"Overwhelmingly GIGANTIC"….words I expressed in the last construction post about the activities around Haram. And it seems with each passing day the word gigantic bursts its boundaries, while simultaneously outgrowing its synonyms of massive, awesome, monumental, enormous, and astronomical. I seek your forgiveness with what will in all probability become regular postings on the developments with this new extension. I am mesmerized by the scale of work as well as the incredible organizational engineering that is behind the scenes of the visible manual and mechanical displays. This is an amazingly ambitious project which feasibly could take years.
You have been spared of my "dots n squiggle n smudge" images for some time, so I include this one today to help you conceive the dynamics taking place so close to our blessed messenger, SallAllahu alaihi wassalam.
I regularly say the eastern side or the western side, so have drawn a wobbly indicator of direction to, Insha’Allah make comprehension easier!
The pale blue areas are all currently fenced off….the latest huge courtyard immediately outside the north eastern ladies prayer area. Men and machines already lifting all the marble slabs. To access that section for the ladies is becoming an obstacle course, each day one is presented with a different row of fences. Now the only access from the east is via one narrow walkway. For the ladies, the only way for Ziarah, to the Rowdha, is from this side, meaning long detours are necessary, weaving in and around all the barriers.
The picture below is taken from the red dot looking north, our loved Jabal Uhud in the distance. The lone light pillar stands stripped of its decoration, labourers tenderly taking each and every part, placing them on pallets for fork lift trucks to load onto trucks to be taken to the huge Bin Ladin compound outside the Haram area. The noise is a constant cacophany of jack hammering, mechanical chiselling of concrete off the marble slabs and the rumbling earthmoving equipment of every shape and size.
Below, is taken from the lime dot looking south, showing the one path open to the eastern ladies section. And apart from this one doorway, the rest of the entire eastern side of Haram is now inaccessible, for all.
May Allah Ta’ala facilitate the ease of this massive extension, guiding and blessing each and every person involved with its execution. Ameen.
And on to a slightly differently related topic.
"The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam performed prayers in 43 different mosques in Madianh but of that number, only five now remain…." As reported in Arab News.
May Allah Ta’ala bless all endeavours to be carried out with integrity. Ameen.
Other, slightly dated information on this Research Centre.
One of the many models of Masjid Nabawi as-Shareef at the research Centre, taken from Nadia Saif’s two comprehensive albums on the 2005 Rihla blog
This model represents the 7th extension made to Masjid Nabawi as-Shareef, under the instruction of the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Majeed. Work began in 1265AH (1849 AD) and continued for 13 years. It is documented that he sent 140 bags of gold for the reconstruction, along with expert architects, carpenters, masons and supplies. The external silver painted domed area remains until today, with the inside of the domes decorated with scenes from nature and verses from the Qur’an Majeed. Originally the names of our Beloved Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wassalam also graced these domes in aesthetic gilded Arabic calligraphy, based on Imam al-Jazuli’s Dala’il al-Khayrat.
Amazing how the current Masjid Nabawi as-Shareef and its surrounding courtyards occupy almost the entire area represented in the model of approximately 150 years ago.
One wonders what has been written for the next 150 years. May Allah Ta’ala guide us one and all. Ameen.
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.
The Mosque of Rasullah Salla Allah alihi wasallam is a manifestation of the development in the Umma. So decorated with ornamentation and facades of material. However, deeds of Deen are not keeping up with the materialistic crust. One wonders about the Mosque at the time of Rasulullah Salla Allah alihi wasallam. Open twenty four hours. Manned twenty four hours. Ahlu Suffa living in it. Abu Huraira, after the death of Rasulullah Salla Allah alihi wasallam called the people to go to the Mosque to collect their share of the inheritance of Rasulullah Salla Allah alihi wasallam. People rushed to the Mosque. They found groups sitting occupied with either Zikr, reciting Quran, exchanging knowledge, or pondering the spread of Islam. People asked Abu Huraira “Where is the inheritance?”. He pointed to these groups and said “This is the inheritance of your Prophet”. Increasing the focus of deeds rather than outer decoration is our necessity. This is the essence of Abu Huraira’s reply.
Comment by nq — February 6, 2007 @ 9:38 pm
Assalamu alaikum,
Jazakumullahu khairan nq for another of your insightful reminders. May Allah Ta’ala, the turner of hearts, turn our hearts to His obedience, and bring back the love all our illustrious predecessors had for the Deen, Insha’Allah.
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
Comment by almiskeenah — February 7, 2007 @ 8:22 pm