Three new iron bridges were constructed as part of the expansion project of the Masa'a area [distance between Safa and Marwa] to help Umrah performers move freely from the northern squares of the holy mosque to Al Marwa.

The expansion of the Mas'aa area to perform sa'ie [the seven rounds between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa], will be opened this Ramadan for Umrah performers who are expected to number not less than three million.

The first 40-metre bridge extends from the toilet area in the northern squares to the first floor of Al Masa'a, and the second, which is 15 metres long, links the northern squares with the second floor of Al Masa'a. The third which is 10 metres long extends from the northern squares to the ground floor.

Meanwhile, the vice-president of Holy Mosque Affairs Shaikh Mohammad Al Khuzaim said that the new bridges would help to reduce the crowds in the northern squares and would enable worshippers to go directly to the floor they wish to go to.

Speaking to the press yesterday, he said that the northern squares were arranged to receive more than 700,000 worshippers during prayer times.

He noted that special services would be available for Umrah performers including up to 10,000 wheelchairs for the disabled and nine escalators for pilgrim movements to the first floor and the terrace of the Holy Haram.

These also include lectures in Arabic, Malay, Urdu, Bahasa and other languages to educate pilgrims about the rituals related to Umrah and the Haj.

The lectures will be delivered after Fajr, Asr and Maghrib prayers. An internal communication system with telephones has been arranged for pilgrims to seek clarifications from religious scholars at any time. Over a million educational leaflets are being printed in several languages for free.

Project: Translation of prayers

The arrangements for live transmission of simultaneous translation of Tarawih prayers in the two holy mosques of Makkah and Madinah have been completed, it was announced by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments yesterday.

The project of the simultaneous translation of the Tarawih prayers in the two holy mosques is carried out by the the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Information.

The Project Manager Shaikh Talal Bin Ahmad Al Aqeel, who is also advisor to the Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments outlined that the simultaneous translation of the Tarawih from the holy mosque of Makkah would be in English language in the first channel of the Saudi TV station while the French translation from the holy mosque of Madinah would be on the second channel.

He said his ministry aims from this project to convey the meanings and teachings of the holy Quran to the largest possible number of non-Arabic speaking Muslims all over the world through satellite channels.


GULFNEWS