First, I remember your exhibit vividly, it was nice for you to bring some of those pieces into this short film!!! Second, I think you touched on a very real threat to the sanctity of the Kaaba as the focal point and I believe the turning point has passed unfortubately. And as the known hadith mentioned as one of the smaller signs of the end of times is when: رعاة الشاة والإبل يتطاولون في البنيان" which we see today and especially now in Makkah. Great film Tareq!!
Yes I always wanted to bring the ideas and concepts from my exhibit. 15 years later, the pint of view has shifted and unfortunately for the worse. But I don’t find it beyond repair. KSA is going through a major shift and for a site as fundamental as Mecca, the costs would be very small when compared to projects like the Line and Mukaab (eerily coincidental) master projects. Thanks for you me constant support my dear friend and I am glad it resonated. 🔥
Finally someone who talks about this!!!!!!!!! I've always despised the rasing of buildings near the Ka'ba, my only wish is for the Ka'ba's surrounding landscape to go back to a much simpler form. I wish the Ka'ba would only have the blue sky behind it and not some towering buildings. Thank you for making this video and for speaking about something many arent willing to look into, Inshallah we dont reach the point of no return and this mess can be undone.
Couldn’t have said it any better @fin5494. I don’t think there really is a point of no return to be honest when it comes to Makkah. Your visualisation of a Kaaba with a blue sky would return us to a time of a much simpler and genuine faith that is inspiring yet powerful in its humility.
A lot of Muslims around the globe have similar sentiments. But I suppose if it's religiously permissible, then we'll have to live with it. The massive clocktower looks out of place, but it's true that it serves hundreds of thousands of pilgrims everyday. I was blessed to do Umrah recently, and noticed expansions are going on as we speak. May Allah guide us to what is best.
I think we should make a distinction between what is allowed and what is appropriate. The holiness and sanctity of the Kaaba and the Masjid demands we are respectful to its scale and context.
You are right . Development must serve pilgrims and not distinguish between rich and poor pilgrims. God imposed on us the ihram dress so that we would all be equal. Whether you are a king, a manager, a farmer or a driver, everyone wears the same simple uniform.
Extremely true your point about how egalitarian Islam is. The manifestation of ultra luxurious edifices around the Haram and the prime views in principle go against Islam teachings. Humility is also necessary. the Ihram you mention and its simplicity is an absolute reflection of this concept of submission. Thanks again for the wonderful comments.
I did Umrah in 2017 and was alarmed by the commercialization and lack of spirituality. You couldn't even access the Kaba without going through the malls. And my youngest was so impressed by the clock tower of Saudi America as he couldn't say Saudi Arabia.
Mecca, a place of humility and humbleness where everyone wears the same attire regardless of worldly status, serves as a powerful reminder of the Day of Judgment when we will face our Lord. It offers an escape from this worldly life, reminding us of the hereafter (Akhirah). However, it is now surrounded by tall skyscrapers, large shops, and malls, reflecting huge consumerism. This transformation contrasts sharply with the city's spiritual essence, where the focus is meant to remind us that one day we will face our Lord on Qiyama.
This is a sad reminder that even the haramains are not exempt from the plagues of modernity. This is not to deny or downplay the positive contributions they have made to the area, I’m not against technology used in the right way as long as it doesn’t eviscerated Meccas’ spiritual essence.
Agreed totally. The spiritual essence you mention is what must be preserved, above all. I am just concerned that even with all the positivity that the expansion has manifested itself, that this essence might be overcome.
I think there are precedents. But the point I want to make that is fundamental in all of this is the point you allude to in your question, "close as possible". Why is that a parameter to perform a task that should demand some level of physical and mental strength. The precedents I mention are airports. They are able to process immense numbers through a satellite system of terminals. With extremely fast moving trains that can operate continuously. The other question that is important is, what is more important, the sanctity of the place (reverence, khushoo'a) or the ease of access?
@@thekandarichronicles I think they should've focused more on building a huge metro/subway system to connect all the distant hotels to the Haram, in both Makkah and Madinah. Replacing the hundreds of different buses and taxis. Allowing all roads in the haram vicinity to be removed entirely, since almost all pilgrims don't have cars, freeing up more space. Making it much easier, quicker and more luxurious for people living in distant hotels to reach the Haram. Reducing the need for the closeby skyscraper hotels. Having the second tallest building in the world right next to the Kabah does indeed reduce its reverence, so many people always take selfies of it, despite it just being a tower... I also think it's a bit too close, causing congestion issues when it's really busy. But in lieu of a metro system, people don't want to have to get on buses everytime. And in summer the 45° weather makes walking unbearable for everyone, not to mention the old and frail. So being as close as possible is desirable, increasing density, resulting in skyscrapers (though they don't need to be that large or extravagant) Beyond that, it serves as a reference point if you get lost, and a centralised meeting point with all the amenities one requires in a single location: Barbers, food, and shops. Unlike the situation in Madinah, where everything is more scattered. But they definitely didn't need such large, gaudy and extravagant building to fulfill that purpose.
@@thekandarichronicles On your point about ornamentation, then the Messenger ﷺ dispraised extravagance and boasting in building of mosques, that doing so is one of the signs of the Hour and the way of the Jews and Christians, not Muslims. So much so that when Umar repaired the Masjid of Madinah, he ordered that red and yellow be avoided, lest they distract the worshippers. The same is also said for overly ornamented carpets. Since even the messenger himself was distracted by the ornamented garment given by Abu Jahm as narrated by Bukhari.
Thanks Wakobear. A lot of good points but I hope overall that there is an awareness that the urban direction Makkah is heading towards needs to be righted.
Development is good for the people of Saudi Arabia but my opinion is the space is getting smaller everyday because of the population of Islam is growing faster than Old centurys.... remember the prophet Muhammad pbuh said one sing of the end times is Islam will grow in numbers and All over around the world... I think they should not take advantage of the pilgrim and build expensive tower instead They should focus on how to expand the the masjid Al haram in order to accommodate huge numbers of pilgrim
I agree with all you say. One has to note and appreciate what the Saudis have done of course but for such a holy site there needs to be even higher strategising. If say one day hajj demands 10 million visitors the current infrastructure won’t allow for it. Having remote hospitality is the only solution with extremely fast and comfortable transport. Like in airports. How we move from the main terminal to the gates terminal. Only way I believe.
