King Abdullah sends reply cable of thanks to Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz on the occasion of the success of this year's hajj

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques commends efforts of workers in all sectors to guarantee the success of hajj

Al-Madina al-Munawara…int'l center of science, culture

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has sent a reply cable of thanks to Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, on the occasion of the success of this year's Hajj.

Following is the text of the cable addressed to Prince Naif:

"We received your cable containing your congratulations and those of all who participated in this year's Hajj on the Blessed Eid Aladha and the success of all plans of all participants in this year's, 1429 H., Hajj.

We thank you and all those of all sectors who participated in this task for their noble feelings and their sincere prayers. We express our great satisfaction over and pride in the splendid integration achieved by those sectors' implementation of all (security, service, organizational and preventive) plans and the development of the mechanisms of their implementation which enabled the pilgrims to perform their rituals in tranquility and peace.

The responsibility we have dictates on all to shoulder their responsibilities with strong determination and patience. Since the reign of the late unifying King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Alfaisal, our country has considered this great religious duty as one of its responsibilities and duties. In our view, it is the most honorable and noble service God honored us to provide. Thanks to God, our men proved their well preparations which resulted in the success of performing this noble responsibility perfectly despite the challenges of the limited site, the narrow timing and the increased number of pilgrims every year.

Today, we thank God for enabling Muslims to perform this year's Hajj with all ease.

We commend the efforts of our people of all sectors. As usual, they carried out their responsibility well and exerted sincere efforts that contributed by God's grace to the success seen by all at all levels. We thank them all. We pray to God to guide us all to serve our religion and country."

Earlier, Prince Naif sent a cable of congratulations to the king on Eid Aladha and the success Hajj which was performed by about three million Muslims.

In the cable, Prince Naif underlined that this year's Hajj went smoothly and praised the participation of more than 100,000 security men in the security organization of Hajj.

Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah is the second holy city to Muslims after Makkah Al-Mukkaramah. It has also got many other names such as Taibah, Yathrib, the City of the Messenger, and Dar Al-Hijri (i.e. Home of Immigration). It is the city whose people supported Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) when he immigrated to it from Makkah. It comprises the Mosque of the Prophet, his grave, the Islamic University, King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran and many archaeological Islamic features. The first mosque of Islam is also located in Madinah and is known as Masjid Al Quba.

Madinah (Almadina Al-Munawara) the light city is the city of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and also his burial place. It was the first Islamic City to support the Prophet Muhammad, and it joined him in fighting decisive battles which were instrumental in the victory of Islam and its subsequent spread. This is the city of the "Ansaar" (Supporters) and their brothers the "Muhajireen" (Emigrants), who together formed the first Islamic army which entered Makkah in triumph eight years after the Prophet's "Hijrah" (Migration). It was a city which loved the Prophet, and which he in turn loved. On its soil he built his sacred mosque, and it was here that he was buried.

Madinah was also the city of the "Khulfai Rashiduun", who shouldered the responsibility of Jihad, or holy struggle, fighting against renegades and propagating Islam in the countries surrounding the Arabian Peninsula. It was the seat of the first Islamic state, and witnessed the Prophet's companions administering the affairs of the Moslem community, compiling the Holy Koran, and dispatching armies to Persia, Syria and Egypt.

To visit Madinah is not a Hajj or Umrah rite, but the unique merits of the Prophet's city, his Mosque and his sacred tomb attract every pilgrim to visit it. There is neither Ihram nor talbiyah for the visit to Madinah or the Prophet's Mosque.

The Prophet had great love for this city. He once said that "There is a cure for every disease in the dust of Madinah" (Al-Targhib).

The Prophet himself participated in the construction of this mosque, called it "My Mosque" and led prayers in it for years. He has also said that a prayer performed in the Prophet's Mosque is better than a thousand prayers in any other place except Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah. It was also reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) has also said: "The person who offers 40 prayers consecutively in my Mosque, without missing a prayer in between, will secure immunity from the fire of Hell and other torments and also from hypocrisy."

Madinah has 95 names, including Taibah, Tabah, Qubbat Al-Islam, Al-Mu'mina, Al-Mubarakah, Al-Mukhtarah, Dar Al-Abrar, Dar Al-Sunnah, Dar Al-Akhyar, Dar Al-Fateh, Dhat Al-Hirar, Dhat Al-Nakhl, Al-Barrah and Al-Jaberah.

Al Madinah Al Munawarah is located at Eastern Part of Al Hijaz Region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on longitude (39 36 6) and Latitude (24 28 6).

Madinah is located in the north-western part of the Kingdom, to the east of the Red Sea, which lies only 250 km (155 miles) away from it. It is surrounded by a number of mountains: Al-Hujaj, or Pilgrims' Mountain to the West, Salaa to the north-west, Al-E'er or Caravan Mountain to the south and Uhad to the north Madinah is situated on a flat mountain plateau at the junction of the three valleys of Al-Aql, Al-Aqiq, and Al-Himdh. For this reason, there are large green areas amidst a dry mountainous region. The city is 620 meters (2034 ft) above sea level. Its western and southwestern parts have many volcanic rocks. Madinah lies at the meeting-point of longitude 39 36' east and latitude 24 28' north. It covers an area of about 50 square kilometers (19 square miles).

Al Madinah Al Munawwarah is a desert oasis surrounded with mountains and stony areas from all sides. It was mentioned in several references and sources. It was known as Yatrib in Writings of ancient Maeniand, this is obvious evidence that the population structure of this desert oasis is a combination of north Arabs and South Arabs, who settled there and built their civilization during the thousand years before Christ.

Natural conditions have donated Al Madinah several features that made the city more important, water supplies in Al Madinah are abundant, its land is fertile with high and abundant productivity, there are natural roads and paths that link Al Madinah with Najid Tuhamah and Al Hijaz, in addition to the old trade road between south, north and east which made the city a center of important trade markers.

Geographical environment of Al Madinah consists of basalt and indesite rocks or metamorphosed schisr or granite rocks, which are traversed by a group of valleys that fall from the high mountains. The geological history of the area, with respect to its history and structure is related to the same history of Al Hijaz ridge.

The area has a hot, continental climate. The climate is affected by the Mediterranean in the north and by the seasonal climate in the south. The temperature ranges between 36-45 degrees Celsius during the summer months and between 15- 20 degrees Celsius during winter.

Little rain falls in this area with an average of only 94mm. When rain does fall it is generally in November and January.

There is low humidity most of the year, with an average of 22% that increases with rainfall to 35%. During summer the humidity rarely rises above 14%.

Southwesterly winds usually blow in the area. They are mostly hot and dry. The average speed of the wind is 5 - 8 knots per hour, which is considered to be quite strong.

Sources and references agree that Al Madinah before the Prophetic emigration was not an integrated urbanized city from either the population structure point of view or architectural point of view. The first inhabitation in the area was by Yathrib Bin Mahlaeil, the Amaliqide, whose pedigree is tracked back to Shem son of Noah, as mentioned by Al Zajahi. The first aggregation was in Adham area as mentioned in Wafa Al Wafa, which the area is known by the name Al Uyun (springs). As this area is a fertile land with abundant water, vegetables and fruits, it became a center of attraction for the emigrants from the neighboring areas. About 455 B.C. some Arabic tribes from the North had emigrated to Al Madinah. Al Madinah was mentioned in the Maeinian inscriptions, books of Ptolemaists and Geography of Byzantines especially the books of Ptolemy as it was also mentioned In the Holy Quran.

It is shown from what have been mentioned in historical sources that Al Madinah before Al Hijrah was a group of small residential communities with no tie, specially after the arrival of the Jewish settlers and their dependence on special communities, their Monopoly of gold trade, building of trade markets, building of forts and residential communities around the forts, as mentioned in the book of "Wafa Al Wafa".

On Monday, 8th Rabia I, corresponding to 20th September of the year 622 A.D. the Messenger arrived at Al Madinah, and people welcomed him with songs.

That was a distinct day in the history of Al Madinah, when the noble Messenger familiarized between the hated hearts and fraternized between Emigrants and supporters, and he built his Mosque, which became the center of the Capital of Islamic State, and the Center of command for the armies of conquest.

Since then, the residential communities changed into an urbanized residential unit. The Mosque was the first unit in the Islamic Urbanization structure; hence, the Holy Prophetic Mosque has become the center of Al Madinah Al Munawarah.

In 17th Rabbia I of the first year of Al Hijrah, corresponding the year 14 of the blessed prophetic revival, and corresponding to 24th December of the year 622 A.D. the Messenger of Allah,( peace of Allah be upon him ) arrived of Al Madinah with his companion Abu Bakr Al Sideeq, may Allah be pleased with him.

Since that history, Al Madinah [Taybah] [Dar Al HijrahJ has become the center of Islamic radiation and the first capital of the Islamic world. Messenger had spent, and during eleven years that the Messenger had spent in Al Madinah before his demise, Islam spread in the Arabian Peninsula, and Allah (the Most High) completed his grace to his noble Messenger with the great conquest of Makkah Al Mukarramah. Then the Messenger, Peace of Allah be upon him, completed his message in the pilgrimage of farewell, and in Arafah Day, Allah (the Most High) said:" Surah Al Ma'idah:

(This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.

And the Messenger, Peace of Allah be upon him, said in Khutbah Al Wadaa (farewell ceremony), "Learn your rituals from me, because I may not meet you after this year.

Al Mustafa Al Mukhtar demised on Monday, l2th Rabia of the year 11 H. Muslims forwarded by Omar Bin Al Khatab made the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr Al Sideeq, may Allah be pleased with him, as he was the second person with the Messenger in the cave, he is the father of the Messenger's wife, and he is the first one that the Messenger ( Peace of Allah be upon him ) deputized to lead people in performing of the prayer during the illness of the Messenger Sayyidna Abu Bakr Al Sideeq, may Allah be pleased with him, made great works that no one else could have done, and in two years, in which he was the caliph, the Islamic state managed to control who tried to dissident and managed to establish the bases of Islam. Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, demised after he had appointed the great companion, Sayyidna Abu Bakr was hurried near the Messenger, Peace of Allah be upon him, in the house of Al Sayeeda Aishah Bint Abu Bakar, may Allah be pleased with them all.

Sayyidina Omer Bin Al Khatab, may Allah be pleased with him, became the caliph in 22nd Jumada of the year 13 of Al-Hijrah, Sayyidina Omar is the one that the Messenger (Peace of Allah be upon him) said about him. "I have never seen a genius doing an unprecedented things such as Omar do". And he also said "If Omar followed a road, the devil would follow another road" and he is the companion that the Holy Quran approved his opinion in several circumstances such as Badr's captives prohibition of wine, and veil of women.

Messenger of Allah married his daughter, when the Messenger, Peace of Allah be upon him, asked Allah to support Islam with one of the two Omar, it was Omar Bin Al Khatab. He was the first one in Islam who was called the Emir of believers (Ameer Al Moomineen), he has made the prophetic Hijrah the beginning of the Islamic calendar, and he is the one that Allah inspired him in "O Sarriah, the mountain, the mountain".

Sayyidna Omar established the administrative and organizational structure of the Islamic state, he established the mail, he founded the bureaus, and the Islamic conquests extended under his rule. His rule in Al Madinah Al Munawarah continued until Zu Al Hija of the year 23 H, when he martyrized by a stab with a poisoned dagger from Abu Luluah Al Majusi, this was the interpretation of the dream that he had seen as a read cock. He was buried near his two friends in Aishah's house, may Allah be pleased with them.

The great companions of the emigrants and supporters met and agreed upon choosing Sayyidna Othman Bin Affan, companion of the Messenger, the one who married two of the Messenger's daughter, one of ten who are announced with paradise, the owner of Roumah well, the one that his trade was with Allah (the Most High), and the one who equipped Al Usra Army.

The great companion proceeded the great deeds which were started by Sayyidna Omar (May Allah be pleased with him) and he built the first military marine fleet in the Islamic state with which he invaded Europe in the Mediterranean Sea. Sayyidna Othman transferred Makkah Al Mukarramah seaport from Al Suhaiba to Jeddah.

With the extension of conquests, Sayyidna Othman found that the companions of the Messenger, (Peace of Allah be upon him) had dispersed in the conquest areas, and some of them had martyrized, and he was afraid that the Holy Quran might be lost. Accordingly, he had accomplished he most important and the greatest project, which was the gathering of the verses of Holy Quran that were kept in the hearts of men, the readers of the Messenger, (Peace of Allah be upon him).

The abstinent caliph demised in Zulhijjah of the year 35 H and he was buried in Baqeea of Al Garqad, (May Allah be pleased with him).

After the demise of Sayyidna Othman Bin Afan, Muslims agreed to Make pledge of allegiance to Sayyidna Ali Bin Abu Talib, may Allah honor him, as he is the cousin of the Messenger and the husband of his daughter, who sacrificed himself for the Messenger ( Peace of Allah be upon him ) in the night of his Hijrah from Makkah to Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, he is one of the first who believed in Mohammed and he was the first young man who believed in Mohammed, (Peace of Allah be upon him), he was one of the swords of Allah that supported the Prophet by the help of Allah, he had never bowed for an idol, he had never seen his genitals, and he is the husband of Fatima Al Zahara, daughter of the Messenger ( Peace of Allah be upon him ) and the father of Al Hassan and Al Hussain, the supreme of young men paradise people. He became the caliph in l7th of Zulhijjah of the year 35 of Al Hijrah.

Sayyidna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him and horror him, completed the establishment of the bases of the Islamic state. The Islamic scale began to be the subject of conspiracies of the enemies, accordingly, he commanded his armies in the third year of Al Hijrah and left Al Madinah as a fighter for the sake of Allah after he had deputized Sahl Bin Haneef in the year 37H and Abu Ayoub Al Ansari in the year 40H, and he martyrized in the 40 of Al Hijrah.

When the Messenger, Peace of Allah be upon him, migrated to Al Madinah, he stayed in Kaaba for some days, then he directed to Al Madinah, and when he entered Al Madinah, he left his she-camel to kneel were Allah wished. Where the she-camel had knelt, the Messenger, Peace of Allah be upon him. Wanted to build a Mosque on that piece of Land so, he bought an area which was owned by two orphans, Sahl and Suhail, sons of Rafia Bin Umro. He paid ten Dinars for the areas from the money of Abu Bakr Al Sideeq. The site of the Mosque was occupied by Palm trees, ruins and graves, so the Messenger, Peace of Allah be upon him, ordered to transfer the graves, palm trees were cut, and the bases of the Mosque were built to height of one fathom. At the beginning, there was no roof, and then it was roofed by Palm stumps and shaded with Palm branches. After that they smoothed it with mud and they white washed it.

Also, they made a court in its center, while the Kiblah Direction was towards Jerusalem, and three doors were opened. When the Kiblah was changed to Al Kaaba, the position of Al Qiblah in the Mosque has changed, and some doors were closed. The area of the Mosque was 1050 Square Meters, as its Length was 35 Meters and its width was 30 meters.

In the year seven of Al Hijrah, after Khaibar, The Prophet Peace of Allah be upon him, in- creased the area from east and west Directions, so the area became 2,500 Square Meters, and the shape became a Square with side Length of 50 Meters.

In the year 29 H, Othman Bin Affan may Allah be pleased with him, increased the area of the Mosque about 5 Meters to the South, 15 Meters to the North and 10 Meters to the East , and the area became 4,200 Square Meters. Omer built the Mosque with Sun-dried bricks, and made its columns of wood.

In the year 29 H, Othman Bin Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, renewed the building of the Mosque, and he added a riwaq at north, west, and south directions of area 496 square meters. Sayyidna Othman built the Mosque with inscribed stones and plaster, he made the columns of hallow stones and he put iron bars inside the stones and tilled it with brass. He made the roof sink.

In the year 88 H, Al Waleed Bin Malik ordered Omer Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Al Madinah, to renew the Mosque. Omer Bin Abdul Aziz, renewed the Mosque and he included the rooms of wives of Messenger Peace of Allah be upon him. He added 2,369 Square Meters at east, west and north, and built it with stones filled with iron and brass, he made the mosaic and marble and he roofed.

In the year 161 H, The Abbaside Al Mahdi increased the area of the Mosque 2,450 Square Meters. He completed his work in 165 H.

Al Mutasim renewed the Mosque when it was burned in the year 655 H. The work completed in the epoch of Al Zahir Baibers the Bandaqdari.

King Al Nasir Mohammed Bin Oalaoun renewed the roof to the east and west of the court, and added two Riwaqs to the south of the court, in the year 705 H and 706 H and 729 H.

In the year 879 H, King Oaiytby achieved an important restoration in the Mosque which included some roofs, columns, and he added 120 Square Meters at southeast direction.

In the night of l3th of Ramadan, 886 H, a thunderbolt hit the big minaret, and it transferred to the roof and destroyed it. Al Ashraf Oait-bey sent Emir Sungur Al Jamali to Al Madinah in order to restore the Mosque.

Sungur Al Jamali brought with him the necessary workers and equipments, and restored the Mosque. They added 1672 Square Meters at the eastern direction. King Qait-bey spent about 60,000 Egyptian Pounds for this restoration.

Sultan Saleem renewed the entire western wall from Al Rahma Gate to the Sulaimanic Minaret in the year 974 H, as indicated from the engraving at the inside face of the wall near Al Rahma Gate. He also built the Sulaimanic Mihrab in 938 H and the Prophetic Mihrab, as indicated from the shape of the later.

In the year 980, Sultan Saleem II restored the Mosque and built Mihrab to the west of the Prophetic Mihrab at the edge of the original Mosque towards Al Kiblah direction.

In the year 1265 H, Sultan Abdul Majeed Bin Murad, the Ottoman, ordered to restore the Mosque completely except the cabinet and some walls of tight bases. Old columns were replaced with better ones, northern and eastern riwaq were enlarged and made two instead of three, and the western riwaqs were made three instead of four. After that, two riwaqs were added at the Kiblah direction next to the courtyard of the Mosque. Some other items were added, and restoration completed in 1277 H in twelve years. Total cost was 750,000 Majeedi Ponds. The total area of the Mosque became four acres (12,600 Square Meters).

In the year 980, Sultan Saleem II restored the Mosque and built a second mihrab to the west of the original.

In the year 1265 the sultan Adul Majeed bin Murad ordered the restoration of the complete mosque as well as adding extra features.

In the year, 1336 H, Fakhri Basha repaired the Prophetic and Sulaimanic Mihrabs.

On Friday 11th Ramadan, 1370 H corresponding to l5TH June, 1950 A.D. King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman A1 Saud issued an order to accomplish a complete restoration to the Prophetic Holy Mosque and to expand it. Execution started in l0th July, 1951. Houses surrounding the Mosque were purchased for 115,000 Golden Ponds and removed. Foundation stone was laid in Rabia I, 1372 H, corresponding to November, 1952 A. D. work was completed in 6th Rabia I, 1375, corresponding to 22 TH October, 1955 A.D. Expenses were Fifty Millions of Saudi Riyals. The total area of the Mosque is 16327 Square Meters, 4056 Square Meters of it is an old Ottoman building, and12271 Square Meters is a Modern Saudi Building.

King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz ordered to expand the Prophetic Hoty Mosques, and the work is continuing until now.

There are many houses, castles, Palaces, and forms in Al Aqeeq valley since the epoch of companions. At the Southeast there are Abu Hurairahs farm in Al Jathjathah plain, to the North there is the palace of Urwah Bin Al Zubair, May Allah be pleased with him, and the ruins of that Palace are still there to the East of Urwah well and the Mosque of the Two minarets. To the North there are Palaces of Ommiads such as the Palace of Al Marajil to the North of Jeddah Makkah Road. To the North of that Palace there is the Palace of Sakeenah Bint Al Hussain May Allah be pleased with her and her mother Al Rabab Bint Umroa Al Oais Al Kalbiah, then palace of Anbasah Bin Umroa Bin Othman May Allah be Pleased with him, and this Place is known by the name Al Anabis until today, which is the site of the Palace, farms and house of Anbasah and his descendants, then comes the Palaces of the Major vacant lot around Roumah well (Othman Well).

The remaining ruins of the Palaces and Farms which were in the villages of Al Aqeeq and Known today are the ruins of the Palaces of Saeed Bin Al Aas, and a short distance to the South there are Palaces of Mohammed bin Umro Bin Othman May Allah be Pleased with him, and to the North of that there are the Palace of his uncle Aasim, then the Palace of his brother Anbasah, then the Palace of Abdullah Bin Abu Bakr, Bin Umro Bin Othman may Allah be pleased with him.

Medinah also plays a major economic role as it contains some industry activities of small scale in addition to gold mining. Besides, Medinah witnesses a massive shopping force on Haj and Umrah times adding to the economic power in the region in particular and the kingdom in general.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have thronged the Prophet’s City after the successful conclusion of all Haj rituals in Makkah and in the holy sites.

The journey to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina - Islam’s second holiest mosque after Grand Mosque in Makkah - is not an essential part of the Haj, but the pilgrims are encouraged to do it and have been promised rich rewards by Allah.

Of the nearly 2.5 million pilgrims who performed the weeklong Haj this year, many took the extra trip to Madina, 275 miles (440 km) north of Makkah in western Saudi Arabia, to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque.

Muchlis Yusuf burst into tears as he saw the green dome of the mosque where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) lies buried.

Overcome with emotion, the 40-year-old pilgrim from Indonesia said this was "the best moment" in his life as he lifted his hands toward the sky in prayer.

"You cannot just come to perform Haj and not visit the honorable Prophet’s grave," Fatimah Mahmoudi, a 34-year old woman from Iran, explained her reasons for coming to Madina.

The huge mosque can accommodate more than 700,000 worshippers at a time. Construction work over the past 50 years has made the mosque several times bigger, accomplished at an estimated cost of SR3.75 billion.

For many, the visit to Medina has special significance.