The Prohibition of Harming Non-Muslims Residing in Muslim Lands

As salaamu ‘alaikum. Harming Non-Muslims Residing in Muslim Lands by Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Baaz.

Haneefah

Jeddah 101: In Search of the Lost City

As salaamu ‘alaikum. Interesting…

Old Jeddah: In Search of the Lost City

By Majid al Kinani and Ali Sharayah

Asharq Al Awsat News

Jeddah, Asharq Al Awsat - Recently discovered archaeological remains are indicating that Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is home to an undiscovered and historical city buried under modern-day Jeddah.

Researchers, who argue this point, have drawn evidence from discoveries that were made when some inhabitants and architects found old ruins and tools whilst digging in certain areas. Sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that talks are being held with a number of house owners in the Ain Faraj vicinity in an attempt to gain permission to excavate beneath their houses, since it is clear that the spring of Ain Faraj extends below in an area that has previously gone undiscovered.

One source said: “It is apparent that a deeper history lies beneath this historical city in which we live,” and confirmed that “there is definitely another history to the city.”

Sami Nawar, who heads Jeddah’s Tourism and Culture Department, told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Many discoveries have been made to support this claim. For example, a resident of Al Mazloom Quarter was digging for a water reservoir at six meters deep when he found three hand mills, amongst other items.” Numerous other discoveries have been made in this region since.

For his part, writer and expert in the affairs of Jeddah’s old city, Abdul Wahab Abu Zanada, related a similar story stating that when he was excavating the Malika building, located in Al Balad region, he found a number of rusty canons and undetonated bombs, as well some other archaeological remains.

Abu Zanada cited many historical facts that support the claim that there is a buried city underneath modern-day Jeddah: “What is noticeable is that when you pass by Al Meamar Mosque, you would see that the southern side of the mosque is four meters high. But coming from the northern entrance of the mosque, one would find that it is at a higher level indicating that it was built on a hill, that is, the northern Jeddah plateau that extends to Al Atiq Mosque.”

Abu Zanada stated that there are indications that this hill, the area of which covers approximately two kilometres, is the location of the original city upon which the present city was built. It is the area that is bordered by Al Mazloom quarter and the north-eastern part of Al Sham quarter.

 If we add to that the fact that the Qudaa’ah tribe once inhabited Jeddah, it confirms that Jeddah was known of in the second century.”

Abu Zanada continued, “When the Persian city of Siraf was attacked, some of its residents moved to Jeddah where they settled and built two fortresses around the city, one made of stone and the other of water (water canals that enclosed the city). In 568, they built a four-meter deep water tank.” He added, “I do not think that anything remains of it.”

Jeddah Preps for Summer Action

Jeddah preps for summer action Arab News

JEDDAH: City authorities in Jeddah have approved an action plan for the summer holiday season, which includes maintenance, hygiene control and preparation of new public facilities to meet the requirements of massive crowds that are flowing to the city for vacationing, according to a municipal official. Khalid Aqeel, deputy mayor for services, said the plan aims at intensifying cleaning work around the city and assigning more teams to monitor restaurants and food outlets. “This year we have introduced new high technology equipment that could measure the hygiene level not only of food but of workers as well,” Aqeel said. He said each monitoring official would carry three different devices that could instantly measure hygiene levels of food and workers, quality of cooking oil and the right temperature of refrigerators. “With these new devices we will have instant and accurate readings that ensure the safety of food outlets,” he said. Aqeel said the municipality would also launch an awareness campaign against the negativities of horse and motorbike rentals that have been taking place along the Corniche. The campaign is aimed at educating the visitors to refrain from dealing with illegal horse and motorbike owners, who sometimes manage to slip their way into the Corniche area. According to Bahjat Hamouh, head of the garden and parks department, the municipality is currently working on rehabilitating more than 125 public parks around the city. “The municipality has also identified 50 open yards around the city which would become public facilities and play grounds in the near future,” he said. The open yards were designed to cater to all both men and women of all age groups. They will have playgrounds, green areas, public seats and toilets, he said.

1 Month Intensive ‘Arabic Language Course – Makkah KSA

As salaamu ‘alaikum …just sharing some info posted in the Muhaajir E-Group:

 

Welcome to the ZamZam Institute

 

As the language in which the sacred Quran was revealed, and in which the majority of Islamic scholarship is conducted, Arabic occupies a very special and beloved position in the very soul of the Ummah. It is both the language in which we pray to our Creator and the gateway to the knowledge that enables us to properly fulfill our duties as Muslims.

Allah says: “Verily, We have sent it down as an arabic Quran in order that you may understand.” (Yusuf 12:2)

Sheikh Muhammed bin Saleh Al Uthaymeen (rahimahullah) said:

From the benefits of learning the Arabic language is correction of the tongue with the Arabic tongue which the speech of Allah was revealed in. Because of this, understanding the Arabic language is extremely important. But the sciences of the Arabic language are difficult in the beginning and become easy thereafter. It is the example of a house made of cane (the likes of sugar cane),but its door is made of steel. Meaning, it is difficult for one to enter, but once one does, is then made easy. Due to this, I encourage the student to learn the foundations of the language in order to make the rest easy for him/her.  
(source: Sharh Al Ajromiyah pg.9)

Shaykh-ul-Islam ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) mentioned a statement of Imam Ash Shafi’ee (rahimahullah), he said:

…this is because the (language) that Allah choose is Arabic.  He revealed His glorious book (The Quran) in this language and He made it the tongue of His final and last prophet, Muhammed -sallahu alahi wa salem.  Therefore, we say: it is befitting for everyone that has the ability to learn this language to do so, this is because it should be the most desired language to learn.   (source: Iktidah As Siralt Al Mustaqeem 1/521)

Thus it is a great honor that The ZamZam Institute is blessed to offer one month “Arabic Intensive Program”  for everybody who is coming for Umrah and would like to benefit during her/his stay in Makkah. The Arabic classes commence with an introduction to classical Arabic with a view towards further study using source materials in their original arabic.

See Services for more information.

Scholars want action against extremists

Scholars want action against extremists Arab News

JEDDAH: 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. “The Saudi government tries its best to ensure excellent facilities to Haj and Umrah pilgrims and so it is the duty of all pilgrims not to violate the sanctity of the holy cities and not to create law and order problem. Any act or ideology that aims to disrupt law and order in the Kingdom, which is the home to Makkah and Madinah, is an unpardonable crime,” said Ibrahim Al-Khodairy, member of the Cassation Court in Riyadh. The imam and khatib at the Grand Mosque, Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, said that some youths were attracted to the extremist ideologies because of weak family control or the failure of schools and mosques to pass the right message to them. “Terror is the bane of the modern age, a cancerous growth that should be removed,” Al-Sudais said. Ahmad Al-Muwarrae, imam and khatib of a Makkah mosque, said that the extremists send messages to the young people with the aim of recruiting them to perform criminal acts. “Their aim is to destroy the peaceful life enjoyed by the people in the country,” Al-Muwarrae said. A lecturer at the Prophet’s Mosque and former professor at the Islamic University in Madinah, Saleh Al-Sehaimi, said that it’s wrong to blame unemployment for these activities, as some scholars think. “There are certain issue that many of our scholars admit do exist in the society but they could be resolved without resorting to destructive activities,” Al-Sehaimi said.