By IINA
Makkah : Riyadh Governor Prince Salman ibn Abdul Aziz launched the massive project to develop an encyclopedia on Haj and the Two Holy Mosques at a ceremony held at Ummul Qura University here yesterday evening. He also inaugurated an exhibition on King Abdul Aziz and Makkah, prepared by the King Abdul Aziz Museum in cooperation with Ummul Qura University.
Upon arrival at the venue, Prince Salman was received by Ummul Qura University Rector Adnan bin Mohammed Wazan and a number of officials. In his speech after launching the project, Prince Salman highlighted the remarkable role being played by Saudi Arabia in serving Islam and Muslims. He expressed his admiration over launching the project of encyclopedia on Haj and the Two Holy Mosques following the royal approval. Shedding light on the history of King Abdul Aziz, founder of Saudi Arabia, Prince Salman said his history is not confined to the achievement of unification, but also includes numerous other sides which project his humanity and the great attention he had given to the country notably to Makkah and Madinah.
“The Arabian peninsula witnessed centuries of instability and lack of security in addition to the weakness of the religion in the hearts of the people and spread of several mini-states following an era of unity and stability during the time of the Islamic state, founded by Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him ), and the righteous caliphs, Omayyad and Abbasid states.” Prince Salman said “The Saudi state came to restore stability to this region in the light of the first Islamic state, and most of its parts were unified in one state in line with the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah and not only on regional or tribal basis or human thought for more than 270 years when Imam Mohammed bin Saud and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab agreed to bring about the unity of the state on the basis of Islam. As the result of that important base, the Saudi state surfaced for the second time and emerged for the third time under the leadership of the late King Abdul Aziz.”
He also highlighted the great services rendered by his King Abdul Aziz to the Holy Mosques as well as for improving the services and facilities for Haj pilgrims. “King Abdul Aziz had attached great care and concern for the Two Holy Mosques. He introduced for the first time electrification of the Haram Mosque, constructed pavements in between Safa and Marwa, and built the Kaaba cover factory in Makkah,” he said while explaining the massive expansion works carried out under the rule of King Abdul Aziz and his sons King Faisal and King Fahd. He also noted the undergoing expansion works in the northern part of the Haram Mosque, ordered by his brother King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. Ummul Qura University Rector Adnan bin Muhammad Wazan announced the decision to confer on Prince Salman an honorary doctorate on the occasion.
The gigantic encyclopedia project is being undertaken by the King Abdul Aziz Museum, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj Research in Makkah, the Ministry of Haj, the General Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, the Ministry of Higher Education and the Saudi Binladin Group. It would be the biggest research project ever on the Two Holy Mosques and the annual pilgrimage of Haj.
Fahd Al-Simari, secretary-general of the King Abdulaziz Museum, who is heading the project, said the encyclopedia would shed light on the Haj from religious, social, cultural and economic perspectives. The encyclopedia — which will be illustrated with photographs, paintings and maps — will also include input from several historians and researchers, historical documents from Saudi Arabia and abroad, discourse on terminology, and the experiences of pilgrims.