SAUDI King Abdullah on Wednesday gave the green light for a high-speed rail link between Makkah and Madinah via the commercial hub of Jeddah, the official SPA news agency reported.
It said the project, first mooted years ago to help transport the hundreds of thousands of Muslims who visit the kingdom for the annual haj pilgrimage, will be financed by Saudi investment funds.
The train will travel at up to 300 kilometres (180 miles) per hour, allowing Makkah Jeddah journey time of half an hour and Jeddah-Madinah in two hours, SPA quoted Transport Minister Jebarah bin Eid al-Suraisri as saying.
The agency did not give an estimated cost or timetable for the project.
Jeddah on the Red Sea is the required port of entry for millions of Muslims performing the year-round Umra, or minor pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah.
It is also the port of entry for the main hajj which precedes the annual Feast of the Sacrifice, or Eid al-Adha, and brings together more than two million of the faithful.
Last April the Saudi government awarded three contracts totaling 1.9 billion dollars for the construction of railways covering 1,766 kilometres (1,100 miles).
Monday, September 28, 2009
660 Chinese workers embrace Islam in KSA
MAKKAH: Six hundred and sixty Chinese nationals working on the Haramain train construction project have embraced Islam in a ceremony in Makkah.
Abdul Aziz Al-Khudhairi, Makkah Governorate Undersecretary, who witnessed the declaration of the shahada described the event as a “direct response to critics of the government for contracting Chinese company.”
“We received hundreds of letters opposing the signing of a contract with the Chinese company and demanding that Muslims be contracted,” Al-Khudhairi said. “Six hundred and sixty of them have now embraced Islam.
Now those who were calling for them to be dismissed are happy at their embracing Islam.
The numbers will also go up, as this is only the beginning, and represents around ten percent of the 5,000 working on the Haramain train.”
Al-Khudhairi demanded that “our conduct reflect the teachings of our religion and our words should match our deeds to have an effect on people”. “We must also respect human rights,” he added.
Meanwhile, as many as 2,722 people have embraced Islam at the Cooperative Office for Call, Guidance and Awareness of Communities in Al-Taif Governorate.
The Office’s Director General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al-Sawat pointed out that the office has also distributed during that period 1,247,694 copies of the Holy Qur’an, religious books and pamphlets as well as 225, 901 religious cassettes.
Abdul Aziz Al-Khudhairi, Makkah Governorate Undersecretary, who witnessed the declaration of the shahada described the event as a “direct response to critics of the government for contracting Chinese company.”
“We received hundreds of letters opposing the signing of a contract with the Chinese company and demanding that Muslims be contracted,” Al-Khudhairi said. “Six hundred and sixty of them have now embraced Islam.
Now those who were calling for them to be dismissed are happy at their embracing Islam.
The numbers will also go up, as this is only the beginning, and represents around ten percent of the 5,000 working on the Haramain train.”
Al-Khudhairi demanded that “our conduct reflect the teachings of our religion and our words should match our deeds to have an effect on people”. “We must also respect human rights,” he added.
Meanwhile, as many as 2,722 people have embraced Islam at the Cooperative Office for Call, Guidance and Awareness of Communities in Al-Taif Governorate.
The Office’s Director General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al-Sawat pointed out that the office has also distributed during that period 1,247,694 copies of the Holy Qur’an, religious books and pamphlets as well as 225, 901 religious cassettes.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Dua Of Lailatul Qadr (Shab-e-Qadar)
In this significant night alone worshipping Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is more than the worship of one thousand months. Whosoever missed the virtues of this night will be very unlucky but will not be deprived from the blessing of this Night.
This Night of Power falls in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan. Most scholars are agreed and say to seek it in odd nights of Ramadan such as 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29.
“He who spends the Night of Power in worship, with a pure motive of faith and devotion, will have all his past sins forgiven”
Quran is also revealed on this night. as in surrah Qadar Allah(Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says
Translation:
We revealed it (the Qur’an) on the Night of PowerWould that you knew what the Night of Power is like.Better is the Night of Power than a thousand months.
On that night the angels and Spirit descend by their Lord’s permission, with all His decrees.That night is peace, till the break of dawn. (97 Holy Quran)
Following Dua is recited on Lailatul Qadr.
Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni’ “
Meaning of the DuaO Allah You are The One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.
This Dua is taken from the following Hadith
Aisha radhiya Allahu `anha, that she said: “O Messenger of Allah! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?” He said.- “Say.- (Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee.) “O Allah You are The One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.”.
The Best way to Pray Nawafil in the Night of Qadr:
1. Two Rakah Nafil in each Rakah after Surah Fatiha, Surah Qadar once and Surah Ikhlas (3) three times. The person would get the reward of the Night of Power, which would be equal to the rewards of Hazrat Idris (A.S.), Hazrat Shuaib (A.S.), Hazrat Ayub (A.S.), Hazrat Dawood (A.S.) and Hazrat Nuh (A.S.). The person would get a palace in paradise, which stretches from east to west.
2. The Holy Prophet (Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said, whosoever would pray two Rakah Nafil in the night of Qadr, in each Rakah after Surah Fatiha, read Surah Ikhlas (7) seven times and after finishing the prayer read (Astaghfirul lahil azimal lazi la ilaha illahoal hiul qaiumo wa atubo alaih) (70) seventy times.
Before the person would get up from his/her prayer mat Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will forgive all his/her sins and sins of their parents; and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will order the angels to plant fruit trees and build palaces for him/her in the paradise. The person will not die until he/she would see it in their dream.
3. Whosoever would pray four Rakah Nafil in the night of Qadar (Shab-e-Qadar), in each Rakah after Surah Fatiha, Surah At-Takathur once and Surah Ikhlas (3) three times. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will ease the hardship of death on him/her and will remove the punishment of grave. The person will get four columns in the paradise and each will sustain thousand palaces in it.
4. Whosoever would pray four Rakah Nafil in night of Qadar, in each Rakah after Surah Fatiha, Surah Qadar (3) three times and Surah Ikhlas (50) fifty times. After finishing the prayer read (Subhanallahe walhamdo lillahe wa lailaha illallaho walahu akbar). Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will fulfill any just Dua (supplication) the person would ask.
5. Whosoever would pray four Rakah Nafil in the 27th of Ramadan night of Qadar, in each Rakah after Surah Fatiha, Surah Qadar once and Surah Ikhlas (27) twenty-seven times. The person will be forgiven all his/her sins; and will be pure and innocent like a newborn child; and will be rewarded with thousand palaces in the paradise.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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