The following were taken after Asr today.
Taking photos is becoming more and more a game of "check, press and run"! Check to see if there are any "officials" nearby, quickly press the button and then with even greater speed try to depart the scene of the "crime". There are not many people around Masjid Nabawi these days, more so this eastern side as it is all but blocked except for the one narrow pathway seen in the last photo, but the presence of security men seems to be still the same in number. I think for future updates of the work I will try taking the photos early in the morning when there are even less about.
Also, Insha’Allah we have finally been invited to Makkah for Umrah, so I was a little rushed with these.
Eastern side of Haram, wall of Jannatul Baqi just discernable in the background.
This massive excavation area now extends from Jannatul Baqi all the way to the Oberoi Hotel, and has now encroached over into the area beyond what was the huge gates and fences of the Masjid. They no longer exist.
The northern courtyard area just outside the ladies prayer area. Oberoi on the right and Darul Taqwa on the left. The dust is a thick covering all around. It seems with so much work happening it is impossible to keep the courtyard clean anymore.
Looking back towards Haram from the previous image.
Back on the eastern side with a monster machine attacking the remains of one of the feature corners of what was the outside fence. The noise is deafening day long with all these machines.
Turning slightly to the right from the previous image. This newly cemented walkway was a huge excavation in the previous construction post, now it is the only pathway on the eastern side. Notice the policeman on the left! And as I walked away in the same direction as him, a group of the security men, the ones dressed in the usual white thobes, were seated to the right in that recessed section! I inteneded to take one more photo from near the Jannatul Baqi fence looking into this massive cavity, but there were too many workers and official looking men about. For those who know Madinah, the road just in front of the fence of Jannatul Baqi and the construction site, where the taxis would seek pilgrims for Ziarah, is now totally blocked to traffic. Access to the underground carpark from there is also closed.
I have been trying many avenues to get drawings of how the final design will be, Insha’Allah something will present itself soon.
Insha’Allah you will ALL, along with the whole Ummah, be in my Du’a. Please keep this humble speck in yours as I leave this Radiant City and our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam.
I leave with the Prayer of Aisha, May Allah Ta’ala be pleased with her taken from "Invocations and Supplications" by Hujjatul Islam Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali.
Knowing that these words would have been said to our Blessed Mother Lady Aisha RadhiAllahu anha by our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wassalam so close to where all this construction work is happening. SubhanAllah!
"The Emissary of God (may God bless him and grant him peace) said to Aisha, ‘You must use the perfect prayer, whose use is general. Say: "O God, I ask You for all kinds of good, temporal and otherworldly, the good which I know and which I do not know. I take regue with You from all kinds of evil, temporal and otherworldly, the evil which I know and which I do not know. I ask You for Heaven and the word and work which brings us thereto, and I take refuge with You from Hell and the word and work which brings us thereto. I ask You for the good for which Your servant and Emissary, Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), asked You, and I take refuge with You from that which Your servant and Emissary, Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), took refuge with You. I ask You to bring to a right end, by Your mercy, the course of the things which You have decreed for me. O Most Compassionate of the compassionate!"’
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.
Salam,
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Comment by Qushayri — February 22, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Assalmualaikum sister,
Once again, Jazakiallah Khaira for the images… they bring a little bit of solace to the hearts yearning to once again be in that Mubarik place. Based on your commentary it seems that the ’security’ men have once again prohibited taking photos, when did this happen? Or is taking pics specifically at the construction sites the problem? May Allah azawajal accept all your prayers at His Magnificent Kabaa, ameen.
Comment by ikramuddin — February 22, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
As-Salam Alaykum,
You wrote, “Please keep this humble speck in yours as I leave this Radiant City and our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam.” Where are you leaving to? What do you mean to say?
I pray that Allah grants you the best of the dunya and akhirah.
Wassalm.
Comment by Qushayri — February 23, 2007 @ 3:06 am
May your dua be answered, and I make dua for you as well, dear Sister.
Very interesting pictures. They do not allow photos because they do not want the world to see the chaos of construction in Mecca, no doubt. Inshallah, it will soon be over.
Ya Haqq!
Comment by Irving — February 23, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
As-salaamu ALaikum,
I think Sister Noor is leaving for Makkah because she was going to leave last week for Umrah but it was postponed.
May ALlah ta’ala accept the Umrah from them and grant them ease, amin.
wasalaam,
Farah
Comment by Farah — February 24, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
Assalamu alaikum,
Ameen thumma Ameen to Du’a expressed by each of you.
Alhumdulillah Allah Ta’ala has returned us once again, after Umrah, to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, the Radiant, and to His Beloved SallAllahu alaihi wassalam.
Brother Ikramuddin, officially, I have read that taking photographs was finally made “legal” throughout the Kingdom some months ago. However the reality seems to be different. A new message has appeared since Hajj on the garish screen (just to the right of where the third photo above was taken) stating that it is “prohibited to take photos inside AND outside Haram.” I was tempted to take a photo of this, but a group of the official Masjid brothers sitting “guarding” the entrance to the ladies courtyard were seated too close, it was not worth the risk. There may be a sensitivity to the construction sites too, Allahu ‘Alum.
Qushayri, Insha’Allah the pictures are loading for you now, as they appear from here. Apologies if my sentence was confusing…I was saying that my intention was to make Du’a for all readers of this humble space and for the entire Ummah during this Umrah…and was requesting to be in your Du’a. JazakumuLlahu khairan brother Irving and Ukhti Farah for your words! May Allah Ta’ala accept every Umrah from every pilgrim from the first performance of this lesser pilgrimage till the last, and to accept every supplication from His Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala needy slaves. Ameen.
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
Comment by almiskeenah — February 24, 2007 @ 5:01 pm