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JEDDAH: Almost 19 million people worshipped in the third expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah during Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The director of the General Administration of the Third Saudi Expansion at the Grand Mosque, Walid Al-Masoudi, said the expansion had received more than 500,000 worshippers per hour at a rate of 250,000 inside the expansion and more than 250,000 in the squares.
He stressed that these efforts came under the directives of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques in fulfillment of the aspirations of the Saudi leadership.
At the start of Ramadan, 80 new prayer halls that form part of the third phase of expansion opened to worshippers for the first time.
Al-Masoudi said worshippers were divided throughout the days of the holy month on all floors of the expansion building, on the ground floor, first floor, first mezzanine, second floor, second mezzanine, the balconies, and the surrounding northern and western squares.
When King Abdulaziz united the country and founded Saudi Arabia, he made the Two Holy Mosques a top priority and ensured they received special attention.
Worshippers were divided throughout the days of the holy month on all floors of the expansion building, on the ground floor, first floor, first mezzanine, second floor, second mezzanine, the balconies, and the surrounding northern and western squares.
In 1926, he ordered a complete renovation to the Grand Mosque, including a directive to cover the entire floor with marble. A year later, according to the general presidency, he ordered marquees to be erected at the Mataf (circumambulation space) to protect worshippers from the sun’s heat. He also ordered that the Masa, the area between Safa and Marwah where pilgrims walk in what is known as Saee, be paved with stone.
When his son King Saud became monarch, the Grand Mosque covered approximately 28,000 square meters. In 1955, he launched a long-term expansion project that continued for nearly 10 years. The size of the Masa was increased, and an underground area and another floor were added.
Saud’s successor, King Faisal, continued the expansion and development work. The building surrounding the Maqam Ibrahim was removed to provide more space for worshippers while circumambulating the Kaaba.
After King Khalid took over in 1975, the Mataf area was expanded and the stone pavement of the Masa was replaced with Greek, heat-resistant marble so that worshippers could circle the Kaaba more comfortably, especially at noon.
On Sept. 14, 1988, King Fahd laid the foundation stone for the largest expansion of the Grand Mosque in 14 centuries. The project increased its size to 356,000 square meters, enough space for up to 1.5 million worshippers to comfortably perform their rituals. Two minarets were added to the existing seven.
The sixth Saudi leader, King Abdullah, who took the throne in 2005, initiated another major expansion project. It included architectural, technical, and security improvements. The capacity of the Mataf area was increased from about 50,000 people an hour to more than 130,000 to cope with the growing numbers of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
The total space covered by the Grand Mosque and its open areas and facilities increased to 750,000 square meters, at a total cost of more than SR80 billion ($21.3 billion).
In 2015, King Salman launched five major projects designed to allow the mosque to accommodate nearly 2 million worshippers on a 1.5-million-square-meter site.
RIYADH/CAIRO: Saudi Arabia on Saturday condemned an attack on an Egyptian police checkpoint in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia the previous day as Daesh claimed responsibility for it.
A Saudi foreign ministry statement expressed the Kingdom’s solidarity with the government and people of Egypt, offered its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to all the injured. the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Daesh said in the group’s Amaq news agency: “A cell of soldiers of the caliphate managed to attack an Egyptian police roadblock… with a machine gun.”
Three Egyptian policemen were killed in the attack, the first of its kind in nearly three years in mainland Egypt, which has largely been spared the deadly insurgency in the nearby Sinai peninsula.
In the past few years, attacks against Egyptian security forces have been concentrated in the Sinai, where jihadists affiliated with Daesh operate.
Eleven soldiers were killed on May 7 in an attack in western Sinai.
Days later, another five soldiers and seven jihadists died when the army was attacked in the peninsula.
Ismailia is one of the key cities overlooking Egypt’s Suez Canal, a vital waterway between Asia and Europe that sees about 10 percent of the world’s maritime trade.
MADINAH: Madinah has long been a beacon of light and knowledge. Pilgrims and visitors can attest to the peace they find in a holy city immersed in a halo of light.
Madinah has made great strides in recent years to establish itself as an ideal venue for museums and a place of learning. Scholars flock here to navigate the path that the Prophet Muhammed walked and to study the landscapes and manuscripts housed within the city.
The King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, located within the Islamic University of Madinah, is a light-colored opulent building whose walls bear intricate Arabic inscriptions.
The complex houses an impressive and priceless collection of manuscripts and beautiful rare copies of the holy Qur’an, carpets and rows of artifacts in enclosed glass cases.
Dr. Fahd Al-Wahbi, the secretary general of the complex, told Arab News: “The King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries is a government entity established by the decision of the Council of Ministers in 1437. It is supervised by a board of trustees headed by the Governor of Madinah region and is organizationally linked to the Saudi Council of Ministers.
“The complex aims to preserve manuscripts and valuables and make them available to visitors. These exhibits are part of the holdings held by the complex.”
In 2021, Al-Wahbi, under the leadership of Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, governor of Madinah region, chaired the first meeting of the complex’s board of trustees.
The Digitization and Cataloging Center was established, prompting the digitization and indexing of manuscripts, rare books and valuable collectibles it contained.
The meeting also established the Journal of the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, a scientific journal, to publish research on specialized studies.
With shelves and rows of books, the building and the larger area is a treasure trove of information and a testament of how Madinah has prioritized preserving historical documents for people to use.
The Prophet’s Mosque Building Exhibition is just steps away from Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque.
This museum provides worshippers context and background of the Prophet Muhammed’s journey to Madinah in 622, known as Hijrah, in addition to artifacts and manuscripts.
• The King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, located within the Islamic University of Madinah, is a light-colored opulent building whose walls bear intricate Arabic inscriptions. The complex houses an impressive and priceless collection of manuscripts and beautiful rare copies of the Holy Qur’an, carpets and rows of artifacts in enclosed glass cases.
• The Digitization and Cataloging Center was established, prompting the digitization and indexing of manuscripts, rare books and valuable collectibles it contained. With shelves and rows of books, the building and the larger area is a treasure trove of information and a testament of how Madinah has prioritized preserving historical documents for people to use.
Hassan Taher, who was the executive director of Dar Al-Madinah Museum, told Arab News in 2018 that it was “the first and largest specialized museum of the history and cultural heritage of Madinah and the landmarks of the Prophet’s life.”
The museum, which has four main halls, publishes specialized periodicals on Madinah’s history and landmarks and holds seminars and forums on the topic.
One of the halls contains a collection of rare paintings and images of Madinah and unique collections from Islamic history. It is located not too far from the area in the Knowledge Economic City.
Taher said: “The museum carries out specialized research in Madinah’s architectural heritage. It contains a library of relevant books, research and magazines, all of which are accessible to researchers.”
He said that the museum has issued more than 44 books and publications on Madinah’s architecture.
Taher added: “There are around 2,000 artifacts in the museum’s exhibition halls. These include antiquities, extremely accurate models, handicrafts, manuscripts, documents, correspondence, old publications, postage stamps, photographs and artworks.”
In 2022, Al Arabiya.net spoke to Taher, now president and founder of the Museum Culture Club, who said: “The land of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was distinguished by its well-established culture, historical depth and ancient heritage. Its location was a meeting place for ancient human civilizations and its land was one of the oldest areas of human settlement around the world.
“Therefore, it was distinguished by a rich abundance of cultures and civilizations, whose effects are currently being reviewed by more than 260 official and private museums throughout the regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Some of the artifacts and manuscripts from the mentioned museums will be displayed at the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale 2023 in Jeddah next month.
With the theme “Awwal Bait” or “First House,” the biennale will be housed at the award-winning Western Hajj Terminal in the port city of Jeddah from Jan. 23-April 23, 2023.
Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the “biennale” will run every two years.
Another kingdom-based institute is also thriving off of the Madinah story and contributing to offering access and context to the city’s story.
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is publishing a book this month on the Hijrah. The exhibition on the great migration is still on display at Ithra’s headquarters in Dhahran.
Dr. Idries Trevathan, a scholar of Islamic studies and curator of the Ithra display, played a key role in curating and editing the book and the exhibition. He traveled to Madinah multiple times to document the journey to bring it to life in the exhibition, book and a documentary that is currently in production.
Trevathan told Arab News: “When we looked at the Hijrah story, we realized that there’s never been an exhibition or a film made about it … this very, very important event. And so, just under four years ago, we decided to remedy the situation and we created an exhibition. And the exhibition today is the fruits of our labor.
“Also, we wanted to look at ways in which people creatively expressed the Hijrah story across the generations. So, we looked at the artistic heritage and the literature from the Islamic world and we included a lot of these pieces in this book, and in the exhibition.
“What’s unique about this book, and different from other books published on the Hijrah, is its focus on the landscape of the Hijrah, of the sacred landscape.”
The Hijrah exhibit will be traveling to Madinah in 2023.
MAKKAH: A classic car show at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival has opened a window into the past with parades featuring timeless vehicles.
The show offered car owners the chance to demonstrate their commitment to preserving classic cars.
Held 130 km north of Riyadh, the 45-day camel festival that opened on Dec. 1 is one of the largest of its kind in the Middle East.
It reflects the history of the Arabian Peninsula and the life of its people through several interactive sections that transport visitors to the past, highlighting Saudi efforts in consolidating culture and national heritage.
Mohammed Al-Harbi, spokesman for the Camel Club, which organizes the annual event, told Arab News that the celebration aims to revive local heritage, as it is customary for camel owners celebrating a special occasion.
The festival is not about some camels in the desert — it portrays the history of families and their traditions, passed down from one generation to another.
Mohammed Al-Harbi, Spokesman, Camel Club
He added that classic car shows were launched so that camel owners could rent and escort the luxury vehicles on parades. Classic cars are known and loved among the people of the Arabian Peninsula, Al-Harbi said, adding that the vehicles “simulate the experiences of many in the past.”
Al-Harbi said that the festival activities, including camel shows and classic car processions, are among the important cultural components of the Arabian Peninsula and are based on a heritage that the Kingdom is proud of.
“We can see that the audience positively interacts with festival activities. We can also see the excitement in the eyes of visitors. The festival is not about some camels in the desert — it portrays the history of families and their traditions, passed down from one generation to another,” Al-Harbi added.
“This heritage is not only related to the Bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula but also villagers who relied on camels to transport their daily needs such as water and food.”
He said that the people of the Arabian Peninsula should treasure the heritage surrounding camels and their place in the history of the region.
“No matter how much progress we have made, we adhere to our values, principles and our great heritage,” he added.
“We are extremely proud that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the general supervisor of the Camel Club, and the largest award in this field presented in the world is the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival.
“This is proof of both the official and popular interest in what we do.”
RIYADH: Located in a long corridor inside the Souq Al-Zal zone, an art gallery recreates scenes from Saudi Arabia during the 1970s and 1980s through a display of antiques, carpets, locally manufactured shoes and clothes, swords, tools and utensils.
Part of the third Riyadh Season, the zone offers a glimpse into the Kingdom’s rich heritage through events that celebrate its folklore, restaurants and cafes, and displays of unique vintage items.
The stalls and shops have been designed to simulate the past and allow the visitors to enjoy an authentic, traditional experience.
Souq Al-Zal at Al-Masmak Palace is one of the oldest traditional markets in Saudi Arabia and is famous for selling old collectibles, cloaks, furs, leather, shemaghs and various types of incense.
The gallery showcases handicrafts, paintings by Saudi nationals, and a collection of cassette tapes and books that were popular more than 40 years ago.
Souq Al-Zal at Al-Masmak Palace is one of the oldest traditional markets in Saudi Arabia and is famous for selling old collectibles, cloaks, furs, leather, shemaghs and various types of incense.
The gallery is open until Jan. 3 from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased via the Riyadh Season website.
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has stepped up its health and winter clothing projects in Lebanon and Yemen.
In Lebanon, the center has been distributing vouchers with which to purchase winter clothing from approved stores to needy families and to Syrian and Palestinian refugees in the central Bekaa region, benefiting 1,794 individuals.
The vouchers are part of KSrelief’s Kanaf project, implemented in cooperation with the Zakat Fund in Lebanon.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has implemented 2,208 projects worth more than $6 billion in 87 countries.
Meanwhile, the KSrelief-backed ambulance service in North Lebanon carried out 39 emergency missions in one week, according to a statement from the center.
In Yemen, Al-Jada Health Center outlets in the Hajjah governorate provided treatment to 5,610 people in one week with the support of KSrelief, including emergency treatment, epidemiology clinics and education and awareness clinics.
Meanwhile, a Saudi-backed prosthetics center in Yemen’s Taiz governorate provided 1,917 services to 529 beneficiaries in one month, including the manufacture, fitting, delivery and maintenance of prosthetic limbs for 172 patients, as well as physical therapy and consultation sessions for another 357 patients.
The services are part of the Kingdom’s efforts, through KSrelief, to improve Yemen’s health sector.
In Aden, an agricultural teacher-training course supported by KSrelief recently concluded as part of the emergency aid project to improve the livelihoods of people affected by the conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixteen people took part in the course.
Worldwide, KSrelief has implemented 2,208 projects worth more than $6 billion in 87 countries in cooperation with 175 local, regional and international partners since its inception in May 2015.
According to a recent KSrelief report, the countries and territories that benefited the most from the center’s various projects were Yemen ($4.2 billion), Palestine ($369 million), Syria ($341 million) and Somalia ($229 million).
