Tuesday 29 November 2016

15m Umrah pilgrims expected

15m Umrah pilgrims expectedsaudigazette.com.sa

15m Umrah pilgrims expected

MAKKAH — As many as 1,511 hotels in Makkah with a total of 219,350 rooms have completed preparations to receive up to 15 million pilgrims expected to arrive during the current Umrah season, which began in mid-November. The Umrah season will continue until July 7, 2017.

Sources in the hospitality sector expects the number of Umrah pilgrims this year to increase by 3 million over the past season.

In addition to the hotels, there are 852 licensed buildings and furnished apartments in Makkah with a total of 36,456 rooms to accommodate the pilgrims.

The sources said hotel reservations during the first days of the season reached about 85 percent especially in the central area around the Grand Mosque as well as in the districts of Jarwal, Kudai, Al-Aziziyah and Al-Rawdah, which are not far from the mosque.

Riza Shalabi, a reservation clerk in one of the hotels in the central area, said the bookings of the internal rooms reached about 90 percent while they were about 80 percent for rooms overlooking the plazas of the Grand Mosque.

He said the price for single rooms stood at SR350-SR450 per night, almost unchanged from last year. The prices per night for royal suites overlooking the Grand Mosque ranged from SR1,100 to SR1,300, breakfast and dinner included.

Abdul Rahman Al-Amri, a reservation clerk in another hotel, said the pilgrims start making bookings online about 45 days before the advent of the Umrah season.

He said the early reservations were made by Umrah pilgrims from the Kingdom and the GCC countries, who represent about 35 to 45 percent of all pilgrims.

Amri said the occupancy rate in his hotel has reached about 95 percent and added that the price of a room per night is SR650-SR700, including breakfast.

Hussain Salem, a reservation clerk in one of the five-star hotels in the central area, said their price of a royal suite per night is SR2,500 while the price of a single room is SR1,000.

He said the occupancy in his hotel has reached 100 percent and 75 percent of the bills have been paid in advance.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Monday 28 November 2016

Honesty The Characteristic of A Muslim

Honesty The Characteristic of A Muslim
saudigazette.com.sa

Honesty The Characteristic of A Muslim

Honesty is the greatest moral virtue. From honesty springs forth many of the most noble of human qualities and characteristics.

Truthfulness and honesty are two characteristics without which a man can not claim himself to be a true Muslim.

Honesty is an extensive term that covers a wide range of meanings. It covers telling the truth, sincerity in work, carrying out duties, fulfilling one’s word, and making fair and objective judgments and decisions. Honesty also means doing the right thing in the right way at the right time.

Honesty means saying and acting truthfully in all times, matters, and conditions. Honesty means giving the right guidance to the person who needs it.

Islam orders us as Muslims to be honest to others and ourselves. A Muslim is ordered by Allah to be honest in his words and deeds, in private and public.

Being honest and truthful to oneself is implied by obeying Allah’s law. Being truthful with others means saying the truth and being honest in all dealings including the realm of trade and business, purchasing, education, learning, communication, and marriage. A true Muslim is the one who could be distinguished by his essential characteristics of honesty and truthfulness.

Honesty in Islam consolidates the notions of truthfulness and dependability, and it lives in all human words, thoughts, relations, and actions.

“O you who have believed fear Allah and be with those who are true.” [Chapter 9 verse119]

Ibn Katheer, the renowned scholar of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an illustrated the significance of this verse. He was reported to have said, “Being truthful and sticking to truthfulness implies you will be among the people of the truth and be safeguarded from calamity and that it will make a way out for you from your tribulations.”

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the best example for all Muslims at all times and in all situations. He was a flawless case of honesty in Islam and before his prophethood, people of Makkah named the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the honest and truthful (Al-Amin and As-Sadiq).

Even Abu Sufyan, an adversary of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the beginning of the Prophet’s call, admitted the prophet’s honesty. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent a letter to Heraclius the Emperor of Byzantium welcoming him to Islam, Heraclius sent for Abu Sufyan to ask about Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and what this prophet was calling the people to.

Aby Sufyan said, “He never tells lies or deceives others. He invites the people to love Allah Alone and he advises us to fear Allah, and he calls the people to honesty and abstinence”.

It is of the mannerism of the high path of Islam to be honest when one speaks. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Honesty certainly leads to goodness, and goodness leads to paradise. Truly, a man keeps speaking the truth until he is inscribed as being true through and through. And lying leads to going wrong, and going wrong leads to hell. Truly, a man lies and lies until he is inscribed as being a liar through and through” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Fasting is one way that Muslims practice their honesty with their Lord and with themselves. A fasting Muslim does not allow a drop of water to go into his mouth because he has learned to be honest.

It is also obligatory for us to be honest in making and keeping promises. Being punctual and not to waste is another instance of honesty. Punctuality at school, at work, or at an agreed meeting is part of our honesty with ourselves and other people. Honesty fosters constructive courage, which is doing what you know you want or need to do, despite your fear.

Being honest with yourself and with others shows how much you really care and demonstrates self-respect and respect for others.

 Honesty fosters a connection and can bring people closer in their interactions.

Honesty attracts honesty. If honesty becomes an unconscious habit, one becomes magnetized to other honest people.

One can dig himself deeper into a hole with lies and deceit, however being honest keeps you out of trouble, guides one always in the right track especially when one fears the anticipated consequences.

 Honesty, is an essential characteristic of a Muslim, includes being truthful towards Allah by worshipping Him sincerely; being truthful to oneself, by adhering to Allah’s laws; and being truthful with others by speaking the truth and being honest in all dealings. Thus, a person should be the same on the inside as he is on the outside.

A true Islamic society is based upon honesty and justice, and is intolerant of dishonesty in all its various forms. 

A Muslim seeking to please Allah and follow the path of righteousness should be aware of the dangers of deceit and dishonesty.  However, equally he should know that Allah is all Merciful, willing to forgive even the gravest sins for those who strive for His sake.  Honesty is very important in the life of a believer.

“Honesty descended from the Heavens and settled in the roots of the hearts of men (faithful believers), and then the Quran was revealed and the people read the Quran, (and learnt it from it) and also learnt from the sayings and traditions.  Both the Qur’an and the traditions strengthened their honesty.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

So, Islam instructs the Muslim to be honest and trains him to be so. The outcome is a healthy self and a healthy social atmosphere that leads to the happiness of both the individual and the community.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Thursday 24 November 2016

No backing off on Umrah fee, says Saudi Ministry of Haj

arabnews.com

No backing off on Umrah fee, says Saudi Ministry of Haj

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Haj and Umrah have denied rumors published in the Pakistani media and spread on social media that the ministry removed Umrah fees that were placed by the Kingdom on the second or additional Umrah visits.

New amendments were introduced to visa fees in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of 1438, when the government announced that the fees are fully paid by the Saudi government for all first-time pilgrims coming for either Haj or Umrah. The first entry of Haj and Umrah pilgrims will be free, but for the second and subsequent entries, they will be charged SR2,000.

Usama Khan, from the Ministry of Haj, Call and Guidance information center, confirmed to Arab News that no such information or announcement was made by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah that they removed the SR2,000 fee, and that whatever was published in the Pakistani media and on social media is false news or rumors.

Tahir Mahmood, chief executive of Global Haj and Umrah Private Service Ltd. from Pakistan also confirmed to Arab News that there has been no such instruction or announcement made by the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah that the Umrah fees have been abolished.

On inquiry of the news published in the Pakistani media and spread on social media about the removal of Umrah fees, he said that it was not from an authentic source and was a rumor. However the Pakistani public are requesting that the Kingdom and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman remove the extra charges, because a number of Pakistani families and people who want to come for Umrah would not be able to make it because of the fee.

“Many people from Pakistan will not be able to make their Umrah trip because they don’t have enough funds to pay this extra charges of SR2,000. It’s a request from the Pakistani people to the Kingdom to remove these charges so they can make their journey to perform Umrah,” he said.

The Pakistan Umrah Agent Association urged people not to spread rumors on social media, since there has been no announcement made by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah on the removal of Umrah fees.

According to the information, the news was published in Pakistani media and rumors were spread on social media that after boycott of Egypt on Umrah fees, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah removed the extra SR2,000 fees from the second or additional Umrah visits, and that the Saudi government informed their embassies in all countries about this, which was totally false, confirmed the Pakistan Umrah Agent Association.

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Source: arabnews.com

Tuesday 22 November 2016

The Robert Davila story: “My journey to embracing Islam”

The Robert Davila story: “My journey to embracing Islam”

Robert Davila is one of those people who inspire us with their ability to overcome adversity. Robert was born in September 1980 in Bridgeport, Texas.  He grew up and graduated from Bridgeport High school in 2000. Growing up, Robert was not religious, leading a life of instability and loss.

At just 20 years old, Robert’s life changed forever.   In 2001, in Decatur Texas, Robert was involved in a car accident.  When he woke up at the hospital, he found himself unable to move. The accident left Robert paralyzed from the neck down.  The doctors’ diagnosed him as quadriplegic, and was told he will never eat, drink, breathe on his own, or walk again. 

At first, Robert was only able to eat and drink through a tube in his nose.  Soon he started training himself to chew food, and was finally successful.  He regained his ability to chew his food and swallow.

Robert has since resided at The Longmeadow Care Center in Justin, Texas.  He became best friends with his roommate, Mark.  Robert and Mark talked about many things including religion. In 2004, Mark died due to complications in his condition.  That was devastating to Robert.

When Mark died, Mark’s sister gave Robert his big cross and Robert asked for the cross to be hung above his bed as a reminder of his best friend and God.  Being paralyzed for several years, and with the loss of his best friend, Robert decided to seek help from God. He didn’t know which way to turn. All his family members are devout Christians, and so was Mark.

Robert started reading about different religions; Christianity, Buddhism, and more, until he read about Islam.  Islam was the only religion that made sense to him.  He read the story of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), read the Qur’an translation, and Hadeeth, sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

In September 2011, 10 years after the accident, Robert had a dream that changed his life. 

Robert said, “I went to sleep and it was so real.  I was in the middle of the dessert; I saw hills and winds blowing the sand in all directions.  At a distance, I saw a man, about 5’ 11” surrounded by other men listening to his speech. He was doing hand gestures.  The moment I looked at the man, I knew it was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).  The Prophet pointed at my cross and said, “Look at the Prophet Jesus, he eats food like us, he walks like us, he even uses the restroom like us. He’s human not God.”

Robert suddenly woke up from his dream, and unconsciously said, “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger.”

At that time in his life, Robert had never seen or been to a mosque, had never communicated with Muslims, and had never held the Qur’an.

After his dream, Robert Davila converted to Islam, and he dedicated much time to reading the Qur’an and studying the religion.  After three years of embracing Islam, Robert has become an inspiration to many Muslims living in America and across the globe.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Friday 11 November 2016

30% of Mina tent floors covered with ceramic tiles

saudigazette.com.sa

30% of Mina tent floors covered with ceramic tiles


MAKKAH — The floors of the tents in Mina will be covered with ceramic tiles under a three-year project which began before the beginning of last year’s Haj season.

So far about 30 percent of the floors have been covered with ceramic tiles under contracts being financed by the Public Investment Fund of the Finance Ministry.

The first phase of the project covered locations specified for external pilgrims. The locations included the Jamarat area, the Wadi (valley), Al-Shuabateen and east of Mina sector.

Sources said the project has been assigned to two national companies responsible for the maintenance of the holy sites.

The two companies will install ceramic tiles in an area of 120,000 square meters.
Prior to last Haj season, 30% of the old air conditioners in the tents at Mina were upgraded.

The tents, which measure 8 meters by 8 meters, were permanently constructed by the Saudi government in the 1990 and were upgraded in 1997 to be fireproof.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Monday 7 November 2016

Shoura studies women-only timings to kiss Black Stone

Shoura studies women-only timings to kiss Black Stone

Riyadh — A Shoura Council member has proposed that specific timings should be allotted for women to kiss the Black Stone.
The Committee for Islamic Affairs in the Shoura Council is studying the proposal, a source told Okaz Arabic daily.
The proposal put forth by Modhi Aldeghaither includes setting three specific times during the day for a period of two hours each to allow women a chance to kiss the Black Stone.
The proposal is expected to undergo a vote within the committee prior to further discussions among Shoura members.
The Black Stone is the eastern cornerstone of the Kaaba.
Pilgrims circle the Kaaba as a part of the tawaf ritual and many try to stop and kiss the Black Stone, emulating the kiss that Islamic tradition records that it received from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Today, the Black Stone consists of a number of fragments held together by a silver frame, which is fastened by silver nails to the Kaaba. The smaller fragments have been cemented together to form the seven or eight fragments visible today. The Stone’s exposed face measures about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) by 16 centimetres (6.3 in). Its original size is unclear and the recorded dimensions have changed considerably over time.

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source: saudigazette.com.sa