage boxes from all public utilities and markets around the clock.

Speaking about the role of the municipality in guaranteeing the hygiene of food and other items sold to pilgrims in the holy city, the mayor said municipal inspectors have been checking food outlets and other shops in the holy sites and Makkah. They routinely visit about 33,000 commercial establishments, including food outlets. There are 2,590 groceries, 1,245 shops selling light refreshments, 400 shops selling meat, poultry and fish, 669 restaurants, 408 bakeries, 287 shopping centers, 198 kitchens and over 18,000 other shops in the city.

Al-Bar pointed out that the authorities have also issued temporary licenses to 2,200 seasonal shops.

He added that the technical inspectors of the municipality keep a constant watch on the 57 tunnels with a total length of 30 km, in addition to 37 bridges in Makkah.

The municipality has deployed 12 teams to undertake emergency asphalting of roads and sidewalks and 15 teams to look after 40,000 streetlights, Al-Bar said.

He put the number of public toilets in Makkah districts at 600.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article195638.ece

Workers turn hawkers as projects ground to halt

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Construction at Jabel Omar project. Below, a handout picture of a train to be used as part of the Makkah Metro project. (AN photo)

By GALAL FAKKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010

MAKKAH: Hundreds of construction workers in Makkah and the holy sites have turned to street peddling as all construction projects have been suspended until the end of Haj.

The low-paid workers find this holiday an opportunity to earn more than double what they would earn in wages in a year, according to a Bangladeshi worker.

There are hawkers from Arab and non-Arab countries. They sell recharge cards, food and cold drinks in Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina. Many others sell cheap trinkets to pilgrims in Makkah.

Abdul Raheem, a young Bangladeshi worker at a Jabal Omar construction site, said he found selling mobile recharge cards most convenient.

He said many pilgrims did not realize the cards are available at local convenience stores. “I get a lot of money from this work,” he said. “I guess I have already earned from this work double my annual income from my job at the construction site.”

He said selling cards does not attract the police as much as selling of trinkets on streets.

An Indian worker, Hamza, who peddled fast food to pilgrims in Arafat and Muzdalifah, said he sold food packets at double the actual price. He said he bought the food from restaurants in Makkah and carried them to the holy sites. Bringing the food from Makkah and selling them in the crowd without being detected by vigilant health officials is not an easy task, he added.

Another man said he sold recharge cards away from the central zone because detectives are likely to be less active in the inner districts.

Yemeni pilgrim Al-Ahdal said he bought recharge cards from peddlers because it was difficult for him to go looking for the stalls of telephone companies.

He said, however, he never bought food from peddlers as such food packets are stale or unhygienic.

Egyptian doctor Muhammad Zakaria said eating unhygienic meals sold on pavements might cause disease.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article194600.ece

The unifying experience of a lifetime,
Haj: The poetry of prayers

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By SYED NEAZ AHMAD

Published: Nov 19, 2010 00:04 Updated: Nov 19, 2010 01:48

Choked with emotion, drenched in devotion and drowned in supplication the artistry of a wordsmith fails to capture the beauty of the greatest congregational religious act of worship — the Haj.

I was about 25 when I first performed the Haj. Looking back I was little aware of what was happening within me and around me. I tried to make mental notes of my feelings and experience but I soon realized that even the best of writers would find it very difficult to narrate these events, their experience and their emotions.

Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik . . . is the incessant supplication, preferred greeting and the most repeated chant that Makkah and its environs reverberate with every Dul Qada and Dul Hijjah. As the pilgrims arrive in the Holy city they hear

Nothing but the Talbiya — Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik — the greeting and supplication of every single pilgrim.

When the pilgrims arrive in Makkah they perform many acts of worship. They go round the Kaaba — an act of worship known as tawaf — which symbolizes their gravitation toward the Almighty. They raise their hands and say: "O Allah! I intend to perform tawaf around Your Inviolable House, make it easy for me and accept from me Haj (or 'Umrah). Glory be to Allah."

A Western writer and photographer — who accepted Islam and performed the Haj - describes the sense of unity and harmony that the pilgrims feel while performing the tawaf: Seven times we circled the House, repeating the ritual devotions in Arabic, O Allah from such a distant land I have come unto You. Grant me shelter under Your Throne. Caught up in the whirling scene, lifted by the poetry of prayers, we orbited the House of Allah in accord with the atoms, in harmony with the planets.

After going round he Kaaba seven times the pilgrims, after praying two rakahs of wajib al-tawaf (two units of prayers) near the place known as Maqame Ibrahim (station of Abraham). The stone bearing the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is encased in a precious crystal glass with a steel grill and marble base. The pilgrims kiss the Hajr Al-Aswad, the Black stone out of love, reverence and admiration.

Afterward they approach the door of Kaaba and embrace it crying their hearts out and putting their very souls in their supplications.

Later they perform Sa'yie — running and walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah. Apart from some stones both the hills have been leveled and covered with marble slabs now. Chandeliers, air-conditioners and cool Zamzam water along the concourse make the Sa'yie a much easier task for the pilgrims.

At the end of the tawaf and on completion of the Sa'yie the pilgrims drink Zamzam which Allah in His Infinite Mercy had disclosed to Prophet Ibrahim's wife Hajrah. It is said that when Hajrah rushed to the spring she exclaimed Zamzam — an onomatopoeic Babylonian word that denotes the sound of rushing and gushing water.

After Haj, many pilgrims carry back a can or two of Zamzam with them. This is not a part of Haj but the urge to drink and take home some of the water which has been miraculously flowing for over 4,000 years is a practical example of the spirit of Haj.

The Haj is not a new institution which Islam has introduced in its Shariah. This institution is as old as the Kaaba itself which is called in the Qur'an to be the first House of Divine Worship appointed for men.

The ceremony of Haj is commemorative of Prophet Ibrahim and his family's various acts of sacrifice and devotion to Allah. It is mentioned in the Introduction of Sahih Muslim that the Haj is the perfection of faith since it combines in itself all the distinctive qualities of other obligatory acts.

"Down the ages", says professor Phillip K. Hitti, "this institution [of Haj] has continued to serve as the major unifying influence in Islam and the most effective common bond among the diverse believers. It renders almost every capable Muslim perforce a traveler for once in his lifetime. The socializing influence of such a gathering of the brotherhood of believers from the farthest quarters of the earth is hard to overestimate."

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article195709.ece

Youngest pilgrim honored

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Fatin Ibrahim, head of the Women's Voluntary Committee.

By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 16, 2010 00:15 Updated: Nov 16, 2010 00:27

MAKKAH: The Women’s Voluntary Committee of the South Asian Tawafa Establishment honored a seven-day-old baby, born to an Indian pilgrim in Makkah.

The function, which was held at the establishment’s headquarters last Wednesday, was attended by Fouziah Khan, wife of Pakistan’s consul general, and Imrana Siddiqui, wife of Pakistan’s deputy consul general.

Over 200 women from India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, in addition to women from some Arab countries, participated.

In her opening address, the committee’s chairman, Fatin Ibrahim, welcomed the pilgrims and enumerated the government’s efforts to enable all pilgrims to complete the fifth pillar of Islam with ease and comfort in a safe and secure atmosphere.

Khulud Al-Mahdi spoke about the committee’s achievements and planned activities, and Sameera Bannani, head of the establishment’s Religious Committee, spoke about the proper way women should behave during Haj.

Hayat Hanafi answered questions from the floor during a question and answer session. There were also a series of quizzes related to religious topics. Prizes were also distributed to winners.

The pilgrims were also given a tour of the establishment’s headquarters.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192131.ece

Haj free of communicable diseases, says Al-Rabeeah

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By SAEED AL-KHOTANI | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010 23:48 Updated: Nov 18, 2010 23:48

MINA: Heath Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said on Thursday this year's pilgrimage has been free of communicable diseases.

“This is one of the big fruits of the constant directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to provide the best possible health care services to the guests of Allah, the pilgrims, and the visitors of His sacred house in Makkah, “ the minister said at a press conference in Mina.

Al-Rabeeah said this information was based the reports received from various health committees, including statistical data and other relevant information pertaining to precautionary measures taken by the Ministry of Health. He attributed a strict surveillance process at all ports of entry of pilgrims, arriving by air, land or sea that proved effective in preventing entry of infectious diseases into the Kingdom. Remote digital monitoring cameras at all health care facilities helped in monitoring for any potential outbreaks, he added.

“In addition to all that the involvement of King Abdullah Medical City, this year, in providing fourth level health care services to pilgrims such as complex cardiac treatment and surgery in addition to other types of very specialized and rare medical services," the minister said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article195665.ece

القمر يتعامد على الكعبة المشرفة يومي 14 و 19 ذي الحجة

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أعلنت الجمعية الفلكية بجدة انه وبمشيئة الله تعالى تشهد مكة المكرمة تعامد القمر على الكعبة المشرفة يومي السبت والخميس المقبلين.
وقال رئيس الجمعية المهندس ماجد ابوزاهرة : بان الحسابات الفلكية لحركة القمر حول الأرض أظهرت أن القمر سيتعامد على الكعبة المشرفة مساء يوم السبت رابع أيام عيد الأضحى المبارك 14 ذو الحجة الموافق 20 نوفمبر حسب تقويم أم القرى حيث يبلغ ميل القمر عرض مكة ومتوسطا على خط زوالها عند الساعة 11:19:30 مساء بالتوقيت المحلي ويكون وجهه مضاء بنسبة 99 في لمائة. ويعود القمر ويتعامد مرة أخرى نهاية نفس الأسبوع فجر يوم الخميس 19 ذو الحجة الموافق 25 نوفمبر . عند الساعة 3:00:51 فجرا ويكون وجهه مضاء بنسبة 88 في المائة .
وبين ابوزاهرة : أن ظاهرة تعامد الأجرام السماوية كالشمس والقمر والكواكب على الكعبة المشرفة تؤكد على دقة الحساب الفلكي لتحديد حركة ومواقع تلك الأجرام في قبة السماء بدقة متناهية و يستفاد من ظاهرة التعامد للقاطنين في دول الخليج العربي والمنطقة العربية ودول العالم يمكنهم بطريقة سهلة خالية من التعقيد معرفة اتجاه القبلة عند النظر إلى القمر في لحظة التعامد فذلك الاتجاه هو اتجاه القبلة. أما المسلمين في المسجد الحرام سيشاهدون أن القمر في منتصف السماء
جدير بالذكر بان هذا التعامد الثنائي يحدث بعد اقل من شهر من تعامد ثنائي مماثل حصل في أواخر شهر ذو القعدة الماضي.

http://www.burnews.com/news.php?action=show&id=19088

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"Full moon perfectly vertical over Ka’ba twice this week"

November 20, 2010

JEDDAH: In a rare astronomical phenomenon, the full moon will be perfectly in a vertical position just over the Holy Ka’ba twice during the next week.

According to a recent announcement by the Jeddah Astronomy Society (JAS), the full moon can be seen vertically just over the Holy Ka’ba on Saturday (Nov. 20) and on Thursday (Nov. 25).

Referring to astrophysical calculations, Majed Abu Zahera, head of the JAS, said: The full moon will be perpendicular above the zenith of the Holy Ka’ba on Saturday at exactly 11:19:30 P.M. local Makkah time and moon surface will be 99 percent shiny.

“The glowing of the moon will decrease to 88 percent in the next perpendicular appearing on Thursday just before the dawn prayer at 3:00:51 A.M.,” Abu Zahera added.

He also said that a phenomenon of perpendicular positions in orbs like sun, moon, and planets over Holy Ka’ba is a telling evidence that the astrophysical calculation is extremely accurate and reliable.

The planetary figures can exactly locate the orbs in the sky dome, he said.

“We can benefit from such an occurrence in locating the Qibla (Ka’ba direction) in any place around the world. In a very simple way, without astronomical tools or telescopes, any one can locate the Qibla very accurately. Just look at the moon’s location during these times on Saturday or Thursday and the Qibla is there,” Abu Zahera said.

He said world pilgrims in the Grand Mosque will be able to see the full moon in the middle of the sky dome and “it will be a spectacular scene.”

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010112087663

Big drop in number of pickpockets

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By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010 00:07 Updated: Nov 18, 2010 00:07

MINA: The increasing number of surveillance cameras in Makkah and the holy sites has contributed to a sharp drop in the number of pickpockets this year compared to previous years.

There are over 2,000 surveillance cameras, along with a large presence of police officers, in the holy sites, said Gen. Khidr Al-Zahrani, deputy commander of general security for security affairs and assistant commander of Haj security forces. He added that he expects the problem to drop even more, as the new projects in the holy sites are being fitted with surveillance cameras to monitor crowds.

Cameras have been installed in areas where pickpockets are especially active. The new Mashair Railway has 198 surveillance cameras alone. “Cameras have been installed along the roads between the Grand Mosque all the way to the end of Arafat, in addition to the Mashair Railway,” he said.

He cited the heavy security presence in crowded areas such as the entrances to the Namirah Mosque, the Jamrat area and shops to combat pickpockets.

He added that a number of pickpockets have been arrested in Makkah and the holy sites. “They were a few dozen and were arrested in the crowded areas. They’ve confessed to pickpocketing and will be brought to court,” he said.

“The new projects in Mina have decreased the number of pickpockets because the problem of crowding has been resolved. We will never stop monitoring all sites to ensure the safety of the guests of the two holy mosques,” he said, urging people not to carry valuables with them and to report suspicious activities to the police.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article194532.ece

Hajis start leaving Kingdom

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By MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 20, 2010 00:15 Updated: Nov 20, 2010 01:04

JEDDAH: Domestic and Gulf pilgrims started taking flights back to their homes by regional carriers on Friday while most foreign pilgrims will start their return journeys on Saturday, spokesman of General Authority of Civil Aviation Khaled Khaibari told Arab News.

Pilgrims will start leaving in six flights every hour from the Haj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Khaibari said.

The official called on the Haj missions and transporting agencies to bring the pilgrims sufficiently in advance to the terminal so that travel formalities might be completed in time and no delay is experienced in the departure of planes. He urged the pilgrims to pack their baggage securely and ensure that none of their bags exceed 32 kg so that they could be loaded smoothly onto the aircraft.

Director of the department in charge of pilgrim buses, Faisal Al-Asrah, told Arab News that 800,000 pilgrims will leave for Madinah beginning Saturday on their way back home by bus transport. “The pilgrims who came straight to Makkah shortly before the Haj will head to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah before they return to their countries,” he said.

Baggage limits for Indians

Meanwhile, the Indian Haj Mission said in a statement that the airlines would allow only 45 kg check in baggage, 10 kg of hand luggage (cabin baggage) and 10 liters of Zamzam for every Haji. The airlines will charge SR40 for every kilo of extra weight. It said that the hand baggage should not contain any liquid and sharp items like scissors, blades, needles etc.

The international terminal was not crowded though there were many passengers, but that will soon change as pilgrims begin their return in earnest. He urged pilgrims that they should not carry more than 45 kg per passenger in buses and luggage items should not exceed 40 cm in height.

Abdul Ghani Al-Malki, director of preventive medicine at the airport said a team from the Health Ministry has been assisting sick pilgrims who are leaving since Thursday. “Medical assistance has been provided to 2,000 pilgrims since Thursday. Most of them were suffering seasonal maladies,” he said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article196289.ece

Jeddah Airport - July 2009
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China earns newfound respect with Mashair

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article196405.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_railway.jpg
"Made in China" is no longer a taboo label, thanks to Mashair railway. (AN photo)

By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 20, 2010 00:13 Updated: Nov 20, 2010 00:46

MINA: Perhaps the most notable improvement of Saudi Arabia’s many projects to accommodate Haj pilgrims is the railway that shuttled tens of thousands of people around the holy sites.

As the modern, high-tech trains picked up and dropped off passengers, they created a newfound respect for Chinese-made products and Chinese-engineering prowess. Officials said the multibillion-riyal project that was started last year will about triple its capacity from present levels when completed in 2012. Nonetheless, the rail system has already alleviated vehicular traffic around Mina and made travel for many pilgrims a snap.

The Sino-Saudi relationship has been growing over the last decade as China has sought more fossil fuels to power its economic growth. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah helped realign the nation’s trade relationships with the implementation of a “Look East” policy, which has fostered imports of heavy machinery and construction equipment as well as consumer goods. China has also raised the quality of its exported goods to fight earlier perceptions that its exports were inferior to products manufactured elsewhere.

“We would go to shopping malls and ask for Made-in-Germany and Made-in-Japan stuff. We would look down upon Made-in-China stuff,” said Suleiman Al-Hatrash, a social-sciences teacher at an Abha college. “We started taking China seriously when we went to the Western countries and saw their shopping malls filled with Made-in-China goods.”

However, the state-of-the-art rail system is changing peoples’ perceptions about China almost as fast as it is whisking passengers around Mina.

“People couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw pilgrims being ferried between the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat,” said journalist Hadi Fakihi. “Those who rode the train were gushing about its high-tech aspects. China has overnight become a nation to respect and emulate.”

“China has won hearts with this successful project,” said Rashad Husein, vice president of the South Asian Pilgrim Establishment. “It is the first time China has executed such a massive project in the Islamic world. This will not only bring China and the Muslim world closer; this will strengthen the bond between Saudi Arabia and China.”

The technology transfers are not one way. Saudi Aramco, the Kingdom’s national oil company, has lent refining expertise and resources to oil and petrochemical projects in partnership with Chinese companies. Some less tangible things are being exported back to China as well.

Of China’s population of nearly 1.4 billion, about 23 million are Muslims. About 13,000 Chinese Muslims performed Haj this year, which included imams, doctors and government officials. Most of the Chinese railway engineers were not Muslims when they arrived in the Kingdom. A special town was set up for them beyond the jurisdiction of Makkah as the holy city is off-limits to non-Muslims. During the course of the construction of the railway, many of the Chinese engineers embraced Islam.

“That led to even greater love and respect for the Chinese,” said Ali Al-Harithy, a Saudi businessman conducting commerce with China. He said he also was impressed that the new stronger ties with China don’t seem to be disruptive to the Kingdom’s longstanding associations with the United States and Europe.

“It was America that helped the Arab states discover oil, and ever since ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States have been very close,” Al-Harithy said. “For China to create space for itself in this region is phenomenal. This Makkah Metro is world-class, and every single aspect of it was carried out in Chinese factories by Chinese technicians and engineers. It is an engineering marvel. Hats off to the Chinese.”

“‘Made in China’ is no longer a taboo label,” said Sudanese journalist Hassan Ibrahim. “It has now earned a halo of respectability.”

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article196282.ece

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Enough! No more smoking

Over 500 pilgrims in Makkah decide to stub it out for good

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By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 20, 2010

MAKKAH: More than 500 pilgrims quit smoking during the current Haj season thanks to the efforts of a voluntary anti-smoking society called, Kafa (Enough).

Hundreds of pilgrims of various nationalities visited Kafa’s mobile clinic, the largest of its kind, stationed closed to the Grand Mosque, said Ibrahim Al-Hamda, the society’s director.

“The clinic cost an estimated SR1 million. It is located in a large bus, equipped with all the required medical instruments and facilities needed for smokers to quit. There are two sections in the clinic. The first is for receiving pilgrims who want treatment to quit,” he said.

He added that the clinic can provide treatment to four people at a time while another four people wait in the waiting area.

“The clinic has been implementing a special program for Haj targeting pilgrims who smoke. We started implementing the program in two phases from the beginning of Dul Hijjah. The first phase is focused on implementing field awareness programs around the courtyards of the Grand Mosque,” he said.

“As part of this, more than 25 members of the society have been tasked with carrying out awareness among pilgrims about the harms of smoking, and guiding those who want to quit smoking to the mobile clinic,” he added.

The second phase of the program is aimed at pilgrims inside their tents in Arafat and Mina. The awareness campaign was carried out in coordination with tawafa organizations and Haj service providers. The society prepared and distributed 250,000 brochures and CDs in both Arabic and English among Haj pilgrims.

Al-Hamdan said that the bus was fitted with two large screens on the outside. The screens display statistics related to smoking, including real-life stories of smokers and how they gave up.

He added that the clinic focuses on addressing the human intellect by convincing people of the need to quit smoking. Messages conveyed covered the Islamic viewpoint on smoking, the adverse effect of smoking on people’s health, and social and economic lives.

“We also have material on display inside and outside the clinic focusing on the components of tobacco, the percentage of harmful substances that it contains, and the negative impacts and health complications of smoking,” he said, adding that these programs and shows are aired in four languages including Arabic, English and Urdu.

Makkah and Madinah have both been declared no-smoking zones by the Ministry of Health and shops there are prohibited from selling cigarettes.

During the current Haj season, the ministry intensified its campaign on making the holy cities completely tobacco-free.

The ministry has set up six anti-smoking clinics in Makkah as part of the campaign. The clinics are open to male and female smokers and services are offered free of charge.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article197076.ece

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Overcrowding blamed for chaos at airport

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Hajis wait to get boarding passes in the departure lounge of Jeddah's domestic airport on Saturday. (AN photo)
By MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 20, 2010

JEDDAH: A high ranking Saudi Arabian Airlines official blamed overcrowding over the past two days at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) on Haj service providers who have poorly thought out plans to bring departing passengers from Makkah to the airport.

“The crowding and buildup of pilgrims returning to Gulf countries and domestic destinations at KAIA on Saturday and Friday was caused by errors in the schedules set up to bring departing pilgrims to the airport. Because of the errors of Haj service providers, Saudi Arabian Airlines has had to reschedule its general flights and prepare an alternate plan to ferry pilgrims,” said Abdullah Al-Ajhar, assistant director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Al-Ajhar dismissed postings on some websites that Kuwait had sent an aircraft to transport Kuwaiti pilgrims as baseless. “The Kuwaiti and other pilgrims returned in alternate flights operated by Saudia. I do not know of any flights from any Gulf country arriving here to take out pilgrims who have been waiting at KAIA for 20 hours,” he said. He said he had no comment over false reports. “I will affirm that we are dealing with more than half a million pilgrims flying on both domestic and regional flights. I do not rule out occurrence of mistakes, but we are trying our best to correct errors that have occurred and to normalize matters at the earliest,” he said.

Several websites have been carrying reports that Kuwait and the UAE transported pilgrims returning to their respective countries on their own planes after pilgrims were left waiting at Jeddah airport for over 15 hours.

A UAE newspaper recently criticized the quality of services at KAIA and said that many pilgrims had to seek medical assistance from their respective Haj missions.

However, health sources at the airport said medical centers in the airport — staffed by 600 doctors, nurses and support workers — have been providing all types of medical help to returning pilgrims.

Meanwhile, outbound pilgrims are taking their own precautions not to miss flights. An Egyptian Haj group had come to KAIA’s South Terminal well over six hours prior to check-in and camped at the airport. “But our efforts were of no use as the scheduled flight was delayed,” said the team leader, who did not wish to be named, on Saturday. “Though there are large crowds milling around, we are not complaining,” he added.

With millions ready to leave the Kingdom after performing Haj from either Jeddah or Madinah, airports are geared and ready to transport pilgrims to their countries in the best possible manner, said airport authorities.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article197078.ece

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^^ KAIA is just ... :ohno:

^^ in 36 months should be better :)

The Saudi Binladin Group has won a $7.2 billion contract

to build a new terminal and infrastructure at Jeddah international airport

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November 14, 2010

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The Saudi Binladin Group has won a 27.1-billion-riyal (7.2-billion-dollar) deal to build a new terminal and infrastructure at Jeddah international airport, the Saudi airports authority announced on Sunday.

The project, to be completed over 36 months, will expand the capacity of the King Abdul Aziz International Airport to 30 million passengers per year from the current traffic of 17 million passengers, the General Authority on Civil Aviation said in a statement.

The contract for the deal was signed on Saturday by Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the country's defence and aviation minister, in Agadir, Morocco, the statement said.

In the three-year project Binladin, the country's largest builder, will construct a single 670,000-square-metre (more than seven million square feet) terminal with 94 aircraft bays to replace the two ageing facilities currently handling airport traffic.

It will also build what the statement called the world's tallest airport control tower at 133 metres (436 feet), and infrastructure linking the terminal with roads and the planned high-speed railway that will join Jeddah with Mecca and Medina.

Jeddah is the main hub for millions of Muslim pilgrims who visit the two holy cities every year.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i_UlErytipM4tyfH_ZgHTdnGN5Dg?docId=CNG.6fd6a816fa2b4286b8457e1c9184f31c.5c1

^^ we can only hope and wait :dunno:

p.s: you're doing a great job in this thread :)

p.s: you're doing a great job in this thread :)

+ 100 :)

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Thank you! :) ...now this thead have more then 4000 view! wow! I didn't expect that..dont know why ppl come here to have news?
So it's seem ppl like it, so I continue a bit after I'll take my break ...my eyes are :nuts: and hajj is over.

For the airport problems, Hajj organisation have a good part some didn't register for the coming back, etc...bad organisation!!!

Hajj on Arab News

Haj 1431 | 2010 : Photo gallery

more than 80 pics...click at the bottom of the pic

http://www.arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article188297.ece

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More women scout guides next Haj, says Prince Faisal

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MAJED AL-MEFDHLI

HOLY SITES: The number of women guides will be increased for the next Haj, according to Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah, Minister of Education.

The minister was speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette in Mina, Saturday after inspecting the scouts who will be on duty.

He also assured the public of King Abdullah’s good health. He said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was recovering well from a slipped disc.

He said women scouts were playing a crucial role during Haj. For this reason he wants to double their number in future.

He added that plans are being drawn up to convert the scout society into a civil body, as ordered by the King. He hoped the private sector will help finance the society.

He said the King’s decision will contribute to the development and progress of the society which currently has 125,000 members.

He said he was “very happy and proud” of the participation of the women scout guides in the Haj. He said it is a “noble mission” and sends out a strong message to society, particularly the children, about the value of voluntary work.

“I will never forget the King’s words when he saw a youth gathering in Jubail; he described them as ‘messengers of peace to the world’,” said Prince Faisal.

Meanwhile, Prince Faisal added that the government had decided to extend the school holidays until Nov. 26 after careful consideration. The new school semester starts on Nov. 27, rather than the initially scheduled Nov. 22.
He said the authorities have realized that many students do not attend school immediately after the holidays. He also criticized students for not doing so. He said King Abdullah extended the holiday so that many students and parents could rest if they had been to perform Haj.

http://64.65.60.109/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010111587425

فيصل بن عبدالله: دور المرشدة مكمل لزميلها الكشاف

المشاعر المقدسة - تركي السويهري :
أوضح الأمير فيصل بن عبدالله وزير التربية والتعليم رئيس جمعية الكشافة العربية السعودية أن الكشافة السعودية مقبلة على خطوات تطويرية شاملة تبدأ بتحويلها الى هيئة عامة مدعومة من الدولة والقطاع الخاص ويديرها مجلس ادارى منتخب من الجمعية العمومية وذلك في خطوة تهدف الى تطوير عمل الجمعية كما بين سموه ان دور المرشدة مكمل لدور زميلها الكشاف في خدمة ضيوف الرحمن .

وألمح سموه الى أن دور المرشدات والقائدات في الحج يتمثل في العمل في مراكز الأطفال التائهين كمرحلة اولى في الخدمة بالمشاعر المقدسة جاء ذلك في زيارته لمعسكرات الخدمة العامة وتفقده لمقرات الكشافة والمرشدات في عرفات، وزار سموه مقر الأطفال التائهين وتابع الخدمات التي سيقدمها المركز عبر المرشدات والقائدات اللاتي يشاركن لأول في خدمة الحجاج برئاسة السيدة مها أحمد فتيحي وعدد من القائدات والمرشدات واطلع سموه على استعدادات المركز لاستقبال الأطفال وآلية رفع صورهم على موقع جمعية الكشافة وكيفية التعامل مع الحالات الواردة للمركز.

http://www.alriyadh.com/net/article/577217

In selfless service of Hajis, scouts win hearts

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By YOUSUF MUHAMMAD | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 23, 2010 00:24 Updated: Nov 23, 2010 00:24

MADINAH: Around 250 Saudi scouts are currently in Madinah helping and guiding pilgrims following the annual Haj, said Scout Commander Taha Qassim.

The scouts are helping pilgrims cross roads, guiding those who are lost and pushing the old and infirm in wheelchairs. Many scouts are also touring the courtyards around the Holy Mosque looking for pilgrims who may need assistance.

The scouts are working in conjunction with Madinah’s Guides Organization and the Ministry of Haj. They have also been equipped with GPS devices to help pilgrims find their way.

Some scouts are also assisting health workers at medical centers around the Holy Mosque to record the names of sick pilgrims visiting the centers.

They are also distributing food packets supplied by charity organizations to all incoming and outgoing pilgrims.

“Our scouts have guided more than 18,000 to their accommodation. They have also guided thousands of pilgrims who lost their way to their Haj missions if they had their addresses with them. Any pilgrim who does not have their addresses with them is taken to the Missing Persons office. They have also pushed the wheelchairs of 5,000 aged pilgrims in the early part of this Haj season,” the statement said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article198428.ece

أكثر من 250 ألف حاج و500 ألف من المصلين والزوار
ضيوف الرحمن يؤدون أول جمعة بعد الحج في المسجد النبوي

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المدينة المنورة - سالم الأحمدي وخالد الزايدي :

أدى يوم أمس الثالث عشر من شهر ذي الحجة أكثر من 250 ألف حاج و500 ألف من المصلين والزوار صلاة الجمعة في رحاب المسجد النبوي الشريف حيث خطب المصلين فضيلة الشيخ الدكتور علي بن عبد لرحمن الحذيفي الذي أوصى المسلمين بتقوى الله عز وجل ، وقال في خطبته : لواعتبر الناس وتفكروا في تقلب الليل والنهار وانقضاء الأعمار وبغتة الآجال وغرور الآمال وفتنة الأهل والمال وسرعة تعاقب السنين والانخداع بزخرف الدنيا والانهماك في ملذاتها وقد آذنت بزوال ، لوتفكروا واعتبروا في ذلك لأصلحوا الأعمال وقدموا لآخرتهم الحسنات وكفوا عن السيئات ولكان همهم حسن المآل وعاقبة الأحوال ولنزعوا من شر الأخلاق إلى أفضل الخصال ، وحذر فضيلته من الاغترار بالنعم والجرأة على الله عز وجل موضحا أن طريق النجاة واحد لا ثاني له وهو ما سلكه السلف الصالح رضوان الله عليهم ، متحدثا عن صفات السلف الصالح وما كانوا عليه من خير عظيم ، مستشهدا بجوانب من أقوالهم وعباداتهم ، ثم تحدث عن نعمتي الصحة والفراغ موصيا كل مسلم اغتنامها في العمل الصالح المقرب إلى رضوان الله وجنته المبعدة عن سخطه وناره.

وقد أدى حجاج بيت الله صلاة الجمعة تحوطهم عناية الله ورحمته ويحفهم تسامحه وغفرانه وتغشاهم السكينة والوقار بعد أن منّ المولى عليهم بأداء المناسك بكل راحة وطمأنينة وسط منظومة خدماتية متكاملة وفرتها حكومة خادم الحرمين الشريفين وسمو ولي عهده الأمين وسمو النائب الثاني وزير الداخلية – حفظهم الله - ، وقد تهيأ البعض منهم لمغادرة الأراضي المقدسة والعودة إلى بلاده بينما آثر الآخرون أن يقضوا أياما مجاورين للحرم النبوي ينهلون من فيض الحسنات والبركات يلازمون الروضة الشريفة ويسلمون على خير الخلق صلى الله عليه وسلم وصاحبيه العظيمين أبي بكر الصديق وعمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنهما.
http://www.happytellus.com/img/saudi-arabia/prophet-s-mosque---madinah--sa_4356.jpgويوم أمس تابع الأمير عبدالعزيز بن ماجد
تدفق الآلاف من الحجاج إلى طيبة الطيبة واطمأن سموه على سير الخدمات ومواكبتها لمواكب الحجيج حيث احتشدت بهم المدينة أسواقها وفنادقها وشوارعها ومسجدها الشريف وقد علا البِشر وجوههم والسرور نفوسهم وهم يقضون أياما مباركات في المدينة النبوية ، وبذلت وكالة الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد النبوي جهوداً مضاعفة لتهيئة جميع أجزاء المسجد النبوي للمصلين من ميادين وأسطح وممرات وقامت بأعمال النظافة والصيانة وقامت بفرش أكثر من 14 ألف سجادة في جميع نواحي المسجد من أسطح وساحات ، كما جندت أمانة المنطقة جل طاقاتها للاهتمام بالخدمات البلدية والإصحاح البيئي ومراقبة الأسواق والمطاعم بمتابعة وتوجيه من معالي الأمين المهندس عبدالعزيز الحصين، وقامت الشؤون الصحية بتجنيد كل طاقاتها لاستقبال أي حالة طارئة للحجاج الذين يحتاجون إلى عناية طبية خاصة حيث قامت بتهيئة المراكز الصحية الثلاثة (باب جبريل والحرم وباب المجيدي) ووفرت كافة المستلزمات الطبية لهم بالإضافة إلى دعم هذه المراكز بالكوادر الطبية والفنية اللازمة ، كما استعدت جميع الجهات الأمنية من دوريات وشرطة ومرور ودفاع مدني وكذلك فروع الوزارات المدنية من حج وشؤون إسلامية وتجارة لاستقبال حجاج بيت الله كل وفق اختصاصه سيرا على الخطة التي وضعت مسبقا سعيا لتطبيقها بحرفية ومهنية تكفل للحاج الراحة والطمأنينة والعودة إلى بلاده وهو ينقل أجمل الصور وأنصعها عن البلدة الطيبة المباركة التي شرفها الله برعاية البيتين وقاصديهما.

http://www.alriyadh.com/2010/11/20/article578399.html

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More than 250 thousand and 500 thousand pilgrims of worshipers and visitors
Pilgrims performing the first Friday after the Hajj in the Prophet's Mosque

Pilgrims waiting for a call Aljmapalmedinp Medina - Salem Al-Ahmadi, Khalid al-Zaidi:

Led yesterday the thirteenth month of Dhu al-Hijjah, more than 250 thousand pilgrims and 500 thousand worshipers and visitors Friday prayers at the Rehab the Prophet's Mosque, where speeches worshipers Eminence Sheikh Dr. Ali bin Abdul Rahman Alhodaifi recommended Muslims to fear Allah the Almighty, said in his sermon: to Oaattabr people and think about the volatility of the night and day, and the lapse of ages, and suddenly, time limits and the deceitfulness of hope and strife and family money and quick succession of years and deception decoration world and a preoccupation with pleasures has ushered in the demise, of Otvkroa and considered in order to amend the business and provided Akrthm Favors and stop the evil deeds, and the hum of good fate and consequence conditions and removed from the evil of Ethics the best qualities, and warned his virtue of being deceived by blessings and the courage to Almighty God, explaining that the road to salvation and not one second to him which was taken by the Ancestors, God bless them, speaking about the characteristics of the righteous and they were of great good, citing aspects of their words and rituals, and then spoke about the health and leisure favor recommending every Muslim seized in the good work close to the pleasure of Allah and its estranged from his wrath and Hell.

This has led pilgrims Friday prayers Thothm care and mercy of God and Ihvhm tolerance and forgiveness and Tgshahm tranquility and dignity after that given to them to perform rituals in comfort and tranquility amid system service-integrated and provided by the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince and Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior - God save them -, The grooming some of them to leave the Holy Land and to return to his country while the preferred others to spend days adjacent to the campus of the Prophet, drawing a few good deeds and blessings hiding away in kindergarten and fair hand to the best of creation peace be upon him and his two companions great Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with.

Yesterday continued Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed flow of thousands of pilgrims to the good kind and reassured the Prince's conduct of the services and compatibility with the processions of pilgrims, where massed their city markets and hotels, and streets and mosque-Sharif was actually human beings and their faces and pleasure them and they spend their days Mbarcat in the city of the Prophet, and made agency of the General Presidency for Prophet's Mosque redoubled efforts to create all parts of the mosque for prayers from the fields and surfaces, corridors and the work of cleaning and maintenance and the mat for more than 14 thousand carpet in all aspects of the mosque from the roofs and yards, and recruited the secretariat of the region the bulk of its energies to the attention of municipal services and environmental sanitation and control of markets and restaurants to follow up and guidance of His Excellency the Secretary Abdul Aziz Husain, The Health Affairs to recruit all their energies to receive any emergency situation of the pilgrims who need special medical attention, where the creation of health centers (the door of Gabriel and the Temple and the door Majidi) and provided all the medical supplies to them in addition to supporting these centers cadres of medical and technical resources , and prepared all the security patrols, police, traffic and civil defense as well as branches of the civil ministries of Hajj Affairs and Islamic trade to receive the pilgrims each according to his competence walk on the plan drawn up in advance in order to apply professionalism and professional ensure that the pilgrims comfort and peace of mind and return to his country which conveys the most beautiful pictures and Onassaa the town blessed by the honor of God under the auspices of betaine and Qasidihma.

استعدادات في الحرم النبوي لاستقبال زوار الموسم الثاني
لليوم الثاني على التوالي .. الآلاف من ضيوف الرحمن يتدفقون على المدينة المنورة

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المدينة المنورة – سالم الأحمدي ، خالد الزايدي

تواصل قوافل ضيوف الرحمن تدفقها إلى المدينة المنورة لليوم الثاني على التوالي في جو مفعم بالطمأنينة فرحين بما وفقهم الله له من تأدية الفريضة وأداء النسك بكل يسر وسهولة بفضل الإمكانيات المادية والبشرية الكبرى التي سخرتها حكومة خادم الحرمين الشريفين - حفظه الله -.

وقد شهد المسجد النبوي والطرقات المؤدية إليه منذ الصباح الباكر توافد الحجاج والزوار راكبين وراجلين حيث امتلأ المسجد وأروقته وساحاته وسطح المسجد بالمصلين الذين دعوا الله عز وجل أن يحفظ لهذه البلاد قادتها ومقدساتها وشعبها لما وفر لهم من خدمات متطورة وكبيرة أمنت للحاج والزائر الطمأنينة لأداء الصلوات والزيارات بكل راحة ويسر , وبمتابعة من صاحب السمو الملكي الأمير عبدالعزيز بن ماجد بن عبدالعزيز أمير المنطقة رئيس لجنة الحج بالمدينة المنورة هيأت مختلف الإدارات الحكومية والأهلية كافة استعداداتها لتوفير مختلف الخدمات واستقبال ضيوف الرحمن وهم يتوجهون إلى المدينة المنورة عبر طريق الهجرة السريع مستقلين آلاف الباصات في تنظيم يحقق السرعة والأمان والراحة لضيوف الرحمن بالتنسيق مع النقابة العامة للسيارات وبمتابعة من شرطة المنطقة بمختلف قطاعاتها الأمنية وفرع وزارة الحج والمؤسسة الأهلية للإدلاء الذين وفروا خططا ثابتة وخطط بديلة لراحة وفود ضيوف الرحمن ,حيث انتشرت فرق قوات أمن الطرق والمراكز الإسعافية وهيئة الهلال الأحمر وفرق الصيانة المرافقة للمركبات التي تقل ضيوف الرحمن لتأمين كل ما من شأنه راحة وفود الرحمن.

ويعد المسجد النبوي الشريف قلب المدينة المنورة النابض ودرة إشعاعها أكسبها أهمية مطلقة حين تهفو نفوس المسلمين لزيارتها وقضاء وقت ممتع بين جنباتها يصلون في مسجدها ويتشرفون بالسلام على سكانها عليه أفضل الصلاة والسلام.

all: http://www.alriyadh.com/2010/11/21/article578585.html

Nabawi Mosque in the preparations to receive the visitors the second season

For the second day in a row .. Thousands of pilgrims flock to Medina


Prayer and supplication multiple languages and dialects. Medina - Salem Al-Ahmadi, Khalid Zaidi

Convoys of pilgrims continue to pour into the Medina for the second consecutive day in an atmosphere of tranquility, and rejoice in what Allah bless him to perform the obligatory prayer and perform the rituals very easily thanks to the material and human resources of the major exploited the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - may God protect him -.

Has witnessed the Prophet's Mosque and the roads leading to it since the early morning arrival of pilgrims and visitors riding and on foot as filled the mosque and the corridors and courtyards and roof of the mosque worshipers who have called for God Almighty to preserve this country, its leaders and its holy places and people for providing them with the services of a sophisticated and large secured for the pilgrim and visitor confidence for the prayers and visits to each comfort and ease, and follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the region the Chairman of the Hajj Committee Medina created the various government departments and civil all the preparations to provide various services and receive the pilgrims are heading to Medina via the migration rapid independent thousands of buses in the organization to achieve speed The safety and comfort to the pilgrims in coordination with the General Trade Union of Automobile and follow-up of the district police in various sectors of security and the branch of the Ministry of Hajj and the civil institution to make those who fled plans fixed and alternative plans for the convenience of the delegations of pilgrims, where teams were deployed security forces, roads and centers, ambulatory and Red Crescent teams and maintenance associated with vehicles of less than pilgrims to secure all of the delegations would rest and Rahman.

The heart of the holy mosque of Medina pulsating radiance and Dora gained absolute importance when the hearts of Muslims eager to visit and spend quality time between praying at the mosque walls and have the honor to peace on the population upon him blessings and peace.

Electronic Umbrellas at Prophet Mosque

Opening!
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Closing!
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The unifying experience of a lifetime,
Haj: The poetry of prayers

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By SYED NEAZ AHMAD

Published: Nov 19, 2010 00:04 Updated: Nov 19, 2010 01:48

Choked with emotion, drenched in devotion and drowned in supplication the artistry of a wordsmith fails to capture the beauty of the greatest congregational religious act of worship — the Haj.

I was about 25 when I first performed the Haj. Looking back I was little aware of what was happening within me and around me. I tried to make mental notes of my feelings and experience but I soon realized that even the best of writers would find it very difficult to narrate these events, their experience and their emotions.

Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik . . . is the incessant supplication, preferred greeting and the most repeated chant that Makkah and its environs reverberate with every Dul Qada and Dul Hijjah. As the pilgrims arrive in the Holy city they hear

Nothing but the Talbiya — Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik — the greeting and supplication of every single pilgrim.

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When the pilgrims arrive in Makkah they perform many acts of worship. They go round the Kaaba — an act of worship known as tawaf — which symbolizes their gravitation toward the Almighty. They raise their hands and say: "O Allah! I intend to perform tawaf around Your Inviolable House, make it easy for me and accept from me Haj (or 'Umrah). Glory be to Allah."

A Western writer and photographer — who accepted Islam and performed the Haj - describes the sense of unity and harmony that the pilgrims feel while performing the tawaf: Seven times we circled the House, repeating the ritual devotions in Arabic, O Allah from such a distant land I have come unto You. Grant me shelter under Your Throne. Caught up in the whirling scene, lifted by the poetry of prayers, we orbited the House of Allah in accord with the atoms, in harmony with the planets.

After going round he Kaaba seven times the pilgrims, after praying two rakahs of wajib al-tawaf (two units of prayers) near the place known as Maqame Ibrahim (station of Abraham). The stone bearing the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is encased in a precious crystal glass with a steel grill and marble base. The pilgrims kiss the Hajr Al-Aswad, the Black stone out of love, reverence and admiration.

Afterward they approach the door of Kaaba and embrace it crying their hearts out and putting their very souls in their supplications.

Later they perform Sa'yie — running and walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah. Apart from some stones both the hills have been leveled and covered with marble slabs now. Chandeliers, air-conditioners and cool Zamzam water along the concourse make the Sa'yie a much easier task for the pilgrims.

At the end of the tawaf and on completion of the Sa'yie the pilgrims drink Zamzam which Allah in His Infinite Mercy had disclosed to Prophet Ibrahim's wife Hajrah. It is said that when Hajrah rushed to the spring she exclaimed Zamzam — an onomatopoeic Babylonian word that denotes the sound of rushing and gushing water.

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After Haj, many pilgrims carry back a can or two of Zamzam with them. This is not a part of Haj but the urge to drink and take home some of the water which has been miraculously flowing for over 4,000 years is a practical example of the spirit of Haj.

The Haj is not a new institution which Islam has introduced in its Shariah. This institution is as old as the Kaaba itself which is called in the Qur'an to be the first House of Divine Worship appointed for men.

The ceremony of Haj is commemorative of Prophet Ibrahim and his family's various acts of sacrifice and devotion to Allah. It is mentioned in the Introduction of Sahih Muslim that the Haj is the perfection of faith since it combines in itself all the distinctive qualities of other obligatory acts.

"Down the ages", says professor Phillip K. Hitti, "this institution [of Haj] has continued to serve as the major unifying influence in Islam and the most effective common bond among the diverse believers. It renders almost every capable Muslim perforce a traveler for once in his lifetime. The socializing influence of such a gathering of the brotherhood of believers from the farthest quarters of the earth is hard to overestimate."

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article195709.ece

Hajis envy those who died during pilgrimage

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By GALAL FAKKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 20, 2010 00:13 Updated: Nov 20, 2010 00:13

MINA: Although many foreign pilgrims, especially the elderly and the sick, come for Haj with an innermost desire to die in the holy land, only a select few see their wishes realized.

Such people are honored with being buried in Jannat Al-Mala in Makkah or Jannat Al-Baqi in Madinah. Their relatives and friends then return home once the pilgrimage is complete. A number of pilgrims said they are envious of pilgrims who die while performing Haj or in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Egyptian pilgrim Abdul Shafi Saeed came for Haj from Cairo and was accompanied by another pilgrim, Sayyid Khaleel Hassan, who died while in supplication at the plain of Arafat, the climax of the annual pilgrimage.

“Sayyid Khaleel breathed his last in his seamless white ihram while chanting Labbaik. He was blessed and fortunate to die at the most sacred place for Muslims on earth while performing the main ritual of the pilgrimage. Every pilgrim wishes to die such a death,” said Saeed.

Abdullah Al-Roubi’s wife died at Mina. “She always expressed her wish to breathe her last and be buried in Makkah whenever she watched the holy Kaaba and the Grand Mosque on television. It was Allah’s will that her wish materialized while she was in ihram at Mina,” he said.

Ali Al-Asheeri, the Egyptian consul in Jeddah, said that 45 Egyptian Haj pilgrims, including a number of women, died as of Wednesday. “They died due to age-related problems and illness. Most of them died due to high or low blood pressure. Their bodies were buried in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites after completion of the necessary procedures, including taking consent of their families,” he said.

Al-Saeed Al-Jeelani, a pilgrim from Algeria, said a pilgrim who came with him on the same flight from Algeria died at the Haj Terminal in Jeddah. “It is a great blessing to die while one is in his ihram. Such pilgrims will appear in ihram, chanting ‘Allahu Akbar,’ on the Day of Judgment,” he said.

He also noted that the relatives of pilgrims who died after arriving in Makkah are not grieved, as they believe that such pilgrims are blessed. Seven Algerian pilgrims reportedly died until Wednesday.

Jawed Madami, an Indian pilgrim, told Arab News that the death of a pilgrim after setting out for Haj is an accomplishment of his faith in God. He noted that an Indian pilgrim died while performing circumambulation of the holy Kaaba. “Many pilgrims believe that dying while performing the Haj rituals is the realization of their prayers to die in the holy land and an indication of their firm belief in God,” he said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article196281.ece

Holy sites to be sterilized after Haj, says Mayor Al-Bar

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Talal al-raddad

MAKKAH: After the Haj season, the Makkah Mayoralty will use Ministry of Agriculture planes to spray insecticide over the holy sites in an effort to sterilize germs, fight mosquitoes and maintain cleanliness, Dr. Osama Bin Fadhl Al-Bar, Mayor of Makkah, said Wednesday.

Dr. Al-Bar said the mayoralty would secure the material and insecticides and supply them to the Ministry of Agriculture, which will conduct regular flights to spray the holy sites.

He said the insecticides and other substances do not harm human beings, animals or plants.

The mayor emphasized that during the Haj season, the mayoralty would continue its high level of work, including cleaning, sterilization, maintenance and operations in Makkah and other holy sites.

Saleh Bin Abdul Samad Izzat, director general of Cleaning in Makkah Mayoralty, said the number of workers cleaning the holy sites and Makkah before and after the Haj season have been increased considerably.

More than 13,000 workers have been allocated, along with 1,200 pieces of equipment and more than 40,000 garbage dumpsters, he said.

Officials are also using 131 underground stores and 200 compression boxes for temporary storage of garbage, he added.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010111187175&archiveissuedate=11/11/2010

Abu Muhammad’s camera
captures Grand Mosque for homes worldwide

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A general view of the Grand Mosque and surrounding structures in Makkah. (AN photo by Mohammad Ali)
By GALAL FAKKAR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010 23:46 Updated: Nov 19, 2010 02:01

MAKKAH: Ahmad Raidi or Abu Muhammad has rightly been called the photographer of the Two Holy Mosques. His camera has always been focused on the holy city of Makkah.

It is not an exaggeration to say that no development works or major changes have happened to the Grand Mosque in Makkah or the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah over the past 30 years without being captured by Abu Muhammad.

These rare pictures, in various sizes and shapes, can be seen in the homes of Haj and Umrah pilgrims across the world.

Arab News met Abu Muhammad at a hotel close to the Grand Mosque in Makkah. He was carrying a number of posters and pictures of Makkah.

“They’re all about the Grand Mosque and other major sites in the holy city, some of which date back beyond 25 years. The latest pictures include various shots taken during the current Haj, especially those taken in the background of the Makkah Clock Royal Tower,” he said.

“It is a great honor for me to have possession of some unique and rare pictures of the Grand Mosque. These pictures are a blend of my passion for photography and the spiritual quest to spread the message of the Grand Mosque around the world. There are thousands of pictures that have been taken over the past 30 years. I take their prints in various sizes and shapes and sell them to pilgrims in accordance with their orders,” he said.

Abu Muhammad recalled that the idea of selling photographs of the Grand Mosque struck him about 15 years ago when a mutawwif approached him. “He asked me to make available 50 cm pictures of the two holy mosques. His plan was to inscribe his name on them and present them to pilgrims as gifts,” Abu Muhammad said.

Some pilgrims, especially the middle-aged and the young, want to buy CDs of rare pictures of the Grand Mosque, he added.

Abu Muhammad said his customers include pilgrims of various nationalities and groups. “Some of them have contacted me after obtaining my phone number from friends and relatives, who performed Haj or Umrah in previous years,” he said, adding that he often visits Madinah to take photographs.

According to Abu Muhammad, most of his customers are pilgrims from Europe, America, Canada and Australia.

“They are eager to keep pictures of the Grand Mosque as souvenirs of their lifetime journey to the holiest mosques. They want to decorate their houses and offices with these pictures and keep the memories of their spiritual journey alive throughout their lives,” he said.

Speaking about the price of these pictures, he said they are nominal. “I charge a small profit margin on top of the production cost. My mission is to have a role in linking pilgrims from all over the world to the holy cities forever by ensuring these pictures are in their homes and offices,” he said, adding that taking pictures of the Grand Mosque has always remained a passion and zeal as well as competition among several talented photographers whose snaps reflect the depth of their vision about the holy cities and mosques.

Abu Muhammad, who is in his 50s, wishes to remain in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque and continue photographing its massive developments until his last. He has turned down several offers to work as photographer of leading Saudi dailies.

“I’ve never bowed down to pressure to go and work in cities and countries outside Makkah,” said Abu Muhammad.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article195626.ece

Media proliferation impacts on Haj

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By MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 18, 2010 00:10 Updated: Nov 18, 2010 00:10

JEDDAH: Every year the annual rituals of Haj are the subject of international media coverage. This year has seen an increase in the number of media organizations covering the event.

These organizations included prominent TV channels, news agencies, radio stations and international newspapers, such as CNN, BBC, Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France Press, Turkey's Jihan News Agency, NBC, ABC, Malaysia's SCTV and Astro Channel, Britain's Islam TV, Korea's KBC, Russia Today Channel, Indonesian TV, France 3, MBC, Al-Arabiya, Al-Jazeera Network, Al-Hurra TV and Japan's NHK TV.

Ministry of Culture and Information Undersecretary for Foreign Information Abdulaziz bin Saleh bin Salma noted that his department has worked under strict instructions to prepare fully equipped media centers for all media delegations participating in this year's Haj coverage.

High speed Internet and telecommunication services have been provided in addition to assisting in the broadcast and upload of television and radio messages and materials.

Ministry Counselor and General Supervisor of Saudi TV Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Hazza said that Saudi TV's preparations for this year's Haj coverage included obtaining the latest technologies. Twelve coverage vans were scattered around the holy sites to ensure comprehensive and diversified coverage. The vans were equipped with 75 digital cameras with zoom lenses.

Al-Hazza added that 11 satellite links were employed to facilitate outside coverage and provide stations and channels with all the scenes from Haj. Ten mobile units were used for coverage of officials' visits and the efforts of other governmental sectors in the season. As for broadcast studios in the holy sites, Al-Hazza noted that four fully equipped studios in Arafat and three in Mina were made available to all TV channels in addition to their use in the live coverage of Saudi TV's Channel 1 and Al-Ekhbariya.

The delegations sent by several local newspapers to cover this year's season have faced a number of difficulties in their work due to insufficient preparations.

Ahmed Al-Amry, editor for Al-Hayat newspaper, said some of the difficulties his delegation faced included the long distance from the delegation's base to the Jamrat Bridge and government locations in Mina; the lack of Internet services in the first days; the lack of transportation and detailed maps showing the locations of different Haj missions; and the fact that local newspapers do not have media centers in Arafat.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article194541.ece

CNN on Hajj

2010 Hajj Pilgrimmage

"Construction Boom in Makkah"

CNN's Nima Elbagir reports the increasing number of pilgrims
to Mecca is causing a billion-dollar construction boom.

wl2MF-tqbgU

Holy Mosque Expansion
Nice pic from abumuhannadh :)

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Just got back from hajj and I miss it soooo much, may allah accept everyones hajj and i miss mecca alot but I miss Madina ALOT more it was so peaceful and so amazing and i miss the food of madina, i wish i can go again and stay longer and sit in mosque for hours and just relax and sleep and pray, i miss my hajj and i hope to return inshallah bless the people who traveled there and may allah accept all out hajj and those not be give them invitation to attend inshallah

Welcome back on SSC...Thanks for sharing your hajj journey, "great moment"...may Allah accept your hajj, inshallah you'll go back! :)

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Holy Makkah besieged by a jungle of concrete

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November 20, 2010

MAKKAH: Modernising the heritage-steeped holy city of Makkah so it can handle an ever-rising number of pilgrims has resulted in history being lost as it is besieged by a jungle of concrete.

Makkah has historically lived on serving pilgrims who visit for Umra all year round, as well as for the Hajj, the world’s largest annual pilgrimage that this year attracted some 2.8 million people.

The Saudi city lies in a valley, making its sacred Haram Sharif or Grand Mosque visible in its entirety only from the surrounding hills.

Makkah Royal Clock Tower

Seen from afar, the 601-metre Makkah Royal Clock Tower, topped with a gigantic four-faced clock, now rises from behind the hills and helps visitors at other holy sites locate the Haram Sharif that hosts the Kaaba.

When complete, the clock tower will be the world’s second tallest building, ahead of Taiwan’s 509-metre Taipei 101, but well behind the Burj Khalifa, the 828-metre skyscraper inaugurated in Dubai in January.

The skyscraper’s huge clock, several times larger than London’s Big Ben, is meant to set the benchmark for a pan-Islamic timing known as Makkah Time, an alternative to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Hotels, complexes and malls

Visitors to the Haram Sharif can be overwhelmed by the sheer size of the Manhattan-style skyline that now crowds over the compound.

Beneath the clock, several complexes around the haram house a handful of five-star hotels, with malls featuring most high-street brands.

Pilgrims leaving the mosque are bombarded by advertisements from the facades of the tall buildings encircling the haram’s plaza.

“These towers should not be around the haram,” said Pakistani pilgrim Aqil Malik. “It is difficult to get to the haram. It should be an open space.”

The area around the Kaaba has been expanded by consecutive development plans aimed at increasing the capacity of the mosque.

The changing landscape

Pictures of the haram from some 50 years ago show the Kaaba hosted by a modest mosque and surrounded by old neighbourhoods.

Many of these districts were razed as expansion projects boosted the mosque’s capacity to a minimum of 700,000 people spread across several floors, as well as widening its plaza to some 100 metres.

Now a new expansion project ordered by King Abdullah is under way, with dozens of cranes looking down on the haram and excavation work digging deep to its north.

The developments that have mushroomed along the edge of the expanded plaza have created limited access points that can become dangerous bottlenecks as hajj pilgrims flood the mosque for collective prayers and to circle the Kaaba.

Private security guards in the malls struggled during this year’s hajj as crowds overflowed from the mosque, and pilgrims occupied the corridors of shopping centres to perform their prayers instead.

Those who could afford to pay five-star hotel rates were able to take part in the collective prayers from the comfort of their panoramic terraces before dining on the same terraces with a full view of the haram.

“Makkah’s heritage is being harmed,” said Saqr Hamid, 30, a fabric vendor in an old Makkah souk.

“Makkah has changed. It was nicer when I was young,” said the Yemeni who was born in the Western Saudi city, and whose shop in Al Hijra Street, a few hundred metres from the haram plaza, is now destined for demolition.

Hamid did not appear sad about the fate of the shabby building that houses his shop, but he believes that the new space that is created should not be filled with yet more towers and malls.

“It would be better to have the space around the haram empty, and open to all people,” he said.

That is unlikely to happen. Only a street away, an entire hill is being excavated to make space for another grandiose project, whose billboard depicts a fancy avenue, a twin tower and another mall.

Safety at the expense of heritage

At other sacred sites, the authorities have significantly altered the infrastructure in an attempt to avoid the overcrowding that has caused deadly stampedes in the past.

But in making the Hajj safer, they have also erased some of its history.

Images of the site of the symbolic stoning of the devil, taken half a century ago, show a short pillar that marked one of three stoning points standing in the middle of a circle. It no longer exists in that form.

The site in a barren valley surrounded by rugged mountains is now a five-level complex. Three wide walls penetrating the structure from bottom to top were built to replace the three original modest pillars.

The new structure, which resembles a parking lot, even features a couple of helipads.

In the distance, behind the rocky hills, the new clock tower is a beacon to signal the presence of the Kaaba. The contrast between the ancient landscape and the modern structures makes the latter seem starkly out of place.

Reader Comments

by Ahoja Architect Zainab

Had this article been posted a month before, i would have agreed with the views of stark contrast between Mecca’s ancient landscape and the modern structures standing alien. But after my first hand experience (by the grace of Almighty) as well as being an architect i disagree. Knowing how islamic cities have been put together and evolved through out history i seem to think that Mecca and Medina both are being built on exactly those princples, the mosque, the plaza for collection, the market/shopping malls and hotels/musafir khanas.

Also, the traditional construction methods and buildings are not being removed entirely, these are easily viewed from the plazas and sehns. The vernacular architecture is much appreciated from these viewpoints as the houses rest atop mountains and hills. In addition, these skyscrapers/towers do not overpower the aura and magnificence of the Ka’aba at all but only add to the beauty and simplicity of it.

The expericne of walking through the crowdedwhich intentionally frames views of the Ka’aba as well the Masjid-e-Nabwi and, entering into large open spaces/sehns marbled and shaded for the pilgrims, followed by penetrating the boundaries of the haram and entering into sacred space having infinite columns, once again framing views of the Ka’aba and then stepping down into the main sehn in the middle of which stands the monumental pure cuboid of 54 ft.

The aura of the Ka’aba and Majid e Nabwi is such that no tower can overpower the overwhelming effect these holy places have on the pilgrims.

Thank you,
And for all the Blessed Haji’s,
Hajj Mabroor wa Makbool!
And May Almighty Allah give the rest this wonderful opportunity as well :) InshahALLAH

http://tribune.com.pk/story/79270/holy-makkah-besieged-by-a-jungle-of-concrete/

25. Miqat Mosque Complex

Location: Medina
Architect: Abdel Wahed El Wakil
Client: Ministry of Pilgrimage and Endowments
Date: 1987

The design of the complex is inspired by local traditions. It includes a mosque for 5'000 people, shops and walkways, ancillary buildings, and landscaping. The layout consists of a low-profile building which envelops a higher profile mosque in a landscaped courtyard.

(Source: http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=1097)

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American pilgrims impressed by Haj logistics management

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Jamarat Bridge
By SARAH ABDULLAH | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 24, 2010 23:35 Updated: Nov 24, 2010 23:35

JEDDAH: At a special dinner held at the InterContinental Hotel in Jeddah last night to honor US Muslims who performed Haj this year, pilgrims expressed positive feelings at how well the Kingdom had organized the annual pilgrimage.

“This is the first time I have performed Haj or visited Makkah and Madinah, or physically seen the Holy Kaaba,” said Dr. Arif Kidwai, a radiologist from Florida. “Even after finishing the rituals, I am still not fully aware of the experience as it was an overwhelming goal that I had been waiting to fulfill my whole life,” he said, adding that he has still not emotionally grasped all that he spiritually experienced.

Kidwai performed Haj along with his 70-year-old father, and said he has been left impressed by the Kingdom’s security measures and organization of Haj.

“I am especially impressed with the concept of logistics in putting together such a massive number of people that have to be moved from place to place; it is truly an incredible event,” he said.

Kidwai said the most memorable aspect of his Haj was the opportunity to perform it with his father.

Agreeing that performing the first Haj will always be a lasting memory, Yousra Elgohary, from New Jersey, said having to leave her two babies behind with her mother in the US was difficult but well worth it.

“It is truly a great feeling to see the Kaaba and visit the two holy cities,” she said, adding that the only aspect she did not enjoy was the massive construction taking place so close to the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

“Building large commercial buildings such as hotels and shops to provide convenience to pilgrims is commendable, but most of these buildings are located right at the edge of the courtyard of the Grand Mosque causing congestion and uncleanly conditions near the sites of worship,” she said, adding that building should be restricted by setting up construction zones further away from the Grand Mosque and pilgrims should be provided transportation.

Other than these issues, Elgohary said she will not forget the excellent time she had with her tour group, the friends she made, the spirit of forgiveness that she saw and the newly strengthened relationship she had forged with Allah.

“Because of this year’s Haj trip, I have a new plan for my life and for what I would like for my kids and family to be,” she said.

Giving her opinions concerning Haj, Sarah Alam, a 20-year-old from Houston, said she had a brilliant experience and that the Kingdom is doing a good job in facilitating Haj for so many worshippers.

“They (Saudi authorities) are doing the best they can for so many pilgrims. I just don’t like that we have to constantly guard our possessions from thieves and be confronted by beggars while we try to concentrate on worship. I feel these aspects distract us from our religious duties,” Alam said.

The Americans honored at the Haj dinner came from all parts of the US and traveled to the Kingdom in a tour group belonging to Dar El Salam Tours and Travel. The company has been in operation for 25 years and has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Toronto.

“Dar El Salam is the largest Haj service provider in North America and offers Haj services promoted through local mosques with the company offering various packages and organizing subgroups of pilgrims from across the continent,” said Sheik I. Sahib, project manager.

Sahib said this is the seventeenth Haj he has been on and added that the Kingdom’s recent upgrade of the Jamrat Bridge, as well as other recent construction projects, has made performing Haj this year one of the best ever.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article199715.ece

ZsMeirkwHX4&feature=related

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Over 1.3 million pilgrims still to leave Kingdom

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article199816.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_pilgrims.jpg
A general view of the countless Haj pilgrims during the ascent to Mount Arafat last week. (AN photo)
By MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 25, 2010 00:04 Updated: Nov 25, 2010 01:15

JEDDAH: The number of foreign pilgrims who have left the country so far is 300,000, according to an official from the Ministry of Haj.

“More than 1.2 million pilgrims are still left in Makkah and 180,000 are visiting the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. They all will leave as per travel schedules prepared for their departure,” Hatim Qadi, undersecretary for Haj affairs at the ministry, told Arab News on Wednesday.

Qadi added that the ministry was pleased with the management of Haj this year.

“The quality of performance by officials this season was far better than previous years. The number of negative points observed by the ministry were not many,” he said.

The process of sending the pilgrims to Madinah and then to their homes was also progressing smoothly, he said.

The United Agents Office, responsible for the transportation of pilgrims at airports, expects an increase in the amount of baggage pilgrims carry with them on their return journey, a report from the office said. “The office is geared up to help pilgrims carry a large number of bags using special equipment including 24 mobile conveyors and 2,300 carts. More than 3,500 workers have been trained for the task,” the report said.

The study added that the total weight of the baggage of returning pilgrims, whose number is estimated at 1.7 million, is expected to be approximately 100,000 tons.

The baggage first has to be unloaded from each bus mechanically in the airport. Then it is moved to the check-in points of the airline companies before they are put on the conveyor belts to be loaded on the aircraft, the report said.

The pleasant weather in Makkah is another factor in making the Haj a success this year, a ministry source said. However, domestic and regional pilgrims who left early had to reportedly wait for unexpectedly long hours for their return flights at the airport.

The Saudi Arabian Airlines blamed the long wait on Haj organizations that bring pilgrims to the airport for return flights long before scheduled departures.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article199723.ece

Haj, only once in 5 years through tour operators

the Saudi government has said Haj can be performed through private tour operators only once in five years. This rule, to be implemented from this year's pilgrimage,

A circular issued by Saudi's ministry of Haj asks consular offices of different countries in Jeddah to communicate this to tour operators their respective countries.

However, staff of the travel agencies looking after pilgrims and mahram (close male relative) of pilgrims, but who have not performed Haj themselves in the past five years, have been exempted. The new rule applies to pilgrims visiting Mecca from across the world.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-17/india/37786726_1_indian-haj-haj-committee-pilgrims

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Historical mosques in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah stand as firm Islamic landmarks SPA 9-6-1434 Hq1q1.jpg/19/04/2013

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hijaz rail http://nabataea.net/Medina.html

http://www.aleqt.com/2013/04/19/article_748825.html

http://www.aleqt.com/2012/08/15/article_683412.html

http://www.aleqt.com/2010/08/27/article_434672.html

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Just before closure, the 16th Exhibition of "Join us as a Caller to Islam", the total number of visitors of the exhibition tolled to 98095, organizers say SPA 9-6-1434 Hwwww3.jpg/19/04/2013

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https://www.facebook.com/malik.talha.14/posts/358163680971207

https://www.facebook.com/Engineer.Shahzad.Khan/photos


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mecca photo http://faizankhalid.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/mosques-house-of-allah-of-islam/mecca-23-2/

light http://www.makkah-now.com/news.php?action=show&id=8672

NSHR dismayed to see poor facilities for Hajis at airport

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article200503.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/SAU_NSHR.jpg

By SULTAN AL-TAMIMI | ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 25, 2010 23:27 Updated: Nov 25, 2010 23:28

JEDDAH: Representatives from the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) expressed their dismay on Thursday at the condition facing stranded Haj pilgrims at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport.

“The National Society for Human Rights made 10 observations during its trip to both Jeddah’s north and south terminals,” said Hussein Al-Sharief, director of NSHR's office in Makkah province.

“These included the failure to provide free drinking water to pilgrims, also (not providing) supplies for pilgrims, also the failure to post instructional signs in multiple languages inside airports halls.”

The NSHR accused Haj and Umrah service providers of inadequate scheduling when transferring pilgrims. Some of these companies drop pilgrims off long before their departures in order to end their obligations. This practice leads not only to inordinately long wait, but also causes unnecessary crowding at the terminals.

On the other hand, pilgrims who miss their flights experience difficulties in re-scheduling due to the large numbers of travelers leaving Jeddah after Haj. For them there is little recourse except to camp out on the floor of the terminal.

“There were old nine elderly Hajis from Tunis who spent four days in the airport because they couldn't find a flight to home,” said Al-Sharief.

“Their booking problems were exacerbated by passport violations they were not aware of. They needed help from the Haj Ministry, which was not available.”

Al-Sharief said all observation during the airport tour will be submitted to Haj authorities and General Authority of Civil Aviation.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article200474.ece

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article170183.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_makkah.jpg

A wonderful, amazing, stunning

View of Mecca

like you never seen!

from Al Jazeera


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to see it "more stunning" see the original size:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aljazeeraenglish/5185658322/sizes/o/in/photostream/


A visite of Mecca and Holy sites of the Hajj

by AlJazeera

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http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FBEE811B-B720-408E-9F44-4D8FD552190D.htm?GoogleStatID=1

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Now an english footage!

An invitation to view the Hajj from above


luw8YeQE5yE&feature=player_embedded

Thanks Al Jazeera!

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A Dutch scholar’s chronicle of 19th century Makkah

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Image Title: 016 Group portrait of Sharif Yahya with his riding camel, his slave and two sharifs of lower rank


By DALIA MATTAR, LIFE.STYLE@ARABNEWS.COM

Published: Nov 24, 2010 15:43 Updated: Nov 24, 2010 20:09

As you step into The Empty Quarter Gallery in Dubai’s Financial Center, you are instantly greeted with Makkah’s busy markets and streets and detailed vintage black and white photographs of the city and its inhabitants.

Under the patronage of Princess Reem Al-Faisal, the gallery — in collaboration with Netherland’s Leiden University Library and Hes & De Graaf Publishers — showcases an exquisite collection of the daily sights, sounds and lives of the Makkan society during the late 19th century. The exhibit, titled “Mecca — A Dangerous Adventure,” features re-photographed and re-produced platinum prints of the works of renowned Dutch scholar, Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje (1857-1936).

Hurgronje, a theology student at Lieden University, was born in Oosterhout, Netherlands in 1857. He later became a scholar in Oriental cultures and languages, and was consequently appointed as an adviser on the Native affairs of the colonial Netherlands East Indies.

“He was fascinated with different kinds of religions, but was specifically interested in the teachings and belief system of Islam. He was also fluent in Arabic,” said Elie Domit, Gallery Partner and Curator.

In 1880, Hurgronje wrote his doctorate thesis titled "Het Mekkansche Feest" (The Festivities of Makkah), which described the Haj pilgrimage and its customs. During that time period, European governments started to notice the Muslim population’s support of liberation efforts taking place in the Dutch and European colonies, and considered Makkah as a hub for Muslim fanatics. In 1884, through a partial funding from the Dutch government, Hurgronje was sent to Jeddah for the sole purpose of surveying the lives of these Makkan “fanatics." However, his personal interests in the Holy City and the religion engaged him with ulterior motives for the trip.

As he couldn’t enter the jurisdictions of Makkah, Hurgronje first landed in the port city of Jeddah and immediately began to socialize within the city’s elite circles. In order to gain access into the Holy City, as well as the trust of citizens and government officials, he publicly converted to Islam and became known as Abd Al-Ghaffar. In Jan. 21 1885, he finally set forth on his much-anticipated journey.

During his short but comprehensive seven-month stay in Makkah, he observed and chronicled the daily lives of the local society through photos, written memoirs, and sound recordings. These chronicles comprised much of the material for Bilder Aus Mekka (Makkah in the Latter Part of the 19th Century), which constitutes one of today’s most important visual memoirs of the Holy City.

“During that time, Makkah had one of the largest slave markets in the world, and Hurgronje was amazed with the humane way this trading was conducted. A slave was treated as a member of the family,” said Domit.

Hurgronje also thought highly of Makkan women; he thoroughly described their social standing, fashion sense and the abundance of liberties they had in comparison to women in Eastern cities at the time.

His growing interest in Makkah heightened suspicions among European governments. Soon after, Hurgronje generally became known as a spy, imposter and undoubtedly one of the few Oriental scholars of that time. Shortly after his marriage to an Ethiopian woman, Hurgronje received a deportation order when the French government accused him of stealing the Taima stone. Consequently, he had to flee the country, quickly gathering his notes and photographs, while leaving his camera equipment to his friend and photography student, Al-Sayyid Abd Al-Ghaffar.

Upon his arrival to the Netherlands, Hurgronje began writing articles on Makkan topics and was thereafter considered an authority on the subject. Hurgronje and Al-Sayyid Abd Al-Ghaffar were in constant correspondence, exchanging updated information and photographs of the Holy City. This led to the creation of Hurgronje’s second album, which mostly contained portraitures of Haj pilgrims.

Hurgronje’s renowned support of the Saudi cause prompted Saudi princes to pay three state visits to Holland between 1926 and 1935. For a foreigner to take such deep interest in the Makkan culture, religion and its teachings prior to the wide availability of information through media and telecommunications, is what makes this collection even more unique.

“This documentation was a testimony to what Islam is all about. He didn’t document it from a biased perspective,” said Domit.

Hurgronje is to this date one of the few Europeans who has had a direct educational experience of the Holy City. The Haj pilgrimage is an appreciation of just that; a time where millions of Muslims from around the world come together to love, learn and live our Holy City, Makkah Al Mukarramah.

For more information on The Empty Quarter gallery and this exhibit, visit www.theemptyquarter.com

http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/article199027.ece

gRMQfu6E70U&feature=related

Includes Quran recitation of surah Duha from the same period, over 100 years ago! This is AMAZING. Probably the earliest literal recitation of the Qur'an we will ever hear, in fact anyone of this and the previous generation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gemPqyiKt00

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck01_the_big_mosque_during_samalat_at-ka_aba_1287949412.jpg
Image Title: 001 View on the big mosque during a salat

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Image Title: 002 View on Makkah

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Image Title: 003 The Ka'aba in Makkah

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mage Title: 004 View on Makkah

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mage Title: 005 View on Makkah

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Image Title: 006 The printer's building in Mekka

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Image Title: 007 View on the tomb of Sittana Maimuna, the wife of the Prophet, during the Hajj

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck08_hajji_tent_camp_at_sittana_maimuna_tomb_1287949795.jpg
Image Title: 008 The Hajji tent camp at Sittana Maimuna's tomb

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck09_western_part_of_mina_valley_during_hajj_1287949855.jpg
Image Title: 009 View on the western part of the Mina valley during the Hajj

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck10_eastern_part_of_mina_valley_during_hajj_1287949901.jpg
Image Title: 010 View on the eastern part of the Mina valley during the Hajj

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Image Title: 011 View on Muzdalifa, the hajji stop-over place between Mina valley and Mt. Arafat

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck12_hajji_camp_at_mt_arafat_1287950035.jpg
Image Title: 012 A Hajji tent camp at Mount Arafat

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck13_hajji_camp_east_of_arafat_1287950159.jpg
Image Title: 013 A Hajji tent camp to the east of Mount Arafat

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck14_hajji_tent-camp_west-pf_mt_arafat_1287950196.jpg
Image Title: 014 A Hajji tent camp to the west of Mount Arafat

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck15_hajji_camp_east_of_arafat_mountain_1287950262.jpg
Image Title: 015 Hajji camp east of Mount Arafat (2)

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck17b_groom_sitting_on_bridal_throne_mekka_1287950456.jpg
Image Title: 017 Groom sitting on bridal throne in Makkah

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck17a_rika_or_bridal_throne_whereupon_bride_is_placed_during_dukhla_night-in_mekka_1287950414.jpg
Image Title: 017a Rika, or bridal throne, whereupon the bride is placed during dukhla night in Makkah

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck018a_tent_camp_at_tomb_of_sittana_maimuna_1287950514.jpg
Image Title: 018a Hajji tent camp at the tomb of Sittana Maimuna, the wife of the prophet

http://www.theemptyquarter.com/user_files/exhibits/snouck18b_hajji_s_visiting_holy_site_of_sittana_maimuna_tomb_1287951265.jpg
Image Title: 018b Hajji's visiting the holy site of Sittana Maimuna's tomb

all pictures: http://www.theemptyquarter.com/index.php?p=view_exhibit&ex_name=TWVjY2E6IEEgZGFuZ2Vyb3VzIEFkdmVudHVyZSCWIFNub3VjayBIdXJncm9uamWScyBlYXJseSBwaG90b2dyYXBocyAxODg1

Hajis leave with Qur’an gifts

http://www.michelledastier.org/images/sc%C3%A8nes%20de%20la%20vie/religions%20non%20chretiennes/le%20coran.jpg
TALEB BIN MAHFOUZ

JEDDAH: Haj pilgrims leaving the Kingdom for home are each getting a copy of the Holy Qur’an in their own language as a gift from King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. More than 250,000 copies have been distributed to pilgrims every day at air, land and sea exit points, totaling 1.7 million copies.

Dr. Musaed Bin Ibrahim Al-Hudaithi, Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ Undersecretary for Prints and Scientific Research Affairs, said the King’s gift is distributed at 13 exit points and is in several languages including Urdu, Hausa, English, French, Thai, Indonesian, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, German and Albanian.

A number of heads of Haj delegations expressed their appreciation at the services provided by the King for the guests of Allah. Dr. Abdul Salam Bin Dawoud Al-Abbadi, Jordan’s Minister of Endowment and Islamic Affairs and head of the Haj delegation, and Judge Homoud Abdul Hameed Al-Hattar, Yemen’s Minister of Endowments and Guidance and head of his country’s delegation, said the King has endeared himself to pilgrims with his deeds.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010112888154

Prince Khaled launches projects for next Haj

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article190984.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_khaled.jpgMAJED AL-MAFDHALI

MAKKAH: Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, launched Saturday four Haj development projects due to be completed by next year’s pilgrimage.

The projects, worth over SR6 billion, entail flattening and leveling hills and other areas of land, and the lowlands at the holy site of Arafat to increase pilgrim capacities, and the installation of additional toilet services in Makkah, at the holy sites and at transport facilities.

Prince Khaled ordered a series of committees to study and address observations noted during this year’s pilgrimage such as accumulation of garbage, pilgrims sleeping outdoors in public areas, pilgrims without permits, and the illegal entry of some small vehicles.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010112888153

Al-Bar to open investors summit

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/myfiles/Images/2010/01/26/fp01-big.jpg
By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 29, 2010 00:00 Updated: Nov 29, 2010 00:00

JEDDAH: Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar will be opening and officially delivering the opening speech of the Kingdom Investors Summit taking place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 at the Park Hyatt in Jeddah. In partnership with Star Group Holdings, naseba is proud to host the gathering of Makkah’s decision makers, in association with Kingdom Investment Summit, a unique initiative which showcases all the exclusive projects that will shape the future of Makkah region.

Supported by the vision of its wise leadership, the Holy region of Makkah will be witnessing a noticeable amount of development plans, which will shape the future of the Holy region according to highest standards. The initiative will bring together high-level decision makers from leading infrastructure, real estate, hospitality and tourism developers to play an active role in showcasing all major projects that will contribute in the historical transformation of the holy city and its greater province.

The initiative will allow visitors to know all about the unique projects taking place in Makkah province.

Commenting on the exhibition and great opportunities that will be showcased to visitors, Fabien Faure, naseba group’s managing director, said: “This is the ideal platform which will give the opportunity for visitors to know all about the future development plans for Makkah before anyone else.”

Leading companies are sponsoring the initiative, Faure added: “We are proud of the sponsors of this initiative because a good number of leading companies from different sectors such as development, investment and architecture were interested in sponsoring; but we have carefully selected the sponsors in order to match the quality of such a gathering.”

The initiative will be held in association with the Kingdom Investors Summit which is considered the world’s first platform focusing on outward investments from Saudi Arabia. This gathering will bring more than 150 pre-qualified investors with a confirmed minimum investment budget of $500 million.

Naseba produces, promotes and hosts business summits, professional training courses and business exhibitions targeting executive level attendees across multiple vertical industries.

http://arabnews.com/economy/article202783.ece

Prince Khaled launches projects for next Haj

[IMG]http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article190984.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_khaled.jpgMAJED AL-MAFDHALI

MAKKAH: Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, launched Saturday four Haj development projects due to be completed by next year’s pilgrimage.

The projects, worth over SR6 billion, entail flattening and leveling hills and other areas of land, and the lowlands at the holy site of Arafat to increase pilgrim capacities, and the installation of additional toilet services in Makkah, at the holy sites and at transport facilities.

Prince Khaled ordered a series of committees to study and address observations noted during this year’s pilgrimage such as accumulation of garbage, pilgrims sleeping outdoors in public areas, pilgrims without permits, and the illegal entry of some small vehicles.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010112888153

Wow. Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

Mecca development promises pilgrims better hajj

http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/midres/web-267910.jpg

This aerial image made from a helicopter taken on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, shows Muslim pilgrims moving around the Kaaba, the black cube seen at center, inside the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The skyscrapers, sporting towering glass facades and luxury shopping malls with international brands, have sprouted up in recent years around the esplanade in front of the sprawling, multi-level Haram Mosque. The mosque surrounds the Kaaba, the cube-shaped shrine that Muslims around the world face during prayers and pilgrims circle seven times during the hajj rites.


(AP) – Nov 19, 2010

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — A dozen glittering skyscrapers tower over Islam's holiest shrine, the Kaaba, boasting hotel rooms with 24-hour butler service and luxury marble bathrooms. Below, throngs of Muslims perform the annual hajj pilgrimage, many of them impoverished, sleeping in the streets.

Saudi authorities have transformed the look of Mecca, Islam's most sacred city, and are planning even more dramatic change in years to come. But much of the change has catered to high-end pilgrims, and critics say what is supposed to be an austere spiritual ritual bringing Muslims closer to God has turned into a luxury expedition for some.

Samir Barqah, a guide who runs tours of the historic city in Mecca, says luxury towers are turning Mecca into Manhattan.

"The fast urban development managed to remove all the character from Mecca," Barqah said. "Mecca as our parents and grandfathers knew it no longer exists ... Mecca is now becoming a layer of glass and cement sheets."

The skyscrapers, sporting towering glass facades and luxury shopping malls, have sprouted up around the esplanade in front of the sprawling, multilevel Grand Mosque. The mosque surrounds the Kaaba, the cube-shaped shrine that Muslims around the world face during prayers and pilgrims circle seven times during the hajj rites.

Until recently, Mecca, the homeland of Islam's seventh century Prophet Muhammad, was a rather ramshackle city, built up with little planning over several desert hills with low, often dilapidated buildings. It could barely handle the burden when the numbers of pilgrims descending on it every year were only in the hundreds of thousands.

Now those numbers are in the millions, making the hajj one of the biggest annual events in the word. And it's only growing — officially nearly 3 million participated n this year's pilgrimage, which was ending Friday, not counting hundreds of thousands of "unofficial" pilgrims who sneak into Mecca without hajj permits required by Saudi authorities.

So Saudi Arabia is launching a massive project to upgrade Mecca and nearby shrines over the next 10 years. The goal is to accommodate five times the current number of pilgrims.

"Don't be surprised by anything in the next decade," the governor of Mecca province, Prince Khaled al-Faisal told journalists Thursday, promising the most advanced technology to "make things comfortable for the pilgrims." He wouldn't give the cost, but said it was "unimaginable."

The plan includes removing slums and old buildings around Mecca and replacing them with a new generation of housing and hotels. Authorities also plan to build new hospitals and improve transportation and communication infrastructure, said the governor's deputy, Abdulaziz al-Khedheiri.

The housing will have a "a diversity of levels, from one-star to seven star hotels," he said. For this hajj, Saudi authorities unveiled a train line that carried pilgrims to one of the ritual sites in the deserts outside Mecca although that was reserved for Saudis and citizens of other Gulf nations until it becomes fully operational next year.

Already, buildings are being removed from hills on the northern side of the Grand Mosque to allow an expansion adding room for 1 million more people to pray. So far the expansion has cost $10 billion, al-Khedheiri said.

Management of the hajj is a major way for Saudi Arabia's ruling family to tout the Islamic credentials central to its legitimacy. Saudi King Abdullah includes among his titles "the guardian of the two shrines" — Mecca and the nearby holy city of Medina.

Over the five days of hajj, the pilgrims trek simultaneously between a string of sites, from the Kaaba to Mount Arafat, a desert hill 12 miles (19 kilometers) away in the desert.

The kingdom has been expanding infrastructure in recent years, and some of the changes have doubtlessly saved lives. The rites at Mina, between Mecca and Arafat, often saw deadly stampedes as huge crowds tried to pass three stone walls symbolizing the devil to pelt them with stones. Now a complex resembling a gigantic, multilevel parking garage surrounds the walls, allowing pilgrims to file by them more easily, and no crushes have occurred since 2006.

But the grand scale — and luxury atmosphere — of some changes threaten to overwhelm the religious sites themselves at times. Historic sites, like houses believed to have belonged to the prophet's family or old mosques, have been leveled in past construction.

Hayat Hama, a 47-year-old German pilgrim of Iraqi origin, said she didn't care too much for the skyscrapers crowding the Kaaba. "They were pretty. But when I saw them, I thought they were part of the rituals, something for us to visit," she said. Still, she said, her trip to Mecca was like "visiting heaven."

The towers, which contain hotels and malls, are also a stark contrast to the conditions for other pilgrims. Many cram into rented houses, up to 20 people a room, or tromp between the holy sites with only a small tent to sleep under.

Al-Khedeiri pointed out that the land on which the skyscrapers are built is owned by Islamic authorities, so profits go to maintaining and upgrading the holy sites.

The worry is that the massive development will also favor wealthier hajjis in a pilgrimage that is supposed to be a time for Muslims to appear before God equal and pure and lead a few days of hermetic life.

Official pilgrims come through tour groups, which arrange transportation, hotels and space in the tent cities set up around Arafat and Mina. Just like any tour, the more you pay, the better the amenities. Covering the costs of hajj for the poor is a common charity activity in many Muslim nations. Unofficial pilgrims are often those who can't afford the packages and come to Saudi Arabia long before the hajj season to do it on their own, or residents in Saudi Arabia who can reach Mecca easily.

Some of the luxury towers offer rooms with a view of the Kaaba — a favorite among the better off who don't want to rub shoulders with the masses but want to still pray in sight of the shrine. Moreover, the rooms offer 24-hour butlers and even a so-called 'hajj kit' with designer clothes to be used in rituals, with prices ranging from a whopping $6,000 per night for a royal suite to $1,600 for the regular room. Officials said the hotels were at full capacity this year.

Even the tent cities outside Mecca are cashing in on the high-end. Nicer camps boast BBQs for dinner, juice stands, parasols and plastic chairs for leisure time.

"It is too expensive," said Khaled Abdel-Maksoud, a 50-year old Egyptian civil engineer.

He has performed hajj for the past four years, each time without a permit, because he lives in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Even so, this year, he spent nearly a $1,000 for his and his wife's hajj. For the first days in Mecca, they slept in a rented flat with other families, and for the rest he camped out on the ground.

Along the roads between sites, hotels even rent rooms by the minute to allow pilgrims to pop in, change clothes or shower. They start off at $27 for 10 minutes, but on the last day soared to $267, Abdel-Maksoud said.

Ossama al-Bar, Mecca's mayor, said new projects aimed at low to middle incomes are also on the list.

"We want every sector to find what they want in this holy city."

http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/midres/web-267908.jpg

http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/midres/web-267909.jpg

These aerials images made from a helicopter taken on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, shows Muslim pilgrims moving around the Kaaba, the black cube seen at center, inside the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The skyscrapers, sporting towering glass facades and luxury shopping malls with international brands, have sprouted up in recent years around the esplanade in front of the sprawling, multi-level Haram Mosque. The mosque surrounds the Kaaba, the cube-shaped shrine that Muslims around the world face during prayers and pilgrims circle seven times during the hajj rites.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iRdIfwTsShaACsytYcU36Cj_O7JA?docId=671875be14b44a74a1ae01465e2de1cf
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700083509/Mecca-development-promises-pilgrims-better-hajj.html

البار: 100 مليار ريال لمشاريع في المشاعر المقدسة في 4 أعوام

إنشاء شبكة قطارات محلية وربط قطار المشاعر بقطار الحرمين

http://www.aleqt.com/a/474395_136519.jpg
December 1, 2010

محمد الهلالي من جدة
كشف الدكتور أسامة البار أمين العاصمة المقدسة أن حجم المشاريع في المشاعر المقدسة خلال الأعوام الأربعة الماضية فاق 100 مليار ريال, مبينا أن مشاريع الإسكان الميسر في مدينة مكة المكرمة من الأولويات التي تهتم بها الدولة في الوقت الحالي.

وأكد البار في رد على سؤال "الاقتصادية" خلال المؤتمر الصحافي المصاحب لافتتاح قمة المستثمرين في السعودية أمس في جدة أنه تمت الاستعانة بذراع استثمارية تساعد على الاستثمار في مدينة مكة المكرمة من خلال شركة البلد الأمين التي أنشأتها وتملكها الدولة ممثلة في أمانة العاصمة المقدسة التي أنشأت أربع شركات فرعية تتضمن شركة لتطوير بوابة الضاحية الغربية, شركة لمشروع الإسكان الميسر, شركة لمشروع شبكة القطارات المحلية, شركة لرعاية وتطوير الخدمات في مدينة مكة المكرمة.

وأوضح البار بخصوص قطار المشاعر أن الدراسات ما زالت مستمرة لربط محطة قطار المشاعر بمحطة قطار الحرمين, وهناك نية لإحداث شركة تتولى إنشاء شبكة قطارات محلية وإدارتها في مدينة مكة المكرمة, مشيرا إلى أن الشبكة موجودة وسيتم إقرارها قريبا.

وأشار إلى أن التركيز سيكون في المقام الأول على مشاريع الإسكان الميسر, لأن هناك فجوة يجب جسرها, كذلك مشاريع التطوير العمراني لأن المشاريع العقارية تعطي ريعا سريعا, ولكن لا ننسى أننا شركة حكومية مملوكة للدولة، وقضايا التنمية تمثل أولوية لنا, لهذا الأمر نهدف إلى الرقي بقطاع النقل العام والبنية التحتية لأنها جزء من أولوياتنا.

وأضاف حجم الفرص الاستثمارية كبير في مدينة مكة المكرمة، وستتم جدولة المشاريع ودراسة الجدوى الاقتصادية لجميع المشاريع الاستثمارية التطويرية لتجنب الإغراق, من خلال موافقة العرض للطلب الموجود لتجنب تذبذب الأسعار، ويجب أن تكون النظرة متوازنة, بعمل دراسات الجدوى الاقتصادية الحقيقية العلمية قبل البدء في المشاريع, نظرا لأن الطلب حاليا كبير, لكن بعد البدء في المشاريع لا بد من عمل الدراسات المستمرة للعرض والطلب في السوق, لاستمرار التنمية وفق ما حددته الدولة.

وقال: "الواقع أن مدينة مكة المكرمة تشهد عناية ورعاية خاصة من الدولة برعاية ومتابعة واهتمام من خادم الحرمين الشريفين ـــ يحفظه الله ـــ والأمير سلطان بن عبد العزيز ولي العهد والأمير نايف بن عبد العزيز النائب الثاني رئيس لجنة الحج العليا, وكلنا تابع ما بشر به الأمير نايف في لقائه مع قوات الأمن بعد الحج، بأن مكة المكرمة تشهد عديدا من المشاريع بمبالغ فاقت العشرين مليار ريال، وهذا يدل على الرعاية التي توليها الدولة لمدينة مكة المكرمة. في الواقع أن شركة البلد الأمين ستقوم بتسهيل إجراءات القطاع الخاص, وسيكون هناك مبدأ المنافسة العادلة للجميع وستكون المنافسة مفتوحة للجميع, وفقا لشفافية معلنة. إضافة إلى أن جميع المشاريع سيتم الإعلان عنها وطلب العروض وبعد ذلك تأهيل الشركات المتقدمة ثم إعلان المطور والفائز في المشروع, وذلك في مشروع الإسكان الميسر وجميع المشاريع.

قام الدكتور أسامة البار أمين العاصمة المقدسة بافتتاح وتقديم الكلمة الافتتاحية لقمة المستثمرين في السعودية أمس في فندق بارك حياة، جدة بالاشتراك مع ستار جروب (الشركة السعودية للتجارة والموارد المحدودة)، وبمبادرة شركة نسيبا، التي جمعت صانعي القرار في منطقة مكة المكرمة بالتعاون مع قمة المستثمرين في السعودية، وتعد هذه المبادرة فريدة من نوعها حيث إنها عرضت أهم وأكبر المشاريع التطورية التي سترسم مستقبل منطقة مكة المكرمة, بدعم من القيادة الحكيمة لمنطقة مكة المكرمة.

وشهدت المنطقة قدراً ملحوظاً من الخطط التنموية التي سترسم مستقبل منطقة مكة المكرمة وفقاً لأعلى معايير التطوير, وجمعت المبادرة بين أهم صناع القرار وكبار المطورين من قطاعات مختلفة مثل: العقار، البنية التحتية، الضيافة والسياحة، للقيام بدور فعال في عرض أهم المشاريع التي ستسهم في التغيير الجذري لمنطقة مكة المكرمة, ليتعرف زوار المبادرة على جميع المشاريع التي ستشهدها منطقة مكة المكرمة. من جهته، قال فابيان فور، المدير العام لمجموعة نسيبا: "هذه هي المنصة المثالية التي ستتيح للزوار معرفة جميع الخطط التنموية لمنطقة مكة المكرمة قبل أي شخص آخر", وقد حازت هذه المبادرة اهتمام عدد من الشركات الكبرى التي بدورها قامت برعاية المبادرة.

وأضاف "نحن فخورون بالرعاة الرسميين لهذه المبادرة، حيث إن عديدا من الشركات الكبرى من مختلف القطاعات مثل: الاستثمار، التطوير العقاري والهندسة المعمارية اهتمت برعاية الحدث، لكننا قمنا باختيار الرعاة بحذر، لنؤكد ملاءمتهم لجودة هذه المبادرة".

وتعد هذه القمة الأولى في العالم التي ستتيح الاستثمار في المملكة العربية السعودية, وتجمع قمة المستثمرين السعوديين أكثر من ١٥٠ مستثمرا يسعون إلى الاستثمار في القطاع العقاري وقطاع الرعاية الصحية والبنية الأساسية لمنطقة مكة المكرمة, بميزانية لا تقل عن ٥٠٠ مليون دولار.

http://www.aleqt.com/2010/12/01/article_474395.html

Bar: 100 billion riyals for projects in the holy sites in 4 years
Create a rail network linking local train train Mashair of the Two Holy

Mohammed Hilali from Jeddah
Dr. Osama al-Bar revealed secretary of the Holy City that the size of the projects in the holy sites during the past four years has exceeded 100 billion riyals, indicating that the draft affordable housing in the city of Mecca is a priority concern to the State at this time.

The bar in response to the question of "economic" during a press conference that accompanied the opening of the top investors in Saudi Arabia yesterday in Jeddah, it has been the use of arm investment conducive to investment in the city of Mecca during the company of the country of the Secretary-created by and owned by the state, represented in the secretariat of the Holy City, which established four subsidiary companies include a company to develop the western suburbs Gateway, Inc. for the draft Affordable Housing, Inc. for the network project trains local company for the care and development services in the city of Mecca.

The bar on the train Mashair that the studies are still ongoing to link the train station train station of the Two Holy feelings, and there is an intention to bring about the establishment of a company that trains local and network management in the holy city of Mecca, pointing out that the network exists and will be approved soon.

He pointed out that the focus will be primarily on projects, affordable housing, because there is a gap must be bridged, as well as urban development projects because of real estate projects to give rent quickly, but do not forget that state-owned company owned by the state, and development issues is a priority for us, because this is our aim to advance sector, public transport and infrastructure as part of our priorities.

The size of the investment opportunities large in the city of Mecca, and will be scheduling projects and feasibility study for all investment projects development in order to avoid dumping, through the approval of supply and demand is located to avoid price fluctuations, and it must be look balanced, the work of the feasibility studies the real science before commencement of projects, Because the demand is great, but after starting the project must be the work of ongoing studies of supply and demand in the market, the continued development as defined by the state.

He said: "The fact that the city of Makkah witness care and special care from the State under the auspices of and follow-up and the interest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may God preserve him, and Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince and Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Chairman of Hajj Supreme Committee, and we all continued as preached by Prince Nayef in his meeting with the security forces after the Hajj, to Mecca, witnessing many of the projects amounts exceeded twenty billion riyals, and this shows the care given by the State of the city of Mecca. in fact, the company the country's Secretary will facilitate private sector actions, and there will be a principle of fair competition for all and the competition will be open to all, according to the transparency of the public. Add to that all projects will be announced and the request for proposals and then qualifying bidders then the declaration of the developer and the winner of the project, and in the draft affordable housing and all projects.

Dr. Osama al-Bar Secretary of the Holy City of the opening and the floor opening to the top investors in Saudi Arabia yesterday at the Park Hyatt Hotel, Jeddah in association with the Star Group (Saudi Company for Trade and limited resources), and the initiative Naseeba, which brought together decision makers in the region of Mecca, in collaboration with the top investors in Saudi Arabia, and this initiative is unique as it offered the most important and largest projects that will shape the future of evolutionary Makkah Region, with the support of the wise leadership of Makkah region.

The area has seen some remarkable development plans that will shape the future of the Mecca, according to the highest standards of development, and collected the initiative among the most important decision makers and senior developers from different sectors such as: real estate, infrastructure, hospitality and tourism, to take an active role in the presentation of the most important projects that will contribute to change root of Makkah region, to recognize visitors to the initiative to all projects that will be witnessed Makkah region. For his part, said Fabien Faure, Director-General of Nsiba: "This is the ideal platform that will allow visitors to see what all the development plans for the Mecca before anyone else," has won this initiative attention of a number of major companies, which in turn has sponsored the initiative.

"We are proud of herders officials for this initiative, since many of the major companies from various sectors such as: investment, real estate development and architecture focused on sponsored event, but we have to choose carefully shepherds, to assure their suitability for the quality of this initiative."

This summit is the first in the world that will allow investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Saudi investors summit brings together more than 150 investors seeking to invest in real estate and health care and infrastructure for the Makkah Region, with a budget of not less than $ 500 million.

CNN on Hajj 2010

2010 Hajj Pilgrimmage Begins in Makkah
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Zamzam (Holy) Water
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The Kiswa
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Covering the Haj: An unforgettable experience

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/myfiles/Images/2010/11/26/na08-big.jpg
A security official monitoring the railway station in Mina.
NAIF MASRAHI

JEDDAH: Covering Haj is considered one of the most important events for Muslim journalists. Many journalists insist on covering it to find special, interesting stories among the vast number of pilgrims from all over the world.
“Naif, try to focus on the stories of pilgrims,” one of my supervisors told me. “You need to find the human interest stories and keep your eyes open during the daily media tour in the holy sites. Readers want these kind of stories.”

My journey started by easily driving to the holy sites on the old road between Jeddah and Makkah that passes through Bahrah. It took 75 minutes to reach the media camp in Mina, where many journalists from all over the world gathered to cover Haj.

From the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims started to complain about substandard services.

It was a shock for me to discover how did some Tawafa companies fool pilgrims by providing inaccurate information about services in their camps. Unfortunately, some of them had already paid more than SR10,000 to receive “royal services” at a camp that was supposed to be much nicer.

The Saudi Gazette logo attracted the attention of some Pakistani pilgrims.
“Sir, are you from the press?,” one asked. “Please come; I have something interesting to show you.”

I was surprised to see women waiting in a long line to make wudu (ablution) with unclean water for Fajr (dawn) prayer.

Suddenly, the supervisor of the camp appeared and asked me to relate the true image of his camp.

“This camp has no official number. Moreover, the officials of Holy Site Mayoralty and the Ministry of Haj promised to fix all the problems after we sign the contract, but they didn’t,” said Majed Al-Faraji.

Pilgrims agreed on the vital role of new projects like Al-Jamarat Bridge and the Holy Sites Train, which helped them perform their Haj rituals smoothly.
To observe the historic launch of the train, I waited for five hours at the first Mina station.

Saudi Gazette and Okaz were the only media who were able to visit the control room of the train in the station.

When I rode the train for the first time, I realized that this project should have been done since 10 years ago; it helped reduce crowds of cars and provided swift, smooth transportation.
The train takes only eight minutes to move through all nine stations.
Inside the train, pilgrims could hear the Arabic and English announcers informing them about the directions and upcoming stations.

Some pilgrims decided not to use the train although they had official tickets, especially in the first few hours after the train was launched.
Mohammad Al-Sarahni, a pilgrim from Riyadh, said he was surprised that the ticket was a handy bracelet, not a piece of paper.
He said his father did not believe him when he told him that he could go by train from Mina to Arafat in only three minutes.
“Many pilgrims asked me about the train tickets,” Al-Sarahni said. “They thought pilgrims would use the train by putting a card in a machine, like the Dubai Metro.”

Although train officials said all the stations were ready, pilgrims complained that there was need for seats in the waiting hall for elderly and disabled people, signs directing people to bathrooms and drinking water.

One of the most important features of launching the train was the young Saudi volunteers from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Center for Haj Research.
They were observing, recording and registering the first group of pilgrims who used the train at Dhul Hijjah 9 midnight.
“We are here to register how many pilgrims used the train for the first time in Mina,” said Sameer Al-Thobaity, the leader of the center’s team. “We have brought a special device to count them every five minutes.”

On the first day of the Eid, I was really amazed by a sea of white Ihram at Al-Jamarat Bridge.
The women pilgrims in white clothes sitting on the ground created the peace image of a dove.
During the ritual activity, an Arab woman decided to drive an electric cart to transport her family from Al-Jamarat Bridge to the Mina Station Number 3.
There weren’t enough drivers and she thought the carts were provided for use by pilgrims.

Back at the media camp, Saudi journalists demanded a special camp for media members with Internet connections, restaurants and special cars to transport them to press conferences.
Covering Haj for the first time, I started to believe that it was like an adventure trip.
Both of them teach the journalist a sense of patience and how to overcome obstacles of sleeping, eating and adapting in a new environment to reach your goal: Finding the best stories.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010112688037

NSHR slams facilities for pilgrims at Jeddah airport

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MATOUQ AL-SHAREEF

JEDDAH: The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) is to make 10 main recommendations to improve pilgrim services at King Abdul Aziz International Airport’s North and South terminals after officials toured the facilities Thursday.

A lack of free water, expensive food and refreshments, no help from officials and a dearth of information in the languages of pilgrims were all noted, along with pilgrims forced to wait long hours due to flight delays or their companies taking them unnecessarily early to the terminals.

The NSHR recommended that a single office should be opened with representatives from all government bodies relevant to pilgrim services, that water should be supplied free of charge by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, that a single outlet should be opened for official Zamzam water distributors, and that Haj missions should have representatives available at the airport to assist pilgrims with their departures.

Other areas requiring attention, NSHR officials said, were cuts in the water supply in bathrooms, and airlines’ failures to provide comfort and meals to their passengers in the event of flight delays.

Further criticisms concerned the lack of a representative of Haj Affairs from the Ministry of Haj to help persons on Umrah visas who had stayed on for the Haj pilgrimage. Many were found sleeping at the airport as they waited for flight reservations home.

The NSHR in Madina said its report would be presented to the Central Haj Committee, the Ministry of Haj, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and that meetings would be held with officials to “avoid what we have seen occurring again in the future”.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010112688024

A photographic journey into the Holy Cities

http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/art_culture/article199627.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/art_kaabah.jpg

By NI’MAH ISMA’IL NAWWAB, LIFE.STYLE@ARABNEWS.COM

Published: Nov 24, 2010 15:43 Updated: Nov 24, 2010 20:07

Moving images, striking panoramas, majestic mosques and minarets, special aerial images, intimate scenes of rapturous pilgrims — these are just a few things exhibited at the Photographic Gallery at the American University in Cairo by world renowned and award-wining photographer and film director, Faruk Aksoy.

In his photographic exhibition titled, "Mecca and Medina: A Photographic Journey," he also showcases rare close up moments and a first-of-its-kind showing of 3D photos, which offer a stunning inside look at two sites long considered the most sacred venues for Muslims throughout the centuries.

Coinciding with this year's annual Haj pilgrimage, the exhibition, which opened on Nov. 7 and continues to be on display until Dec. 23, showcases over 40 photographs.

According to Shems Friedlander, photographer, award-winning filmmaker and director of the gallery, the exhibit brought over 200 people who wanted to experience the majesty of Makkah and Madinah, even moving quite a few of them to tears.

"Rarely is a collection of such a large number of images of the sacred places of Islam displayed all at one time. The students, faculty and visitors to the gallery were in awe of the event," noted Friedlander.

The experience for many, who had have long yearned to visit these sacred sites, was further enhanced by viewing a few chosen images in 3D. “This 3D technology is going to be used more and more in the coming years. Although it is a known technology after the film Avatar, people are now suddenly more aware and appreciative of it. So, I would like to be one of the pioneers using this technology in the Middle East," stated Aksoy.

The Turkish photographer and filmmaker has been privileged to have access to Makkah and Madinah for the past 20 years, which has resulted is a collection of hundreds of spectacular images on film of these blessed cities taken from unique angles. "It is probably most difficult to take photographs in Makkah and Madinah, so I feel highly honored to have been able to capture the expansion and ever-changing aspects of these two holy cities," he added.

"It was not my decision to photograph Makkah and Madinah; it was my destiny. Of course, several other matters played an important role in that as well, including my grandfather's prayer for me when I was five years old in 1957, which is recorded by my father on a tape... basically, my grandfather prayed that I should study, learn about and serve the Prophet (peace be upon him).

He recalled the story of how he ended up in Makkah. “At first, I was not even thinking at all of going to Makkah. Instead, I wanted to go to London in 1980, to study film and photography, so I asked my father to allow me to do so. He was not very happy with this idea and advised me to go to Makkah, as he was a religious person. Then, a friend of mine who knew my father interceded and told my father: ‘Please allow Faruk to come to London first. If Allah wants, Faruk will find himself in Makkah sooner or later.’ Believe it or not, after 13 months, I found myself in Makkah. I was on an assignment with a British film crew from London to go to Saudi Arabia for two weeks. Those two weeks turned into 29 years, where I spent them mostly filming Makkah and Madinah till this day,” said Aksoy.

Born in Istanbul in 1952, Aksoy graduated from Istanbul University and took photography courses in Switzerland. In the 1980s, he was involved with several documentary films in Britain after which he moved to Saudi Arabia. During his long stay in the country, he filmed and directed several projects for companies as well as state institutions. Aksoy has been the cameraman for documentary films including "Inside Makkah" for National Geographic and "The Hajj: The Journey of a Lifetime" for the BBC.

As a cameraman, director and filmmaker, he has been involved with numerous film related projects including documentaries and television commercials as well as feature films. He did documentaries for UK’s Channel 4 and Germany’s SWR. Furthermore, he contributed locally to the Saudi TV series, “Tash Ma Tash,” for two years.

His numerous photographic exhibitions include a highly popular exhibit entitled, "Haramain," which was organized by the IRCICA in Istanbul. In fact, a selection of his Kaaba photographs are displayed permanently at the Makkah Museum. He has also received several awards including the first prize in 1989 in an international photography contest, "Preserving The Islamic Heritage," which was also organized by the IRCICA.

To further augment his work and share his love of the holy sites, he authored several books, including "The Blessed cities of Islam: Mecca-Medina," which has been published in six languages, including Russian and Spanish.

As the exhibit’s visitors got a close encounter with scenes of the beloved two cities, many exclaimed with wonder and awe at the creativity and often unusual highlighted angles while they roamed through a riveting panorama, which has long lured Muslims and non Muslims alike. Each had the chance to glimpse and sense firsthand the beauty of the spirituality that the very ground, rocks and even dust of the sites that Prophets since the time of Adam have left their imprints on.

Students at the exhibition's opening in particular marveled at the photographs’ use of space and the intimacy of the scenes presented. "There is a sense of energy surrounded by vast quiet space. I find the photo very tranquil for its use of negative and positive space," noted Maya Dukmasova, a journalism student.

"These photos are very different from the images we usually see of Makkah and Madinah," said Farida Shaarawi another student. "In many of the photos we can see a collection of unique moments and points of view one does not generally get when seeing images of Makkah. For example, in this photo, you are being taken to a specific funeral," she said, pointing to a photo of a funeral party circumambulating the Kaaba. "This is a highly personal moment not generally captured."

As Aksoy noted, his aim is for the photographs to serve as of a means towards establishing mutual understanding and respect in the crossroads of civilizations that is Cairo.

"This is one of the most important cities in the world. I believe these images will awaken the understanding of religion and will hopefully help each others' spirituality on this fragile planet we live on," he said.

As the exhibit continues to welcome visitors, one cannot but recall the centuries of faith, decades of tradition, the untold and retold stories and experiences fascination, love and joy of travelers, pilgrims, merchants and travelers on reaching the sacred grounds of these two most beloved places on earth: Makkah the Blessed and Madinah the Radiant.

http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/article199025.ece


http://academic.aucegypt.edu/caravan/sites/default/files/imagecache/medium/Mecca%204.jpg

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http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2010/1022/pack04.jpg

http://static.letsbuyit.com/filer/images/uk/products/original/151/31/blessed-cities-of-islam-mecca-medina-15131312.jpeg

Great work Roukaya19 :)

Thanks my friend! ...anytime you can post about the topic you started, you know! :)

Cabinet commends king for success of Haj

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article203931.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sauCabinet.jpg
Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, chairs the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh
By ARAB NEWS

Published: Nov 29, 2010 23:25 Updated: Nov 29, 2010 23:26

RIYADH: Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on the success of the recently concluded Haj, and for enabling foreign and domestic pilgrims to worship in total safety and comfort.

The crown prince, who chaired the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday, reassured the council about the king’s excellent health, Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the meeting.

"Under the directives of King Abdullah and with the monitoring of Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif, all branches of the government machinery fully cooperated to implement the security, preventive, organizational and service plans for Haj to achieve the highest security, safety and comfort for the guests of the Merciful," the crown prince said.

Speaking about the king’s health, he said: "The king is enjoying excellent health and the surgery he has undergone, thank Allah, has been successful."

The council also expressed satisfaction at the achievements of the security authorities in foiling terror plots before their execution. "The security authorities have succeeded in thwarting the efforts of a foreign-based terror organization to gain a foothold in the Kingdom to exploit the Haj and Umrah season," the crown prince said.

The council reiterated, on the occasion of the World Day of Solidarity with Palestinians, which falls on Nov. 29, the unflinching Saudi support for the Palestinians at all levels as the Kingdom has been doing since the time of King Abdul Aziz.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article203890.ece

Foreign Haj missions thank King Abdullah for successful pilgrimage

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article195758.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_makkah.jpg
By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Dec 8, 2010 23:27 Updated: Dec 8, 2010 23:27

RIYADH: The heads of foreign Haj missions who participated in the Haj this year have offered bouquets of congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for the arrangement made during the pilgrimage and registered their appreciation to Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.

“A high degree of professionalism and dedication were demonstrated in all Haj services during the pilgrimage this year,” said Hany Helal, minister of higher education and state for scientific research of Egypt and chairman of the country’s official Haj delegation, in a letter addressed to the health minister.

Appreciating the king’s efforts for the wonderful Haj services, the minister said that he prays for the good health of the king and for the prosperity of the Saudi nation.

Thanking King Abdullah, Abdul Karim Abdullah Al Zarooni, chief of Haj Mission of the United Arab Emirates, offered a bouquet of thanks on behalf of the Arab world for the quality health care services offered to all pilgrims without any discrimination on the score of their nationalities or color.

“By completing a successful Haj, Saudi Arabia has shown that it is a real leader in the Arab world that can look after the welfare of the pilgrims,” said Mohammed Soussi, chairman of the Tunisian Haj Mission. Soussi,who had performed Haj six times since 1993, said that he saw new developments in the holy areas every time he came for Haj. Sousi,who visited the health facilities in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, said that he was happy to note that advanced health facilities were available for pilgrims and the Saudi Red Crescent played an important role in ferrying the sick pilgrims.”

Elias Serenli, head of the Turkish mission, said the Health Ministry has made adequate preparation to meet the health needs of the pilgrims. “The young and the old, including sick women, were well looked after by the health officials,” said Serenli. Muhammad Aqeel from South Africa said the pilgrims were given world class treatment and health officials were able to communicate with the patients in their own language, which was really a plus point to understand the ailments of the patients.

Rooney Bozam bin Abdul Mali, chairman of the Haj medical mission in Malaysia, said the services provided were beyond excellent.

“Be it Makkah, Madinah or any other place within the holy cities, health officials were courteous in treating the patients,” he said.

Nasser Al-Mohsen Baedem, head of the medical mission from Yemen, said that he took part in the consultative meetings held at Al-Noor Hospital in Makkah for the foreign Haj medical missions and was amazed at the manner in which the health care arrangements were made to accommodate pilgrims coming from all parts of the globe.

“It was a job well done and our heartiest congratulations on this splendid achievement which was solely due to proper planning and intelligent implementation.”

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article211321.ece

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192186.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_injured.jpg
An air ambulance of the Saudi Red Crescent evacuates pilgrims injured in a road accident in Makkah

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article192129.ece

الرافعات وآلات الحفر تعمل حول الحرم
"الإسمنت" يحاصر الحرم الشريف "مهدداً" تراث مكة المكرّمة

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المصدر: مكة المكرمة - أ.ف.بالتاريخ: 21 نوفمبر 2010

أسفرت أعمال تحديث وتطوير مكة المكرمة لتلبية متطلبات استقبال ملايين المعتمرين والحجاج سنوياً، إلى ظهور غابة من الإسمنت باتت تحاصر الحرم الشريف وتلقي بثقلها على الطابع التاريخي للمدينة المقدسة.

وتاريخياً، شكلت خدمة الحجاج والمعتمرين النشاط الإقتصادي الأهم لمكة، التي تستضيف سنوياً أكبر تجمع بشري في العالم، واستقبلت هذه السنة 2.8 مليون حاج.

وتقع مكة في واد تحيط به الجبال، وبالتالي فانه لا يمكن مشاهدة الحرم الشريف كاملاً إلا من على هذه الجبال القريبة.

وحالياً، يمكن مشاهدة برج مكة الملكي الذي سيصل ارتفاعه إلى أكثر من 600 متر، عند الانتهاء من أعمال الإنشاء، وهو برج تكلله ساعة عملاقة على جهاته الأربعة، من الجبال والهضاب المجاورة ما يسمح بتحديد موقع الحرم، إذ انه ملاصق له.

وسيكون البرج ثاني أعلى مبنى في العالم بعد برج خليفة في دبي (828 متراً)، أما الساعة فستكون مرجعاً للتوقيت بالنسبة لمسلمي العالم في مواجهة توقيف غرينيتش.

وتحيط بالحرم عدة مبان شاهقة، وبات مشهد المدينة شبيه بالمدن المتطورة عمرانياً مثل نيويورك.

وتحت الساعة العملاقة، عدة ابراج تحوي فنادق ومراكز تجارية تحتضن متاجر تبيع الماركات الفاخرة. كما ان واجهات المباني المحيطة بالحرم تملؤها المصلقات الدعائية العملاقة الموجهة للحجاج.

وقال الحاج الباكستاني عقيل مالك إن "هذه الأبراج لا يجب أن تكون هنا حول الحرم إذا بات يصعب الوصول إلى الحرم، وكان يفضل لو أبقي على المساحات المفتوحة في هذا المكان". وأطلقت حول الحرم عدة مشاريع لتوسيع قدرته الإستيعابية.

وتظهر صور فوتوغرافية تعود لخمسين عاماً خلت، الكعبة محاطة، فقط، بحرم أصغر بكثير مما هو عليه حالياً، وتحيط به المباني القديمة.

وجرفت أحياء بكاملها من تلك التي كانت تحيط بالحرم، ورفعت أعمال التوسعة القدرة الإستيعابية للحرم إلى 700 ألف شحص على الأقل.

ويتم حالياً تنفيذ مشروع توسعة جديد أمر به الملك عبدالله بن عبد العزيز، ويمكن مشاهدة الرافعات وآلات الحفر تعمل شمال الحرم.

وكثرت المشاريع العمرانية حول الحرم، ما حد من سبل الوصول إليه، الامر الذي قد يؤدي إلى حالات اكتظاط يمكن ان تكون خطيرة.

وعانى حراس المراكز التجارية القريبة من الحرم، من دخول الحجاح إلى المراكز لتأدية الصلوات.

أما المقتدرون مالياً، فيمكنهم استئجار غرف في الفنادق والابراج المحيطة بالحرم واداء الصلوات من شرفاتهم المطلة على الكعبة.

وقال بائع الأقمشة في سوق مكة القديم صقر حميد (30 عاماً)، إن "تراث مكة يتضرر. لقد تغيرت مكة وهي كانت أجمل بكثير عندما كنت صغيراً".

ويفترض أن يهدم متجر حميد اليمني الجنسية، ضمن مشاريع التوسعة الجديدة حول الحرم.

ولا يبدي البائع قدراً كبيراً من الحزن بسبب هدم متجره، وإنما يعرب عن اعتقاده بانه لا يجب بناء الأبراج والمراكز التجارية مكان المباني القديمة، موضحاً "من الأفضل ابقاء فسحات فارغة حول الحرم ومفتوحة لكل الناس".

إلا انه ليس من المرجح أن تتحقق أمنية حميد، إذ أن أعمال الحفر بدأت لإزالة تلة كاملة بالقرب من الحرم، من اجل بناء مجمع ضخم سيضم برجين ومركزاً تجارياً كبيراً.

بيد أن السلطات بذلت جهوداً كبيرة لتطوير البنية التحتية في المشاعر المقدسة الأخرى في منطقة مكة، للحؤول دون تسجيل حالات تدافع مميتة كالتي حصلت في الماضي. ولكن لتعزيز أمن الحج، تم محو جزء من تاريخه.

وتظهر الصور الفوتوغرافية التي تعود لخمسين سنة خلت، مواقع رمي الجمرات بشكل مختلف كثيراً عما هي عليه الآن، مع عامود قصير وسط دائرة في كل موقع من مواقع رمي الجمرات الثلاث.

والآن، هناك جسر الجمرات المؤلف من خمس طبقات تخترقه ثلاثة جدران عريضة حلت مكان العواميد القديمة. والجسر الضخم الذي يشبه مواقف السيارات فيه مهبطان للمروحيات.

http://www.emaratalyoum.com/life/four-sides/2010-11-21-1.319292

2010 / 1432


Makkah Grand Mosque to get 16,000 carpets

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December 16, 2010

Saudi Arabia will use 16,000 new carpets to cover the ground in and around Al Masjid Al Haram (Makkah’s Grand Mosque) after the end of the annual Muslim pilgrimage last month, a local daily reported on Thursday.

Work to spread the expensive carpets is scheduled to begin on Thursday and could take several weeks, Bab Arabic language daily said.

“The cost of these carpets has not been disclosed…they will replace old carpets on the ground and first floors and around the mosque,” it said.

Al Masjid Al Ḥaram, an Arabic for “the sacred mosque”, is the largest mosque in the world. Located in the heart of the holy city of Makkah, it surrounds the Kaaba, the place which Muslims worldwide turn towards while offering daily prayers.

The current structure covers an area of nearly 356,800 square metres, including the outdoor and indoor praying spaces and can accommodate up to four million Muslim worshippers during the pilgrimage period, one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world.

A few days before the last annual pilgrimage in mid November, Saudi Arabia enveloped Kaaba with a SR20-million silk dress, a customary practice coinciding with the arrival of nearly two million Muslim pilgrims to the Gulf kingdom.

The 85-metre long dress this year is around 47 metres wide and 14 metres high and is made of pure silk embroidered on the shape of a jellyfish written on it 'O Living, O Self, O Merciful, O Most Merciful, Praise be to Allah'.

http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/makkah-grand-mosque-to-get-16-000-carpets-2010-12-16-1.330283

Kiswa back to original position

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By MD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Dec 18, 2010 00:49 Updated: Dec 18, 2010 00:49

JEDDAH: The Kaaba will take on its usual cover on Saturday when its kiswa — the black-silk-and-gold-fiber cover — returns to ground level in an annual tradition that follows the Haj seasons.

The kiswa is raised to expose the bricks of the Kaaba mainly as a measure to protect the cover from damage during the Haj, according to Muhammad ibn Abdul Karim Al-Quwaifli, the supervisor of the kiswa factory in Makkah.

“This (raising of the kiswa) is meant to protect the dress from being made dirty during the tawafat (circumambulations by the pilgrims) around the Kaaba,” he told Arab News on Friday.

The kiswa is raised on Arafat Day to a level where pilgrims cannot touch it and its lowering represents the official end of the Haj season.

The Kaaba gets its new outfit twice a year — once before Ramadan and again before the Haj. Old kiswas are given as official diplomatic gifts by the Kingdom to heads of state and others.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article217884.ece

Kiswa during Hajj

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HOLY MYSTERIES

Secret of Kaaba

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Experts propose monorail for Makkah

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By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Dec 18, 2010 23:48 Updated: Dec 18, 2010 23:48

JEDDAH: Studies have been conducted on prospects of establishing an inner-city monorail system for the holy city of Makkah to facilitate transportation of pilgrims and worshippers to the Grand Mosque and reduce traffic congestion in the city.

"We have proposed this project as part of our efforts to introduce advanced and safe transport systems in Makkah," said Adnan Gutub, director of the Center of Research Excellence in Haj and Umrah, at Makkah's Umm Al-Qura University.

The project is significant as it would provide additional transport means for the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and worshippers who come to the city every day and help reduce traffic jams.

Gutub did not give details of the project as it is still at the planning stage. Along with the ongoing projects of Mashair Railway and Haramain Railway, the new monorail system would contribute to further smoothing traffic in the holy city.

The first phase of the Mashair Railway linking the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah was opened for the use of domestic and GCC pilgrims during Haj this year. Most pilgrims said it was a fantastic addition to Haj facilities in the holy sites.

Work is progressing well on the Haramain Railway that links Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. The high-speed trains will cover the distance between Makkah and Jeddah in half an hour and between Jeddah and Madinah in two hours.

A meeting will be held at Umm Al-Qura University on Sunday and Monday to discuss prospects of implementing monorail and cable car systems in Makkah and other holy sites. Experts from Toronto University and Monash University in Australia will attend the talks.

In a report carried by the Saudi Press Agency, Gutub said his center conducted eight research projects this year. These studies covered pedestrian movement in the central regions of Makkah and Madinah, ideal transport means for the two cities and crowd management at Mashair Railway stations.

“The center has carried out scores of studies and research on the sanitary environment during Haj and Umrah seasons by studying infectious diseases among pilgrims and working to prevent their spread,” Gutub said.

“We have also studied the psychological effects of extreme congestion on pilgrims and air pollution in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites. We have made immense contribution to the design and development of the Jamrat Bridge in Mina,” he added.

Gutub highlighted the center’s efforts in ensuring the safety of the millions of pilgrims and improving the various services provided by public and private agencies.

The center has established partnership with leading universities and research and development centers around the world, including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto, Northwestern University in Chicago, University of Southern California, University of Waterloo in Canada, University of Milan, Monash University and University of Tokyo.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article218563.ece


Makkah monorail "still in planning stages"

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by CW Staff on Dec 19, 2010

A monorail in Makkah would help cut traffic congestion and make travelling around the city safer for pilgrims, according to a report by a senior member of the city’s Umm Al-Qura University.

Adnan Gutub, director of the Center of Research Excellence in Haj and Umrah, at Makkah's Umm Al-Qura University, has conducted studies in to possibility of constructing a monorail system in the city to help transport pilgrims and worshippers to the Grand Mosque in the heart of the city.

“We have proposed this project as part of our efforts to introduce advanced and safe transport systems in Makkah," he told Saudi newspaper Arab News.

Gutub didn’t announce any details of the project because the idea is still in its infancy, but it is envisaged the system would link in with the new Mashair Railway, or Mecca Metro system, that links the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah and which opened during Hajj this year.

Links with the Haramain railway would also open the system up for a broad range of travellers. Work on the Haramain Railway, linking Jeddah, Madinah and Mecca is progressing well and, according to the latest reports, the high-speed link will be operational by 2013.

http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-10521-makkah-monorail-still-in-planning-stages/

Khaled washes Ka’ba

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December 21, 2010

MAKKAH: On behalf of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, is scheduled to wash the Holy Ka’ba today Tuesday.

The occasion will be attended by the President General of the Two Holy Mosque Affairs Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hussayen and his deputy Muhammad Bin Nasser Al-Khuzayyim and members of the Islamic diplomatic corps in the Kingdom.

The Ka’ba is washed twice every year – in Sha’ban and Dhul Hijja - using Zamzam water, oud oil and rose water. The annual tradition includes the washing of the Ka’ba’s floor and internal walls to a height of 1.5 meters before being dried with oud oil.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010122189718

December 22, 2010

Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, descends from the Holy Ka’ba after washing it on behalf of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Tuesday. The inside walls and floor of the Ka’ba are washed with Zamzam blended with rosewater and oud oil.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010122289766

Haj, Umrah data center launched

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By ARAB NEWS

Published: Dec 23, 2010 01:00 Updated: Dec 23, 2010 01:00

MAKKAH: Bakri Assas, president of Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, launched a Haj and Umrah Data Center at the university’s website.

Abdul Aziz Sarouji, dean of Haj Research Institute, the date center would provide a lot of information about Haj and Umrah, adding that it would be available for students and researchers.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article221155.ece

Mutawwafeen meet to prepare for Haj 2011

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December 21, 2010

MAKKAH: Sahl Bin Al-Sabban, the Deputy Minister of Haj for Pilgrim Affairs, Projects and the Holy Sites, held a meeting Sunday with Fakhri Daghastani, the chairman of the Organization of Mutawwafeen for Turkish, European, American and Australian Muslims.

The meeting, held at the organization’s head offices in Makkah in the presence of its vice chairman Nabil Abid and other members of the board, looked at a series of pending issues and the positives to come out of the 2010 Haj pilgrimage in terms of transport, water and other services at the Holy Sites.

“The meeting was held at the request of the Minister of Haj to assess as soon as possible any observations noted during the Haj season in terms of services to pilgrims and to find solutions, as well as build on the positives,” Al-Sabban said.

Chairman Daghastani said the prompt meetings would help improve services and the stability of pilgrims while carrying out the Haj.

“As soon as the pilgrimage finished we began holding meetings with relevant parties both here and abroad to hear everyone’s comments and prepare for Haj 2011,” he said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010122189726

Makkah and Madinah

''Growth driven by the faithful''

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Gulf Construction December 2010

Makkah and Madinah face a daunting task in accommodating the soaring number of pilgrims to these holy cities. However, a large number of new and expansion projects are being implemented to meet this challenge, says a Jones Lang LaSalle report.


MAKKAH and Madinah are on a path of complete transformation as construction takes place on an awe-inspiring scale to accommodate the ever-increasing number of pilgrims to these most sacred sites of Islam.

Located approximately 425 km apart, these cities are relatively small by global standards, but their importance far outweighs their size on account of their position as the two holiest cities of Islam.

The opportunity to visit Makkah and Madinah for either Hajj or Umrah is a highlight for the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims. Umrah attracts the most visitors (around 5.3 million in 2008).

The global growth in the Muslim population and the declining cost of international travel have been the main drivers for the increased number of religious tourists (pilgrims) performing Hajj and Umrah in recent years.

The growth in Hajj and Umrah visitors is currently constrained by a number of infrastructure issues, including lodging capacity in Makkah and Madinah, transportation bottlenecks and government regulations regarding visas. However, a number of major initiatives are under way to alleviate the current infrastructure constraints and allow the holy cities to efficiently accommodate a larger number of pilgrims. Among such efforts that have borne fruit is the launch of the railway between Makkah and Madinah. The Mashair Railway, as it is also called, rolled out last month (on November 14), a day before Hajj, to serve pilgrims (see separate article).

These holy cities are unique real estate markets in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region in that they are constrained more by supply and capacity and not demand, which is effectively unlimited, according to a report by Jones Lang LaSalle, a renowned global real estate investment and advisory firm and the largest in the Middle East.

The report – the first of its kind on the real estate sector of Makkah and Madinah – sheds light on the potential these two cities have in the religious tourism industry, especially in the hospitality sector.

Chiheb Ben-Mahmoud, senior vice-president at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, comments: “We have seen regionally that, attention is being directed towards the holy cities and it has become essential to report on the major development plans being undertaken there. The Saudi government in particular has taken great strides to capitalise on the real estate in the both cities to be better able to accommodate a larger volume of pilgrims.”

The report states that given the significant movement associated with the Hajj, the prime constraint is imposed by the ground transport system rather than broader airport/seaport capacities or the ability to provide sufficient lodging capacity. The total visitors (Hajj plus Umrah) have increased from 5.3 million to 7.7 million over the past five years. These numbers are expected to further swell to 13.75 million by 2019, according to the analysis.

“The increased number of pilgrims will provide significant opportunities for additional hotel rooms (a total of 82,000) in both Makkah and Madinah,” says Ben-Mahmoud.

According to him, infrastructure is the key to increasing religious tourism in these cities. Although land ownership in the holy cities is limited to Saudi entities, there has been significant GCC and other foreign investment attracted to these markets in the form of joint venture agreements with Saudi entities.

A large number of initiatives are under way to alleviate the current infrastructure constraints to efficiently accommodate a larger number of pilgrims. These include:

King Abdulaziz International Airport: Improvements are also being made to the existing Hajj terminal at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, to improve passenger processing and increase efficiency. The Hajj terminal, which handles international pilgrims headed for Makkah, currently accounts for nearly one-third of the airport’s total traffic. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca) forecasts that traffic through the terminal will increase from 4.5 million passengers in 2004 to 9.2 million by 2025.

The project is part of the kingdom’s plans to revitalise and modernise its airports. The airport is undergoing substantial expansion and upgrading, which will allow it to handle up to 80 million passengers per annum. The first phase of this work entails the construction of a new passenger terminal (replacing the existing outmoded Saudi and International terminals), boosting capacity from the present 15 million passengers to 30 million. The crescent-shaped new terminal designed by Aeroport de Paris International is expected to be completed in 2014.

The Hajj terminal expansion will be matched by plans to greatly improve ground transportation, with new road networks and interchanges, a light rail system linking the airport with central Jeddah and a proposed station on the high-speed Al Haramain Rail Link, connecting the airport directly with Makkah and Madinah.

In addition, the airport has invited developers to create an airport city on approximately 100 hectares of land adjacent to the airport.

Madinah Airport: Gaca also has plans to upgrade the existing terminals and develop new facilities at the airport in Madinah. This expansion is designed to stimulate domestic tourism and increase the ability to deliver pilgrims to the holy cities. The proposed expansion of the Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah will be financed through a public private partnership (PPP) structure. About 49 bidders have expressed interest during the pre-qualification stage. The project is designed to increase annual passenger traffic from four million passengers in 2009 to 14 million by 2030. The airport sits within easy transfer distance to the new Knowledge Economic City (KEC) and the terminus of the proposed high-speed railway.

KAEC Seaport: There are also plans to develop a new seaport within the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) north of Jeddah. This terminal is being designed to handle up to 500,000 pilgrims during the Hajj season. It is proposed that pilgrims will be able to transfer onto the Makkah-Madinah Railway at the KAEC station and reach either of the holy cities in less than 90 minutes. Saudi Binladin Group is the investment partner for the new port. The port will be operated by a new unit within Emaar Economic City.

Haramain High-Speed Railway: Work is under way on the Haramain High-Speed Railway between Makkah and Madinah, with civil works being undertaken by a consortium led by Al Rajhi. The 450-km line will be fully electric, with train speeds of up to 320 km per hour being achieved (see also Regional News).

It is estimated that up to 50 per cent of pilgrims will use the proposed new train, with a significant number of these travelling directly from the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The route will be exclusively for passenger traffic and will not carry any freight. Stations will be built at Makkah Central, Jeddah Central, Jeddah Airport, King Abdullah Economic City, Rabigh, and Knowledge Economic City, Madinah.

Madinah Station: The Madinah Railway Station will be a terminus station for the Haramain High Speed Railway. Current projections suggest that the station will handle 6.2 million passengers per annum by 2015. The SRO will build the station while developers of Knowledge Economic City, which is currently being built, are developing the surrounding land parcels. Foster + Partners has been appointed for the architectural design of the developments. The station is planned to create a modern, multi-modal transportation centre, surrounded by a high-density, mixed-use development.

Makkah Metro: The Mashair Railway, as it is also called, rolled out on November 14, a day before Hajj, to serve pilgrims. The dual-track light railway, with its initial number of nine elevated stations, connects the three holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat — areas that see massive congestion during the five-day pilgrimage. It will replace 4,000 buses previously used (see separate article).

The Chinese-built railway, only used for five days a year now, will only operate at 35 per cent of its full final capacity in the first phase. It will be open only to Saudi and Gulf pilgrims. The entire project of $1.73 billion is set for completion in 2011.

Expansion of the Grand Mosque: One of the key capacity constraints relates to the Grand Mosque itself. The mosque has been expanded several times through history across its three components, which are related to the main Hajj and Umrah rituals, namely the praying, Tawaf and Sa’ee areas.

The extensions initiated in 1985, have effectively doubled its capacity to allow up to 1.5 million worshippers to pray at the mosque at any one time. The recent expansion has included an increase in the size of the mosque itself and the establishment of prayer sites on the roof of the facility. To protect worshippers from the heat, the largest air-conditioning plant in the world has been established at the mosque and special tiles that dissipate heat have been used to cover the prayer grounds in the open areas.

The Grand Mosque was recently expanded significantly with the completion of the Masa’a (Sa’ee area) project, which involved the Masa’a area being expanded from 29,400 to 87,000 sq m. Other projects have also been completed which provide space to accommodate 500,000 pilgrims at any point of time. A further major expansion is currently taking place to expand the northern plazas of the mosque towards the Shamiya area to provide additional praying space.

Because of its configuration, it is difficult to expand the mosque further in a conventional manner. As an alternative approach, multi-storeyed praying halls are, therefore, being included in many of the major development projects being built close to it, as a form of remote extension.

Hotels expansion

Makkah currently provides approximately 50,000 hotel rooms, representing nearly 40 per cent of the total hotel room stock in the kingdom. Around 9,000 rooms in Makkah and 4,800 rooms in Madinah are classified as ‘excellent’ quality by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). The supply of truly international standard/upscale hotels is, however, more limited and estimated to be in the order of 5,300 rooms in Makkah.

The stock of hotel rooms in Makkah could double over the next 10 years, with as many as 50,000 additional rooms proposed within the major new redevelopment areas, such as Al Shamiyah, Jabal Omar, Jabal Al Khandamah and Waqf Two. These projects include the proposed Fairmont, Raffles and Movenpick hotels within the Abraj Al Beit (clock tower) project.

Phase one of Jabal Al Ka’aba, located in the holy mosque vicinity, will deliver some 2,000 new hotel rooms by the year-end, with an additional 5,000 rooms proposed to follow in the coming three years.

Compared to Makkah, Madinah has a smaller stock of hotel rooms, around 20,000 (19 per cent of the national total). There have been far fewer new hotels announced in Madinah, with less than 3,000 additional rooms in projects close to the Prophet’s mosque expected to be delivered over the next three years. Most of the new supply is in the area to the south of the mosque as this area is currently less developed than the area to the north.

Outside the central area, the greatest addition to rooms in Madinah will be within Knowledge Economic City. This major new development, located on the western outskirts of Madinah, has the potential to deliver between 2,500 and 3,000 rooms over the next 10 years.

Makkah masterplans

More than 20 masterplans have been submitted for individual large-scale real estate developments in central Makkah in recent years. Several of these have now been approved with the projects progressing to the implementation phase. Providing additional quality space for visitors has highlighted the needs of the permanent residents of the holy cities and prompted the authorities to introduce a social sustainability dimension in the approval process. Among the major projects for which masterplans have been approved are:

Jabal Omar: It is one of the largest of the mega developments. Construction on this project, located on the western side of the Grand Mosque is in progress. The project company, Jabal Omar Development Company, was formed as a joint stock company of 5,000 owners of 1,200 real estate parcels covering an area of 232,000 sq m. The project is expected to deliver over 10,000 hotel rooms as part of the total built-up area of around 1.8 million sq m. The masterplan for this project has been amended more than once given the sensitive nature of the location close to the mosque.

Jabal Khandamah: This project covers 600,000 sq m of land to the east of the Grand Mosque. The development aims to replace the old buildings, streets and narrow alleys with new, high-quality buildings. The Khandamah project aims to become a pedestrian-friendly city, with the total separation of pedestrians and vehicular traffic. The development includes a total of 2.5 million sq m of built-up area of various hotel classes, retail facilities and residential units for up to 90,000 residents.

King Abdul Aziz Road: This is a 3.5-sq-km development site that starts at the west entrance of Makkah on the intersection of the Jeddah-Makkah Highway and the third ring road and ends at the east entrance of the Jabal Omar development. The plan is to redevelop one of the most densely-populated areas in Makkah, to provide a mix of high-quality hospitality, residential and commercial real estate to serve the local population as well as Hajj and Umrah visitors.

Madinah masterplans

With a population of approximately 1.1 million (growing at over more than two per cent per annum) and a major increase in the expected number of religious visitors, Madinah’s growth also requires strategic real estate planning. The urban framework of the city spreads within four ring roads, although the construction of the third and the fourth ring roads is not complete.

Most of the projects in the central area are complete. The city is now planning to develop the area between the second and third ring roads and facilitate the development of areas beyond the third ring road. Several commercial and residential projects are expected to be developed in Madinah over the medium-to-long term, the most prominent being the KEC.

KEC, located approximately 5 km east of the holy mosque, is a 480-hectare development with a projected built-up area of 8 million sq m and a projected population of 150,000. The $8-billion project will include a technology office park, centre for Islamic studies and research, educational/entertainment park, medical and polyclinic centre, multimodal transportation centre, world-class business district, major retail hub, residential units, a 10,000-capacity mosque, a convention centre and a hospitality complex. HOK has completed the masterplan of the development.

KEC has been conceived as one of Saudi Arabia’s key economic cities, designed to uplift the quality of living to international standards and will deliver a critical mass to the city. Currently, the master developer is constructing Phase One, a villa development in the northwest sector of the project. The villas are anticipated to be handed over next year. KEC also has the potential to accommodate a sizeable share of religious pilgrims as it is strategically located equidistant from the holy mosque and the airport, and will be served by the train station.

Conclusion

These infrastructure improvements are likely to result in a major increase in visitor arrivals to the holy cities over the next 10 years. The increased number of pilgrims and changes in their lodging requirements will provide opportunities for a major expansion of the hospitality market within these cities.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s analysis of potential visitor arrivals, there could be demand for around 82,000 hotel rooms in the holy cities by 2019.

The major implications of this increased demand include leading international operators competing to deploy their most prestigious upscale brands within future hospitality projects in the cities.

http://gulfconstructionworldwide.com/pages/article.aspx?aid=12421

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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vBfoDAPj3Ek/SwhXH41pMSI/AAAAAAAABIg/djonpRAvflU/s1600/Hajj35.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/11/17/article-0-0C1CEF22000005DC-445_964x623.jpg

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1330741/Tent-city-intensity-Encamped-pilgrims-glimpse-colossal-800m-clock-tower-looms-holy-city-Mecca.html

Nice info....

Thanks for that...

International Qur'an contest to open at Grand Mosque

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By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Dec 25, 2010 23:19 Updated: Dec 25, 2010 23:19

JEDDAH: A total of 188 contestants from 64 countries are participating in the 32nd King Abdul Aziz international Qur’an recitation and memorization competition, which opens at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Sunday.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Saleh Al-Asheikh will open the event, which is to be held for the first time inside the Grand Mosque. The minister commended the government’s support for the contest, which is aimed at encouraging Muslim youth to learn the Qur’an.

The contests are held in five categories. Twenty-one contestants will take part in the first category (memorization of the entire Qur’an with tajwid and explanation of the meanings of words) and 49 in the second (memorization of the whole Qur’an with tajwid).

In the third category (memorization of 20 parts of the Qur’an with tajwid) there will be 49 contestants while in the fourth (memorization of 10 parts with tajwid) there will be 51 and in the fifth (memorization of five parts with tajwid) 18. The last category is restricted to Islamic societies and organizations in non-Muslim countries.

The ministry has allocated a total SR888,000 for cash prizes to winners. The first-prize winner in the first category will get SR75,000 while the second and third prize winners will get SR72,000 and SR69,000 respectively. The fourth-prize winner will receive SR66,000 and fifth prize winner SR63,000.

In the second category the first five winners will receive SR55,000, SR52,000, SR49,000, SR46,000 and SR43,000 respectively. In the third SR40,000, SR37,000, SR34,000, SR31,000 and SR28,000. In the fourth SR25,000, SR22,000, SR19,000, SR16,000 and SR13,000. Winners of the fifth category will receive SR10,000, SR8,000, SR6,000, SR5,000 and SR4,000.

Participants will also get an opportunity to perform Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and important Islamic institutions such the Kaaba Cover Factory and King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex in Madinah.

In another development, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh opened a meeting of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of the Muslim World League in Makkah. During the meeting, experts will discuss a number of contemporary social, commercial and financial issues to give their opinion in an Islamic perspective.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article223184.ece


Al-Asheikh stresses unifying role of Holy Qur'an

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article224019.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/SAU-Quran2.jpg

By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS

Published: Dec 27, 2010 00:03 Updated: Dec 27, 2010 00:04

JEDDAH: Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh on Sunday highlighted the Holy Qur'an's role in unifying the Islamic Ummah and called for greater efforts to spread its message all over the world.

He made this comment while opening the 32nd King Abdul Aziz International Qur'an Recitation and Memorization competition inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

"It is the duty of Muslims to learn and memorize the Qur'an and follow its teachings in all walks of their lives," the minister said and noted the government's support to domestic and international Qur'an contests.

Al-Asheikh said the Qur'an plays an important role in the lives of Muslims all over the world. "The Qur'an has contributed a lot in the development of Islamic civilization," he pointed out.

As many as 188 contestants from 64 countries are participating in the competition organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance.

Mansour Al-Sumaih, secretary-general of the competition, said it is for the first time the contest is held inside the Grand Mosque to encourage Muslim youth to learn the Qur'an.

He thanked the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques for making arrangements for the contest. "We have also organized a course for judges for the first time on the sidelines of the competition," he said. Experts from 16 countries are taking the course.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article224018.ece

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article225597.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/SAU-Quran1.jpg

if makkah has 50,000 hotel rooms how do they accomodate 3 million pilgrims?

^^
if makkah has 50,000 hotel rooms how do they accomodate 3 million pilgrims?


all of these white structures are tents with air-conditioning system for pilgrims, in Hajj-period.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6923/article13307410c1cc4550.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/i/article13307410c1cc4550.jpg/)

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/2668/9055982essay.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/9055982essay.jpg/)

International Qur'an contest to open at Grand Mosque
Prince Khaled congratulates Qur’an contest winners

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/myfiles/Images/2011/01/04/na03-highlight.jpg

January 3, 2011

JEDDAH: Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, congratulated and praised the winners of the Holy Qur’an contest which ended here Sunday.

Prince Khaled handed over cash prizes to the winners from the Kingdom, Kuwait, Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Niger, Turkey, and Bangladesh.

The contest was the King Abdulaziz 32nd International Contest for the Intonation, Interpretation and Memorization of the Holy Qur’an.

Addressing the ceremony, Prince Khaled conveyed the greetings and best wishes of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to the contestants.

He said that the Kingdom’s growth and development has been the most significant under the leadership of the government which has done a great deal to establish a modern and model Islamic state, guided by the divine constitution found in the Holy Qur’an.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdul Aziz Al Al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, said: “We congratulate ourselves on the good health and recovery of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and wish him a safe return to the homeland.’’

He also thanked the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Second Deputy Premier for supporting the contest.

The ceremony was attended by Prince Meshal Bin Majed Bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Jeddah, and a number of officials.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2011010490558&archiveissuedate=04/01/2011

Qur’an is guide to success, says Prince Khaled

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Jan 3, 2011 23:32 Updated: Jan 3, 2011 23:32

JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has highlighted the significance of learning and memorizing the Holy Qur’an.

“There is no objective higher than the learning of Qur’an,” he said, adding that the memorizers of the holy book are among the most honored near God.

Prince Khaled made this comment while addressing a ceremony at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday night, which was held to honor 25 winners of the King Abdul Aziz International Qur’an Recitation and Memorization Contest.

“The Qur’an is the guide to success in this life and the hereafter,” Prince Khaled said. “It’s the divine constitution for the whole humanity.”

He said King Abdul Aziz established the Kingdom, which reached the peak of its progress during the rule of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, on the basis of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

As many as 188 contestants from 64 countries took part in the annual competition, which was held inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh opened the event on Dec. 26 and highlighted Qur'an’s role in unifying the Ummah.

Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Qurafi was the top winner who received SR75,000 in cash prize in addition to a certificate. Ishaque Saeed Wakau won the second place (SR72,000), Yasin Bujumua third (SR69,000), Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali fourth (SR66,000) and Abdul Rahman Samaela fifth (SR63,000).

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has allocated SR888,000 in cash prizes to the winners. Other major winners were Ainul Arifin Rafiqul Islam (SR55,000), Ammar bin Salahuddin Buqes (SR52,000), Muhammad Bakr Yousuf (SR49,000), Ahmed Shahbun (SR46,000), Wisal Yazji (SR43,000) and Abdul Rahman Hussein (SR40,000).

Winners also included Omar Al-Shoalan (SR37,000), Ibrahim Al-Sanusi (SR34,000), Abdul Rahman Muhammad (SR31,000), Erfan Abdul Rasheed (SR28,000), Adel Al-Rimi (SR25,000), Badr Alam (SR22,000), Ahmed Mushfiqul Rahman (SR19,000), Sabir Al-Zaaibi (SR16,000), Najmuddin Al-Mirghani (SR13,000), Zuwain Anwar Yousuf (SR10,000), Shaka Shadza Makris (SR8,000), Amanullah Muhammad (SR6,000), Muhammad Shadba (SR5,000) and Talha Nadat (SR4,000).

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article228942.ece

Saudia management reviews report on Haj operations

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By ARAB NEWS

Published: Jan 9, 2011 21:27 Updated: Jan 9, 2011 21:27

JEDDAH: At a recently held meeting, Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines Khaled Al-Mulhim reviewed a report on the performance of the airline over the 2010 Haj season and preparations for the upcoming Haj.

The report affirmed that the airline’s goals for the last Haj were achieved. The Haj operations plan was mainly focused on increasing transportation of pilgrims with special stress on time schedules in addition to expanding services to Madinah.

The airline also achieved better coordination with the Ministry of Haj, the General Authority for Civil Aviation and other government departments in its operations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

“Unforeseen situations were also dealt with during the initial stage of pilgrims’ departure when heavy rains in the Holy Sites disrupted pilgrim movement from Makkah to Jeddah, something that in turn delayed flights, but the timing of scheduled flights soon returned to normal,” the report said.

The airlines operated 2,400 Haj services carrying more than 1,040,000 pilgrims to and from the Kingdom to 102 airports across the world in 2010.

The report added that 538,000 pilgrims from 24 Asian cities, 187,000 pilgrims from 28 Middle Eastern and Gulf cities, 132,000 pilgrims from 20 African cities and 127,000 pilgrims from 30 European and American cities flew with the airline during the Haj. It also ferried 55,000 domestic pilgrims from various Saudi cities.

The airlines carried 332,000 pilgrims directly from 42 international cities to Madinah. In more than 235 services compared to 2009, the number of pilgrims carried on Saudia increased by 100,000 pilgrims in 2010, the report said.

The report also mentioned the services offered to passengers, such as issuing sufficient boarding passes in advance for arrival and departure. It also organized campaigns on security during Haj and showed films about Haj rites.

The airline was also careful to appoint multilingual stewards to serve pilgrims.

The director general also directed preparations to evaluate the experience in the 2010 operations in order to prepare for the next season.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article231696.ece

^^ It's been a while. Nice to see you're back!
& of course (as always) with good articles too. :)

^^ It's been a while. Nice to see you're back!
& of course (as always) with good articles too. :)OOOH! Thanks that's kind! :)
Sorry, I have less time, but there was not really good articles too. ^^

Jeddah airport project launched


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January 11, 2011

Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah (2nd right), shows Crown Prince Sultan a model of the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Tuesday. Prince Misha’l Bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah, (1st right) is seen during the inauguration of the project.

JEDDAH: Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Defense and Aviation, and Inspector General laid the foundation stone for the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport www.jed-airport.com project here Tuesday.

Saudi Binladin Group is carrying out the project at an estimated construction cost at SR27 billion

The Crown Prince said the new airport is a gift from King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to the citizens and the Guests of Allah. It will be a significant part of the advancement and comprehensive development the Kingdom is witnessing in his prosperous era and it compliments the system of megaprojects being executed throughout the Kingdom, the Crown Prince said.

The complex will play a pivotal role in supporting the economic structure and achieving a more advanced life for the citizens who are the focus and key components of development and its goals, he said. “In recent years, the world has witnessed changes in the concept of airports in terms of their objectives, functions and methods of management and operation,” Prince Sultan said.

“The project for which we are laying the foundation stone today will enable King Abdul Aziz International Airport to keep pace with these changes and occupy the position it deserves among international airports in general and regional airports in particular. Also, it will be a distinctive entry point for the Kingdom, God willing,” he said.

The Crown Prince stressed that executing this giant project requires the collective efforts of all the related authorities, whether government or private.
“All should cooperate in completing this project during the specified period to make it one of the edifices of development that we are proud of in our dear nation and one of the prominent landmarks for the advancement enjoyed by the people of the Kingdom, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,” he said.

Crown Prince Sultan prayed to Almighty Allah that the King returns to the country safely after his recovery.

Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, said refurbishing of the KAAIA is one of the most vital projects in the Kingdom, particularly in Makkah region. “It is important not only because of its gigantic size; its capacity, which will keep pace with the growth in demand for air travel year after year; and its architectural designs, which are comparable to those of the most modern international airports, but also because it boosts the role of the KAAIA, as a pivotal airport and a central hub between the east and west,” Prince Khaled said.

He said this project is part of the strategy for developing Makkah region that aims to improve people’s lives and compliments the system of projects being executed and those are to be executed.

According to the strategy, the Makkah region will witness an urban boom with large, unprecedented projects to improve the area for its residents and visitors, he said.

The area’s civil aviation-related projects include the new Taif Regional Airport in Al-Qunfudha Governorate and converting the aviation school in Rabigh into a university specializing in aviation sciences that is under preliminary study, he noted.

Other projects include expanding and rehabilitating Haj terminals in KAAIA, which has been completed according to the build-to-order system, and has the capacity to serve the increasing number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims during the next 20 years, he said.

At a press conference later, Prince Fahd Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Civil Aviation, said the new project will be completed in three years. Government authorities must cooperate to execute the project, said Prince Fahd who is also Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) and Chairman of the Executive Committee and Supervisory Committee for King Abdul Aziz International Airport.

He said the new KAIA would play a pioneering role in the region due to its capabilities, including a center for different means of transport – planes, trains and automobiles – and its design flexibility in expansion and accommodating future developments.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2011011291118

Sultan: New airport is King’s gift to pilgrims

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article233156.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/Sau-Sultan.jpg

By MD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Jan 12, 2011 00:35 Updated: Jan 12, 2011 01:00

JEDDAH: Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, laid the foundation stone for the new King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) project on Tuesday and said the project is a gift from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Saudis and foreign pilgrims.

Prince Sultan watched a presentation on the project that will increase the airport’s capacity from 17 million to 30 million passengers. The new airport is designed in the form of two crescents to reflect its position as the main gateway to the two holy mosques.

Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, assistant minister of defense and aviation, said the new airport would have advanced facilities. “The amount allocated for the project is not huge compared to the facilities it would have and similar airports in other parts of the world,” he told reporters.

He said the first phase of the project, which includes construction of a new terminal with 94 aircraft bays, 46 departure gates, five passenger lounges, 96 airway bridges and a 56-room hotel for transit passengers, would be completed in 36 months.

He emphasized the General Authority of Civil Aviation’s new strategy to add economic value to its airports by operating them on a commercial basis and offering a lot of investment projects to the private sector. “The KAIA will be made a central hub in the region to boost air traffic,” he pointed out.

Abdullah Rehaimi, president of GACA, said the new airport project, estimated to cost more than SR27 billion in the first phase, would be financed by KAIA’s present and future revenues.

Prince Sultan signed two contracts worth SR27.1 billion with Saudi Binladin Group last November to carry out the KAIA expansion project.

“The project aims at making the KAIA a high-tech airport that can receive huge aircraft and be a hub to link the East and the West providing numerous investment opportunities and jobs for Saudis,” said Rehaimi.

As part of the first contract, worth SR15.12 billion, a 670,000-square-meter terminal with 94 aircraft bays will be constructed to replace the present terminals for Saudia and foreign airlines.

The second contract — worth SR11.97 billion — covers construction of the world’s tallest air-traffic control tower at 133 meters, parking lots to accommodate 8,200 vehicles, three power generation and cooling centers, data administration centers, infrastructure and road networks.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article233091.ece


news in arabic: http://aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&issueno=11733&article=603456&feature=

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/01/12/133220.html

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Makkah moves to Arabize signboards
google translation...
مكة المكرمة خطوات لتعريب اللافتات


By ARAB NEWS

Published: Jan 12, 2011 00:40 Updated: Jan 12, 2011 00:40

MAKKAH: Municipal officials in Makkah have started taking steps to ensure that all name boards of shops and businesses as well as street signboards are written in Arabic, replacing foreign names and scripts.

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal had ordered the change as part of his efforts to make the names match the culture and heritage of Makkah.

Sahl Malaibari, spokesman of the services agencies at the Makkah municipality, said many commercial establishments including wedding halls have already changed their foreign names.

“A wedding hall that used to carry the name ‘Marbella’ on the Ring Road has now been changed to Al-Dhikra Al-Khaledah (Eternal Memory) after the prince suggested the change when he opened the third Makkah Literary Forum there,” he said.

“Another wedding hall's name was changed from ‘Marseilles’ to ‘Mamlakati’ (My Kingdom).”

“We are in the holiest spot on earth, the place where the first revelation was given, beginning with Arabic word ‘iqra’ (read), and where the last Prophet, who is an Arab, was born,” the prince said before issuing his order.

“I wonder how we can use non-Arabic names for our homes, buildings, places, establishments and streets and write them in foreign scripts. So I desire a name change not just for this hall, but in all cities and governorates in the province.”

The prince then ordered all muhafaza governors, heads of rural administration, and mayors and municipal chairmen and the Ministry of Commerce to start changing signboards in all streets in the province to Arabic.

“If the name is to be written anywhere in a non-Arabic script, it should be in letters smaller than the Arabic name and below it, not parallel to it,” Prince Khaled said.

“Only six months is allowed to complete the task and I will hold accountable all officials from the governor's office to the municipal and rural centers for any failure.”

The prince added that culture would play a big role in strategies for Makkah over the next 10 years.

“Inspectors from the Markets Monitoring Department patrol the streets continuously to discover if any shop is carrying a foreign name,” Malaibari added.

The shop owners have been given one more week to change the names. The names should be written in large Arabic letters, and English should be written in small letters below the Arabic writing, he said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article233086.ece

Makkah Clock - ساعة مكة
timelapse

ULPoftYtihA

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5365855603_be60a3f15b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47124075@N02/5365855603/)
Al Bait Towers timelapse on Vimeo by Youssef Ahmed (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47124075@N02/5365855603/) par Youssef_Ahmed (http://www.flickr.com/people/47124075@N02/), sur Flickr



Green Makkah http://www.the-saudi.net/saudi-arabia/images/flag.gif

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3724/53269864998d9c67d0dfo.jpg

Saudi Arabia’s NAS Starts
Charter Arm for Hajj, Umrah Travelers

http://www.zawya.com/pr/images/NAS_2009_06_24.jpg

Jan 10, 2011

National Air Services Co., the parent company of Saudi budget carrier NAS Air, started a Hajj and Umrah passenger division to meet rising demand in the kingdom’s religious tourism market.

The new division, named NAS Charter Services Hajj & Umrah, will help to integrate air fares into pilgrimage tour programs organized by local and international Hajj and Umrah firms, the company said in an e-mailed statement today, citing Deputy Chief Executive Officer Bandar Al Mohanna.

Saudi Arabia, which receives 2.8 million visitors a year for the annual Hajj to Mecca, is developing its religious tourism business. Muslims are allowed to perform the Umrah, unlike the Hajj, at any time in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and home to its holiest shrines.

Riyadh-based NAS Air transported 70,000 Hajj passengers from India, Pakistan, Cameroon and Senegal in 2009 and 2010, the statement said.

National Air Services, known as NAS Holding, is 37 percent owned by Kingdom Holding Co. It plans to sell shares in an initial public offering in 2012.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-10/saudi-arabia-s-nas-starts-charter-arm-for-hajj-umrah-travelers.html

NAS holding to reveal its latest services

January 10 - 2011

National Air Services Company (NAS Holdings) revealed its new services in air transport field by launching "NAS Charter Services (NCS), Hajj and Umrah sector. This was announced by Mr. Bandar Al-Mohanna, Deputy CEO of Nas Holding during the workshop organized by the company within the activities of the forum XII International for Umrah Services, hosted in Istanbul, on 8 -9 January 2011 and inaugurated by His Excellency the President of Turkey Religious Affairs Mr. Elgon Eugal and HE Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mr. Abdul Wahab Sheikh, the forum will take place also in the cities of Damascus, Cairo and Casablanca during the period from January 11 to 28, 2011.

Al Mohanna added that "This new service will contribute significantly to enable the local and international Hajj and Umrah companies and establishments to incorporate its prices and committed schedules for Hajj and Umrah, based on the air transport important role in the implementation and success of these programs".

Mean while Mr. Ahmed Sultan Director General of bilateral agreements and relations of civil aviation in NAS Holding said during the workshop " nasair ( the smart choice airline) will launch in Turkey three new destinations covers the cities of Istanbul, Antioch and Adana during the first quarter of 2011, as will the city of Sohag, Egypt's to be the first inaugurated station for nasair in the beginning of the year 2011, starting first flight from Riyadh and Jeddah on 16 and January 18, 2011 respectively by two flights a week from each city.

It is worth mentioning that nasair Hajj and Umrah sector had succeeded to transfer more than 70,000 pilgrims from India, Pakistan, Cameroon and Senegal during 2009 and 2010 Hajj seasons, that success encouraged NAS holding to expand hat sector to be an independent entity within the umbrella of NAS Holding group of companies.
.
http://www.ameinfo.com/253257.html

http://www.eyeofriyadh.com/events/images/darat(1).jpg

Saudi Heritage Manuscripts Exhibiton

A Colorful Hand-Made Painting of The Holy Mosque

http://www.aawsat.com/2011/01/04/images/daily1.602326.jpg


Riyadh, Safar 09, 1432 / Jan. 13, 2011,

Before more than 475 years, Muhiddine Al-Kalshi, a Muslim scholar tried, while performing the Pilgrimage and Umrah rituals at the time, to draw a picture depicting the Holy Mosque of Makkah and the other holy rites and included the drawings in a rare manuscript in a book written in Persian titled 'Conquest of the Holy Mosque', describing his trip to Makkah.

The drawing of Al-Kalshi considered among the ancient Islamic miniatures, it looks glamorous, colorful and harmonious. He used the ruler and protractor to draw it, depending mainly on yellow color besides red, blue and brown colors, with different degrees. He wrote down the names of some prominent sites like the names of the existing 19 gates, at that time.

The drawing picture is considered as an important historical document depicting the condition of the Holy Mosque of Makkah five centuries ago and making it available for researchers with interest in the history of the Holy Mosque of Makkah, as a reference source for a rich architectural, art-like and engineering aspects of the Holy Mosque.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/ListNewsInCat.php?pg=1&catid=14

Info Exhibition:http://www.eyeofriyadh.com/events/event_detail.asp?eve_id=3118&eve_cat=2


رسم يدوي ملوّن للحرم المكي الشريف قبل أكثر من 475 عاماً

الرياض 9 صفر 1432هـ الموافق

قبل أكثر من 475 عاماً حاول العالم الإسلامي محيي الدين الكلشي رسم الحرم المكي الشريف أثناء رحلته لأداء مناسك الحج والعمرة وزيارة الحرمين الشريفين والمشاعر المقدسة ضمّنها كتابه المخطوط النادر ( فتوح الحرمين الشريفين ) باللغة الفارسية الذي وصف فيه رحلته إلى مكة المكرمة .

وظهر رسم الكلشي الذي يعد من أقدم المنمنمات الإسلامية أنيقاً وبألوان زاهية ومتناسبة استخدم فيها المسطرة والمنقلة وغلب عليها اللون الأصفر بجوار ألوان الأحمر والأزرق والبني بدرجاته ، وكتب على بعض المواقع الواضحة في الحرم الشريف إسمه مثل الأبواب التسعة عشر في ذلك الوقت .

واللوحة المرسومة تعد وثيقة تاريخية مهمة تنقل ما كان عليه الحرم قبل ما يقارب خمسة قرون للباحثين في تاريخ الحرم الشريف ومصدراً لكثير من المعلومات المعمارية والفنية والهندسية للحرم الشريف.
هذه الوثيقة التاريخية يجدها الزائر ضمن مخطوط كتاب فتوح الحرمين الشريفين ، أحد المخطوطات النادرة المعروضة في معرض تراث المملكة العربية السعودية المخطوط الذي يحظى حالياً بإقبال متصاعد من شرائح المجتمع المختلفة بصفة عامة ومن الباحثين والباحثات من مناطق المملكة ودول الخليج بصورة خاصة.

وتظهر اللوحة وكأنها لمهندس معماري حاذق أو لفنان تشكيلي ماهر ، فهي تقبل الرأي بأنها لوحة فنية أو رسم هندسي ، فقد حرص الشيخ محيي الدين الكلشي مؤلف كتاب (فتوح الحرمين الشريفين) على تلوين المواقع واستخدام الخطوط المستقيمة والدوائر بخطوط غير متعرجة في مبنى الحرم الشريف ، كما اهتم بإضافة أسماء لمواقع عدة في الصورة بلغة الكتاب الفارسية ، وظهرت الكعبة المشرفة تتوسط اللوحة المرسومة ويظهر تحتها بابها ( المعجن ) وظهر إلى اليمين حجر إسماعيل وميزاب الكعبة وحولها دائرة المطاف والقناديل التي تعلق بها ، وأظهر الرسم المنبر ومقام إبراهيم ، وخمس منائر ، والأبواب الرئيسة للحرم الشريف ، وظهرت ألوان الرسم محتفظة بنصاعتها ووضوحها مما يوضح جودة مادة الألوان المستخدمة.

دارة الملك عبدالعزيز سبق لها الاستعانة بهذا الرسم القديم الذي يوثق أيضاً للرسوم الإسلامية القديمة في إعداد مادة كتاب الأطلس المصور لمكة المكرمة والأماكن المقدسة الذي يعد أحد الإصدارات المهمة في تاريخ دارة الملك عبدالعزيز ، وتطرق بالشرح المفصل لعدد من الرسومات القديمة لمكة المكرمة والأماكن المقدسة.
وكانت الدارة قد حصلت على هذا المخطوط ضمن مخطوطات مكتبة مكة المكرمة أثناء تنفيذها لمشروع مسح المصادر التاريخية في المملكة العربية السعودية.

http://www.makkahnews.net/news-action-show-id-6468.htm

Manual colored drawing of the Haram al-Makki al-Sharif by more than 475 years

Riyadh, 9 Safar 1432 AH

By more than 475 years the Muslim world tried to Mohieddin Alkhei fee Haram al-Sharif during his trip to perform Hajj and Umrah and visit the Two Holy Mosques and holy sites including the rare book, manuscript (Fattouh of the Two Holy Mosques) in Persian in which he described his trip to Mecca.

The drawing appears Alkhei which is one of the oldest miniature Islamic elegant and bright colors and proportionate use the ruler and protractor and dominated by the yellow color next to the colors red, blue and brown Bdrjath, and books on some of the sites evident in the holy name such as doors nineteen at the time.

The painting is painted and document important historical movement of what it was before the campus nearly five centuries of researchers in the history of the Haram al-Sharif and a source of much of the information architecture and technical and engineering of the Haram al-Sharif.
This historic document it finds in the Manuscript Book Visitor Fattouh the Two Holy Mosques, a rare manuscripts displayed in the gallery heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia manuscript, which currently enjoys the popular rising of the various segments of society in general and researchers in areas of the Kingdom and Gulf countries in particular.

And show the board and as an architect skilled or artist Maher, it accepts the opinion that they are painting or drawing geometric, the keenness of Sheikh Mohiuddin Alkhei author (Fattouh of the Two Holy Mosques) to color sites and the use of straight lines and circles lines is tortuous in the building of the Temple Mount, as interested in adding names to several locations in the image language of the book Persian, featured the Kaaba mediated painting painted and appears underneath the door (Almjn) and back-to-right stone Ismail and gutter Kaaba and around the circle of the day and lamps attached, and showed the graphic platform and Maqam Ibrahim, and five lighthouses, doors Chairperson of the campus Sharif, and appeared color drawing retain Bnsaatha and clarity of the article, which demonstrates the quality of the colors used.

King Abdulaziz Foundation had previously used this drawing, the old document also charges the old Islamic in the preparation of material the book Atlas photographer to Mecca and the holy places, which is a versions of the task in the history of King Abdul Aziz, and touched the explanation detailed a number of old paintings of Mecca and the holy places.
The circuit has got this manuscript Manuscripts Library in Mecca during the implementation of the draft survey of historical sources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

فلكية جدة : التعامد الأول للقمر مع الكعبة المشرفة في العام الجديد.. الثلاثاء المقبل

http://www.slaati.com/inf/infimages/myuppic/4c7532d62ef2d.jpg

صحيفة مكة الإلكترونية / جدة

ذكرت الجمعية الفلكية بجدة أنه وبمشيئة الله تعالى تشهد مدينة مكة المكرمة مساء يوم الثلاثاء 14 صفر 1432 الموافق 18 يناير 2011 حسب تقويم ام القرى ظاهرة فلكية مميزة تتمثل في وقوع القمر فوق الكعبة المشرفة مباشرة وهي ظاهرة تعرف " بالتعامد " وهي الأولى في العام الجديد 1432 هجرية .

وقال رئيس الجمعية المهندس ماجد ابوزاهرة : بان الحسابات الفلكية لحركة القمر حول الأرض أظهرت أن القمر سوف يشرق في أفق مكةالمكرمة عند الساعة 4:39 عصرا حسب التوقيت المحلي ويستمر في حركته إلى أن يبلغ ميله عرض مكة ومتوسطا خط زوالها " التعامد " وهو في كوكبة الجوزاء عند الساعة 11:32:02 مساء بالتوقيت المحلي حيث يكون على بعد 370115.6 كيلومتر من الأرض ووجهه مضاء بنسبة 98.6 في المائة .

وأوضح ابوزاهرة : أن جميع كواكب النظام الشمسي لن تكون موجودة في سماء مكة حيث أنها جميعا تحت الأفق ، إلى جانب ذلك سيحيط بالقمر عدة كوكبات نجميه منها كوكبة السرطان والكلب الأصغر ووحيد القرن والجبار والثور وممسك ألاعنه . وسيتمكن المهتمون من رصد نجوم براقة حول القمر مثل الشعرى اليمانية والشعرى الشامية والعيوق والدبران و رجل الجبار . وهذه النجوم جميعا مشاهدة بالعين المجردة.

وتعتبر ظاهرة تعامد الأجرام السماوية كالشمس والقمر والكواكب والنجوم مع الكعبة المشرفة وتحديد توقيتها تأكيد قطعي على دقة الحساب الفلكي لتحديد حركة ومواقع تلك الأجرام في قبة السماء بدقة متناهية. و يستفاد من ظاهرة التعامد للقاطنين في دول الخليج العربي والمنطقة العربية ودول العالم في تحديد اتجاه القبلة بطريقة بسيطة وذلك بالنظر إلى القمر في لحظة التعامد فذلك الاتجاه هو اتجاه القبلة. أما بالنسبة للمسلمين في المسجد الحرام سيشاهدون أن القمر في منتصف السماء فوق رؤوسهم تماما .

http://www.makkahnews.net/news-action-show-id-6482.htm

Astronomical Jeddah:
the first orthogonal to the moon with the Kaaba in the new year .. Tuesday


E-newspaper Mecca / Jeddah

According to the Astronomical Society in Jeddah that, God willing The city of Mecca on the evening of Tuesday 14 Safar 1432 corresponding to January 18, 2011 according to a calendar or villages astronomical phenomenon distinctive feature of the occurrence of the moon over the Kaaba directly, a phenomenon known as "perpendicular" is the first in the new year 1432 AH .

The President said the engineer Majid Abuzahrp: that the astronomical calculations of the movement of the moon around the earth showed that the moon will shine on the horizon Mkpalmakramp at 4:39 pm pm local time and continues his movement to be a tendency view of Mecca and an average line demise "orthogonal" is in the constellation Gemini at 11:32:02 pm local time where it is at a distance of 370,115.6 miles from earth, and his face lighted up by 98.6 per cent.

The Abuzahrp: all the planets of the solar system will not be present in the skies of Mecca, where they are all under the horizon, so to be surrounded by several satellite constellations, including star forward constellation Cancer and the smaller dog, rhino and the mighty bull and handle the reins. Interested will be able to monitor the stars shining around the moon, such as Sirius and Sirius Levantine Alaiouk and Aldebaran and man-Jabbar. And see all these stars with the naked eye.

The phenomenon of perpendicular celestial sun, moon, planets and stars with the Kaaba, and determine the timing of definitive confirmation of the accuracy of astronomical calculations to determine the movement and locations of the bodies in the dome of the sky accurately. And utilized the phenomenon of orthogonal to residents in the countries of Persian Gulf and the Arab region and the world in determining the direction of Mecca in a simple manner and in view of the moon at the moment it orthogonal direction is the direction of Mecca. As for Muslims in the Mosque will see that the moon is in the middle of the sky above their heads completely.

Ministries pass the buck over mentally ill at Grand Mosque

http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/aug2010/5/3/grand-mosque-in-mecca-pic-afp-581513713.jpg

26 January 2011

MAKKAH: The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health have both denied responsibility for the proliferation of mentally ill persons frequenting the vicinity of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The occurrence has reportedly led to “shameful practices” by the individuals concerned.

The Ministry of Social Affairs said that the responsibility for the issue lay with the Ministry of Health, but the latter in turn says that its tasks are restricted to those individuals who “pose a physical threat”.

“We are not responsible for mentally ill people who are found in the streets,” the Ministry of Health said. “Some families of mentally ill persons do not care for them properly and refuse to take them back home from hospitals.”

Abdullah Aal Tawi, head of Social Affairs in Makkah, said his ministry was prepared to take part in any work done by field committees to combat the problem, and that it is “fully prepared to offer any help in terms of accommodation or security for the homeless”.

Aal Tawi said that cases in which the individuals concerned suffer from mental illness “have no relation to Social Affairs”.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2011012692202

SR100 billion earmarked for Makkah development

http://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/2010/11/17/3e08261a-f25f-11df-81e4-c58a94b25060.jpg
26 January 2011

MAKKAH: Over SR100 billion over 10 years has been earmarked for development of Makkah into a modern city, Dr. Osama Al-Bar, Mayor of Makkah, told Saudi Gazette. Al-Bar is also a member of the Municipal Corporation, the Supreme Central Haj Committee and Chief Executive of the Makkah Beautification and Development Authority.

He said one project, estimated at SR1 billion will see all the government offices move to Bawwaba Gate on the Makkah Highway. For this project, three million square meters of land has been reserved. The Ministry of Finance will soon release the funds, he added.

He said he played a part, as head of the Haj Research Institute, in having the Jamarat Bridge built so that pilgrims could safely carry out their pelting rituals.
Al-Bar also played a part in the expansion of the Grand Mosque, including the Sai’ area where pilgrims move between the hillocks of Safa and Marwa for either Haj or Umrah. He said 44,000 persons can move between the two hillocks now.

He said that within the next three years the Kingdom will be able to accommodate 10 million pilgrims during Haj.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2011012692200

Saudis "turning Mecca into Las Vegas"


Press TV London - January 24, 2011

World heritage experts meeting at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London have called on Saudi authorities to halt the destruction of sites linked with Islamic history. Saudi authorities argue that they are trying to prevent idolatry from taking place. However, it's feared that a number of historic sites will be lost permanently if the current course of destruction is allowed to continue.

TGHDwXm6YEU


Saudi destruction of Islamic sites raises concern

January 22, 2011

Necessary expansion and development, or wanton destruction of Islamic history and heritage - that's the debate forming around the current work of authorities in Hijaz, Saudi Arabia. The land is home to Islam's holiest sites, and where millions of Muslims travel every year for the annual hajj pilgrimage.

But experts in architecture and heritage are voicing concerns over the future of Mecca and Medina.

A number of sites have already been destroyed, including homes and mosques dating back to the period of the Holy Prophet. And there's now a fear that new projects will mean the permanent loss of more early Islamic heritage sites.

The experts here are critical of the Saudi authorities, who they say are wiping out Islam's historical heritage - but there is also concern about increasing commercial development in Mecca, which they say is destroying the city's cultural identity.

Saudi authorities argue that they must remove relics from the time of Prophet Mohammad, in order to prevent people from worshipping them. There's also increasing demand for larger facilities as the number of Muslims from around the world hoping to perform hajj continues to grow.

Some are ready to reserve judgment on the outcome of the current construction projects, but they too urge the authorities to strike a balance between expansion and conservation.

Some religious leaders say destruction of the most precious sites in Islam for fear of idolatry is like killing a child for fear that he may grow up to be less than pious. In effect, they say, behind the obsessive fear of idolatry lies a complete lack of understanding and total fanaticism of radical Islam, unable even to appreciate its own past.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/161320.html

Saudi Arabia accused of razing Islamic sites

January 22, 2011

Saudi Arabia has been accused of an unprecedented onslaught on historic structures in the heart of Mecca and Medina -- the cradle of Islam, revered by the world's 1.5 billion Muslims.

During a meeting at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, world heritage experts called on Saudi authorities to halt the destruction of sites linked with Islamic history, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The experts also voiced concerns over the future of Mecca and Medina due to the rising destruction of historic structures.

They say it's feared that a number of historic sites will be lost permanently if the current course of destruction is allowed to continue.

“I call it cultural vandalism, of course we lost foreigner historical sites over the past sixty years, which will never be replaced again,” Irfan al-Alawi, from Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, told Press TV.

Saudi authorities, however, argue that they are trying to prevent idolatry.

Necessary expansion and development, or wanton destruction of Islamic history and heritage -- that's the debate forming around the current work of authorities in Hijaz, Saudi Arabia. The land is home to Islam's holiest sites, where millions of Muslims travel every year for the annual hajj pilgrimage.

A number of sites have already been destroyed, including homes and mosques dating back to the period of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). And there's now a fear that new projects will mean the permanent loss of earlier Islamic heritage sites.

The experts in the London meeting criticized the Saudi authorities for wiping out “Islam's historical heritage.”

They also voiced concern about increasing commercial development in Mecca which “is destroying the city's cultural identity.”

But Saudi authorities claim that they must remove relics from the time of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), in order to prevent people from worshipping them. There's also increasing demand for larger facilities as the number of Muslims from around the world hoping to perform hajj continues to grow, the officials say.

Some religious leaders say destroying the most precious sites in Islam for fear of idolatry is like killing a child for fear that he may grow up to be less than pious. In effect, they say, behind the obsessive fear of idolatry lies a complete lack of understanding along with a fanaticism so extreme, it prevents such individuals from even being able to appreciate their own past.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/161339.html

Ministries pass the buck over mentally ill at Grand Mosque


what shameful practices?

what shameful practices?They say: ''They are unsightly. They are poorly dressed, filthy and lie on pavements speaking to themselves, ...Most of them become violent whenever they are disturbed by a pedestrian. Some of them attack passersby without any provocation.


Mentally ill on Makkah’s streets trigger concerns

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By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Jan 28, 2011 22:45 Updated: Jan 28, 2011 23:13

MAKKAH: The problem of mentally ill people roaming the streets of Makkah has become a widespread one and something that poses a danger to local residents and pilgrims.

According to some estimates, there are around 40 mentally ill people on the streets of Makkah who often take shelter on pavements and close to shops.

Many residents are concerned at the development and say the authorities are failing to act. They add that the problem portrays a negative image of Makkah, especially during the Haj and Umrah seasons when millions of people visit the city.

“The presence of mentally unstable people has become a major cause of worry for local residents, especially for women, children and the elderly who are afraid of going out fearing they might be attacked,” said one local resident.

“They are also unsightly. They are poorly dressed, filthy and lie on pavements speaking to themselves,” said another resident. “Most of them become violent whenever they are disturbed by a pedestrian. Some of them attack passersby without any provocation,” he added.

Mahmoud Baitar, chief of the Al-Hajlah district, told Arab News the problem is growing and a source of shame for the holy city. “Twenty years ago, there were no such people in my district. However, the number of mentally deranged people roaming streets has increased in recent years. Now there are over 17 such people,” he said, while blaming the authorities for not doing enough.

Dr. Rajab Buraisali, consultant psychiatrist at Heraa General Hospital and the National Guard Hospital, said there are several government bodies responsible for the current situation.

“The first one is the Social Affairs Department which is doing nothing to give them shelter and look after them. Then there is the Ministry of Health which has failed to provide proper treatment to these sick people and take care of them,” he said.

He noted that there is only one hospital for mentally ill people in Makkah Province, the Taif Mental Hospital, which only has a capacity to accommodate 690 patients. More than 500 of these beds have been occupied for several years by patients.

Buraisali also blamed the families of these men. “Psychological studies show that the family has to play a vital role in improving the health conditions of mentally ill people. When they ignore them, they usually abandon homes and start roaming the streets,” he said.

He also underscored the role of local police in putting an end to the problem. “Police, in cooperation with village chiefs and health officials, should act swiftly to help these people. They should be taken to social care centers and hospitals for treatment,” he added.

Abu Waleed, a local resident, said he once came across one such man outside the historic Al-M’ala cemetery. “I felt sorry for him. He was in his 70s and just sat there in meditation in front of the cemetery gate. He was an old Makkan resident and I asked him about himself. He said he was from Makkah and had children. However, the way he was speaking told me he wasn’t there at all in his head. It was after sunrise and the man had slept the night on an old mattress on the pavement with people hustling and bustling by,” he said.

Abu Waleed said some people became mentally deranged after losing money when the Saudi bourse collapsed in 2005. “It was a difficult time then and to be honest some of the people who lost money have still not mentally recovered,” he added.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article245114.ece

This has got to be stopped. :ohno:

''Makkah to look like a blooming garden''

Prince Khaled calls for more low-cost housing projects in Makkah


By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Jan 29, 2011 23:01 Updated: Jan 29, 2011 23:01

MAKKAH: Governor of Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal stressed the need for more cheap housing projects to meet the increasing demand for homes in the holy city. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for a low-cost housing project in Makkah’s Umm Al-Joud neighborhood on Saturday.

“This project is a significant step in the direction of more similar projects. We hope to start more residential projects soon, not only in Makkah but in all cities in the province, to cope with the rising population and accommodate people displaced by projects to reconstruct unplanned neighborhoods,” said Prince Khaled.

The prince also urged the mayor of Makkah to ensure all residential districts are beautifully designed “so that the entire Makkah looks like a blooming garden.”

The prince said the cheap residential project that is under construction is designed to benefit people who have been evacuated from their properties to make way for development projects in the city and newly married couples.

“Jeddah and other governorates will also see modern style constructions soon. Plots have been allocated for development in all governorates. A part of them will be allocated for government projects, commercial enterprises and charity works,” the prince said.

The prince rejected the suggestion that the implementation of the project to develop unplanned and undeveloped neighborhoods in Makkah was slow. “The project needs time as it is to be planned carefully. The land is either not ready for construction or the residents have not moved out,” he said.

“As the project is in the heart of the city, a large number of people living there need to be shifted. Before evacuating these properties, we have to make sure that the residents are properly rehabilitated. Another factor to be considered is that many residents in unplanned neighborhoods are non-Saudis illegally resident in the Kingdom and whose status needs be regularized,” he said, adding that the plight of children, women and old people should also be taken into consideration.

He said special committees have been set up to regularize the status of residents, for planning and construction and to study the residents’ social situation. “The projects involving unplanned neighborhoods are humanitarian as well. Such projects cannot be rushed like other projects for which uninhabited land is available. They should be implemented step by step and also with due consideration to the sentiments of Saudi and expatriate residents,” the prince said.

Regarding the emergency meeting scheduled for Sunday, the prince said all steps required to end issues related to rainfall including lack of flood drainage projects would be presented before the committee. “This issue should be addressed radically as early as possible and in the most effective manner,” the prince said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article245937.ece

^^ New low-cost housing project

http://www.alriyadh.com/2011/01/29/article599308.html

http://s.alriyadh.com/2011/01/29/img/829292627687.jpg

http://s.alriyadh.com/2011/01/29/img/295544175271.jpg

Al-Nawariyyah Garden opened in Makkah

February 1, 2011

Holy City of Makkah, Safar 28, 1432

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Ibn Abdulaziz, the Governor of Makkah Province will open here next Saturday Al-Nawariyyah Garden within the framework of the Project of Establishing Gardens at a cost of SR 14,399,994.

The Mayor of Makkah, Dr. Osama Bin Fadhel Al-Bar pointed out that the Garden located on an area of 23,000 square meters is the first one in the projects of new gardens currently being executed by Makkah Principality, noting that the Principality is now in the process of establishing 37 gardens on areas of 150,000 square meters in Makkah.

SPA http://www.hajinformation.com/display_news.php?id=2302

sorry no pics..must be nice!

http://ns.hajinformation.com/scp_images/logo_002.png

Visas in less than 24 hours!

http://www.arabtours.co.uk/images/hajj-umrah-visas.jpg

New system to speed up pilgrim visas

Ministry of Hajj invests SR800,000 into new technology infrastructure

1st February 2011

The Ministry of Hajj (represented by Sejel Technology) has invested SR 800,000 towards new technology infrastructure, with aims of providing better services to the rising number of annual pilgrims to the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah and other sacred places in Saudi Arabia.

As part of the Ministry's upgrade initiative, Tripp Lite, a world leading manufacturer of power protection and connectivity equipment, has delivered two 80 kVA UPS Systems which are now being used to support the Umrah Database Centre's power, cooling and cabling infrastructure.

One of the most important benefits of the project is the considerable reduction in the time required to process pilgrims' visas, which can now be completed in less than 24 hours as opposed to 6 weeks prior to the implementation.

The Ministry's primary objective for this major undertaking was to increase the quality of service it provides to Muslim pilgrims from across the globe. By speeding up the visa application process, the Ministry is gearing up to process more than a quarter of a million (250 000) transactions per day.

The installation of the UPS was completed by TUNSI Electronics and Compute TEC, Tripp Lite's Jeddah-based partner, with the entire project completed within its three-week planned duration.

"We had more than 25 engineers and technicians work round-the-clock to ensure that the new system would be up and running by the deadline. The superior features of Tripp Lite products and our expertise in implementations of such scale have resulted in the success of this project and we are glad that the Ministry of Hajj was pleased by the end-results," said Eng. Sameer Abu Mattar, Projects Manager of TUNSI Electronics and Computer TEC.

The project, which involved the replacement of the centre's UPS's and their batteries, air-conditioning system, power and network cabling, and Generator, is now providing maximum benefits for and boosting the productivity of all datacentre staff.

"This project is of particular relevance to us, given the massive extent of benefits it can afford Muslims worldwide stemming from seamless information sharing between the Ministry of Hajj and the private organisations that provide the necessary services to pilgrims," said Vipin Sharma, VP of EMEA & India Sales, Tripp Lite.

"We are proud to have been a part of this exceptional project, which underlines our commitment to the region and our competence in undertaking massive implementations with significant impact on the lives of millions of people."

TUNSI TEC is one of Saudi Arabia's main Data Centre installer, suppliers of computer network solutions, products and spare parts. Currently headquartered in Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed in Jeddah, the company has successfully executed more than 300 major project implementations in computer networking and power based systems. TUNSI TEC is staffed with a powerhouse team of experts, consultants and technical staff that jointly carry out projects from the initial business plan to the selection of materials and equipment and the actual implementation of systems to be installed.

http://www.hajinformation.com/display_news.php?id=2303


Tripp Lite in Saudi hajj ministry upgrade

2 Feb 2011

Tripp Lite, a leading manufacturer of power protection and connectivity equipment, said it has delivered two 80 kVA UPS Systems for main data centre of Ministry of Hajj as part of its upgrade initiative.

The systems are now being used to support the Umrah Database Centre's power, cooling and cabling infrastructure, said a statement from Tripp Lite.

In line with its upgradation process, the Ministry of Hajj (Sejel Technology) has invested SR800,000 ($213,317) towards new technology infrastructure, with aims of providing better services to the rising number of annual pilgrims to Makkah and Madinah.

http://www.tradearabia.com/news/IT_192828.html

New Building for Computer Training and English Language Centre

5th February 2011

Holy City of Makkah, Rabi Al-Awwal 02

The Vice-President For The Holy Mosque Affairs, Dr Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Khozayim opened here today a new building of the Centre for Computer Training and English Language at General Presidency For The Holy Mosque and Prophet Mosque’s Affairs near the factory of Kiswah of The Holy Kaabah.

The Center has trained 800 employees of the Presidency on Computer Usage since its inception in 1426H, and this year the Presidency added English language to the Center to offer specialized courses in English for its employees to serve pilgrims.

http://www.hajinformation.com/display_news.php?id=2308

Saudi Press Agency
Holy Mosque - Hajj 1431

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MachaAllah Beautiful view!

http://www.spa.gov.sa/english/PhotoGalleryList.php?pg=9&id=109

My Hajj
An account of one person's Hajj

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Feb 7, 2011

I was in Haram Sharif -- the Holy Mosque — standing in front of Kaaba, my entire being in a state of trance, eyes glued to the magnificent image bathed in jalal and noor — the luminescence of the Almighty. Suddenly my cellphone rang. My son was at the other end asking, 'Kaisa laga apko Allah ka ghar' — How do you like the house of Allah? I was speechless. Do I have the ability to put my feelings in words? Is it humanly possible to describe this divine experience, I asked myself.

I could only see millions of lights around the Kaaba, but what I was feeling within me was beyond words. It was as if the light of faith connecting me to the source of divinity had unburdened me of my ego. And my identity was getting submerged in the sound of "Labbaek, Allahumma labbaek. Labbaek, la shrike laka, labbaeka. Inna hamda wa nemata laka wal mukkala sharika laka" — "O Allah, here I am. Here I am in thy presence. Thou hast no equal. Here I am. All praise for thee and from thee are all blessings. To thee belongs all power and rule thou art without parallel".

Nothingness of being

In this prayer, I had got the answer to my question. This is what Allah ka ghar does to a person! It jolts you into the realisation of the supremacy of God and nothingness of your being.

This was the spiritual journey I had dreamt of for years. I was living in hope but also feared that it might never materialise. There were innumerable impediments in the actualisation of this dream. Finally, it was a reality.

Awe and wonder

The drive from the airport was a unique experience. Wide, well-paved roads meandering through the heart of inhospitable mountains, a full moon sailing through a starless sky kept pace with our car. There was something ethereal and awe-inspiring about the entire setting.

My first destination in Mecca was Masjid Al Haram where the Holy Kaaba is situated. The Kaaba has undergone a sea change since its inception. From a small area with no enclosure and with just houses and gates on all sides through which people entered, today the mosque is a huge, beautiful and well-looked after complex.

One is expected to pray as soon as you cast your eyes on the Kaaba. It is said that whatever you ask of God here is always granted. But when I first set eyes on the holy edifice, I was too numb to pray. The majesty of the Holy Kaaba was overwhelming. A vast sea of humanity soaking in the divinity of the place — hands raised, praying to the Almighty — filled me with awe and reverence.

Picture of piety

Taking the tawaf or the seven rounds of the Kaaba simultaneously with millions of Muslims from around the world is a great example of discipline, restraint, patience and bonding. The single-minded devotion of the Hajis and their reflected goodness presents a unique picture of piety. Hundreds of thousands of people, all taking the rounds together without jostling or pushing, was just amazing. People put up with inconvenience with a smile; the camaraderie and the desire to make it comfortable for others was so heartening. The spirit imbibed during Haj is not to be forgotten after the pilgrimage, but ought to be a part of our daily interaction with others.

I took a bus to Mina, a half-hour drive from Mecca. This is the place where pilgrims spend the night praying. It constitutes important components of Haj. Mina is full of white tents during Haj, but is almost deserted for the rest of the year. The Masjid Al Kaif is located in Mina. It is also the place where Allah sent the ram to Hazrat Ibrahim to be sacrified in place of his son.

Spending days in austerity in Mina — sleeping on the floor, eating the simplest of food and making do with bare necessities and bearing the hardship with patience — is the real essence of Haj.

It's an exercise in co-existence, fortitude, patience and forgiveness. The experience initiates an inward journey, a sort of catscan where one comes face-to-face with all the good and bad deeds one has committed. It is a chance to repent, to ask for forgiveness, as well as to make amends.

Early, the next morning, I took a bus for Arafat. Praying in Arafat is an essential part of Haj. Whoever misses standing and praying in Arafat misses the Haj because the Prophet said, "Haj is Arafat". It was hot and humid in Arafat, but we were unmindful of the heat, so engrossed were we in the divine communion.

Test of endurance

By sunset, it was time to drive to Muzdalifa and spend the night out in the open on the plains of Arafat. It was a dark, starless night with occasional lightening. Standing 'alone'amidst the silhouette of unfamiliar mountains and a multitude of unknown faces, in harsh weather and praying to the Almighty was a test of endurance. In these circumstances, the human will to survive comes to the fore. I thought to myself: Don't we need the same strength and will when faced with hardships in life?

After stoning Satan at Jamaraat, the place where Satan accosted Prophet Ibrahim and performing tawaf ziyarat and tawafe alvida, the farewell tawaf, my Haj was complete.

I was told that after the hectic schedule in Mecca, Medina Manawwara, where Prophet Muhammad's grave is located, will be less tiring.

Once we were in Medina

Manawwara all tension just seemed to have disappeared. A veil of contentment and happiness enveloped my being. I had never experienced such calm in my life. It was magical and palpable, at the same time. Is this what we call divine blessing?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/faith-and-ritual/Allah-ka-ghar/articleshow/7443718.cms

Drop in number of Egypt’s Umrah pilgrims feared

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/nonoq8/5204217886/
By MUHAMMAD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 7, 2011 23:55 Updated: Feb 7, 2011 23:55

JEDDAH: More than 560,000 Egyptians who annually come to Saudi Arabia for Umrah may not be able to make it this season due to the ongoing civil unrest in Egypt, according to a senior Saudi official.

“The incidents in Egypt and other Arab countries will adversely affect the Umrah season, because we are talking about more than half a million pilgrims that may not be able to make the journey to the Kingdom,” Saad Jameel Al-Qurashi, chairman of the National Committee for Haj and Umrah at the Saudi Council of Chambers, told Arab News Monday. He said Egyptian pilgrims usually come for Umrah in the month Rabie Al-Awwal. According to Al-Qurashi, Saudi Umrah companies annually make profits of more than SR750 million from Egyptian pilgrims.

He said recent events in Tunisia might also deter Tunisian pilgrims from making the Umrah journey to the Kingdom.

“Though they do not go exceed 40,000 every year, their absence could still have an adverse effect on the success of the season,” he said. He estimated the annual intake of Algerian Umrah pilgrims to be around 80,000.

Al-Qurashi said preparations for handling the expected large number of Egyptian pilgrims started late last year when 700 Saudi and Egyptian Umrah companies got together for their 12th annual convention.

Representatives from Saudi hotels, Haj service providers and Egyptian Umrah companies discussed how to provide the best possible services to Egyptian pilgrims.

He hoped that the situation in Egypt would become normal soon so that pilgrims would be able to come and take advantage of the accommodation facilities and transport already prepared for them.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article253705.ece

Umrah for transit passengers soon

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Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, left, assistant minister of defense and aviation, listens to a presentation
on Saudi Arabian Airlines during his visit to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

By FATIMA SIDIYA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 16, 2011 00:43 Updated: Feb 16, 2011 00:56

JEDDAH: The General Authority of Civil Aviation is weighing prospects of allowing transit passengers at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah to perform Umrah, an informed source told Arab News.

The move will allow passengers traveling via Jeddah, especially Southeast Asian Muslims coming from Europe, to perform Umrah. It will also encourage many Muslims to travel via Jeddah for Umrah.

According to the source, transit passengers would be able to visit Makkah using the new Haramain train service that links the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah with the business city of Jeddah.

Muhammad Abid, acting director general of KAIA, said the new KAIA expansion project was designed to make it a major hub between the East and the West.

“We expect KAIA will receive a considerable share of the international air travel market in addition to providing investment opportunities to the private sector and creating more jobs for Saudis,” Abid said.

Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation minister, recently kicked off the construction work on the new KAIA terminal, which will cost SR27.1 billion ($7.2 billion).

The project, to be completed in 36 months, will increase the airport’s annual capacity from 17 to 30 million passengers. Saudi Binladin Group was awarded the contract in November following a bidding process.

The country's largest builder will construct a single 670,000-square-metre (more than 7 million square feet) terminal with 94 aircraft bays to replace the two aging facilities currently handling airport traffic.

Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, assistant minister of defense and aviation, inspected progress of work for the new airport on Tuesday and said KAIA was not affected by the Jan. 26 floods. “Plans have been made to protect the airport from floods,” he added. He urged contractors not to delay work, blaming security arrangements at the airport. “Arrangements have been made for the entry and exit of workers and equipment to implement the project while taking adequate measures to ensure airport security,” he added.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article264588.ece?comments=all

^^Good idea...

That will generate nice revenue as well...

500 hotels to be built in Makkah

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A general view of the holy city of Makkah
By ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 17, 2011 00:42 Updated: Feb 17, 2011 01:03

JEDDAH: Licenses have been issued for the construction of 500 hotels near the Grand Mosque in Makkah, including one with 5,000 rooms, reported sister publication Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday.

Economic experts told the newspaper they expected revenues from Haj and Umrah to cross the SR100 billion ($27 billion) barrier in the coming years due to the availability of extra accommodation.

Saad Al-Qurashi, chairman of the committee for Haj and Umrah auxiliary services at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the provision of such a large number of hotels with numerous rooms and suites will help accommodate the growing number of pilgrims from inside Saudi Arabia and abroad.

"Currently, the largest hotel in Makkah does not have more than 1,000 rooms, while the new ones will have many more. One of them will have 5,000 rooms," he said.

Last year’s Haj season was seen to be the most profitable yet due to the large number of pilgrims, which exceeded 3 million.

Commercial activities during the Haj season ensure great revenues for Jeddah and Makkah, especially from simple goods such as beads and prayer rugs that make profits of about SR2 billion annually, Asharq Al-Awsat reported. The newspaper added that hotels and furnished apartments usually buy 40 percent more furniture than usual as part of preparations for the Haj season.

Investments in furniture are estimated to be around SR4 billion, with 66 furniture factories in the Kingdom.

Member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s committee for furniture Yahya Hassan Maqbool said artifacts, especially those containing photos of the two holy mosques, top the list of items pilgrims go for.

He said after completing their Haj, pilgrims come to Jeddah to do shopping, thus boosting business in the city.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article266901.ece

The history of Al-Kaaba through the hands of a painter

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By AFRA NAUSHAD, LIFE.STYLE@ARABNEWS.COM

Published: Feb 16, 2011 17:31 Updated: Feb 16, 2011 17:31

Nasser Al-Salim, a young emerging painter with extensive training in the tholoth, farsi, diywani, jalidiywani and roqa’a scripts, used his unique skilled penmanship to produce his latest silk screen print on paper artwork called “Tarikh Al-Kaaba” (The history of the Kaaba), which was recently exhibited at the Young Saudi Artists exhibition at Athr Gallery.

An architect by profession, he was born and raised in Makkah. Having learned calligraphy at the age of 12 at the Grand mosque of Al-Haram in Makkah, he has since become very passionate about it. This element is particularly noteworthy as it is seen in most of his art productions and paintings. His current work on display is strongly characterized by the inspirations he finds from the Kaaba and Islamic traditions.

Arab News spoke to Al-Salim to find out more about his work.
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What is the concept behind “Tarikh Al-Kaaba?”

“Tarikh Al-Kaaba is a topographical representation of the history of Al-Kaaba as a house of worship from the period in time of Hajar performing the saie in search of water for her son prophet Ismail (PBUH), when God commanded Prophet Ibrahim to leave his wife and infant son in the desert as a test of faith to the period of the day of summoning.

The Kaaba, which is the focal point of prayer of all Muslims housed in the Masjid Al-Haram, is depicted by the alphabet Sukoon reflective of the tranquility one experiences upon seeing it.

There is a geometric representation of the Safa and Marwa, the hills between which Hagar ran in search of water, the Zamzam well which sprang forth as a result of baby Ismail (PBUH) kicking the sand and Prophet Ibrahim’s (PBUH) foot prints encased in a metal inlay as is present at Al-Haram.

The calligraphy around the Kaaba and between the Safa and Marwa is an artistic representation of the faithful performing the tawaf around the Kaaba and the saie between the two hills of Safa and Marwa.

Can you explain why the work is divided into seven pieces?

I wanted to explain the history of Islam with the conception of the Kaaba as a house of worship up until how things are predicted to turn out in the end of times.

The seven pieces are references to the seven rotations that are made around the Kaaba.

The first of the series explains the beginning of Islam when Hajar ran between the hills, thus commemorating the saie ritual that is followed today by all the Muslims during umrah.

The second series explains the time when Islam was established and people started to circumambulate the Kaaba and perform umrah. Islam had staunch supporters then with prophet Ibrahim having erected the house of worship with his son prophet Ismail.

The third signifies the time when the polytheists had erected idols around the Kaaba and lost good faith. This I have shown by the change in the color tone from black to gray calligraphy, referring to the change in the beliefs of monotheism.

The fourth series represents the period when Islam was established again under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with a strong foothold and the idols were destroyed and people regained their faith, which is represented by the consistency of the calligraphy around the Kaaba and between Safa and Marwa.

You see with each series there is an increase in the amount of calligraphy, indicating the increasing number of people accepting Islam.

The fifth series shows a diagrammatic shift in the calligraphy with the addition of foreign texts around the Kaaba, indicating the globalization of Islam.

The sixth series depicts a breach in the continuity of the calligraphy between Safa and Marwa and around the Kaaba.

By this, I wanted to depict that the followers are one in their purpose of worshipping Allah, but some hold different beliefs. Their faith is scattered and agitated.

The last of the series is meant to interpret the day of judgment when Allah’s wrath will cause the world to perish and the Kaaba will be raised.

Which point in your work do you believe the world is in at this age?

I guess it has to be the fifth. People are still strong in their beliefs. Millions have converted to Islam. They are still praying, observing Ramadan and are making the yearly pilgrimage of Haj. Hopefully we will not reach the sixth stage of what I am representing by my art. But, by Allah’s word this is bound to happen. It is written in history.

Have you exhibited this particular piece outside Saudi Arabia?

Yes, at Edge of Arabia in Istanbul. It was well received.

Are any of your other works on display?

Yes. The collection is paint on silk and is titled “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah), and it is being exhibited at Athr Gallery.

What is the purpose of most of your works reflecting the Islamic literature?

Firstly, I believe in starting all my work with Bismillah, because I believe one receives mercy from Allah in doing so. I mainly try to focus on Islamic calligraphy because in this time and age I feel it is important to assert one’s Muslim identity and I want my work to reflect my traditions and the Islamic culture. I want to promote Islam and the beauty of Islam through calligraphy.
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http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/art_culture/article265899.ece

Umrah visas halted for Egyptians, Tunisians

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kabah P1040590 ed 1600x900 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/56630574@N07/5448525259/) par tri_sasongko_y (http://www.flickr.com/people/56630574@N07/), sur Flickr
By ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 19, 2011 00:32 Updated: Feb 19, 2011 00:32

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Haj has issued a temporarily halt on Umrah visas for Egyptian and Tunisian pilgrims while government departments in both countries resume normal operations, Al-Madinah newspaper reported.

The ministry said Umrah visas will be issued to Egyptian and Tunisian pilgrims once government organs in both countries return to normal duties.

The ministry has also informed all Umrah companies concerned that contracts to accommodate and transport pilgrims from Egypt and Tunisia will also be temporarily withheld until the situation becomes clear.

Saad Al-Qurashi, chairman of the National Haj and Umrah Committee (NHUC) at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said matters might get worse for Umrah companies because of ongoing developments in Libya and the Yemen.

“There are indications that pilgrims from these two countries will not be able to come for Umrah this season,” he said, adding that other countries such as Iran, Sudan, Algeria and Jordan might join the list.

Al-Qurashi said contracts were currently being signed with the Ministry of Haj to increase quotas for other countries, particularly Turkey and Syria, to compensate the drop in pilgrims from countries that are presently seeing political unrest.

The NHUC has also asked 51 Umrah companies not to make hotel reservations in Makkah and Madinah because of the current political unrest in several Arab countries.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article271138.ece

600 construction workers strike in Makkah

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By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 21, 2011 00:48 Updated: Feb 21, 2011 00:48

MAKKAH: Police dispersed Sunday morning more than 600 striking workers belonging to a major construction company in Makkah’s central area.

The workers of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project and the Grand Mosque’s northern courtyard expansion project were protesting nonpayment of their salaries and other legitimate grievances.

Maj. Abdul Mohsen Al-Mayman, spokesman of Makkah police, said the workers peacefully assembled in the Grand Mosque’s courtyard to press their demands and were not causing any disturbances.

Al-Mayman added that sufficient numbers of troops were sent to the location as a precautionary measure.

Police also sent representatives of the contracting company and workers to the Labor Office to settle their disputes.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article275625.ece

Tawafa agencies gearing up for board elections

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Chairman of the board of directors of the Tawafa Establishment for South Asian Pilgrims Adnan Katib receives Mutawwif Talal Mahboob,
left, and members of Al-Mahboob family on Sunday. (AN photo by Badea Abu Al-Naja)


By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 21, 2011 00:33 Updated: Feb 21, 2011 00:47

MAKKAH: More than 25,000 members of various Tawafa establishments are to vote in elections for the boards of directors of the nine bodies that run Haj operations. The Ministry of Haj is expected to soon announce a date for the election.

Aspiring contestants have already started formulating blocs to secure the control of new boards that include the six Tawafa establishments and the Maktab Al-Zamazima (Zamzam Office in Makkah), the Maktab Al-Adilla (Guides Office in Madinah) and the Maktab Al-Wukala Al-Muwahhad (the United Agents' Office in Jeddah).

The six Tawafa establishments are for pilgrims from Arab countries, non-Arab African countries, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Iran, and Turkey and Western countries.

Each board is constituted for a period of four years. The the new electoral regulations provide candidates with at least 15 days to canvass for votes. Hatem Qadi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Haj, will head a committee to supervise elections and ensure they are carried out in a fair and transparent manner.

The new electoral regulations stipulate that candidates should not be less than 30 years of age and have completed intermediate school. They are also required to have completed a minimum of five years continuous service in Haj services or 10 years interrupted service.

Candidates for the Tawafa establishment are also required to be residents of Makkah, while those vying for membership on the board of the Maktab Adilla should be residents of Madinah. Candidates for the Maktab Al-Wukala should be residents of Jeddah.

The candidates should also be of good conduct and not have been convicted by a court of law or punished by the Tawafa Disciplinary Board. Officials from the Ministry of Haj and Central Haj Committee are not eligible to contest in the elections.

The new regulations also stipulate that 75 percent of promises made by candidates or blocs should be fulfilled to stop candidates making empty or unrealistic promises during canvassing.

The minister of Haj also reserves the right to dismiss members or dissolve boards of directors and reconstitute them with members as he sees fit for the rest of the board’s tenure. He can also call for new elections.

With 5,000 members, the Tawafa Establishment for Pilgrims of Arab Countries is the largest, followed by the Tawafa Establishment for South Asian Pilgrims with 4,000 members.

The Tawafa Establishment for Southeast Asian Pilgrims has 3,500 members. The establishments for Turkey and Western countries, and non-Arab African nations have between 1,500 and 2,000 members. There are 300 members in the establishment for Iranian pilgrims. The Maktab Al-Wukala has 820 members, the Al-Zamazima has 949 members and Al-Adilla has 3,032 members.

Meanwhile, Talal Mahboob, head of Field Service Office No. 23, visited the Tawafa Establishment for South Asian Pilgrims to congratulate its chairman Adnan Katib for the excellent services the establishment provided during the last Haj. Mahboob, who is also the chief of Al-Mahboob family, belongs to a long line of mutawwifs, or Haj service providers.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article275578.ece

Labor strike continues for second day in Makkah

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article278052.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/SAU_STRIKE.jpg
Laborers gather at the project site for Haram's expansion. (AN photo)


By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 22, 2011 00:48 Updated: Feb 22, 2011 00:48

MAKKAH: Over 600 construction workers employed by a major construction company on a project close to the Grand Mosque in Makkah continued their strike for a second successive day on Monday.

The men, working on the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project and the Grand Mosque’s northern courtyard expansion project, have gone on strike after not being paid their salaries for two months. They are also demanding better work conditions.

Eyewitnesses said the workers began gathering close to the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project at around 7 a.m. on Monday. They added that the number of workers was larger than those who gathered to strike on Sunday.

The workers also shouted slogans demanding unpaid salaries. Police officers arrived at the scene and contained the workers in an area to allow space for pedestrians and pilgrims to walk. The huge gathering and police presence also created some confusion among pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque.

A number of workers said they were protesting after not receiving their salaries for two months, adding that they had also not been paid overtime. They also called for their salaries to be increased and better accommodation.

One of the men, who asked for his name not to be published, said the workers met their employers and told them of their demands. The employers promised to resolve the matter and said that each worker would be paid an additional SR200 until the problem is solved.

Maj. Abdul Mohsen Al-Mayman, spokesman for Makkah police, said police officers were at the location to contain the strike and separate the workers from members of the public and pilgrims.

He added that police listened to the workers’ demands and that the matter has been brought to the attention of the Labor Office.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article277886.ece

Umrah season begins
18th February 2011

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5342374543_f987b141dc_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/omargx/5342374543/)
DSCN5251 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/omargx/5342374543/) par Omar.M.M (http://www.flickr.com/people/omargx/), sur Flickr
February 18, 2011

JEDDAH: King Abdul Aziz International Airport has begun opening its arrival halls to Umrah visitors as the seven-month pilgrimage season begins Friday with over one-and-a-half million pilgrims from across the world expected during the period.

Fahd Abdullah, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation, said the new Jeddah airport, for which construction works have already begun, would be connected up to the planned train networks.

“The Haj Terminal will have a train link to the new airport and from there to Makkah and Madina whereby pilgrims will be transported between the two holy cities,” Abdullah said.

Work on the SR27.1 billion contract for construction of the new Jeddah airport is currently in its first phase, which includes projects for a passenger terminals complex, control towers, runways, support facilities, roads, tunnels, underpasses, infrastructure, private airline terminals and a control tower. The contract for the works was given to the Saudi Binladin Group and signed by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2011021894034

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5342984552_fb7a14f685_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/omargx/5342984552/)
DSCN5279 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/omargx/5342984552/) par Omar.M.M (http://www.flickr.com/people/omargx/), sur Flickr

demo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmO22WcWdzg

http://home.swipnet.se/~w-19186/Kaab14.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BEXIy1QCYAAKt4Y.jpg:large

http://www.makkawi.com/uploads/liberary/1348.jpg

http://images-00.delcampe-static.net/img_large/auction/000/206/342/942_001.jpg?v=11927

Mina to Arafat

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صورة نادرة جداااا عام 1910 في مكة المكرمة ، واستقبال حافل لكسوة الكعبة القادمة من مصر .

http://www.hajj.ir/_Shared/_Sites/Site(14)/Gozaresh%20Tasviri/moz.jpg

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Umrah traffic hit by Mideast turmoil

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<3 makkah (http://www.flickr.com/photos/58017994@N05/5466882112/) par M Y A N O (http://www.flickr.com/people/58017994@N05/), sur Flickr
By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 23, 2011 23:45 Updated: Feb 23, 2011 23:45

MAKKAH: Umrah pilgrims began pouring into Makkah at the beginning of last week, mainly from Turkey and Jordan, but their numbers are insufficient to ensure a successful Umrah season as no pilgrims are coming from Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Algeria, industry sources say.

“The small number of pilgrims is threatening the success of the Umrah season and we expect huge financial losses,” said an industry source, adding that the Umrah season formally began on Feb. 18 (Rabiul Awwal 15).

“Umrah service operators, hotels, furnished apartments and retail shops are starting to feel the pinch because of the absence of pilgrims; they fear they may be in for huge financial losses,” said another source.

Faisal Abid, a businessman who leases buildings that he then sublets to Umrah companies, said he fears huge losses this year.

“This year I’ve rented buildings as usual but have been unable to sublet them to Umrah companies because of the small numbers of pilgrims,” he said.

Abid expects to incur huge losses as a result of his buildings remaining vacant. “I hope this will not continue for too long and that things return to normal in Arab countries otherwise I will lose a lot of money,” he said.

Talal Majoub, an investor and mutawwif, described this Umrah season as one of the worst in recent history because of the political developments in several Arab countries.

“The decision not to grant Umrah visas to pilgrims from Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Algeria has virtually paralyzed Umrah companies. We usually receive large numbers of pilgrims from Egypt but this year there are none,” he said, adding that only pilgrims from Turkey and Jordan have been able to come in large numbers so far this year.

Mazin Dirar, a member of the National Committee for Haj and Umrah at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that although about 350,000 Umrah visas have been issued this year, only a very few pilgrims have so far shown up. “The number of visas issued this year was 50,000 more than last year, but the number of pilgrims who actually arrived is far less,” he added.

Dirar said hotel occupancy, which was 100 percent this time last year, would not reach 75 percent this season.

“Last year, over 600,000 Umrah pilgrims came from Iran, but no more than 20 or 25 percent of that number will be able to make it this year due to events there,” he said. “The absence of pilgrims from countries where there is political unrest is adversely affecting Umrah companies, hotels, retail stores and the transport sector.”

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article281646.ece

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dom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe1xWB9T-vc

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Mahmal kis.wa https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269558_449105518474670_1378445699_n.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=449105518474670&set=pb.306071422778081.-2207520000.1359092436&type=3&theater

expans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf-HufLvLgc

re-buil.d http://www.alriyadh.com/2013/01/13/article801125.html
http://www.saudinow.com/local/37407.html

umérah http://www.watny1.com/news.php?action=show&id=7532
médin http://www.spa.gov.sa/PhotoGalleryList.php?id=41&pg=8

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cir. http://www.architecture-studio.fr/en/projects/lmc6/haram_extension.html

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makkh. heri.tage http://www.facebook.com/pages/Preserve-Our-Islamic-Legacy-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B8-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AB%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A/377945868959060

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rai.n http://www.alqabas.com.kw/node/724249

ol.d http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.110204135816012.18991.100004792772578&type=1

http://s.alwakeelnews.com/image.php?token=fee57723c06e6dbb2681247770f44a77&size=
http://www.alwakeelnews.com/index.php?page=article&id=26588

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abraj http://500px.com/photo/18587895


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http://mynewshub.my/2012/11/28/gambar-terkini-di-masjidil-haram-esok-pintu-kaabah-dibuka/

The high price of wrapping Zamzam water containers

http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2008/Sep/Week1/15092890.jpg

By SAAD AL-DOUSARI | AL-JAZIRAH

Published: Feb 25, 2011 23:43 Updated: Feb 25, 2011 23:43

We lack much in airport services. When we travel to near or faraway countries, which are far below our standard from the point view of economy and culture, we feel sad about the poor condition of our airports.

At King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, a new service of safe wrapping for luggage has started. The passengers are no doubt happy about this new service, but they are complaining about its exaggerated high price — especially which it comes to wrapping containers of Zamzam water. Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has made imperative on all passengers taking Zamzam water with them to wrap the containers in the plastic wrap. No passenger will be allowed to take Zamzam water with him if it is not safely wrapped. The wrapping of each container costs SR8, a high and unacceptable price. The plastic cover does not most of the time protect the container. This means the safe wrapping is not safe!

Was it not supposed that someone should have reviewed the price of this service before it was introduced? If it's Saudia or the General Authority for Civil Aviation that had imposed a high price on the provider of this service, they should have known that in turn he would put on a high price for the service to be able to make profit.

They should both know that citizens and foreigners are not happy about the price of safe wrapping and are hoping that the policy will be reconsidered.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article285420.ece

http://www.mstaml.com/imagesData/1057228.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BE1tPsLCcAEwYw8.jpg

فكرة (ساعة مكة) مستوحاه من اول ساعة تم انشاؤها بمكة فوق مبنى الحميدية المطل على الحرم وكانت بارتفاع ٣٠ م عام ١٩٣٣ م

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https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/262958_283900035043458_1672767000_n.jpg
The first hour in the Kingdom was in Mecca next to the Grand Mosque in Mecca 1352, up 30 meters above the ground

Photo Clock Tower 100 years ago next to campus

صورة برج الساعة قبل 100 عام بجوار الحرم

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XXX http://www.wallz.eu/photo/406454.jpg

clock in Mu....seum : http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/564661_10150652970196608_438429161_n.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMEwIZMGbTU/UNejmcW069I/AAAAAAAAIF4/7i4QwiizG3k/s1600/old_kaaba_history_mecca-8.jpg
http://relakssminda.blogspot.ca/2012/12/pembagunan-dan-perubahan-masjidil-haram.html

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http://www.gamid.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1580731

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1885 - The printer's building in Mekka

article press : http://www.alyaum.com/News/art/63534.html

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On September 7, 1954, Muslims visit the Kaaba, during a pilgrimage to Mecca.

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http://www.mazarathy.com/vb/showthread.php?p=96574

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Outage as fire hits Makkah clock tower

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article293527.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_clocktower.jpg
By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

Published: Mar 1, 2011 23:19 Updated: Mar 2, 2011 01:46

MAKKAH: A massive fire that broke out in one of the towers of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment building — home to the tallest clock tower — in Makkah on Tuesday frightened pilgrims at the Grand Mosque.

The fire resulted in a power outage at the residential towers for more than an hour, sources told Arab News. There were no reports of deaths or injuries.

Firefighters rushed to the site and evacuated residents from the building with the help of members of the public. The Civil Defense also cut power connections to the tower as part of efforts to contain the blaze. Witnesses said they saw clouds of smoke billowing out of the building.

According to preliminary reports, the fire started in the generator room. Power supply to the towers resumed soon after the fire was put out.

Lt. Col. Ali Al-Muntashri, spokesman of the Civil Defense, said his department sent 15 rescue teams and 10 first-aid teams to the site.

An investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the fire, he said.

The Saudi Electricity Company also sent five teams to tackle the problem.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article293518.ece

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article293773.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_makkah3.jpg
Firefighters get ready to reach to the top of the Makkah clocktower on Tuesday. (SPA)

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article293774.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_makkahcombo.jpg
A combo photo shows firefighters putting down the blaze at the Makkah clock tower on Tuesday. (SPA)

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article293772.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x350/sau_makkah2.jpg
Kibbitzers gather near the Makkah clocktower to watch fighters do their job. (SPA)

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Second time this happened. Which tower is it?

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pl.an.s : http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/3336651/1265541936/name/Mataf%20Extension%20Presentation_02122012.pdf

http://www.facebook.com/tasneem.ahmed.92775


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Sorry, don't know...

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Arab turmoil causes ''huge losses'' for Umrah companies

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/5442811384_2da899e3f4_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46004368@N08/5442811384/

Mars 1, 2011

JEDDAH: Turmoil across the Arab world has disrupted the flow of Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, resulting in a loss of SR50 million for companies since the beginning of the season in February, claim some operators.

Ahmad Abdul Rahman, Chairman of Al-Baraka International Company for Umrah Services, said most of the Umrah companies operating in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Iraq and Iran have suffered huge losses because of the reservations they made in Makkah hotels for their customers.

He attributed this to events taking place in Egypt and Tunisia which have disrupted the flow of pilgrims from these two countries. This has inflicted huge losses on Umrah companies in these two countries.

The slow issue of Umrah visas has also contributed to the losses, he claimed.

However, other sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is too early to determine if these companies are losing or making profits because the Umrah season has just started.

They said pilgrims from these countries, including Indonesia, are estimated at more than one million people.

“By simple calculation, if we assume that each Umrah performer spends SR1,000, then this shows that the losses of the Umrah companies may reach SR1 billion over the entire season.

This can be only decided or confirmed at the end of the season.”

Engineer Saud Abdul Aziz Al-Sulaimani, Director General of the International Company for Internet and Telecommunications - the company in charge of issuing electronic Umrah visas – said 500,000 visas have been issued since the beginning of the season. He described the figure as a record compared to the same period last year.

He said the Ministry of Haj is helping to remove obstacles facing the Umrah companies, to minimize their losses.

He said last year there was a problem stemming from the non- classification of some hotels as per the requirements of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities.

But this has now been resolved, which has shown in the increased number of classified hotels.

Abdul Aziz Al-Raqabi, the Kingdom’s General Consul in Jakarta, said there should not be a problem with Umrah pilgrims coming from Indonesia because the embassy there simply stamps the visas in passports after the Umrah companies provide the embassy with the electronic visas. He said the embassy sometimes completes up to 5,000 visas a day.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2011030294947