ALMISKEENAH

 

 

 

Ajeeb!!! Weird, strange AJEEB! 

AJEEB! Strange, weird things happening recently.

Posts disappearing, titles misbehaving??  Is blogsome being slightly bothersome, or some other "jinnish" theatrics taking centre stage? Or? Insha’Allah I will attempt to set things right soonish!

We borrowed a camera the other day with the intention of taking some photos of a particular masjid nearby, but the plan was thwarted when we went down to find the car had a flat tyre. By the time it was fixed it was too late to go out. So we continued on this mission the next day. After taking several photos with a very recalcitrant borrowed camera, we noticed that they were not appearing as having been taken! All the images I was wanting for the blog gone! We decided to drive around taking random images, rather than back tracking. The heat some times decides ones moves, rather than one pursuing the logical start all over again.

I like driving around this Mubarak City of Light observing the people and the massive changes taking shape with the destruction/construction activity. An on going disappearing- appearing act. The crowds are becoming denser by the day as we approach Ramadhan, Insha’Allah. They have predicted a record number of one million expected to flood Madinah during Ramadhan.

I do not enjoy the chaotic driving habits on the roads in the Kingdom at all, but this was a relatively quiet time after Salatul Zuhur, when the traffic is slightly less in quantity, but never the less still erratic. Such a test of patience, not to mention digging deep in the well of forgiveness for ones fellow brothers (can’t say sisters in this context!!) for the inconvenience of their driving "skills". 

Shock and horror when we uploaded the photos! Instead of the sky revealing the mid afternoon glare all shots are mysteriously dark and gloomy, as well as twisted and distorted. Ajeeb! I decided to share these unusual images anyway!

A photo of the front of new Amarah building mentioned in the "virtual tours" 11 and 12. Surreal lighting effects emanating from this building. It was not like this at all. I rather like the muted salmon/cream colour scheme and the simplicity of the design compared to other so many other examples where the layering of too many features and styles are combined creating garish mixtures. Notice the distinctive minarets of Masjid Anbariyah to the right.

 

 VERY WEIRD!

Driving around the back of the Amarah building was an imposing view of Masjid Anbariyah, with the Ottoman railway station just behind it. As we were taking this photo from the window of the car, a policeman suddenly appeared from behind us. Alhumdulillah he did not confiscate the camera, he was just curious as to what we were doing, and I guess worried as we were beside the back of this major government building. A new law has recently been passed in the Kingdom that photography is now "permitted". But our experiences since then have not been very pleasant. Like so many things here, I think it will take a few years before the truth of this decision is understood by everyone, especially the police.

 

 

Looking towards the Haram, Bab Salam side. The imposing construction on the left will be a six story building extending the entire western side of the courtyard, continuing the trend of suffocating the Haram from all sides. The fence to the right enclosing yet another excavation site preparing for yes, another hotel complex.

 

Another view of this building under construction. The Green Dome was visible in the middle of the concrete frame. Once this building is complete the minarets will barely be visible from this position. The huge area of the courtyard in front of this building is currently fenced off as workers have removed all the marble tiles and in the process of digging the necessary trenches for the facilities for the addition of the umbrellas on the light pillars. Another large section in front of the Green Dome is also having the same changes made. This is a massive undertaking, where it seems that eventually the entire courtyard will be lifted for the operation of attaching umbrellas to every light pillar. Allahu ‘Alum, this project was announced when the king visited a few months ago.

In lightof these bizarre dark photos I have made the decision not to borrow a camera again. Insha’Allah one will be written for blog purposes in the not too distant future. Ameen! In the meantime I will rely on archives, scans and images from others.

 

"Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler."

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.