MAKKAH: Preliminary work for the expansion of the mataf (the circumambulation area around the Kaaba) started yesterday with the installation of huge cranes at the northeastern courtyard of the Grand Mosque. The contractor undertaking the expansion has sought the evacuation of preachers’ offices in the mataf and the command office of the Haram Security forces close to Al-Safa Gate.
The expansion is being undertaken on the basis of a study prepared by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj and Umrah Studies.
The study focuses on using the available space and potential of the mataf to the maximum while maintaining the architectural features of the Grand Mosque using advanced technology.
According to the study, the mataf will be separated from prayer areas and it will be linked to different floors of the mosque and facilitate entrance to and exit from the mataf. It will also takes care of the crowding at the entrances to the mataf and nearby passages and will also give direct access from the mataf to the masaa.
The mataf on the second and third floors will have cable cars to carry aged and disabled pilgrims and there will be direct access to these floors from outside. The topmost floor of the mataf will have automated walkway revolving around the Kaaba.
The study said the original mataf is a circle with a diameter of 95 meters.
Currently the capacity of the mataf is 28,000 pilgrims in an hour or four persons in a square meter area, though at peak days it rises to 40,000 people or six people in a square meter in an hour.
Muhammad Idris, who prepared the study, said the first Saudi expansion of the facility was undertaken 60 years ago and then roof was not made for prayers.
He said factors such as the change in the level of ground water and impact of salt on the foundation and the shaking caused by the rock blasts for the nearby projects are affecting the mosque building’s strength.
The study said many efforts have been made to strengthen the pillars of the building. The new project will also take steps to make the building tremor proof.
Authorities have made it clear that the new works will not affect the upcoming Umrah season.
Umrah visas are usually closed after Ramadhan until Muharram because this is the time for Hujjaj to come for Hajj. This year I don't know whether they will open the new Umrah visas as usual or delay them for a few months.
RIYADH: SHARIF M. TAHA Thursday 19 July 2012 Last Update 19 July 2012 2:42 am
Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) and the General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques recently signed a contract whereby the university will translate the Friday sermons into English.
IMSIU will undertake the translation task in collaboration with Prince Naif Institute for Studies and Consulting Services, an IMSIU affiliate.
IMSIU Rector Sulaiman bin Abdullah Aba Al-Khail, who announced the project during the launching ceremony of a website for the Institute of Arabicization and Translation, said the institute should live up to the confidence reposed by the General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques to the university.
Aba Al-Khail appreciated the efforts undertaken by the institute in the past and expressed the hope it would initiate more steps to enhance communication with the university, governmental sectors and other similar bodies inside and outside the Kingdom, which may seek such services.
He called on the parties concerned to reflect the true image of the Kingdom in other countries by translating books dealing with Islam and urged the institute to attract specialists and experts from inside and outside the university to serve the institute’s vision and objectives.
On his part, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Bunyyan, the dean of the institute, said the institute aimed to express the international nature of the Saudi message through its translation efforts.
The institute also aims at conveying the achievements of Saudi scholars and scientists on Shariah, humanitarian, and social areas to beneficiaries all over the world in addition to realizing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ vision in boosting dialogue between followers of different religions and cultures, he pointed out.
Move Under Way to Translate Friday Sermons for Expats
Author: Arab News Saturday 31 March 2007
RIYADH, 31 March 2007 — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has announced that it is discussing plans to translate Friday sermons into other languages to appeal to non-Arab worshippers.
Tawfiq Al-Sudairi, deputy minister of Islamic affairs, told a local newspaper that the ministry is currently considering whether to implement the plan in areas where a high number of Asian workers live. He added that translating Friday sermons after the prayers has already begun in certain areas.
Al-Sudairi said that only approved translators would be allowed to translate the sermons, which are delivered by imams who have the freedom to choose their topics.
He added that the idea of specifying certain mosques for Asian expatriates where they can listen to Friday sermons in their own languages was merely a suggestion.
“Mosques are for everyone,” he said, adding that the languages of expatriates vary and is not just English.
Khaled Al-Mehaidib, a former imam in Riyadh, said that translating Friday sermons was essential because most expats were unable to benefit from the sermons in Arabic.
The ministry supervises over 72,000 mosques all over the Kingdom.
One of the reasons why the proposed model of Masjid An-Nabawi expansion was cancelled was because the mihrab was moved to a new location in the proposed model and nobody can pin-point the Qiblah better than how Jibreel did at the time of Rasulullah
I read it in news that through the new expansion programme,they will make a place for 2 lac people to offer prayer in the veranda of Masjid An Nabi SAW.Is the cancellation news is about that expansion
Last year i read an article which said they will soon fall flat the green dome of Masjidun Nabi SAW.Is that true?Also,is there any chance they will unveil the view of grills of the grave for women in future?
It's there at the front, in the same place. The big white dome is at the back side, not the front side.
I just can't spot it. :/ Is it noticeable in the picture?
Could any one also explain to me exactly what is happening in the Mataaf right now? I've read many articles, but I just don't seem to understand the concept of the prayer area being separated from the Mataaf area, with there being direct access to the Massa from the Mataaf. Also, will the roof have the revolting floor?
In the Mataf, apparently they are going to lower the Turkish part of Masjid Al-Haraam and bring it down at the Mataf level.
The mataf area where worshippers perform the tawaf ritual (circumambulation of the Holy Ka’aba) will accommodate over 150,000 people per hour once it is expanded, according to Dr. Muhammad Al-Khuzaim, deputy president of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques’ Affairs.
Dr. Khuzaim said the old Haram area will be left unchanged, although slight changes will be made to keep it at the same level of the mataf. He added that it will also be connected with the ground floor and the courtyards.
Special lanes for wheelchairs used by the physically-disabled will be built while corridors will be developed to be in line with the mataf. More space will be created inside these corridors to facilitate the movement of worshippers.
The work has now started at the northern side of Masjid Al-Haraam. They have closed 76 doors on that side and cut off the electricity as well. Some of the overhead pedestrian bridges across Masa will be temporarily removed.
Source: http://www.okaz.com.sa/new/Issues/20...1120549041.htm
during hajj, at masjid un nabwi (SAW) there was a display of previously proposed model. i saw it there, Didn't they started work on it? As i noticed there that the sites where it was to be build were already emptied and ready to be demolished which included hotels and old market area.
Old market area will be demolished My mother told me about that and that the market is in a very bad condition and majority of shop keepers there are Paki's.So im getting myself ready to see a whole new Madinah Insha Allah
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my sister 
did at the time of Rasulullah 
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