Scholars want action against extremists

JEDDAH Saturday 28 June 2008: Reacting to the recent disclosure by the Interior Ministry that terrorist organizations were exploiting Haj and Umrah facilities to bring in foreign Al-Qaeda cadres into the Kingdom, several religious scholars have stressed the need to deal firmly with extremists.

SR50-Billion Projects to Change Face of Makkah in 10 Years

JEDDAH, 28 May 2008 — Led by an expansion of the Grand Mosque, six real estate projects are being implemented in the central region of Makkah at a total cost of SR50 billion. Analysts said the new projects, to be completed within 10 years, would change the face of the holy city and create more housing, transport and living facilities for pilgrims and residents.

Saudi Grand Mufti Denies Inviting Rabbis to Riyadh

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh has denied press reports that he had invited Jewish rabbis to a forthcoming inter-faith reconciliation conference in Riyadh.

In a press statement, the Mufti, who is also chairman of the Senior Scholars’ Commission and Ifta, clarified that what has been published in some newspapers, quoting some news agencies, are “reports which are absolutely baseless and have no grain of truth.” Citing a verse from the Quran, the Mufti called for verifying baseless news that might cause harm to others, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

Raja Abdullah Menyetujui Jalur Kereta Api Penghubung Dua Kota Suci

JEDDAH, 21 Februari 2008 – Penjaga 2 Kota Suci, Raja Abdullah, telah memerintahkan pelaksanaan proyek jalur kereta api Makkah-Jeddah-Madinah memakai dana lokal Saudi, kata Menteri Transportasi Dr Jabara Al-Seraisry kemarin. Dia mengatakan petunjuk kerajaan akan mempercepat pelaksanaan proyek yang dikenal sebagai Makkah-Madinah Rail Link (MMRL), yang ditaksir akan menelan biaya 20 milyar Riyal Saudi ($5,33 milyar) dan menghasilkan perubahan yang revolusioner pada transportasi peziarah di antara kedua kota suci.

Sudais Warns of Gaza Catastrophe

JEDDAH, 2 February 2008 — Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, an imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, yesterday cautioned Muslims all over the world that their Palestinian brethren in Gaza were facing a human catastrophe. The imam rebuked Western countries that speak profusely about human rights, freedom and democratic values for keeping mum on the continuing Israeli atrocities in occupied Palestinian territories.

Sudais Warns of Gaza Catastrophe

JEDDAH, 2 February 2008 — Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, an imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, yesterday cautioned Muslims all over the world that their Palestinian brethren in Gaza were facing a human catastrophe. The imam rebuked Western countries that speak profusely about human rights, freedom and democratic values for keeping mum on the continuing Israeli atrocities in occupied Palestinian territories.

iAzan Software for iPhone and iPod Touch

Walaupun entah kapan iPhone akan diluncurkan di Indonesia, apalagi kapan anda akan memilikinya (mahal euy!), kami tetap perlu mengabari berita gembira bagi kaum muslimin, terutama mereka yang mobile, sering bepergian namun selalu memperhatikan dan menjaga shalatnya. Seperti halnya Prayer Times untuk ponsel, kini aplikasi serupa hadir untuk iPhone dan iPod Touch.

Denah & Maket Lokasi Jumroh Haji 1428H / 2007M

Jumroh adalah salah satu ibadah yang termasuk dalam rangkaian ibadah haji. Pada waktu pelaksanaan ibadah ini, sering kali menimbulkan korban akibat sangat banyaknya manusia yang berkumpul pada waktu dan tempat yang sama, serta arus yang beragam arahnya. Keluarga yang ditinggalkan pun lebih sering memantau berita dari tanah suci pada saat jumroh dari pada waktu-waktu ibadah haji lainnya. Mereka khawatir kalau-kalau terjadi apa-apa pada keluarganya.

Walhamdulillah sebagai penyelenggara dan tuan rumah, Saudi Arabia terus menerus berupaya untuk meningkatkan keamanan dan kenyamanan para tamu-tamu Allah dalam menjalankan ibadah kepada-Nya, khususnya haji dan terlebih lagi dalam masalah Jumroh ini. Berikut kami kutip dari paper Dirk Helbing, Anders Johansson, dan Habib Zein Al-Abideen yang mengambil studi kasus mengenai pengaturan bangunan dan arus Jumroh.

More Space for Women at Prophet’s Mosque

Madinah officials are gearing up for the forthcoming Haj, where pilgrims visit the Prophet’s Mosque on their way to the pilgrimage.

Abdul Wahid Hattab, spokesman at the Presidency of the Prophet’s Mosque Affairs, said that new arrangements are being drawn up to accommodate women in Al-Rawda area after night prayers.

Al-Rawda is a very special area in the heart of the Prophet’s Mosque, which extends from the tomb of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his pulpit.

Fatwa: Qur’anic Ringtones Haram

Fatwa-Online Newsletter. 9 November 2007 – The Islamic Jurisprudence Council banned the use of the verses of the Holy Qur’an as ringtones for mobile phones because it impinges on the sacred character of the Muslim Holy Book, the Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday.
 

“It is demeaning and degrading to the verses of the Holy Book to stop abruptly at the middle of a recitation or neglecting the recitation, as happens when they are used as ringtones in mobile phones. On the other hand, recording the verses from the Holy Qur’an in phone sets with the intention of recitation and listening is a virtuous act,” the scholars attending the council said in a statement.