Saudi King orders immediate start to Prophet’s Mosque expansion
Work on project expected to be finished within a maximum period of two years
Work on the expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque is set to begin immediately.
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HH King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, ruler of Saudi Arabia, has ordered an immediate start to the expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, with work set to be finished within a maximum period of two years.
The new expansion will mean that the mosque will have the capacity to accommodate more than 1.6 million worshippers. The King had issued instructions to expand the mosque toward the northern, eastern and western directions.
“This is a grace from Almighty Allah. God willing, there is goodness and blessing for pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Mosque as well as to the noble Saudi citizens in this expansion. May Allah enable us to serve our religion and country in a way winning His pleasure and love.”
Minister of Finance Dr Ibrahim Al-Assaf said in a press statement that the alterations made in the expansion plan as per the directive of King Abdullah. The changes were made after examining the alternatives that are compatible to an expansion approved by the Grand Mufti and the Board of Senior Ulema.
He thanked the King for his utmost care and keenness in serving the public interests with regard to extending the best ever possible services for the Haj and Umrah pilgrims as well as visitors to the holy mosque.
However, critics in the Kingdom have said that the expansion will result in the demolition of three of the world’s oldest mosques, claiming that Saudi Arabia is ignoring its historical and archaeological heritage.
“No one denies that Medina is in need of expansion, but it’s the way the authorities are going about it that it which is so worrying,” Dr Irfan al Alawi of the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation.
Most of the expansion of the Masjid an Nabawi will take place to the west of the existing mosque. Located just outside the western walls of the current structure are two mosques dedicated to Abu Bakr and Umar, two of the Prophet’s closest companions. In addition, the Masjid Ghamama, a mosque built to commemorate the sport where the Prophet is thought to have given his first prayers for the festival of Eid, is also located in the area.
“There are ways they could expand which would either avoid or preserve the ancient Islamic sites, but instead they want to knock it all down,” Dr Alawi said.
