Makkah, in a desert valley in western Saudi Arabia, is Islam’s holiest city, as it’s the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the faith itself. Only Muslims are allowed in the city, with millions arriving for the annual Hajj (pilgrimage). Dating from the 7th century, the central Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) surrounds the Kaaba, the cloth-covered (Qiswa) cubic structure that’s Islam’s most sacred shrine.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Hosting Program was launched in 1417H during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, May Allah forgive him. Being supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Dawah and Guidance, the program has been providing services for a wide range of Muslims from different parts of the world since its launch and till now. Up to the 1431H’s Hajj season, the program has served some 16,866 Muslims of different nationalities and continents.
It is expected that the Hosting Program -Allah willing- would be operative for many coming years so that it could benefit the largest number of people in the Muslim-minority countries. This gracious gesture reflects the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ continued interest in the Muslim minorities and his outstanding keenness to give them a chance to perform the Hajj rituals easily and conveniently, especially for those who did not perform this pillar of Islam before.
It is noteworthy that the program provides an opportunity for the Muslim minorities from all over the world to meet and exchange views over all matters related to Islam and Muslims, thus they could benefit from each other and reinforce the spirit of mutual cooperation so as to achieve what our Almighty Allah called for in the Holy Quran when He said, “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.”
It is worth mentioning that the Hosting Program offers a number of activities and hosts senior scholars and preachers to deliver lectures and symposiums. These activities focus on calling unto the way of our Lord with wisdom, fair exhortation and discussion as part of the Holy verses saying: “Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious,” “Speak fair to the people,” and “And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation).”Old Video of Masjid al Haram Makkah al-Mukarramah
The Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques carried out a major expansion of the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah throughout Islam's long history and increased the capacity. As a result, Muslims from across the globe have been given the opportunity to perform their rituals with much ease and convenience .Old Video of Masjid al Haram Makkah al-Mukarramah
The KSA developed mega- infrastructure projects in Makkah , Madinah and the Holy Sites ,with a core focus on a full spectrum of multiple service utilities ,including the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques and the areas dedicated for the accommodation of pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah through the launch of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Southern Line, the construction of Jamarat Bridge, and completion of projects in relation to the expansion of airports, ports , haj and Umra lounges, transportation, health and hygiene services, coupled with logistics for Haj pilgrims, Umra performers and visitors, and the creation of a new hospitality industry to bolster up the economies of Haj and Umra.
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