Yes, the majority of
Mecca has been redeveloped. The Saudi government tried to renovate the City
with the engrossing interior of mosques and expansion of buildings the city has
been improving its infrastructure and holy sites for all the pilgrims who come from
different parts of the world to perform Umrah through Cheap Umrah Packages.
Centuries ago Mecca only had a capacity of thousands of pilgrims to perform
Hajj but now the holy site can have more than 2 million Pilgrims at the same
time. The Saudi authorities want to change the old building of Mecca into a
renovated enchanting mall. They also signed the contract of a holy mosque to be
renovated for a better experience of Muslims. However, the local vast majority
of the population doesn't live near such extravagant structures or renovated
hotels however they live locally known as the old city. So while the experience
of pilgrims and the whole Infrastructure improved, the normal resident stayed
the same throughout the years.
How the Saudi Government is improving
Mecca's infrastructure?
The Saudi authorities
are spending millions of money on the renovation of Mecca infrastructure. Every
year millions of Muslims come to Mecca from different parts of the world to
perform Hajj. The holy mosque overflows with millions of pilgrims leaving no
space behind. This is the thing the authorities want to change. They want to
renovate the area by adding more buildings and causing expansion of old
buildings of the mosque to accommodate more pilgrims.
Why did the Saudi authority want to
expand the holy mosque?
The authorities want to expand the holy mosque
due to millions of Muslims coming every year to perform the pilgrimage.
Alhamdulillah Islam has been spreading all over the world which results in
increasing Muslims so the government wants to accommodate as many Muslims as
they can in the holy place.
How the Local live in the old city
of Mecca?
As much as the outer
part of Mecca is improved the inner remains the same the Saudi authorities made
sure to renovate the holy mosque and nearby buildings but the old city and the
people live there have never been developed. They have been living their life
the same throughout the years. The immediate results of ongoing improvement,
development, and democratization of air travel are the projects Saudi
authorities have been handling while the majority of people don't even live
nearby extravagant hotels.
How
old is the city of Mecca?
Mecca is a very old city. Islamic traditions
say Mecca dates back even further than 2000 BC. And its old name was Bakkah. It
was first visited by Hazrat Adam (A.s). Now it is widely known as the Holiest
city of Muslims where non-Muslims are prohibited to enter. It is also
considered a spiritual center of Islam as Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) started his
journey of spreading Islam from there.
How much part of Mecca was redeveloped?
70% part of the Mecca
was redeveloped by Saudi authorities. They have projected their money in the
expansion of buildings as well as the better Future of Mecca. They also
invested the money in the interior of Mosques, for instance, Masjid ul Haram.
It was reported to go through several changes such as its wall were re-painted
and they were also extended so that it could fit in more pilgrims. Currently,
it can accommodate more than 4 million people at the same time.
What is the Major conflict on the
redevelopment of Mecca?
The renovation of the
holy mosque has become the battleground for conflict between those who want to
preserve the city's architectural heritage and those who want Mecca to be
redeveloped. The 17th-century Portico - an ancient part of the grand mosque is
been removed by the authorities who want to add more space for pilgrims but the
people who don't support the idea of redevelopment are against it. Even one of
the UK based Saudi historian said what Saudi authorities are doing to Mecca is "Culture
vandalism" also Irfan Al Alawi, executive director of the Islamic Heritage
Research Foundation who is in support of preserving the old architecture thinks
some significant features of the old history of Mecca and Madina will be lost
on the name of the renovation.
He also called out
Muslims to disapprove of the idea of redevelopment on the cost of history
vandalism. But one of the representatives of Saudi authorities says it's
essential as every year the amount of pilgrims increases which results in overflow
and Destruction. This also Costs a lot of people's lives on which Irfan Al
Alawi replied I am not against the idea of redevelopment but it can also be
done without ruining any part of ancient history.
Demolitions on the name of
redevelopment:
Over the decades the
Mecca has been redeveloping in many aspects from large interior of buildings to
expansion of hotels. The Saudi government has always focused on the
redevelopment of places for the betterment of Mecca but some things are created
after the vandalism of buildings that are connected to Islamic history. Such as
in 1925 the Saudis demolished the mausoleums in al-Baqi Cemetery which is
attached to the mosque of the prophet. Also, the raids at al-Baqi which is
believed to be the house of Prophet Children’s are wife were demolished people
still cry to this day and call it a "day of sorrow" similarly the
site of the house belongs to Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) wife Hazrat Khadijah was
also demolished by Saudis.
Why Mecca's old history is
important?
Mecca is the holiest
city of Muslims also known as the spiritual center of Islam. It contains a lot
of Islamic architectural heritage. You can visit the Mecca by booking Decemberumrah packages 2023. Moreover, it has a lot of preserved places that refer
directly to Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H), Prophet Abraham, and Ishmael. Mecca's
old places directly connect to Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and other prophets of
Allah that makes it very important for Muslims to keep it safe at any cost
that's why millions of Muslims were against the redevelopment of Mecca.
