Etiquettes of the (Kaaba) Grand Mosque

Etiquettes of the (Kaaba) Grand Mosque

Visiting Masjid Al Haram in Makkah is a golden opportunity in the lives of every Muslim. Every Muslim yearns to visit the Grand Masjid of Makkah Al Mukarramah. However, while visiting the Masjid Al Haram, one must follow the proper etiquettes in order to maintain its decorum and sanctity of the place.

There are etiquettes to be followed, no matter which mosque one enters upon. However, the supremacy of the Grand Mosque in Makkah naturally makes it a priority.

1) Maintaining purity within ourselves

Demonstrate your eagerness by wearing neat and clean clothes while visiting the masjid. Ensure that your body and clothes are clean and pure. If you have eaten garlic or onions, do not go to the mosque, until the odour from your mouth has vanished.

Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdullaah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He who has eaten garlic or onion should keep away from us or our mosques. Whoever eats garlic or onions should stay away from us” – or he said: “from our mosque” – “and he should remain at his home.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The aforementioned Hadith shows that a person who has eaten garlic or onion (or anything similar to that) should stay away lest it cause discomfort to the fellow believers (and angels) who have come to worship, due to its pungent smell.

2) To enter with the right foot and recite the supplication of entering the mosque

How many of us have memorized the supplication for entering the masjid? If you have not yet, then it is high time to commit the supplication to memory.

It is highly recommended when entering Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, like other mosques, to say the following beautiful supplication: “I seek refuge with Allah, the Most Great, and with His bounteous Countenance and eternal Power from satan the expelled (from the mercy of Allah). All perfect praise be to Allah. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon Muhammad and upon his family. O Allah, forgive my sins and open the gates of Your mercy before me.”

Then, one should say, “In the Name of Allah,” and proceed with the right foot to enter the masjid. In this way we not only follow the way of our beloved Messenger (peace be upon him), but we also gain rewards from Allah (glory be to Him).

3) The prayer of salutations to the Masjid (tahiyyatul masjid)

Another imperative etiquette is performing the two rakah as the tahiyyatul masjid. This is evident from the following Hadith.

Abu Qatadah reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “When one of you comes to the mosque, he should pray two rak’at before he sits.” [Fiqh Us Sunnah, Volume 2, Page 70]

This prayer is established to observe the sanctity and greatness of the house of Allah (glory be to Him). One should not forget to pray the tahiyyatul masjid, as it is highly recommended.

4) Spend time in the remembrance of Allah

While you are in the Grand Masjid or any other masjid, take the utmost advantage of the holy place and remember Allah with much remembrance. Rather than talking with whoever is next to you, keep busy in mentioning Allah’s name and praising Him and seeking forgiveness.

“O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance, and glorify Him morning and evening.” (Chapter 33, verse 41)

5)  Recite the supplication for leaving the masjid

When exiting the mosque, step out with the left foot and recite the following supplication:

“I exit in the Name of Allah. O’ Allah! Send Your prayers upon Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad and forgive my sins and open the doors of Your grace (to me).”

Our Beloved Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) said, “The markets are the worst places and the masajid are the best places on Earth.” (Ibn Majah 1/257)

The markets makes one forget Allah and occupies the heart in attaining worldly things through trade and shopping. Hence, they are the worst places on earth. The masajid are the best places since they detach us from the world and its affairs, and bring us closer to Allah.

In conclusion, whenever a person visits a mosque, they should observe the etiquettes listed above, as this will be a means of increasing their good deeds and earning the favour of Allah.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Umrah fee does not affect inflow of pilgrims

Umrah fee does not affect inflow of pilgrims

It seems the government’s recent decision to impose SR2,000 fee on pilgrims who perform Haj or Umrah more than once has not affected the inflow of visitors to the Two Holy Mosques at the start of this year’s Umrah season.

However, many pilgrims and Umrah operators requested the authorities to review the decision.

“It’s a big blow to Umrah operators,” said an agent of an Umrah service company from Kerala, which has sent thousands of pilgrims this season.

“We find it difficult to get pilgrims due to the new fee, which has increased the cost of an Umrah trip by Rs36,000,” said the agent.

He hoped that the Kingdom would withdraw the fee for the benefit of Umrah operators as well as Saudi businesses.

An elderly South African pilgrim, who introduced himself as Mohammed, said Saudi Arabia has every right to impose fee on pilgrims. However, he said the fee should be brought down to SR500.

“I have decided to come for Umrah every year irrespective of the cost it would incur. This is my 32nd Umrah,” Mohammed said while watching pilgrims circumambulate the Holy Kaaba.

“I manage to get the money required for visiting Makkah every year by the Grace of Allah.”

Zainul Abideen, a young Malaysian pilgrim who came for Umrah with his wife, was not happy with the fee, saying it would make Umrah unaffordable. “Many foreign pilgrims having low income like me wish to visit this holy place to pray to Allah and get His blessings,” he told Saudi Gazette.

He also agreed that Saudi Arabia has the right to impose fees for the services it offers.

“Even if it charges SR300 from every pilgrim it can make a good amount of money as more than seven million foreign pilgrims come for Umrah every year,” he pointed out.

Abideen has spent 14,000 ringgit (about SR11,700) for the Umrah trip of himself and his wife. “We came on a Saudia flight, which was full of pilgrims. This is our first Umrah and we are extremely delighted for getting an opportunity to make this wonderful spiritual journey,” he told Saudi Gazette sitting in the Grand Mosque.

Bangladeshi businessman Mohammed Shahidul Islam also expressed his hope that the Saudi government would lift the fee in order to encourage more faithful to visit Makkah and Madinah.

Asked about the response of Bangladeshi Muslims toward the Umrah fee, he said: “They are hopeful that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman would revoke it for the benefit of all Muslims who dream to visit the holy places in Saudi Arabia.”

Saudi Gazette also met a group of young Indonesian pilgrims at the Grand Mosque, some of them have paid SR2,000 Umrah fee. They believe the fee would decrease the number of Indonesians going for Umrah.

“We hope King Salman would revoke the Umrah fee in response to the prayers and pleas of Muslims all over the world,” said Akbar, a member of the group.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Umrah fee does not affect inflow of pilgrims

Source: flickr

Umrah fee does not affect inflow of pilgrims

It seems the government’s recent decision to impose SR2,000 fee on pilgrims who perform Haj or Umrah more than once has not affected the inflow of visitors to the Two Holy Mosques at the start of this year’s Umrah season.

However, many pilgrims and Umrah operators requested the authorities to review the decision.

“It’s a big blow to Umrah operators,” said an agent of an Umrah service company from Kerala, which has sent thousands of pilgrims this season.

“We find it difficult to get pilgrims due to the new fee, which has increased the cost of an Umrah trip by Rs36,000,” said the agent.

He hoped that the Kingdom would withdraw the fee for the benefit of Umrah operators as well as Saudi businesses.

An elderly South African pilgrim, who introduced himself as Mohammed, said Saudi Arabia has every right to impose fee on pilgrims. However, he said the fee should be brought down to SR500.

“I have decided to come for Umrah every year irrespective of the cost it would incur. This is my 32nd Umrah,” Mohammed said while watching pilgrims circumambulate the Holy Kaaba.

“I manage to get the money required for visiting Makkah every year by the Grace of Allah.”

Zainul Abideen, a young Malaysian pilgrim who came for Umrah with his wife, was not happy with the fee, saying it would make Umrah unaffordable. “Many foreign pilgrims having low income like me wish to visit this holy place to pray to Allah and get His blessings,” he told Saudi Gazette.

He also agreed that Saudi Arabia has the right to impose fees for the services it offers.

“Even if it charges SR300 from every pilgrim it can make a good amount of money as more than seven million foreign pilgrims come for Umrah every year,” he pointed out.

Abideen has spent 14,000 ringgit (about SR11,700) for the Umrah trip of himself and his wife. “We came on a Saudia flight, which was full of pilgrims. This is our first Umrah and we are extremely delighted for getting an opportunity to make this wonderful spiritual journey,” he told Saudi Gazette sitting in the Grand Mosque.

Bangladeshi businessman Mohammed Shahidul Islam also expressed his hope that the Saudi government would lift the fee in order to encourage more faithful to visit Makkah and Madinah.

Asked about the response of Bangladeshi Muslims toward the Umrah fee, he said: “They are hopeful that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman would revoke it for the benefit of all Muslims who dream to visit the holy places in Saudi Arabia.”

Saudi Gazette also met a group of young Indonesian pilgrims at the Grand Mosque, some of them have paid SR2,000 Umrah fee. They believe the fee would decrease the number of Indonesians going for Umrah.

“We hope King Salman would revoke the Umrah fee in response to the prayers and pleas of Muslims all over the world,” said Akbar, a member of the group.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Over six million pilgrims performing Umrah

Over six million pilgrims performing Umrah

JEDDAH – A record number of more than six million pilgrims will perform Umrah by the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which witnesses the peak Umrah season of the year.

As of Tuesday, a total of 5,888,986 pilgrims arrived in the holy city of Makkah from all over the world, according to the statistical report of the Information Center at the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The holy city will witness huge influx of Umrah pilgrims during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

“The number of Umrah pilgrims will exceed six million over the coming days.
The ministry, in cooperation and coordination with the concerned agencies, has made elaborate arrangements to cope with the unprecedented rush of pilgrims as well as to enable them to perform their rituals in ease and comfort,” the center said in a press statement adding that it has so far rendered 43,000 services to the pilgrims.

Meanwhile, Tarek Al-Abdul Jabbar, assistant president of the Airports, made an inspection tour of the Haj and Umrah terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Monday.

Accompanied by Abdullah Al-Reemi, director general of KAIA, and other senior airport officials, he reviewed the arrangements and facilities being made for the pilgrims. It is noteworthy that there are around 7,000 officials and employees, representing 27 public and private sectors, engaged in serving the pilgrims at the 14 departure and arrival lounges at the airport.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

New security cameras installed in Makkah

New security cameras installed in Makkah

MAKKAH — Security authorities have installed new 14 surveillance cameras in Makkah and around the Grand Mosque to ensure the safety of pilgrims, residents and visitors, Makkah newspaper reported.

Head of Security Affairs and Supervisor of Crises and the Disaster Management Center in Makkah Saud Bin Jelwi said the center is fully equipped with technological and human resources.

“People can contact us via 911 to report a crisis. The center will be fully functional by Ramadan. Our employees are highly trained and our equipment use state-of-the-art technologies. The quality of our security facilities rival international standards,” said Bin Jelwi.

He also said the Commission for the Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites has reequipped 150 surveillance towers to monitor the flow of crowds in Makkah.

“The commission is working on several projects to be finished before the upcoming Haj season. The commission is installing parasols to protect pedestrians from sunlight and providing chairs to allow them to sit and rest. The commission has also set a limit of 300,00 pilgrims at a time to take Al-Mashaer Train to ensure that the compartments are not overcrowded,” said Bin Jelwi.

He also said the commission has set new regulations for crowd management and for the movement of pilgrims.

“There are more roads open to reaching the Jamarat area. There will be a new pedestrian bridge on Sidqi Street connecting the Jamarat area to Al-Aziziyah. The commission has also installed 1,000 cameras in Mina,” said Bin Jelwi.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

World’s largest umbrella being installed in Makkah Haram

World’s largest umbrella being installed in Makkah Haram

MAKKAH — Work started on Thursday for the installation of the world’s largest folding umbrella in the northern courtyard of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

This is the first of the eight high-tech giant umbrellas and 54 small ones to be installed in the Grand Mosque in the coming six months.

Being manufactured in Germany, each canopy will consist of a giant clock, screens of guidelines for worshippers, air-conditioners, and surveillance cameras. Each umbrella will have a height of 45 meters and weigh 16 tons. It will give shade to an area of 2,400 square meters when open.

Some 25 engineers, specialist technicians, and safety experts from Germany will supervise the installation process and electronic operating mechanism. Another 54 small umbrellas will also be installed in the northern courtyard, covering a total area of 19,200 square meters. As part of the project, 122 benches for worshippers to take rest as well as service buildings will be built. The infrastructure work for the installation of canopies have already started.

The entire northern plaza stretching from King Fahd Expansion structure to the King Abdullah Expansion structure of the mosque will have canopies when the project is completed. The shaded area will have the capacity to accommodate around 400,000 worshippers.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques is supervising the project, in cooperation with specialists from the Ministry of Education and the contracting company, which is implementing the largest ever expansion of Islam’s holiest site.

In December 2014, a few weeks before his death, King Abdullah ordered the installation of umbrellas in the courtyards surrounding the Grand Mosque.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, announced then that the King’s order came to provide shading for external plazas, in addition to the areas approved in the King Abdullah Expansion project, with an additional area estimated at 275,000 square meters. More than 300 canopies will provide shade from the sun to the visitors of the Grand Mosque, he said.

Nearly 250 similar umbrellas have been installed on the plazas around the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah earlier. Like blooming flowers, the umbrellas are programmed to fold and unfold in minutely delayed sequence to avoid collision between their moving parts. Their near-silent operation is automatically aligned with changes in the daily temperature. They open each morning, creating a translucent ceiling, and retract each evening in less than three minutes.

In summer, the open umbrellas provide daytime shade and reflect away much of the sun’s radiant energy. When closed at night, they allow residual heat absorbed by the stone floors and walls to escape back into the atmosphere. The process is reversed in winter. When temperatures are relatively low, umbrellas are closed during the day to allow the winter sun to warm the site, and opened at night to retain heat near ground level.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

‘Wish I could stay at Grand Mosque forever’

MADINAH: Performing tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba was “a dream come true” for Algerian pilgrim Ahmed Al-Qairawani, who is in the Kingdom for the first time.
“It cannot be described in words. I cried once I entered the Grand Mosque and saw the sacred Kaaba, where pilgrims circumambulate around it raising their hands seeking Allah’s forgiveness,” he told Arab News.
“I saw the black stone and Abraham’s shrine for the first time. I wish to stay at the Grand Mosque for the rest of my life,” he said.
Al-Qairawani praised the expansion projects at the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and in Madinah, including the mataf expansion.
He said the Kingdom’s role in serving pilgrims and providing them with all possible facilities, right from the entry to the country until departure is exemplary.
Speaking about what he did in Madinah, Al-Qairawani said that he visited the Prophet’s Mosque where he got the chance to greet him (peace be upon him) as well as he visited the King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Qur’an, Islamic mosques and other historical sites in the holy city.

Article by: arabnews.com