Makkawi pigeons…
…plump; balletic as they strut, bob, peck, flutter….plop….perch and coo and then plop some more and more!! Dressed in a fine silvery sheen, beaded, bedecked, bedazzled….revered by many tracing their sacred lineage back to Nuh Alaihis Sallam, the birds mentioned in Surah Fil, and the blessed one who protected our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam when he was in Ghar Thawr. (see previous entry for details/revision)
And while the Dar Al-Tawhid, Intercontinental hotel is one of the sought after residences for the pilgrims, these feathered guests are free-loaders on this very convenient ledge. No need for room service when all they do is glide down to their huge sufrah, the courtyard below, where a banquet is spread day and night.
Almost 7am daily the army of cleaners arrive performing their own choreographed balletic routine. Meticulously disinfecting, scrubbing and dousing the entire area as the venerable flock diligently supervise, ready to swiflty swoop, drinking from the puddles of water. They seem to exude a gregarious nature, with a few squabbles, but without the screeching and attacking seen in many of their other winged families.
The dynamics of the courtyard is a constant flux…the dense covering with pigeons changes to that of worshippers, a patterned canvas of a different texture and colour.
Imagine this sacred ground on That Day….bearing witness to centuries of the devoted coming and going, praying, worshipping, pleading, glorifying, weeping, supplicating, repenting, requesting, serving, maintaining…. feeding the feathered creation…..
….while the roving "sharks" cruise the ocean streets alert for a catch….another regular feature adding to the rhythmic dance that is Makkah. And guess whose car was gobbled this visit?
Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah.
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. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
Assalamu alaikum,
Mashallah, such good shots of the people and all the pigeons
pecking at the seeds.
Who provides all that seed for the pigeons?
I was surprised when i saw them towing the car away.
Where do thay take the car to?
Do they give them back?
Jazakumullah,i enjoyed this post alot.
Wassalam.
Comment by yusuf — October 31, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
As-salaamu alaikum Khala/Ukhti Noor!!
The pigeons and seeds bring back memories!!!
Love
Farah
Comment by Farah — November 1, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Great images, Jazakiallah Khair dear sister. Its amazing how much activity goes on in and around the Haraam, birds, people, cars, cats… and so much more
Comment by ikramuddin — November 1, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
Salaam Dearest Sister
Was that your car being towed away? I hope not, but you said guess, so who’s else would it be? And are there no hawks in Mecca? Soon the pigeons will outnumber the people lol Thank you for the ever enlightening posts and pictures
Ya Haqq!
Comment by Irving — November 1, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
Assalamu alaikum dear Yusuf,
Alhumdulillah that you enjoyed this post….Insha’Allah a taste of how much you will enjoy the real thing soon, at the invitation of the King…or even the king…. 
Ameen. Many young “lads” are standing around the area hawking small packets of wheat…sometimes they can be a nuisance shoving it in your face so desperate for a sale…some time back many young girls would be there as well, but Alhumdulillah the ‘authorities’ have finally made efforts to reduce the numbers…they almost seemed to be in competition with the pigeons in numbers! So people buy the seed, scatter it and fling the plastic bag on the ground… the mess soon builds up…including the pigeons constant ‘plopping’. There are cleaners permanently on duty in the area…sweeping up the mounds of seed…I noticed as I looked towards the Jabal Omar site a large fenced off compound…where the cleaners would empty the bins of the seed into large piles, and there the pigeons would continue their feasting. I will email you a night photo of this.
They take the cars to one of two large “jails” for naughty cars! They are huge compounds on the outskirts of the city area. So once you realize that your car has been captured you have to get a taxi to one of the places hoping it is there. Then you search through the hundreds of cars parked to find yours, drive it to the barrier at the entrance, where you pay SR50 for its release to the men in attendance. So its not a huge distress….but an inconvenience. Plus sometimes the tow truck guys are not so caring of how they handle the car when latching it to the “shark”. Ours this time has suffered some damage on the back bumper where one side has been pulled away from the main body.
Dear Irving Darvish, that was not our car…just one of the many I saw passing in rapid succession while transfixed at life going by from that window. We did not realize until time to leave that our car had joined the ‘naughty’ ones. Finding a park in Makkah is INCREDIBLY difficult. And sometime when you do it is at a 60 degree angle…such are the hills around Haram.
I have not seem any birds of prey near Haram…however one time near Arafat we saw a large flock of falcons. They were so impressive, but I do not know if they attack the pigeons. Seems even the falcons respect the sanctity of Makkah. I think the pigeons have already outnumbered people!
The cats are another topic again dear Brother Ikramuddin…I have seen them strolling in the Tawaf area totally oblivious to all around them as though they too have come for Tawaf, SubhanAllah. And other times they stroll in the midst of the pigeons…once again seeming to blend in, and making no attempt to chase the pigeons. Such is the spirit of Makkah, defying so much of what we expect of the Dunya. Saheeh….so much more….and so many memories sparked dear Ukhti Farah…and if not memories for those yet to have been called, then the ardent desire to be mesmerized by these rich encounters fills the heart…may we all be called again and again, Ameen.
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
Comment by almiskeenah — November 2, 2007 @ 2:48 am