the simple inside truth - ahle hadeesthe simple truth" april 2011 (5) he added that ulama and...

"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" April 2011 (3)

inside

04 Editorial

06 Guidance from the Glorious Qur'an

07 Pearls from the Holy Prophet

08 Personality(Sheikh Abdur Rahman

As-Sudais,Grand Imam Of

Masjide Haram)

09 A Brief History Of Kaaba

13 Expansion of the Mataaf

17 Aiming High

22 Welcome Change

26 Precious Water (Zam Zam)

29 News from Headquarter

The

SIMPLE

TRUTHMONTHLY

Chief Editor

Asghar Ali Imam Mahadi Salafi

Editor

Dr. Abul Hayat Ashraf

Publisher

Khawaja Md. Qutbuddin

Address:

Markazi Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadees Hind

Ahle Hadees Manzil

4116, Urdu Bazar, Jama Masjid,

Delhi-110006

Ph: 011-23273407

Fax: 011-23246613

websit: www.ahlehadees.org

E-mail: [email protected]

April, 2011

Vol. No. 5 Issue No.4


Editorial

Among the remarkable days in the history of

Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadeeth, Hind was the 27th

of March,2011. It was on this day that the Imam

and Khateeb of Holy Mosque, in Makkah,

Sheikh Dr Abdur Rahman As-Sudais paid a visit

to Ahle Hadeeth Complex, Okhla New Delhi

and led the Asr prayer in its Jama Masjid as

well as delivered a sermon. His visit was joyous

for all for which we praise and thank the Creator

of Worlds Who has blessed us with His grace

and favour.

Those who accomplish great deeds in the world

are gifted with a charismatic personality and it is

the personality which is the power behind all

their works. The same is in the case of Imam-e-

Haram.Sheikh Abdur Rahman As-Sudais is

handsome, medium size build, inclined to be tall,

round and bright face,brown with whitness

colour,well built body, full and black beard, when

talking or smiling a light seems to sparke from

the teeth, soft spoken but good communicator

and an exemplary recitor of Holy Quran. He is

an expert of Tajweed. His manner of recitation

is slow,measured in rhythmic tones and his

beauti-ful voice is pleasant and fascinating.

It was in the year 1404 A.H. he was appointed

Imam and Khateeb of Masjid-e-Haram,

AHLAN WA SAHLAN WA MARHABA

Makkah. There he first led Asre prayer on the

date 22nd Shawwal 1404 A.H. His first Khutbah

was on 15th Ramadhan 1404 A.H.

After Asr prayer at Ahle Hadeeth Complex ,

Sheikh Abdur Rahman As-Sudais in his short

sermon, reminded the hundreds and thousands

of congregation that Muslim Ummah needs to

take admonistions and learn lessons from the

Holy Quran and the Sunnah. He stated in strong

voice that I feel at home when I am here among

Ahle Hadeeth brothers as they are the true

follwers of Quran and Hadeeth as well as

preachers of Islamic Monotheism (Tawheed).

He lauded their contributions and valuable

services. He said that they are defenders of faith

as it was in the case of Sheikh Muhammad Bin

Abdul Wahab in Saudi Arabia. The Correct

manhaj , true faith and moderate thinking of Ahle-

Hadeeth brothers in India and people of the

kingdom of Saudi Arabica are the same. This is

the reason behind good ties between the two.

Sheikh also lauded the tone of integration that

the Ahle Hadeeth participants and congregation

displayed because such a tone does infact reflect

a sprit of optimism. We really need such an

integration in every field. He prayed for Jamaat

Ahel Hadeeth's success in future too.


He added that Ulama and Callers of Islam play

a key role within their communities by introducing

Islam to people and presenting its true image to

them. Ulama represent their community and its

religion and hence they should be mindful about

their words and deeds.

He indicated that Saudi Arabia exerts

remarkable efforts in serving Islam and Muslims

every where. The Kingdom plays a unique role

supporting Muslims and propagating Islamic

culture every where. He stressed that these

efforts are the best means to wisely, sensibly

and practically defend the faith of Islam. Quran

and Sunnah are basis of Saudi Government

where tazeer,hudood and Islamic law are

executed in letter and spirit.Consequently,

peace,blessing and divine favour prevail in the

Kingdom. He said that Islam recognizes others

and urges Muslims to love their neighbours and

all other people.The perfect model of the Holy

Prophet (S.A.W.) in all respects is before us,

challenging us to follow it meticulously to get

the desired results in the context of modern

world. May Allah bless us to fulfil this obligation

solely for His pleasure, make us the medium of

guidance to others and accept it from us. Ameen!

I would like to take this opportunity to praise

the sincere effort of Hafiz Muhammad Yahya,

the Ameer Jamat Ahle hadeeth, Hind, Maulana

Asghar Imam Mahadi Salafi, General Secretary

for their enthusiasm and warm welcome. Sheikh

Abdur Rahman As-Sudais concluded by

praying to Allah to make this meeting successful.

The Imame Haram has returned back to Saudi

Arabia on March 28, 2011. He is not physically

present among us but his pleasant voice,charming

recitation,beautiful personality and sweet

memories would remain with us for long.His

journey to India was delightful and sermon at

Ahle Hadeeth Complex was witnessed as an

event rarely seen in the history of Jamaate Ahle

Hadeeth. It was evident in parks, roadsides,

rooftops and above all inside the Ahle Hadeeth

Jama Masjid where recitation of Holy Quran

were being held.The Simple Truth is reminding

its readers through this issue about the divinely

ordained duty of calling people to the Path of

God.May our efforts bear fruits and may this

issue encorrage the Ummah to become a beacon

of faith in the dismal darkness of doubt.

May Allah endow a long life to Sheikh Abdur

Rahman As-Sudais. Ameen! Our solute and

thanks goes to Khadimul Harmain Ash-Sharifain

King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, HRH Crown

Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz and HRH Prince

Naif Bin Abdul Aziz , Minister of Interior for

kind visit of Imame Haram to India. We make

special thanks to Saudi Ambassador to India

Mr Faisal Bin Hasan Al-Turad to make this event

happen.

O Allah! We ask for a mercy from you by which

You will guide our hearts, settle our affairs,

remove our cares, protect us from what is unseen

to us, make our faces radiant, purify our deeds,

inspire us with wisdom, avert calamities from us

and protect us from every evil.

O Allah! We seek refuge in you against

difficulties,calamities, troubles, oppression and

the ridicule of enemies. Ameen!.

µµµ


“The first House (of worship) appointed for

men was that at Bakka (Makkah): Full of

blessing and of guidance for all the worlds”

(Surah Ale-Imran:96)

The Kaba is, the House of Allah. Its foundation

goes back by Arab tradition to Prophet Ibrahim.

Its fourfold character is here referred to:

1. It was the centre to which all the Arab tribes

resorted for trade, for poetic contestus, and for

worship. 2)It was sacred territory, and was

respected by friend and foe alike. At all seasons,

all fighting was and is forbidden within its limits,

and even arms are not allowed to be carried

and no game or other thing is allowd to be killed.

Like the Cities of Refuge under the Mosaic

Dispensation, to which manslayers could flee

or the Sanctuaries in Mediaeval Europe, to

which criminals could not be pursued. Makkah

was recognized by Arab custom as inviolable

for the pursuit of revenge or violence. (3) It was

a place of prayer: even today there is a station

of Prophet Ibrabim.(4) It must be held pure and

sacred for all purposes.

Bible itself testifies that Jerusalem was built by

Prophet Solomon more than four and a half

centuries after Prophet Moses and that it was

during his time that the worshippers of the One

God began to pray towards it. It is established

KAABA-THE FIRST HOUSE OF

WORSHIP

by traditions from numerous sources which are

undisputed throughout Arabica, however, that

the Kaaba was constructed by Prophet Ibrahim

who lived some eight or nine centuries before

Prophet Moses. That the Kaaba was older than

the temple of Jerusalem was beyond dispute.

It is further stated that there are several clear

signs which prove that Makkah sanctuary

enjoys God’s blessing and has been chosen by

Him as His Sanctuary. Although rest of Arabia

was plunged into chaos and disorder for about

two and a half thousand years, peace and

tranquillity reigned in both the precincts and the

environs of the Kaba. Thanks to the Kaba the

entire Arbian Peninsula enjoyed four months of

peace and order every year. These were the

sacred months when people went on pilgrimage.

Moreover, barely a half century before the

revelation of these verses, people had seen how

Abraha, the Abyssinian invader, fell prey to

God’s scourge when he attacked Makkah with

the intention of destroying the Kaabah.Its

memory was fresh and many eye witnesses were

still alive at the time of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)

Even during the pre Islamic era the Age of

Ignorance in Arabia- this sanctuary injoyed such

veneration that even those who thirsted for each

other's blood saw their enemies in the sacred

territory but dare not to attack them.

Guidance from the Holy Quran


1.Narrated Aisha (The wife of the Holy

Prophet) Allah’s Apostle said:” No calamity

befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some

of his sins because of it, even though it were

the prick he receives from a thorn”.

2.Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri and Abu

Hurairah, The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said, “

No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor

sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim,

even if it were the prick he receives from a

thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins

for that.

3.Narrated Kaab; The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)

said: The example of a believer is that of a fresh

tender plant, which the wind bends it sometimes

and some time it makes it straight and the

example of a hypocrite is that of pine tree which

keeps straight till once it is uprooted suddenly.

4.Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allah’s Apostle

(S.A.W.) said:” The example of a believer is

that of a fresh tender plant, from whatever

direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when

the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight

again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with

calamities (but he remains patient till Allah

removes his difficulties).And an impious wicked

person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and

straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when

He wishes.”

PATIENTS

Pearls From the Holy Prophet

5.Narrated Abdullah: I visited Allah’s Apostle

(S.A.W.) while he was suffering from a highfever. I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! You have a

high fever.” He said: “Yes, I have as much fever

as two men of you”. I said,” Is it because youwill have a double reward?” He said, “Yes, it is

so. No Muslim is afflicted with any harm, even

if it were the Prick of a thorn, but that Allahexpiates his sins because of that, as a tree sheds

its leaves”.

6.Narrated Al-Bara bin Azib: Allah’s Apostle(S.A.W.) ordered us to do seven things andforbade us to do seven other things. He forbadeus to wear gold rings, sik, dibaj, Istabriq, Qissy,and Maithara, and ordered us to accompanyfuneral processions, visit the sick and greet every

body.

7.Narrated Ata bin Abi Rabah ibn Abbas saidto me, “Shall I show you a woman of the peopleof Paradise?” I said,”Yes”. He said,” This blacklady came to the Prophet (S.A.W.) and said, “Iget attacks of epilepsy and my body becomesuncovered. Please invoke Allah for me” the HolyProphet (S.A.W.) said (to her), “ If you wish, Iwill invoke Allah to cure you” She said;”I willremain patient, and added” but I becomeuncovered, so please invoke Allah for me that Imay not become uncovered” So he invoked

Allah for her”.

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)


Full Name: Abdur Rahman bin Abdul Aziz binAbdullah bin Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz binMuhammad bin Abdullah

Nickname: As-Sudais

Sheikh Abdur Rahman As-Sudais is a GrandImam of Masjide Haram in Makkah, SaudiArabia. He is well known for his pleasingrecitation of Holy Quran. He is eminent for hisgreat impression as well as simplicity. Headditionally leads a Taraweeh prayer duringRamadhan (with alternative Imams together withSheikh Saud Al-Shuraim). Sheikh As- Sudaiswas born in 1382 A.H (1961) in El-Bakiria inthe region of El-Kassim, Saudi Arabia. He comesfrom Anza clan. He became Hafiz of the HolyQuran at the age 12 in (1975) in Riyadh, in amasjid headed by Sheikh Abdur Rahman al-Faryan. He was also tought by SheikhMuhammad Ali Hussain and Sheikh MuhammadAbdul Majeed Zakir, as well as various otherscholars.

Sheikh Abdur Rahman grew up in Riyadh

attending the “Mathna bin Hartha” Primary

School as well as the Scientific Academy ofRiyadh. There he studied under various scholars

including Sheikh Abdullah Munaif and Sheikh

Abdulla bin Abdur Rahman Al-Tawayjari. DrAbdur Rahman As-Sudais graduated from this

Academy with a grading of “Excellent” in the

year 1399 A.H (1978 A.C) and went to Islamic

Academy of Riyadh and left in (1403 A.H) 1982A.C. After this he became Imam and khateeb

of the Masjid Sheikh Al-Allam Abdul Razzaq

Afifi. He also began teaching at the AcademyImam Al Dawa Al Almy.

It was in the year 1404 that he was appointedImam and Khateeb of Majsidul-Harram,Makkah. There he first led the Asr prayer onthe date 22nd Shaban (1404). His first Khutbahwas on 15th Ramadahn 1404. In the year DrAbdur Rahman got his Master Degree, grading“Excellent” from the Shariah College of ImamMuhammad Bin Saud University in 1987 andperceived his PhD, in Islamic Shariah againgrading “Excellent” in the year 1416 (1995)A.C. He moved onto to being assistant teacherat the prestigious Ummul Qura University,Makkah where he obtained his Doctorate, againgrading “Excellent” in the year 1416. He wastherefore appointed lecturer in the ShariahCollege of the Ummul Qura University.

Sheikh was selected to be the Islamicpersonality in 2005 (1426 A.H.) by a Dubai.International Holy Quran Award(DIHQA).Organising Committee.

Sheikh As-Sudais is married and father of twoboys and two girls. His children all study in aQuranic learning center. He is also an Imam inAbd Arrahman Assaaydi Mosque in Al AwalyStreet in Makkah.

SHEIKH ABDUR RAHMAN AS-SUDAIS

GRAND IMAM OF MASJIDE HARAM

Personality


We have rendered the shrine (the Ka‘aba atMakkah) a focal point for the people, and asafe sanctuary. You may use Abraham’s shrineas a prayer house. We commissioned Abrahamand Ismail: “You shall purify My House for thosewho circumambulate it , those who live there,and those who bow and prostrate.” (Surah Al-Baqara:125)

The History of Kaaba As A Place Of Worship

Kaaba, also known as, Ka’bah, is the centerof the holiest place of worship in Islam, i.e. theSacred Mosque of Mecca, Al Masjid Al-Haram.Its name is an Arabic word that means a homeor a room that looks like a cube.. It is a cubeshaped stone structure built in the middle of theSacred Mosque. The Kaaba was built byProphet Abraham as a landmark for the Houseof God, for the sole purpose of worshipping ofGod Alone.

As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine,together with Ismail (they prayed): “Our Lord,accept this from us. You are the Hearer, theOmniscient.(Surah Al-Baqrah:127)

Kaaba is the center of the circumambulationsperformed during the pilgrimage (hajj), and it is

toward the Kaaba that Muslims face in theirprayers (salat). Before Prophet Muhammed’sadvent, Meccans who lost the religion ofAbraham, Monotheism, worshipped many idols,most notable of which were al-Lat, al-Uzza, andManat. The Black Stone, of meteoric origin, islocated at one of its outside corners. It has beenused by the pilgrims as a landmark to count thenumber of circumambulations. Some traditionalMuslims put emphasis on touching it and kissingit. The actual structure of the Kaaba has beendemolished and rebuilt several times in thecourse of its history. Around the Kaaba is arestricted area, haram, extending in somedirections as far as 12 miles, into which onlyMuslims may enter.

Kaaba is located in the city of (Makkah) in theArabian desert in the Arabian Peninsula, of whatis known today as Saudi Arabia.

Location Of (Makkah)

Makkah is at the intersection of latitude 21 to25 degree north and longitude 39 to 49 degreeeast. It is set in a rugged landscape consistingmostly of solid granite, with rocks sometimesreaching 300 meters (1,000 feet) above sea

A Brief History of Kaaba

Islamic Feature


level.

Makkah is enclosed by the Valley of Abraham,which is surrounded by two nearby mountainranges to the east, west and south. The northernrange comprises the Al-Falaq and Qu’aqi’anmountains, while the southern range consists ofAbu Hudaidah mountain to the west, Kuday tothe south and Abu Qubais and Khindimah tothe south-east.

There are three main entrances to Makkah: Al-Mu’allat (also known as Al-Hujûn), Al-Musfalah, and Al-Shubaikah.

Kaaba & Mecca In History

Edward Gibbon writes about the Ka’bah andits existence before the Christian era in his book:

..... of blind mythology of barbarians - of thelocal deities, of the stars, the air, and the earth,of their sex or titles, their attributes orsubordination. Each tribe, each family, eachindependent warrier, created and changed therites and the object of this fantastic worship; butthe nation, in every age, has bowed to the religionas well as to the language of Makkah . Thegenuine antiquity of Kaaba ascends beyond theChristian era: in describing the coast of the RedSea the Greek historian Diodorus has remarked,between the Thamudites and the Sabeans, afamous temple, whose superior sanctity wasrevered by all the Arabians; the linen of silkenveil, which is annually renewed by the Turkishemperor, was first offered by the Homerites, whoreigned seven hundred years before the time ofMohammad.[2]

Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian of 1stcentury BC who wrote Bibliotheca Historica, abook describing various parts of the discoveredworld. The following lines are the Englishtranslation of Greek quoted by Gibbon from thebook of Diodorus Siculus (Diodorus of Sicily)describing the ‘temple’ considered to be the theholiest in the whole of Arabia.

And a temple has been set-up there, which isvery holy and exceedingly revered by allArabians.

It is interesting to know that Claudius Ptolemyof Alexandria, mathematician and astronomer,flourishing about a century after Pliny, undertookto make an atlas of the habitable world. He wasnot a descriptive geographer, and his book wasintended to be no more than a commentary onhis maps. He enumerated some hundred andfourteen cities or villages in Arabia Felix.

Apart from this a place called Macoraba is alsoshown which is identified as Makkah G E vonGrunebaum says:

Mecca is mentioned by Ptolemy, and the namehe gives it allows us to identify it as a SouthArabian foundation created around a sanctuary.

Makkah In The Scriptures

The Qur’ân talks about Bakkah (the older nameof Makkah) being the first house of worshipappointed for mankind. It also addresses thisplace as Umm ul-Qurâ i.e., Mother of theSettlements.

“The most important shrine established for the


people is the one in Becca; a blessed beaconfor all the people. In it are clear signs: the stationof Abraham. Anyone who enters it shall begranted safe passage. The people owe it toGOD that they shall observe Hajj to this shrine,when they can afford it. As for those whodisbelieve, GOD does not need anyone.”[Quran; 3:96-97]

The Bible also mentions about the valley of Bacain connection with the pilgrimage. Below is thequote from Psalms 84 (NIV):

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORDAlmighty!

2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courtsof the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out forthe living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home, andthe swallow a nest for herself, where she mayhave her young— a place near your altar, OLORD Almighty, my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;they are ever praising you.

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,they make it a place of springs; the autumn rainsalso cover it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength, till eachappears before God in Zion.

8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;listen to me, O God of Jacob.

9 Look upon our shield, O God; look with

favor on your anointed one.

10 Better is one day in your courts than athousand elsewhere; I would rather be adoorkeeper in the house of my God than dwellin the tents of the wicked.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; theLORD bestows favor and honor; no good thingdoes he withhold from those whose walk isblameless.

12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man whotrusts in you.

The interpretation of the valley of Baca in theThe Jewish Encylopedia is quite interesting,though it does not provide a complete evidenceand leaves the reader with a suggestion. Belowis the full quote.

Baca, The Valley Of: A valley mentioned inPsalms LXXXIV:7. Since it is there said thatpilgrims transform the valley into a land of wells,an old translators gave to Baca, the meaning ofa “valley of weeping”; but it signifies rather anyvalley lacking water. Support for this latter viewis to be found in II Samuel V:23 et seq. ; IChronicles XIV:14 et seq ., in which the pluralform of the same word designates a tree similarto the balsam tree; and it was supposed that adry valley could be named after this tree. Konigtakes Baca from the Arabian Baka’a, andtranslates it “lack of streams”. The Psalmistapparently has in mind a particular valley whosenatural condition led him to adopt its name.

The translation of Arabian Baka’a as “lack ofstream” seems to throw some light on the natureof the valley before the appearance of the stream


of Zam-Zam near Ka’bah which was a dryplace with no vegetation whatsoever.

The Anchor Bible Dictionary does not throwany light on it, albeit, there are some suggestionsin it too like the The Jewish Encylopedia. Belowis the full quote.

The interpretation of the valley of Baca as a “thevalley of weeping” makes sense because of thedistress which Hagar underwent when she wasleft with Ishmael in the barren desert with nomeans of living.

The two interpretations of Baca, viz., “lack ofstream” and “the valley of weeping” appears tofit in the context of pilgrimage to Bakkah, theolder name of Makkah where the Ka’bah issituated. Ka’bah has been a place of reverenceby all Arabians before the Christian era as wehave seen earlier.

²²²

NEW KISWA AT

HOLY KABAThe Holy Kaba is adorned with a new Kiswa

(cloth) the day of the Standing at Arafat, the

most important Haj ritual.

The new kiswa is put in place at a ceremony

organised by the presidency for the Two Holy

Mosques Affairs, attended by a number of

Saudi officials as well as diplomats from

Muslim countries.

The 200 Saudi employees of the Kaba cover

factory produce one kiswa a year. It cost

SR17 million ($4.53 million) and requires 450

kilograms of pure silk woven into

approximately 658 square meters of cloth.

The Kaba cover is a unique work of art made

of black silk and adorned with phrases in

praise of Allah. The 14-meter long cloth has

a gilded 95-cm belt along the top containing.

Phrases from the Holy Quran in Arabic

calligraphy within an arabesque frame.

Below the belt are other verses from the Holy

Quran and phrases in praise of God adorned

with Islamic decoration.

The section called burqaa, which is a curtain

covering the door of the Kaba, is similarly

embellished with text from Holy Scripture in

gold plated silver.

The complete cover is made of five pieces-

four covering each side of the cube like edifice

and the burqaa, sewn together once the cover

is in place. All gold and silver embroidery on

the kiswa is made by hand.

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The Simple Truth

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The Kingdom is considering the expansion

of the Mataaf to solve the problem of

overcrowding and provide safety for the

pilgrims

A study for the expansion of the

circumambulation (Tawaf) area of he Grand

Mosque in Makkah is being conducted,

according to Dr Saleh Bin Abdullah Bin Humaid,

Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council.

Bin Humaid mentioned the study recently during

the Al-Jasser Weekly Diwaniya in Riyadh, where

Saudi intellectuals had gathered to discuss

various local and regional issues.

Although Bin Humaid did not provide any further

details, it is expected that the expansion of the

Tawaf area is aimed at reducing the massive

overcrowding around the Holy Kaaba during

the Haj and Umra seasons. It would also help

to provide further safety for pilgrims.

According to statistics issued by the Custodian

of the Two Holy Mosques,Institute for Haj

Research, during peak periods, there are 40,000

people per hour, at the rate of six people per

square meter, performing the Tawaf.

Many of those concerned with crowd

management at the Grand Mosque said that

solutions need to be sought for overcrowding

from the Shariah and Islamic jurisprudence.

Experts in crowd management said engineers

could be brought in to help provide solutions to

the problem.

The Tawaf area has a diameter of 64.8 metres

with the centre being the Holy Kaaba. The total

area for the Tawaf-the Mataaf-is 4,100 square

metres.

The Holy Kaaba situated in the Grand Mosque

of Makkah is 14 metres high from the western

and southern sides, and 11.28 metres from the

northern side. Its inside floor is laid with coloured

marble. Its ceilings are supported by three

wooden columms, each with diameter of 44 cm.

The head of Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s

Mosque Affaris Sheikh Saleh Bin abdul Rahman

Al-Hussein said the Grand Mosque in Makkah

is to be recarpeted with nearly 14,000 carpets.

Sheikh Al-Hussein said that on instructions from

the leadership the ground floor and Mattaf area

are to have 10,000 new carpets, and 600 shoe

storage units. According to Sheikh Abdul Aziz

Al-Faleh of the Prophets Mosque Affairs, the

mosque in Madinah is to be furnished with 3,400

new carpets.

Furthermore, separate bodies for development

Expansion of the Mataaf

Islamic Feature


of the two holy cities have been formed. Prince

Khaled chaired the first meeting of the Makkah

and Holy Sites Development Authority

(MHSDA)at his office in Jeddah recently.

An independent 10-member company has been

set up under the name"Board For Capital

Investment to Develop Islamic Capital Makkah"

for the development of unplanned districts in the

holy city and provide modern amenities.

Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar said, the

company has been formed as per the decision

of the Council of Ministers.

The board, a semi-government body, will have

the Mayor of Makkah as its chairman. It will

have five members from the government and five

civilians and investors.

The government members are Undersecretary

of Makkah Mayoralty, Undersecretary of the

Ministry of Finance, Undersecretary of the

Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Undersecretary

of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and a

representative of the Council of Beautification

of Makkah.

Al-Bar said that the civilian members and

investors are Saleh Bin Mahfooz, Anas Sairfi,

Dr Majdee Hareeri, Mazen Batterjee and

Mansoor Bin Saeed.

He said the board is a fully independent body

and will not require any permission from

government for implementing its projects or for

expenses.

He added that it will develop infrastructure

projects and raise funds. The monorail project

for the city will also be executed under the

supervision of the board.

The board will evolve a comprehensive network

of communications connecting the city’s hotels

and all other important places with all the major

cities of the world.

The mayor said the board will construct 5,000

individual apartments with modern amenities in

the east of Makkah at Uma Al-Jood, in the West

at Al-Sharaye and in the south in Al-Rasdiyyah,

at affordable prices.

The authority that will look after the development

of Madinah will be headed by Madina Gov.

Price Abdul Aziz Bin Majed while Prince Khaled

will head the authority of the development of

Makkah. The decision to bifurcate the old

development body aims at spurring the

development of the holy cities and ensuring

smooth execution of projects.

Both the bodies will have the minister of finance

and the minister of Haj as members in addition

to the mayors of Makkah and Madinah who

will be members in their respective bodies.

The meeting appointed Sami Bar-hamin as the

secretary general of the new authority for

Makkah.

Prince Khaled told the meeting that an

international firm was conducting studies on new

development projects in Makkah.

He lauded the role of Prince Miteb, former

minister of municipal and rural affairs, saying the

credit for the development of Makkah goes to

him. Prince Miteb was the chairman of the old

authority that looked after the development of

both the holy cities.

The developments we now see in Makkah are

the result of Prince Miteb’s efforts, Prince


Khaled said. Both Makkah and Madinah should

get their share of development.

The meeting also discussed the setting up of an

executive committee for MHSDA. The issue of

separating the financial allocations for MHSDA

from that of the erstwhile development authority

for the two holy cities also came under

discussion.

Al-Bar has said that there would be no

postponement or delay in the implementation of

development projects in the holy city. All

projects will be executed as planned. There will

be no delay, he said.

Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf and

Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry have

signed a contract with a UK-based company

for the management of the railway project.

The Ministry of Transport is keen to complete

all steps required for the implementation of the

railway project, Al Seraisry said while signing

the contract.

Makkah mayor said the Holy Sites Monorail

project was also progressing as scheduled.

Anyone who visits the holy sites can see the

progress of work, “ he said, adding that the

works on the King Abdul Aziz Parallel Road

had progressed considerably. The monorail

project will help withdraw about 53,000 buses

and other vehicles being used by pilgrims coming

by land from within the kingdom and

neighbouring GCC countries.

Al-Bar said the Makkah municipality has signed

two contract with two national companies at the

value of SR50 million for the construction of a

bridge and the building of walls and steps at

various mountains. We are keen to implement

various projects for the welfare of the public

after carefully assessing the needs and

requirements of residents, he added.

The mayor said the first to these project is a

bridge to be built in Mahbas Al-Jin residential

area at the cost of SR32.3 million while the

second consists of steps and walls to protect

against falling rocks in mountains near the city

at a cost of SR 17.7 million.

The Ministry of Rural and Municipal affairs

launched a programmme to develop the

performance of municipalities.The programmme

consists of measures to revise and evaluate

performance,parametres for development.

Al-Bar said the programme will tackle various

issues including good governance, management,

strategic planning and analysis of work, and

managing human resources and customer

satisfaction.

Teams from the ministry will carry out field tours

to check the quality of services being provided

to residents.

A sum of SR22 billion has been given in

compensation to the owners of nearly 1,000

properties due to be demolished to make way

for expansions to the courtyards of the Grand

Mosque in Makkah.

Abbas Qattan of the Courtyards Development

Committee, who announced the figure two days

ahead of starting on phase two of works on the

north courtyard, which will see property

disconnected from water and electricity, said the

figure represented the amount already paid out.

Services disconnection will pave the way for the

demolition of a total of 962 properties for the


expansion to the courtyard, while some

properties will be removed later in the year to

allow the construction of pedestrian subway

turnnels and a central services station.

Qattan said that pedestrian subways would lead

to the north courtyard from Al-Hujoun Street

and Omar Bin Abdul Aziz Street. An emergency

tunnel from Khaled Bin Al-Waleed Street will

connect the other two subways.

The expansion of the north and northwest sides

of the mosque, ordered by King Abdullah in the

first days of 2008, was originally expected to

require SR6 billion to compensate owners of

requisitioned land and demolished property. The

works will open up space of approximately

300,000 square metres for an additional

500,000 worshipers.

In another development, the presidency of the

Two Holy Mosques Affairs unveiled its plan for

this year’s Umra season. The plan is aimed at

creating an atmosphere that is perfectly suitable

for worship inside the Grand Mosque and its

precincts. The plan will ensure that all usual

services to pilgrims are provided in coordination

with related departments, said Vice President

of the presidency of the Two Holy Mosque

Muhammad Al-Khuzaim.

He said 4,020 people are working under the

presidency. While 1,800 people, including

women, are working as regular staff, there are

400 seasonal hands and 1,820 labourers, he

said.

He added that more multilingual teachers and

muftis would be employed for this year's, season,

and that as the expansion of the Masaa has

been completed, work on the northward

expansion of the mosque’s courtyard would be

undertaken this year.

The other tasks include increasing the number

of Zamzam taps in place of water drums,

completing the process of naming gates along

the Masa’s and placing more sign boards inside

and outside the mosque. “You Are Here” location

maps will also be updated and more studies on

crowd movement are to be conducted, he said.

Al-Khuzaim also called on Umra pilgrims andvisitors to the Grand Mosque to refrain fromactions that violate the sanctity of the GrandMosque such as smoking. He said pilgrimswould not be allowed to bring food, drinks andbaggage into the mosque, and urged people notto perform ablution at Zam Zam drinking pointsand not to fill bottles at such places to avoidspilling fluids on the marble. The official alsourged worshipers not to sleep inside the mosque,cooperate in keeping it clean, place shoes onracks and discard rubbish in garbage bins.

He also welcomed suggestions. Members of thepublic, including pilgrims, can submit theirsuggestion directly to the presidency’s office, viafax (025739992 ) or through the presidency’swebsite.

Meanwhile, about 1,000 students from varioussecondary schools in Makkah partipated in avoluntary campaign to clean the Grand Mosquerecently before the start of the Umra season.

The boys, who were supervised by 96 cleaningofficials from the Presidency of Holy Mosquesaffairs, cleaned the Mataaf (the courtyard onwhich worshippers circumambulate the Kaaba),carpets and the points where Zam Zam water is

available in the mosque. They also polished metal

(On Page:21)


The Kingdom is Planning An Ambitious

Project to Make Makkah One of The Most

Beautiful Cities in The World

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal recently

an-nounced the new Makkah development

strategy which aims to make the holy city a role

model for the kingdom and the Islamic world.

The implementation of the strategy has already

started. Prince Khaled said that the Makkah

development strategy was centred on the Holy

Kaba, adding that it was focussing on

developing human beings and achieving

sustained and balanced development for all

major cities and towns in the region.

The project will change the shape of

underdeveloped districts, which will have new

shopping centres, hospitals, schools and housing

complexes. He added that the development

strategy for Makkah province was devised in

light of his 30-year expertise as governor of Asir

province and his experience with the Ri-Yadh

Development Authority.

“The development of Makkah should be an

exceptional one considering its unique position,”

the governor told UN team involved in preparing

a comprehensive development plan for

Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites of Mina,

Arafat and Muzdalifah.

Prince Khaled briefed the UN officials on the

development plan for Makkah including quality

of buildings, transport means, road systems and

application of modern technology in the service

of pilgrims coming for Haj and Umra.

“The development plan for Makkah should be

different from that of any other city and should

protect its cultural identity, “ The governor said.

The UN team will review the development plan

for Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites, which

is being prepared by a Canadian consultancy

firm with the support of Saudi experts.

The strategy has given priority to the

development of people through education and

training, improvement of Haj and Umra services,

solving the water problem by increasing supply

and the expansion of infrastructure facilities.

He said a number of new projects have been

planned for the overall development of the

Makkah province. These include development

of the underdeveloped residential districts,

Jedda’s northern and southern Corniche, and

new tourism projects in Taif, Qunfuda and Al-

Laith.

Aiming High

By: Abu Ali

Islamic Feature


Prince Khaled described the plan to develop

the underdeveloped residential districts in

Makkah and Jeddah as one of the Kingdom’s

largest projects. The plan aims to improve the

situation of people living in underdeveloped

districts.

Prince Khaled, who is chairman of the executive

committee for the development of

underdeveloped districts, said there are 60 such

districts in Makkah and 52 in Jeddha. “It’s not

just making housing plans, rather it is a

comprehensive humanitarian, social, cultural,

health, educational and security project,” he

said.

“ We have to promote a culture of development

among members of the community. It will

certainly have great impact on their behaviour

and lifestyle.

Prince Khaled said the private sector would have

a greater role in carrying out development

projects in the province. “We expect no less

than 40 percent participation from the private

sector”.

Previously, a high-level conference was held at

Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah to discuss

plans to develop Makkah as an intelligent city.

The international conference discussed how to

transform the holy city into an intelligent city with

the aim of improving facilities and services being

rendered to the millions of pilgrims who come

for Haj and Umra. Prince Khaled had

inaugurated the intelligent city conference. This

conference was considered the biggest event

specialized in this field, held in the kingdom.

The first topic covered the familiarization of the

needs of smart cities and review of successful

initiatives of new smart cities. The second topic

discussed smart buildings and homes. It talked

about the latest international developments and

the best examples of intelligent buildings and

homes that would include different techniques

which would connect locally and internationally

through broadband. Intelligent homes will include

computer networks and security system and

monitoring cameras and controlling lights through

cell phones.

The third topic discussed the needs of Makkah.

The holy city aims to transform into an intelligent

city with intelligent capabilities. The change itself

is challenging. Changing the city into an intelligent

city of international standard needs to take into

consideration the needs of pilgrims and visitors

from all over the world. The main aim of the

holy city is to provide the best of services to

visitors by providing the best of technical

services. Executives of leading international IT

companies, including Microsoft, attended the

conference.

The two-day forum was aimed at ex-pediting

the application of modern intelligent city

technologies in Makkah to facilitate the housing

and transportation of pilgrims and other guests

who come to the city,”said Makkah Mayor

Osama Al-Bar,”We also want to make Makkah

a model for other Islamic cities”.

The conference focused on best practices in

intelligent cities, intelligent habitats, homes, and

other residential, commercial and public facilities.

It addressed the specific needs and applications

necessary for Makkah to become a smart city.


The presence of intelligent city facilities will speed

up communication with the outside world and

boost cultural, economic and commercial

development, Nabeel Koshak, chairman of the

organizing committee, said.

The transformation of Makkah into a world-

class intelligent city will help address the needs

of pilgrims from around the world, said

Mohammed Maqazi, head of the conferences

scientific committee. The pilgrims need

accommodation, meals information and

communication channels and various modes of

transportation, he said.

A combination of the latest technologies that

integrate fixed and wireless broadband

networks, fixed and mobile GIS and GPS

applications, and user-friendly information and

communication points can greatly enhance the

visitors experience, and the city’s objective of

providing quality services to its visitors. The

conference discussed e-government, safety

control systems and security application,

intelligent city managemet application, and how

to develop a large community of users with ICT

skills. Following the two-day conference, a

number of national and international companies

expressed their readiness to provide applications

required to make Makkah an intelligent city.

The conference’s delegates said the

implementation of infrastructure projects to

develop Makkah into a smart city would start

next year, adding that the new electronic would

serve millions of pilgrims who visit the holy city

every year. The new applications will include

those for issuing electronic visa, managing

electronic transport systems, interactive

geographical information systems, and providing

smart Haj cards. The delegates at the conference

proposed the formation of a working group

under the chairmanship of Prince Khaled to

implement a strategic plan for the development

of Makkah. The committee will identify smart

city applications and make proposals on how

to finance them. The high level panel will make

the necessary efforts to remove obstacles

hindering the implementation of new

infrastructure projects within a time frame.

The delegates proposed a similar conference

after two years to review the progress of work.

Al-Bar said the municipality’s strategic plan is

to improve its services. We want to develop a

number of new applications to meet the

requirement of an intelligent city, he said.

Expanding the capacity of the holy sites to

accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims

is one of the major challenges facing the

kingdom's Haj managers, he said.

Ahmed Yamani, chief technology officer at the

Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority

(SAGIA) said the government has allocated

$20 bil-lion from the gross domestic product to

build smart cities since 2006. At present we are

focusing on importing technology from South

Korea and Japan, Yamani said adding that the

formation of smart cities would boost the

Kingdom's ecnomy.

Mohammed Banten, president of Saudi Post,

said a database has been created to facilitate

the arrival and departure of pilgrims.

The database will provide all information about


a pilgrim including his name, age, country, health

condition, flight details, and accommodation in

Makkah and Madinah. He said the Saudi Post

had prepared a map of Makkah with indicators

to help locate various places in the city easily

and quickly. The conference discussed the

relevance of Worldwide Interoperability for

Microwave Access (Wimax) to facilitate

communication between Makkah’s residential

districts. Microsoft presented technological

solutions to make smart homes and smart cities

through a variety of environment friendly service

systems. The use of RFID system in collecting

information about pilgrims was also debated.

The Makkah development project will change

the shape of underdeveloped districts, which will

have new shopping centres, hospitals,schools

and housing complexes. Residents of these areas

would be given adequated time to vacate their

housees and housed in new homes built in

suburban area. He said measures have been

taken to improve the performance of

government departments in the province. We

have also taken new initiatives to improve the

services being rendered to pilgrims who come

for Haj and Umra,” he added. Hotel and

shopping complex projects, followed by the

construction of residential units and tourist

projects have topped the list of investment

activities in Makkah province in recent years.

Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce and Industry

Abdullah Zainal Alireza approved the

establishement of a national Haj and Umra

Committee in Makkah as requested by the

Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(MCCI).

The proposed committee will comprise three

existing committees that deal with Haj and Umra

matters in the Chambers of commerce in Jeddah,

Makkah and Madinah. The national committee,

for which the commerce minister has issued

approval will strive to identify the problems faced

by the Haj and Umra industry and come up with

solutions for them in collaboration with other

departments, said MCCI Haj and Umra

Committee Chairman Saad Al-Qarshi in a

statement.

Al-Qarshi added that the MCCI took the

initiative for the establishment of the committee

and recommended the names of its members.

He also said the new committee would work in

concert with other related governmental

departments and private agencies with the

ultimate aim of making Haj and Umra more

comfortable and safe for pilgrims.

Meanwhile, as part of its efforts to increase safety

and comfort of Haj pilgrims, the Ministry of Haj

has decided to assign doctors and clinics to

Tawafa establishments (the organizations that

take care of Haj pilgrims) during this Haj season.

The Ministry of Haj is also keen on protecting

pilgrims from the H1N1 pandemic. The Ministry

of Haj is in constant touch with the Ministry of

Health to obtain all instructions and

precatutionary measures against the flu so that

the Haj missions in various countries can instruct

their pilgrims on the precautions to be taken ,Haj

Minister Fouad Al-Farsy said in a statement after

his visit of the Tawafa organizations in Makkah

recently.

The Haj Ministry affirms of all Haj delegations


and other tour organizers to follow the

recommendations of the recent meeting of health

ministers (referring to the recent emergency

meeting of health ministers in Cairo on the

preventive measures to be taken by pilgrims),

Al-Farsy said. The minister added that his

ministry has made vast preparations to serve

pilgrims so that they would be able to perform

their rites with total comfort during this Haj

season.

That is in line with the directives of Custodian of

the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown

Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of

defense and aviation, and Second Deputy

Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif,”the

minister said.

The minister added that he had met with 80 Haj

delegations in order to discuss matters such as

pilgrims, accommodation, transportation and

awarenees campaigns on Haj rites.

The fact that this year's number of Umra pilgrims

is 300,000, which is higher than their number

last year affirms the fact that the kingdoms

service to them is on the rightrack with all

government departments and private agencies

trying their best to make the pilgrims stay and

worshipping safe and comfortable, “ he said.

He also noted the number of overstay fell to

0.25 per cent during the current year, according

to the figures made available by the Passport

Department. The ministry has made the Tawafa

establishments to function under an organisation

in order to coordinate with each other.

(Courtesy: Haj and Umrah; November,2009)

(From Page:16)

trimmings around the prayer complex.

Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second DeputyPremier, Interior Minister and Chairman of theHigher Haj Committee has made it clear thatowners who do not conform to the country’ssafety regulations will not be allowed toaccommodate pilgrims in their buildings for thisyear’s Haj.

He said this applies to buildings in Makkah andMadinah which did not conform to the CivilDefence’s safety conditions this year.

Major-General Saleh Bin Salem Al-Mohawas,Dircetor General of Civil Defence in Madinah,said the directives took into consideration thelarge number of residential buildings needed inMakkah. This city’s buildings will have lessstringent conditions than those in Madinah.

He said this comprehensive vision is aimed atserving pilgrims by providing them with adequateand safe housing.

Major Abdullah Bin Thabit Al-Urabi Al-Harithy,the Spokesman for the Civil Defence in Makkah,said there were 5,800 buildings in Makkahwhich could absorb up to 1.5 million pilgrims.

The new safety regulations would be enforcedfrom Muharram until the end of Rajab.

It also means the Civil Defence and mayoraltyhave to deal jointly with engineering studies,design and structural matters. In addition, theMinistry of Haj must determine the building’scapacity, the mechanism of accommodation andcleanliness.

In Madinah, there are 974 residential buildingsable to accommodate 370,000 pilgrims.

(Courtesy: Haj and Umrah:April,2011)


As part of its efforts to provide complete

comfort to pilgrims and worshipers, the General

Presidency of Holy Mosques Affairs has made

available more than a million copies of the Holy

Quran inside the Grand Mosque.

The Presidency said all the copies, of different

sizes, were printed at King Fahd Quran Printing

Complex in Madinah. It further added that the

copies are being kept in 2,200 copper and 850

wooden cabinets and 733 wooden shelves all

over the Grand Mosque.

According to the Presidency, the Quran has

been translated into more than 12 languages,

English French, Urdu, Turkish and Spanish.

Sepecial copies of the Quran are also printed in

Braille for the blind, it added.

Furthermore, the Department of Call and

Guidance at the Holy Haram has installed more

than 100 telephone cabins inside the Grand

Mosque and at its doors for pilgrims and visitors

to call scholars to clear their doubts on religious

matters.

More than 50 Islamic scholars will be available

throughout the day to receive and answer

queries.

The department has also provided more than

20 religious scholars to deliver lectures during

the holy month of Ramadan. The scholars

included Sheikh Saleh Al-Lihaidhan, Youssef Al-

Ghifais, Saad Al-Shethri and Abdul Aziz Al-

Rajhi.

The department had also distributed earphones

in the courtyards and special praying areas for

women to enable them to follow the religious

lessons. It has also printed more than 1.2 million

booklets on creed and other religious issues.

The department had made arrangements to

translate the Friday sermon for the deaf and hard

of hearing using sign language. It had likewise

dedicated underground floors for Itikaf

(Seclusion for worship).

Authorities have made arrangements to ensure

that all crowd control during Ramadan, Haj and

Umra seasons will in future be handled by a

special task force of 13,000 security officers.

This special task force was formed tow years

ago and initially consisted of 20 officers and

2,000 non-commissioned officers.

Brig. Ali Al-Ghamdi, commander of the Special

Force for the Security of Haj and Umra, said

they will handle all crowd control in the areas

leading to and around, the Grand Masque in

Makkah effective this year. He added security

officers will monitor the crowds with surveillance

Welcome Change

Islamic Feature


cameras linked to an operation room. In

addition, the size of the crowds will be monitored

so that no one else will be allowed to enter once

the Grand Mosque is filled.

Other duties to be carried out by security

personnel include helping elderly and sick

pilgrims perform their rituals. Al-Ghamdi said

instructions have been given that a certain

number of wheelchairs are set aside for this

purpose.

The Ramadan plan for the force was divided

into stages. The first stage covered the first 20

days of Ramadan and the second stage covered

the last 10 days of the month until the Eid prayers.

The plan applies to all east and south-east yards,

and the Holy Haram’s 16 gates, “he said.

Officers will also organize the entry and exit of

worshippers at Isha and Taraweeh prayers to

prevent stampedes. He said posters written in

four languages Arabic, English, Urdu and French

will be displayed to guide pilgrims to the proper

areas. He added the security officers will also

distribute publications in different languages to

help pilgrims perform their rituals properly.

The introduction of an executive plan map during

the Umra season was instrumental in helping

control huge crowds of worshippers at the

Grand Mosque in Makkah, according to an

undersecretary at the Haj Research institute.

“Crowd management at the Grand Mosque

during Ramadan, especially on the 27th night of

the holy month, was a huge success compared

to previous years”, Muhammad Idris said. He

also said the map helped those managing crowds

take quick action when necessary. He

commended security officers for their

tremendous efforts in managing crowds inside

and outside the large mosque complex, which

can accommodate more than a million

worshippers at a time on its different floors.

“The success of their efforts was quite evident

everywhere, be it inside the mosque or the

central region of Makkah,”Idris said. Previously,

the Presidency facilitated crowd management

for the Two Holy Mosques Affairs.

Special security forces have been deployed

inside and outside the mosque to prevent people

from sitting in the pathways, control entry and

exit of worshippers and ensure a smooth flow

of people.

Idris said a number of workshops on crowd

management have been conducted under the

supervision of Second Deputy Premier and

interior Minister Prince Naif and Makkah Gov.

Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.

Meanwhile, Abdul Mohsen Bin Humaid,

director of projects at the Presidency, said the

completion of the Masa’a (the area between

Safa and Marwah) expansion project this year

helped pilgrims to perform the sa’y ritual easily

and comfortably despite the huge crowds.

He said the tracks for pilgrims in wheel-chairs

in the first and second floors have been made

separate from regular pedestrians. There are

special lifts near the Masa’a to take these

pilgrims to the first and second floors and back.

Work on the Masa’a area to make it fully air-

conditioned was completed before Ramadan,

a senior official of the company executing the

project said.

He added that 822 engineers and technicians


worked round the clock to finish the task on

time. The whole mosque is planned to be air-

conditioned in four years.

As for the second floor the work will be

completed before Haj. The total cost of the

project amounts to Sr100 million. Dr. Yousuf

Al-Wabel, Assistant Deputy President for

services at the General Presidency of the Affairs

of the Grand Mosque, said Custodian of the

Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah issued an

order to air-condition the whole mosque and

the plans and designs regarding it have been

completed. A large plant for the purpose will be

set up in Al-Shamiay area.

After the recent expansion, the Masa’a area has

become 87,000 sq. metre. Approximately

120,000 people can perform the Say ritual in

an hour. The total area of all floors of Masa’a is

125,000 sq metres.

The General Presidency of Two Holy Mosques

Affairs has appointed 300 women officials to

cope with the increasing number of women

pilgrims to the Grand Mosque.

The Supervisor of the Commission for

promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice

Khaled Al-Subaie said the women guides in

the Grand Mosque undertook the task of

enlightening women pilgrims on religious rites.

They instruct them on how the pilgrims should

conduct themselves in the mosque. They also

take the women entering the mosque to the place

reserved for women.

Al-Subaie added that 151 women guides were

working in four shifts at various locations in the

mosque including the courtyards.

They checked the women visitors at the gates

day and night. While 20 guides supervised the

cleaning operations in the women’s area in two

shifts, 10 guides took care of the copies of the

Holy Quran kept in the women’s section.

Another 20 guides worked in the courtyards to

see that women did not pray on passages and

walkways. They also seated the women in lines

and corrected the rows in the courtyards, he

said.

Al-Ghamdi, meanwhile, said that an additional

300 non-commissioned officers have undergone

intensive training at Umm Al-Qura University to

help them assist pilgrims and visitors.

They will also help the traffic police to organize

the movement of pedestrians by directing them

to less crowded areas.

In addition, they will work with the Search and

investigation forces to protect pilgrims from

pickpockets.

To prevent pilgrims from shaving their heads in

the yards of the Grand Mosque in Makkah after

completing Umra,220 permanent and seasonal

inspectors have been mobilized.

The move is to uphold standarsds of hygiene

and cleanliness. The yards have been carpeted

for prayers.

The Administration of the Yards at the Grand

Mosque, an affiliate of the General Presidency

of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque, has

deployed the inspectors. The inspectors are

tasked with directing pilgrims to licensed barber

shops.

The administration will also urge pilgrims and

visitors not to use the yards as gathering places

because this hampers the movement of pilgrims


and creates other problems.

It also said people should not make ablution at

Zam Zam water areas because these are

allocated for drinking only. People have also

been asked to refrain from filling containers and

bottles with Zam Zam water because the water

taps in the these areas are only set aside for

drinking water.

Moslah Al-Hamadi, Director of the Ad-

ministration of Yards, said the inspectors are

also there to prevent trading in Zam Zam water

and cereals bought by worshippers which are

used to feed pigeons.

He said the administration is mainly tasked with

curbing bad habits and malpractices. This

includes preventing visitors from smoking in the

yards and taking photographs unless they have

a permit from the Presidency.

Al-Hamadi said there are 17 coloured maps

designed to enable pilgrims to identify main

streets, services areas and roads surrounding

the Holy Mosque.

He said under the supervision of the Presidency

there are charitable societies which distribute

meals to worshippers to break their fast.

Director of the Department of the Gates of the

Grand Mosque in the Presidency of the Affairs

of the Two Holy Mosques Talal Bin Saleh Al-

Thaqafi has appealed to the pilgrims and visitors

not to take food, drinks and other disposable

material inside the mosque in order to keep the

place of worship clean and sanitary.

He also asked them to cooperate with the door

guards and to abide by the rules aimed at

keeping the mosque clean and hygienic for their

own comfort.

“Only small quantities of dates and Arabian

coffee are allowed inside the Holy Haram,”he

said.

He pointed out the bags and suitcases will also

be not allowed inside the mosque.

Al-Thaqafi, however, said wheelchairs for

people of special needs are permitted to go

inside the Grand Mosque.

He said a series of meetings were recently held

with staff of his department to discuss

preparations for the Umra and Haj seasons to

ensure the comfort of pilgrims and visitors.” We

discussed the work plans taking into

consideration the previous observations in order

to deal with them,”he said.

A proposal is being mulled to install automatic,

electronically monitored lock boxes for pilgrims

to store their shoes. Students at the king Faisal

University proposed the idea last year. The Haj

Research Centre is currently studying it.

Among new ideas which were introduced in the

Haram for the comfort of the pilgrims are

escalators and the water misters to cool

temperatures. Special pumps were also built

around a number of corners to pumps out dirt.

The sound and light have been improved inside

the Haram so that people can hear prayer calls

and Quran recitation and see clearly everything.

The General Presidency of Holy Mosques

Affairs has stepped up its efforts to improve

wheelchair facilities for infirm and disabled

pilgrims.

The Presidency’s office at the eastern plaza of


King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the

Two Holy Mosques, pressed the electronic

button to signal the opening of the Zam Zam

water project invoking the name of Almighty

Allah, and drank the Zam Zam water. He also

viewed a documentary on the operation of the

project.

The project, located in Kuday District (Some

4.5 Km from the Haram), is aimed at maintaining

the purity of Zam Zam water using the latest

technology in water treatment and distributing it

in an automated manner. It will purify five million

litres of Zam Zam water everyday through two

main purification lines, each using a number of

filters and a sterilization unit.

Minister of Water and Electricity Al-Hussayen

said 10 million litres would be stored in a tank,

from which water will be pumped to the Grand

Mosque through four stainless steel pipes, each

with a diameter of 200 millimetres.

He said another two million litres would be

pumped every day to a nearby factory, which

will package the water.

He said that once the Zam Zam water is treated

and stored, it is automatically pumped to 42

distribution stations. He added that pilgrims and

visitors can obtain 10-litre containers of the

water at these points by inserting coins in special

machines.

More than 5,000 such containers will be

distributed before the next Haj season. Under

the second project, special devices will be

installed in the Grand Mosque for the automatic

cleaning and sterilization of these containers.

He said all the distribution points in Makkah are

provided with a sufficient quantity of Zam Zam

water. The presidency provides the Prophet’s

Mosque in Madinah with tankers of Zam Zam

water on a daily basis.

The Zam Zam well is 30.5 metres deep and has

a diameter ranging from 1.08 to 2.66 metres.

The well lies within Wadi Ibrahim, which runs

through Makkah.

Zam Zam water, which started gushing out nearly

4,000 years ago in a spontaneous way, is still

going strong.

The average daily consumption of Zam Zam is

more than 100 cubic metres on regular days,

which double to 200 cubic metres on Fridays,

and shoots up to more than 1.000 cubic metres

during the Ramadan and Haj season.

Not only do pilgrims coming for Haj and Umra

from all over the world, but locals also take it

home everyday to drink it to their heart’s content.

More than three million cups of Zam Zam water

are consumed daily at the Grand Mosque during

Islamic Feature

Precious Water (Zam Zam)


the month of Ramadan. More than 1,800 cubic

metres of water are consumed inside the mosque

and 270 cubic metres in the courtyards outside

each day in Ramadan.

Over centuries people gave different names to

Zam Zam-some 54 in all.

In 1395 H (1975G), during King Faisal’s time,

the old buildings of Zam Zam were pulled down

to widen the area around Kaaba,which work

was completed in a year.

The second widening in the time of King Khaled,

required the moving away of all entrances of

Zam Zam.

While digging, underground waterflooded in

many places. There was a risk. Research had

to be carried out to protect the well itself.

After proper bathing and ablutions, two divers

began a mission that had never been undertaken

before. They plunged into the divine waters of

Zam Zam on 17 Jumada 1399 (1979).

Zam Zam is 30.5 metres deep, 17 metres of

which are of granite rocks. The well’s diameter

is irregular. The part above the rocky layer is

lime with a constructed well a linear section

leaning towards the Kaba.

At this stage of work, Zam Zam well was

cleared of many objects metal mony of different

epochs, seals, emblems, pottery and earthen

vessels and copper that had been thrown in by

people who believed that doing so brought luck

and prosperity.

Down the ages, many people have examined

the qualities of Zam Zam. Muhammad Labib

Al-Bitnoni, an Egyptian author who performed

the pilgrimage before the Saudi era, wrote in his

book Al-Rhlat Al-Hijazi-yah:”The water is

alkaline, rich in sodium, calcium, potassium and

chloride salts. It has sulfuric and nitric acids too.

The combination makes it similar to mineral

waters that have healing effects.

It springs forth from beneath the venerated

House of Allah-the Kaba from the direction of

Safa and Mrwa.

The main source of Zam Zam is an opening

tending towards the Holy Kaba in the direction

of the corner facing the station of Ismail. It is

45cm long and 30cm wide and slopes

downwards. It supplies the main volume of Zam

Zam as stated in historical references.

The second main source is a broad gash

measuring 70cm long and 30cm wide, that

divides into openings within. It lies in the

direction of Ajyad.

There are also secondary sources. These aresmall outlets between the stones at the junctionof the built and hewn-parts of the well. Thereare five openings in the one-metre gap separatingthe two main sources. Besides, there ate 21 inletsdistributed from near the first main source thatopens in the direction of Abu Qubais, the Safaand the Marwa, to the second main source.These inlets are at different levels and theydischarge varying amounts of water.

The tunnels were constructed over two decadesago without conducting detailed studies on theireffect on the hydrogeology of the area. Thegovernment has installed new drainagenetworks, rendering the old tunnels redundant.

“The two tunnels had a negative effect on thehydrogeology regime in the area. They also hadan adverse effect on the Zam Zam water leve,”the project’s supervisor Samer Al-Shouman toldreporters.


“The objective was also to stabilize the eartharound the tunnels as a possible collapse wouldendanger structures above them, “he explained.

The first tunnel with a length of 1,850 metresand depth of 30 to 35 metres begins from theHajoun car park and ends near the GrandMosque’s eastern courtyard.

The second tunnel has a length of 1,300 metresand depth of 35 metres. It starts from theMaabda traffic tunnel and ends at the HajounBridge.

Earlier, a fully automated system to sterilize thecisterns that store Zam Zam water in the precinctsof the Grand Mosque in Makkah Al-Mukarrama was commissioned with capacityto handle 6,300 cisterns daily. The inside andoutside of the coolers were cleaned withordinary water and then dried before filling themwith the Zam Zam water.

The coolers are changed annually and theirnumbers increased in the Ramadan and Hajseasons.

It may be noted that an eight-page booklettracing the history of Makkha’s famous ZamZam water has been published in Makkah.

The book, titled Mehnat Zamazima Min Al-Amid ila Al-Hafid, in Arabic is by Hussein Al-Baitar, a member of one of Makkah’s famouszamazima families (the traditional distributors ofZam Zam water). The booklet includes severalprophetic (pbuh) traditions and quotes fromscholars underlying the religious significance ofZam Zam and its healing powers.

It further describes how distributing Zam Zamwater to pilgrims became the privileged serviceof certain families and how they bottled andincensed the water to give it a fragrant smell.

***

(From Page:30)

Consequently, peace, blessing and stability exist

in the kingdom. Lastly he thanked Hafiz

Muhammad Yahya (Ameere Jamaat) and

Maulana Asghar Imam Mahadi Salafi (General

Secretary) and the whole congregation for the

warm welcome, excellent arrangement and

making his visit successful.

Sheikh Abdur Rahman As-Sudais concluded by

praying to Allah to make this meeting successful

and fruitful.

Sheikh As-Sudais visit to Ahle Hadeeth

Complex was fascinating and his sermon to

Ahle-Hadeeth and other Muslim brothers was

witnessed as an event rarely seen in the history

of Jamaate Ahle hadeeth, Hind. Our solute to

Sheikh Abdur Rahman As-Sudais. May Allah

endow a long life to him. Our special salute and

thanks to Khadimul Harmain, HRH King

Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, HRH Crown Prince

Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, and HRA Prince Naif

Bin Abdul Aziz for Imame Haram to visit India.

We also thank Mr. Faisal bin Hasan Al-Turad,

the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in India for his

kind efforts to make this great event happen in

Ahle Hadeeth Complex. We also thank the

police jawans, security officials and participants

for their cooperation, and discipline displayed

during prayer and the sermon.

The translation of Sheikh As-Sudais sermon was

made by Dr Ubaidur Rahman Madani in Urdu.

The programme concluded at 5.45 p.m.

õõõ


Among the memorable days in the history of

Jamaate Ahle Hadeeth, Hind was the 27th of

March, 2011. It was on this day that the Imam

of Grand Mosque, Kaaba in Makkah, His

Highness Sheikh Dr Abdur Rahman As-Sudais

visited the Ahle Hadeeth Complex, Okhla New

Delhi, inaugurated the Islamic Center for

Multipurpose Human Resource Development

and led Asr, prayer in its Jama Masjid.

We were pleased to welcome such a great

personality in India in general and at Ahle hadeeth

Complex in particular.He is gifted with a

charismatic personality. His visit was joyful for

all for which we thank the Creator who has

blessed us with His grace and favour.

Before arrival of entourage of His Highness Dr.

Abdur Rahman As-Sudais to Ahle Hadeeth

Complex, the Azan of Asr prayer was called at

3.55 p.m. Police, security personal and

volunteers were alert for his personal Safety and

Security.The Ameere Jamaat Hafiz Muhammad

Yahya and Maulana Asghar Imam Mahadi Salafi

and members of reception committee greeted

and welcomed the Imame Haram as well as his

entourage.A large number of intellectuals,

scholars, heads of Islamic societies, centres and

common people, males and females (with

separate arrangement) inside the mosque, Ahle

Hadeeth Complex, parks, road sides and

rooftops were eagerly waiting for the entourage

of Imame Kaaba. People displayed exemplary

discipline and patient without any hue and cry.

The respected quest arrived at 4.p.m,

inaugurated the Islamic Centre for Multipurpose

Human Resource Development and led the Asr

prayer at 4.15.p.m. Then the programme started

with the recitation of Holy Quran from Surah

Al-Hashr (18-24). The exemplary reciter was

none other than His Highness Dr. Abdur Rahman

As-Sudais. Continuing the propramme, Maulana

Asghar Imam Mahadi Salafi delivered his

Welcome Address stating the significance of the

occasion highlighting the importance of the great

personality. He described the respected quest

His Highness Dr Abdur Rahman As-Sudais as

agile, active, good communicater, soft spoken,

exemplary reciter of Holy Quran, possessor of

fascinating personality, having excellent manner

of slow but measured in rhythemic tones while

reciting Holy Quran which has made him very

popular all over the world.His beautiful voice

penetrates into the hearts of people of every

maslak and group of Muslims.

In his statement Maulana Asghar presented a

VISIT OF IMAME HARAM

TO AHLE HADEETH COMPLEX

OKHLA , NEW DELHI

News from Headquarter


brief history of his life and Islamic services

saying. In was in the year 1404 A.H. he was

appointed Imam and Khateeb of Masjide

Haram, Makkah Al-Mukarramah.There he first

led Asr prayer on 22nd Shawwal, 1404. His

cassettes of Holy Quran attracts the Muslims

across the world. Maulana Asghar highlighted

the history of Jamaate Ahle Hadeeth in India, its

manhaj and belief as well as spiritual relations

with Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhab. He

further expressed hope that this momentous visit

will bring strong cordial relations between the

two nations, loving each other and propagating

peace, brotherhood, unity and integration.

The occasion was very excited when Hafiz

Muhammad Yahaya, Ameer-e-Jamaat

presented a marvelous monument to the Imame

Haram. In its response the respected guest Dr

As-Sudais also presented the cassettes of Holy

Quran recited by him to the Ameer-e-Jamaat.

A Kashmiri Shawl was also presented to Imame

Haram by Maulana Showkat Shah, Ameer

Jamaate Ahle Hadeeth, Jammu and Kashmir.

Lastly the Imame Haram, Dr Abdur Rahman

As-Sudais delivered his sermon in strong and

loud voice, to hundreds and thousands of

congregation conveying them the greetings of

Khadimul Harmain to Muslims in India. First of

all I thank the Ameer Markazi Jamaat Ahle

hadeeth Hind and Maulana Asghar Imam

Mahadi Salafi,General Secretry for a very warm

welcome. In fact I am feeling at home at Ahle

Hadeeth Complex as Ahle Hadeeth are the true

followers of Holy Quran and Sunnah. The

Correct manhaj and true belief and moderate

thinking of Ahle Hadeeth brothers are very

similar to Saudi Government and its people. This

is the reason of a close tie between the two stated

groups of people. He lauded the contributions

and valuable services of Ahle Hadeeth to Islamic

Monotheism and humanity.They are the

defenders of faith as it was in the case of Sheikh

Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhab in Saudi Arabia.

Islam emphasizes the ethical system in all human

activities. Islam emphasizes on building natural

confidence between Muslims and other elements

of the society in order to ensure peaceful

coexistence. Ulama and callers to Islam play a

key role within their communities by introducing

Islam to people. However, they should be

mindful about their acts and deeds.

Sheikh also lauded the tone of integration and

discipline the Ahle Hadeeth participants in

congregation showed because such a tone of

integration does in fact reflect a spirit of

optimism. We really need integration in every

field.

He stressed that followers of Quran and Sunnah

shoulder a huge responsibility drawing on them

great expectations that Muslims place on them.

He indicated that Saudi Arabia exerts

remarkable efforts is serving Islam and Muslims

every where. The Kingdom plays a unique role

by supporting Muslims and propagating Islamic

culture every where. He stressed that these

efforts are the best means to wisely, sensibly

and practically defend the faith of Islam. Quran

and Sunnah are basis of Saudi Government

where taazeerat,hudood and Islamic law are

implemented in letter and spirit.

(On Page:28)

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