One Day in the Haram (2017) - full transcript
The story of The Haram, in Makkah, told through the eyes of the workers.
(reverent singing)
That's the word that comes to
mind when you look at Mecca.
For over one thousand
four hundred years,
its story has captured the
imagination of millions.
From here, a messenger
named Mohammed
(peace be upon him), was born.
From here, he commenced his
prophet-hood, and
the religion grew.
A religion that came to
dominate the entire Arab world.
The prophet (peace be upon him)
said, "Allah had made this
city sacred, the day he created
the heavens and the earth
and it's sanctity shall remain,
until the day of judgement."
The preaching of Mohammed,
and the founding of
Islam turned Mecca
from a local place
of pilgrimage,
to one of worldwide
significance.
Although it's true
that only Muslims
are allowed to enter the city,
all practicing Muslims
everywhere in the world
are obliged
to travel to Mecca
at least once in their lifetime
and perform the Islamic
pilgrimage, known as the Hajj.
Mecca is truly a city
that never sleeps.
A city that is in a
continuous state
of flux, expanding
and contracting.
Here construction
work goes on all
year round in preparation
for the Hajj.
From the air, you can see the
way the city has literally
been carved from the mountains,
and developed over the years.
At the centre of
Mecca is the Haram
the Haram, or sacred
mosque, is considered
to be the holiest place
on earth by Muslims.
Enclosed within the
vast structure
are not only the Kaaba,
but the ZamZam Well, the Hijr,
and the hills of Safa and Marwa.
The Haram is ringed
by seven towering
minarets and sixty-four gates.
The structure covers an area
larger than 356,000
square meters
and can accommodate
over one million
worshippers during
the Hajj period.
At the centre of the
Haram is the black
cubical structure,
known as the Kaaba.
Muslims throughout
the world turn
and face the direction
of the Kaaba
for their daily prayers
symbolising unity
in worshipping one God.
Here in the Mataaf, the area
immediately surrounding
the Kaaba, the sense
of awe is palpable.
The yearning of the people
to be close to the Kaaba
and their sense of love
and devotion to it,
is so tangible it feels like
an other worldly experience.
Imagine, that from childhood,
Muslims around the
world are seeing images
of this wondrous place
in pictures, on prayer
mats and hung on walls.
Subliminally the image of
this majestic black cube in a
land far away creates a
feeling of awe and admiration.
And as they grow, they develop
a sense of wonder and
feel an inexplicable calling
to this mystical place.
So naturally, that
moment when a worshipper
sees the Kaaba for
the first time
in all it's
magnificent glory, is
one that they will never forget.
Now for the first time
in history, we have been
granted access to the inner
workings of the Haram
as seen through the eyes of
the people who work here.
We followed these employees
over the course of
their regular duties,
intersected by the five prayers
that make up a full
days cycle in the Haram.
And who better than the General
President of the Haramain,
Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Sudais,
to introduce this concept.
It's dawn time in Mecca.
The sun has not yet risen,
but the streets as ever, are
busy with the hustle and bustle
of the pilgrims and locals
making their way to the Haram.
Mecca truly is a city
that never sleeps.
(prayer singing)
It is the time for the
Fajr prayer, Fajr,
translates to "dawn"
in the Arabic language.
For Muslims, their is no
better way to start the day.
Here one of the Imams, or prayer
leaders, Imam Bandar Baleela,
takes his customary
walk from the Imams' quarters
on the
outskirts of the Haram.
All the way down to the
front of the Kaaba,
to lead the Fajr prayer.
The Imams of Mecca are mostly
appointed by royal decree
by the custodian of the two
holy mosques of Saudi Arabia.
The criteria for
selection is mainly
their way of recitation
and knowledge.
The Imams of Mecca
hold an esteem
position with great
responsibility.
Their Quran recitation must not
only be accurate,
but also inviting.
Satellite and online
television now broadcast
the prayers of Mecca
live around the world
and their voices
become synonymous
with the awe inspiring feeling
of the holy city,
and the diversity of
the believers present.
As spiritual leaders,
people from all
around the world
seek their council
Mecca is the holiest place in
Islam, and to be the Imam of the
Grand Mosque (Masjid
Al-Haram) is
the pinnacle of an Imam's career
and an honour they have trained
for their entire lives.
The Fajr prayer is the
shortest of all the prayers
and consists
of two Fard Rakahs.
Fard means that it is
an obligatory prayer.
Rakahs refer to a single
unit of the prayer
with the prescribed
movements and words.
Of the five daily
prayers, Fajr is
considered the prayer
most favoured by God.
This could be because
worshippers who attend this
prayer do so whilst most
of the world is sleeping.
A powerful saying of the Muslims
is, "prayer is
better than sleep".
Ayesha, the wife of
the prophet reports
that Mohammed (peace
be upon him), said
"The two (sunnah) Rakahs
of Fajr are better
than this world … and
all it contains."
This is Bandar Al Hitlabh.
Bandar is part of the new social
media division at the Haram
under the supervision of
the Riazah department.
This department heads all media
initiatives at the Haram,
including responsibility for
updating the social
media networks.
They are based in
this office, just
a stones throw away
from the Haram.
Like many of the
workforce at the Haram,
for Bandar the opportunity
to work at the most important
of all Islamic institutions
were for too great to resist.
Today, Bandar is
organising a meeting with
the rest of the Haram
social media team.
They will discus ways
in which they can best
utilise the Haram's
popularity on social networks
to spread the positive
message of Islam.
The social media team
is relatively young,
and they bring fresh ideas
and impetus to an
institution that
is steeped in history
and tradition.
Many of the new
recruits have studied
abroad, primarily in
the UK, USA and Canada.
They are tech savvy,
multilingual and
skilled across a range
of media disciplines.
This is important within the
context of Saudi Arabia,
where many people rely on social
media as their first
port of call for updates
and information on the
Haram's activities.
We joined the team now at
the brainstorming meeting
where Bandar is
trying to organise
the various departments of
the Haram,
in terms of importance for
social media exposure.
This is no easy task,
considering that there are
over 65 different departments,
and every department
within the Haram
is important and
has its own merits.
After their
brainstorming meeting,
Haram social media
manager Bandar,
and photographer Mustafa
arrive at the Kiswah Factory,
located opposite the
finance ministry in Mecca.
This is the first time Bandar
has visited the factory,
and he is keen to find out
more about the Kiswah cloth
and how it is manufactured.
He meets with Abdul Aziz,
one of the mangers at the
Kiswah Factory, to gain
a better understanding.
In 1927, Saudi king Abdul Aziz
ordered the establishment of a
factory dedicated
to manufacturing
the Kiswah, in Mecca.
The Kiswah is the
iconic black cloth that
the structure of the
Kaaba is covered with.
It is adorned with specific
verses from the Quran, which
are engraved with threads of
pure gold on it's black cover.
Traditionally, the engraved
verses combine praise to Allah,
with the Islamic profession
of faith (the Shahada):
"There is no God but Allah, and
Muhammed is the
messenger of Allah".
The Kiswah cloth of the
Kaaba, has become one of the
most distinguishing
characteristics
of the grand mosque.
For this cloth is
part of the sanctity
and uniqueness of the holy site.
Throughout the ages, it
has been made from the
most luxurious quality
of material available,
making it one of the
most highly recognised
and revered sacred
textiles in the world.
The factory employs around
two hundred people, and
uses the latest technology
to create the Kiswah.
Today the design
of the Kiswah is
computerised, allowing
for faster results.
There is also a frame
for the entrance to the
Kaaba. It is 23 feet high,
and thirteen feet wide
and it also contains
Qur’anic verses, and other
embroideries made from the
gold and silver thread.
Dyed black, and padded
with white cotton
fabric, it weighs more
than 650 kilograms.
The Qur’anic verses are
skilfully embroidered
in different calligraphic forms,
by more than 200
talented artisans.
While the materials
used to be sourced
from Egypt and
surrounding countries,
the finest silk threads
are now imported
from Germany,
Switzerland and Italy.
The Kiswah is easily the most
expensive cloth in the world.
The Kiswah is a great
labour of love, taking
an entire year to
complete just one cloth.
The amount of work, detail
and design reflects the
great importance of the
Kiswah in the Islamic world.
Whilst Bandar is speaking
to some of the workers,
Mustafa is busy taking photos
which will be uploaded
to the Haramain
social media pages.
Both are impressed with
what they have seen.
As well as producing the cloth,
it is also the role of the
Kiswah factory workers
to maintain the shape
and cleanliness
of cloth once it
is up on the Kaaba.
With so many millions of devoted
pilgrims touching and moving
the Kiswah every year, it is of
course subject to wear and tear.
Therefore, it is
customary every Hajj,
to fold the Kaaba cover
up to protect it.
After the Hajj season
is over, the cloth
is dropped again to
it's usual position.
This only happens once in a
year, and this is the first
time that the process has
been allowed to be filmed.
We spoke to Mohammed Bajuwda,
the Director General of
the Kabaa Kiswah Factory,
on the ground in the Mataaf,
as this process
was taking place.
First, the supporting threads
that are holding the Kiswah
cloth up, are cut, all around
the sides of the Kaaba.
This allows the cloth
to drop to the ground.
The sides are then skilfully,
and meticulously sown
together by the factory's
team of dedicated tailors.
These tailors have
been working at the
Kiswah factory for
many, many years
and quite often the
job of preparing
and maintaining the Kiswah
runs in the history
of a family,
with skills being passed
on from father to son
for many generations.
These tailors are amongst
the most experienced
in Saudi Arabia,
having undergone rigorous
training courses
to hone and sharpen
their skills.
Once the sides are secured,
then the bottom portion
of the Kiswah is folded,
stitched and attached to rings
at the base of the Kaaba,
holding it firmly in place.
One of the most difficult
jobs in this process,
is to cut the doorway
of the Kiswah cloth.
Once the space has been cut, the
sides are then sown
together neatly.
The doorway of the Kaaba is,
in itself, a wondrous site,
it is made
of pure gold,
and is widely referred to
as the door of repentance.
Once the stitching on
the sides is complete,
the heavy embroidered cover
is dropped over the doorway,
and also sown firmly into place.
Finally, with the rest of the
Kiswah cloth secured, the
team begins to fix the excess
cloth around the black stone.
First, it is cut
to shape, and then
thickened around the perimeter.
Once this is done, the team
apply the finishing touches,
and sow this portion of the
Kiswah
into the circular
shape required,
to allow pilgrims access
to the black stone.
This is important because
the black stone is one
of the most revered of
all the Islamic relics.
It's colourful history
predates even that of Islam,
and according to
Islamic tradition,
it was originally set in
it's place on the Kaaba
by the prophet Mohammed,
peace be upon him.
This dedication to the
maintenance of the Kiswah again,
reflects the importance of the
Kiswah in the Islamic world.
Indeed it is seen as
a great honour to be
among those who clean
and maintain this cloth.
It's a very special
career field, and
one that not just
anybody can enter.
Upon their return to the Haram,
social media manager
Bandar has arranged a
meeting with a
representative from the
ZamZam water department.
He approaches through the main
gate in the Haram courtyard
This is known as
the King Fahd gate.
Upon entering through the
King Fahd gate, one is struck
immediately by the
elegance of the
interior design of the Haram.
Huge chandeliers adorn the high
ceilings, and the archways and
marble columns represent
the major talents
of Islamic architecture.
The architectural design of
the Haram is in itself, a
framework to help facilitate
the worship of the pilgrims.
So with exception to the
walkways, all areas
of the Haram can be
utilised for prayers
and are facing the right
direction to the Kaaba.
One of the amazing things about
the design of the Haram, is that
whichever gate you walk through,
all roads lead to the Kaaba.
Bandar approaches the Kaaba
now, to meet with one
of the supervisors of
ZamZam water department.
Bandar wants to experience
himself what it is like
to actually distribute the
water to the pilgrims.
To this end, he's persuaded to
try on the heavy water jacket.
Distributing the ZamZam water
to the pilgrims in the
Mataaf is the job of a special
group of ZamZam workers.
Their sole aim is to provide
refreshment for the
pilgrims to ease their
journey of Umrah or Hajj.
But what exactly is ZamZam? And
why is it so revered in Islam?
The well of ZamZam, is
a well, located within
the Haram, just 20
meters east of the Kaaba.
It's approximately
30 meters deep
Up until around 1953, water
was drawn by bucket,
but electric pumps now
pump water into tanks.
In earlier times, the well
was accessible for pilgrims
who would go to view the well,
but now it is underground and
only a few select employees
of the Haram have access to it.
The water of ZamZam is
distributed by water fountains,
and dispensing containers
built all around the Haram.
All traditions agree that the
origin of the well occurred
when Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala)
created a spring of water
to provide Hajira, the wife of
Prophet Ibrahim
(peace be upon him),
and her baby Prophet
Ismail (peace be upon him)
with water in the hot,
dry valley they were in.
The area around the spring,
which was later
converted to a well,
became a resting place
for the caravans,
and eventually grew into
the trading city of Mecca,
and hence that start of the
Meccan era in human history.
For 4000 years, it has
been quenching the thirst
and providing nourishment for
the pilgrims
and this testifies
to the sanctity
and holiness of this land.
Here in the courtyard,
it appears as
if suddenly the
Haram got very busy.
That's because it's the
time for Jummah prayer.
Jummah prayer occurs
once a week on Friday,
and it replaces the
Dhur prayer on this day.
In any given week,
this is the busiest
time for the workers
at the Haram.
Footfall can increase tenfold,
and with it the
level of safety and
security concerns for the team
managing this huge weekly event.
Jummah is the most
important prayer
of the week, and
this is visually
reflected by the
sheer numbers that
are drawn to the
Haram at this time.
The worshippers flock
into the Haram
from all sides, the
Mataaf is packed.
To understand the significance
within Islam the Jummah prayers,
one must first
seek to understand
the significance of Friday.
For Muslims, this
is no ordinary day.
The prophet Mohammed (peace be
upon him), is quoted as saying
on it God created Adam, on it
he was made to enter paradise,
on it he was expelled
from paradise,
and the day of judgement
will take place,
on no other day than Friday".
This shows the significance
of Friday, ultimately
it comes down to the
reward points system.
Aws ibn Aws narrated
that prophet
Mohammed (peace be
upon him), said
“Whoever performs
Ghusl on Friday
and causes (his
wife) to do ghusl,
then goes early to the
mosque and attends
from the beginning
of the Khutbah
and draws near to the Imam and
listens to him attentively,
Allah will give him
the full reward
of fasting all the
days of a year.
And observing night vigil,
on each of it's nights,
for every step he took
towards the mosque".
So when the rewards
for praying on Friday
are magnified by such
an extent,
it's no wonder that Muslims
prioritise this prayer.
In Mecca, everybody wants
to maximise the reward for
their worship, but more on
the rewards system later.
The workers in the
Mataaf are now
busy preparing for
the Jumah prayer.
They have to clear the
front of the Mataaf,
which can be quite a challenge
with thousands of
devoted worshippers
trying to touch the Kaaba.
Once it is clear, they lay down
the mats that the Imam, or
prayer leader will stand upon
to lead the actual prayer.
Firstly the Minbar
is brought out to
be placed at the
front of the Kaaba.
It is similar in function to
a lectern in a church, and
usually it is characterised
by 3 steps leading upwards.
It is from here that the Imam
will stand to
deliver the sermon.
The Haram has invested in
one of the worlds best
sound systems and it
is tested meticulously.
The Haram has round
the clock technicians
monitoring and mixing the sound.
This ensures that wherever
you are in the Haram,
even in the
courtyard,
you'll have a perfect listening
experience of the sermon.
The Friday prayer is exactly
like the 5 daily prayers,
performed during the
rest of the week,
except that on Friday the
imam, or prayer leader,
delivers a two-part sermon
known as the Khutbah,
with a pause between the
two parts of the sermon
to allow for a time of
personal prayer, or du’ah.
In the sermon, or Khutbah as
it is referred to in Arabic,
the Imam usually reads and
explains Qur’anic verses
relevant to community
at the time, and
offering guidance and
advice on how to live
as a true Muslim in daily life.
These reminders are an integral
part of the Friday prayer.
People come to the Haram
from all corners of the
earth, from many different
cultures and countries.
For this reason, the
Haram has integrated
a series of additional
services for Jummah,
to ensure that everyone,
regardless of their situation,
can benefit from the
words of the Imam.
Among these services, are
provisions for death people.
The Haram reserves and
special area within the
prayer hall, for those
who are hard of hearing.
Here, qualified
signers translate
the Khutba into sign language.
The language barrier is also
addressed, with many of the
visitors to the Haram unable to
understand the Arabic dialect.
A team of translators
work during the Khutba to
translate it in real time,
to many different languages.
The Haram has also
invested in radio
technology and smart phone apps
so the Friday Khutba
is carried out
across the airwaves worldwide.
The messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him), said
"Prayer in
congregation is superior
to praying individually
by 27 times".
(sounds of prayer)
Praying in congregation
is all about unity,
and Muslims see
themselves as all part of
one body, or one unmah,
regardless of race,
nationality, rich or
poor, powerful or weak.
During prayer, all
stand next to each
other in collective
obedience to Allah.
Once the Jummah prayer
and the following Du"ah
have finished, the Aman
leaves the Mataaf
and the circumvention
of the Kaaba continues.
But suddenly there is a
huge number of people
wanting to exit the
Haram all at once,
crowd
control become the main issue.
How to disperse of so many
people quickly and safely.
Most places of worship
are not designed
to handle such huge
surges in capacity,
and the crowd management
department at the Haram
has made huge strides in
recent years on this front.
Through carefully planned and
adjustable walking routes,
they have managed to
improve the traffic flow,
increase capacity and
maintain clear sight lines,
all without compromising
the emotional experience
of Jummah at the Haram.
The result is that of a
carefully regulated experience,
with a huge team both monitoring
CCTV for crown build-up,
and on the ground ensuring
the safety of the pilgrims.
Over the years, the Haram
has increased it's capacity
in terms of both the
numbers of worshippers,
and also the services it
provides to these worshippers.
Naturally, the number of
departments within the
Haram has also had a
corresponding increase.
To see the Haram
in the modern day,
is to see an organisation
with a fully
functioning infrastructure
that caters
to the every need
of its visitors.
In all, there are over 66
departments within the Haram.
Each department varies in
size and function depending
on the needs of the Haram
and the worshippers.
One of the areas in which there
has been a massive increase
in department size and
employee numbers,
is with technology, and the
Haram is keen to utilise
all the latest technology trends
within it's infer structure.
The I.T. department is one
of the quickest growing
departments, and has a
staff of over 100 people.
As well as maintaining
the servers
and monitoring all the systems
within the Haram,
this department
also produces
innovative mobile apps
that add further value to the
experience of the pilgrims.
The I.T. department
also helps connect
all the Haram
departments together,
making communications between
the departments easier
and allowing for powerful
online project management tools
that help identifying
isolate potential issues.
Through these systems, project
managers can communicate with
different departments to solve
any issue quickly
and efficiently.
Some of the departments,
such as the library,
have been around
for a few years,
but have been modernised
from time to time
to incorporate new
systems, and technologies.
The library of the Haram
has different sections
including a digital library,
a selection of audio books,
and also rare manuscripts.
It is located on the
second floor of the
mosque, in an area of
around 540 square meters.
It contains some 30,000
books and 200 CDs
The library is open
to the pilgrims and
visitors from 8am
until 10pm every day.
One of the busiest
departments within
the Haram is the
maintenance department.
Not surprising considering
they are responsible
for all the electrical
components for the Haram.
These include the lights,
the air conditioning,
sound systems, the
escalators and the lifts
The maintenance
department is notified
immediately if something
is not working
by the I.T. departments
online checking system.
So at any time of day or night,
it is commonplace
within the Haram
to see members
of the maintenance team
repairing chandeliers,
or getting an escalator
moving again.
Theirs is an important
role within the Haram,
as they need to always move
quickly and work efficiently,
because with so many visitors
continuously moving
through the Haram,
the smallest detail
can soon become
a huge health and
safety concern.
Another innovative department
that is gaining popularity
within the Haram is the online
Koran teaching facility.
Here, qualified Tajweed teachers
train people internationally
on the correct
pronunciation on the Quran.
There are big plans to expand
this department so the outreach
of the Haram will extend to
all four corners of the globe.
The online Quran
teaching department
is another example
of how the Haram
is extending it's
support for Muslims
far beyond the
confines of Mecca.
The internet is enabling the
Haram to exert influence
and leadership for Muslims,
all over the world.
There is a driving
force behind the
efforts of all the
workers in the Haram.
Yes, they do everything
for the love of God, but
beyond that, they also do
it for the worshippers.
The worshippers come from
every corner of the world.
They come in their millions,
and the workers in the Haram
take a great pride and
responsibility in their welfare,
and hospitality is something
of an art form, here in Mecca.
But it's not easy for the
workers, especially those on the
ground, as the pilgrims speak a
multitude of
different languages.
There is no common
tongue around the Haram.
This is the unique
mesh of cultures and
backgrounds, possibly
anywhere in the world.
Some have spent their entire
life savings to come here,
so you can
understand their need
to gain a maximum amount
of spiritual blessings.
And around the black
stone, add to that a
further, a quickening of
the collective spirit.
For some you see,
it's a desperate
last chance for salvation
for a prayer to be answered,
therefore it must be taken.
The black stone must be touched.
And the pilgrims
can be most over
zealous about achieving this.
But for the most part, the
pilgrims are tranquil,
respectful of
each other
and moderate in their desire
to touch the black stone.
Merely, the best things
come to the who are patient.
Contrary to popular belief,
and fuelled by the
inaccurate reporting
on the policies of the Haram,
photography is not
banned for the pilgrims.
This is evident by the
ever increasing phenomenon
of social media in
and around the Haram.
The most famous example
of this was in 2015,
when social media
giant Snapchat
released Mecca live, a
live streaming event
that went viral on
social media platforms.
Worshippers want to
remember the occasion.
In Islam, Muslims say they pray
each prayer as if
it's your last.
They may never be invited
to Mecca again, so wouldn't
you want a personal
memento of the occasion?
To really understand
the mentality
of the pilgrims in Mecca,
you have to understand
that for each pilgrim who comes,
he carries with him
the prayers of others.
Here a worshipper is reading out
a prayer, or du’ah, that he
has prepared for a relative,
requested specifically by name.
This is a scene that
is played out all over
the Haram, especially
in front of the Kaaba.
A common phrase amongst
the Muslims when
meeting someone who is
leaving for Mecca is,
"Please remember me
in your prayers",
and making prayers for others
who may not be fortunate enough
to ever visit Mecca themselves,
is paramount in
most pilgrims minds.
But the biggest smiles,
and the warmest
welcomes, are always
reserved for the children.
So amongst all these
different nationalities,
and this melting
pot of cultures,
what is it that these
worshippers actually
pray for when in
front of the Kaaba?
We decided to ask them.
I did one prayer,
just one prayer only,
that I should be in heaven
whenever I die, and that
I die with the belief that
there is only one God,
and Mohammed is the
messenger of God.
For the workers in the Haram,
these pilgrims are
the cornerstone
of everything they do,
their
ultimate reward is from God,
but it's nice to know there
is an earthy appreciation too.
This is Waheed Mohammed Nah-has,
he is the head of the Imam
department of the Haram,
we asked him to show us the
office from where he operates.
These 2 rooms are
integral to the
smooth running of the Haram,
because this is the place where
on of the most important
functions of the
Haram is carried out.
This is where the
call to prayer, known
as the "Azaan" in
Arabic, is made.
When making the call to prayer,
the Muezzin faces the Kaaba.
We spoke to one of
the Muezzin's to
gain a deeper
understanding of his work.
The professional Muezzin is
chosen for his good character,
voice and skills, to
serve at the mosque.
He is someone who can
recite the call to prayer
beautifully and melodiously.
Many western commentators
have marvelled
at the beauty of the
Islamic call to prayer,
sometimes without even knowing
what it was they were hearing.
Historically, the Muezzin would
have recited the call to prayer
atop the minarets in order to be
heard by those
around the mosque.
Nowadays, the mosques
often have loud speakers
mounted on top of the minaret,
and the Muezzin will use
a microphone,
allowing the call to
prayer to be heard
at great distances, without
climbing the minaret.
It's the time for Asr,
the afternoon prayer.
This is generally one of the
most difficult prayers, as it
takes place when the sun is
directly on top of the Mataaf.
This is the third of
the 5 daily prayers.
It's interesting to note that
the prayer times for
Muslims are not set,
but changed slightly everyday
to take into account
the movement of the sun
from any particular season.
(call to prayer)
(reverent music)
At any time of day or
night, it is common to
see the cleansing of the
Kaaba and the Haram.
Throughout the ages,
Islam has placed a major
emphasis on cleanliness,
both spiritual and physical.
This is one of the
common traits that Islam
shares with the worlds
other major religions.
The difference is that in Islam,
purification and
cleanliness have been
incorporated through
direct commandment,
into the core of the
religion itself.
It is obligatory for
all worshippers
to cleanse themselves
thoroughly
as part of the preparation
for daily prayers.
This process, known as "Wudu",
is an important ritual
part of the prayer.
The water, used to
wash the Mataaf area,
is mixed with rose perfume.
A mixture of disinfectants are
used for the marble floor.
And beautiful smelling
ouds, and musk perfumes
are used all over the
structure of the Kaaba.
Muslims take the cleaning
of the Haram very seriously.
Because to sanctify his house,
is a direct commandment of God.
Therefore, it is considered a
mighty honour to be amongst
those that work
in the department
of cleaning and furnishing
and this department
is granted unlimited
resource to fully actualise
this commandment.
Having considered the
importance of the cleaning
department to the
Haram, Bandar is on his
way to speak to Abdul
Majeed, who is one of
the shift managers at
the cleaning department.
Abdul Majeed has been working at
the Haram for 4 years, and his
role is to supervise the team
of cleaners around the Haram.
Abdul Majeed gives
Bandar more details
on the duties they perform
in front of the Kaaba, even
though Bandar has been working
at the Haram for
over 2 years now,
this is the first time he's
witnessed the cleaning
of the Mataaf up
close and personal.
The cleaning department
is one of the
largest in the Haram,
in terms of man power.
It is organised with 200
official and seasonal employees.
In addition
there are 2,700 workers,
260 controllers and
over 100 supervisors.
These employees are
organised into 4
revolving shifts,
enabling 24 hour coverage.
Their duties include washing and
cleansing of all
areas of the Haram.
The cleaners work with
military precision, and their
positioning and teamwork
is a sight to behold.
The cleaning of the
Mataaf area of the Haram
would be a straightforward task,
the reason there is so much
planning, precision and
technique involved
in this process
is because in the Haram,
there are always
thousands of worshippers
moving around the Kaaba.
The cleaners have to be
very, very organised,
because logistically they
cannot disturb the worshippers
or impede the flow of the people
before performing the Tawaaf.
This is one of the
great considerations
of all the departments of the
Haram,
and it is evident
in small details
anywhere around the Haram.
The extent of the planning,
the precision of the execution
and the unlimited resource
used in the cleaning,
is part in parcel of the
sacredness of this holy city,
and another means of
honour in the Haram.
So from the management view,
the motivation of such a unique
system of cleaning is evident,
but if you really want
to understand something,
ask the people, doing
the work, on the ground.
What is it that so
motivates these cleaners,
often referred to as the
heroes of the Haramain,
to take such care and
pride in their roles?
You certainly don't
find cleaners who
work like this in
other institutions.
We spoke to one of the cleaners
on the ground at the Haram,
as he went about his daily
duties, to try and find out
Sajid Ahmed has been
working as a cleaner
in the Haram for over 15 years,
and originally
hails from Bangladesh.
We asked him how his journey
brought him here to the Haram
This is Ali Jabber
He has been working at
the Haram for 4 years
Ali works for the religious
affairs department
This department is relatively
small, but the play an
important educational role
in the life at the Haram.
They are usually
scholars who have
an in-depth
understanding of Islam,
and gentle personalities, they
are instantly recognisable
around the Haram by their
distinctive brown robes,
which helps give them
an authoritative air
amongst a sea of worshippers.
In the Haram, you'll find people
of all different cultures
and countries, they come from
all corners of the earth.
With this they sometimes bring
cultural baggage with them.
By this we mean they
have sometimes
picked up customs and practices
that are born out of their own
cultural understanding of Islam,
and are not backed up by the
actual practices of Islam.
This department's role is
to guide the worshippers
from all the different
parts of the world,
to a more educated and
proven practice of Islam.
This is a role that requires a
great deal of understanding,
patience and
diplomacy,
especially when worshippers are
so fervent in their beliefs.
After praying his 2
customary Rak'at,
Ali Jabber joins the rest of
the religious affairs team
as they undertake some of their
specific duties in the Mataaf.
Ali Jabber tries
to keep the crowd
organised and moving along,
so as not too become a hazard
to the pilgrims
performing the Tawaaf.
It's a difficult job, and
it's only from the air that
one can truly appreciate
the enormity of this task.
We asked Ali Jabber
to describe the
best thing about
working in the Haram.
The sun sets over
Mecca, this denotes
the time for the Maghrib prayer.
Maghrib has 3 compulsory
Rak'at, or 3 units of prayer.
The first 2 units
are prayed aloud
by the Imam in congregation.
And the third unit,
is prayed in silence.
The time for these 5
prayers is the only time
you'll hear relative
silence in the Haram.
The hustle and bustle of the
place stops, all movement stops
the walkways and spaces
become empty and deserted.
Remember earlier we spoke
about the reward system?
And how every person
here in Mecca wants
to maximise the value
of their worship.
Well, one of the astounding
facts about Mecca,
is that every prayer here
in this holy place,
is equated to the value of
100,000 prayers elsewhere.
This is the level
to which the Haram
is elevated in the
eyes of Islam.
Over the years, the Haram has
been expanded several times
to facilitate the ever
increasing number of pilgrims.
The current expansion,
is the single
biggest expansion
project in history.
The expansion will complete it's
first phase in 2020, and the
construction work on the Haram
is non stop around the clock.
The late king
Abdullah had laid the
foundation stone for the
expansion of the grand mosque
at a ceremony held at
Mecca on August 19th 2011.
The holy mosques expansion
include the Massa expansion,
which has already been opened,
and the expansion of the Mataaf.
Added to it will be
external parks, flyovers,
a new complex of central
services buildings,
service tunnels, security
buildings, a hospital,
pedestrian-used tunnels,
transportation stations,
bridges leading to the mosque,
and the first ring road
that will totally surround
the area of the Haram.
A complete infrastructure,
which includes power stations,
water reservoirs and flood
draining systems,
will be built to support and
maintain and power
the expansion.
The Haram has a team of
international experts
looking after every
aspect of the expansion.
They work through day and night
and manage to plethora of
smaller construction projects
based off of the bigger
landscape changing designs.
Amongst the construction,
great consideration
has been given
to the comfort
of the worshippers,
so huge new prayer halls
have been constructed.
The elegance of the
design is consistent
with the rest of the Haram's
internal architecture,
and is quintessentially
Arabian in look and feel.
Impressive looking chandeliers
adorn the area, and huge
domes will eventually add
to the finishing touches.
The Mataaf, before the
expansion, received
around 50,000 per hour,
and 188,000 worshippers.
After the expansion,
the Mataaf will be able to
receive 107,000 people per hour
and 278,000 worshippers.
That's an increase of over 50%.
The expansion is an
immense project,
a grand vision that is
slowly becoming a reality.
It is a massive and complex
international effort,
but it demonstrates the
immense measures that
are taking place within the
Haram to increase the safety,
and comfort of the
millions of pilgrims.
The majority of visitors who
come to the Haram, both
locally and internationally,
are coming for the pilgrimage.
This consists of the Hajj,
which can only be carried
out between specific
dates of the year,
and the Umrah,
which can be carried
out all year round.
The Hajj is the single
largest gathering
and movement of
people in the world,
and the Haram is in
a continuous state
of preparation for the Hajj,
all year round.
The Hajj is compulsory as part
of the religion of Islam,
and every able bodied Muslim,
male and female,
is obliged to carry out the Hajj
at least once in their lifetime.
It is known as the
major pilgrimage and
it is one of the 5
pillars of Islam.
The Umrah is known as
the "minor" pilgrimage.
We joined one of the
thousands of pilgrims
who were performing
the Umrah,
to gain a clear understanding
and a step by step visual
account of the rituals involved.
This is Abdul Hakim,
Abdul has travelled to
Mecca from Nigeria,
with the intention to
perform his Umrah.
This is the first time he
has ever visited the Kaaba.
The first thing
that is noticeable
about Abdul, is
what he is wearing.
Two simple white unstitched
cloths, this is
known as the "Ihram",
meaning a sacred state.
A pilgrim must enter into
this state before crossing
the pilgrimage boundary,
known as the "Miqaat".
By performing the
cleansing rituals
and wearing the
prescribed attire.
Once a Muslim has entered
into the state of Ihram,
he agrees to abide by
certain conditions.
You see the state of Ihram
goes far beyond ones clothing,
and it is considered
most important
to enter a spiritual
state of mind.
There is also no
gender segregation
during the pilgrimage.
This is to remind everyone
that on the day of judgement,
both men and women will
be standing together,
side by side, in the same rows.
Now Abdul is performing Tawaaf,
this is the first
part of the Umrah.
Tawaaf consists of circumventing
the Kaaba, anti
clockwise, 7 times.
Men are encouraged to do
this 3 times at a hurried
pace, followed by 4 times
at a more leisurely pace.
During the Tawaaf,
pilgrims can recite passages
from the holy Quran,
and also pray for the
things that they want,
and ask Allah
to forgive their sins.
On each of the 7 passes, the
aim for Muslims is to kiss,
or at least touch,
the black stone,
but this is often not possible
because of the large crowds,
so it is acceptable for
them to simply point,
or hold up their hand to
the stone on each circuit.
They're also to make the prayer
'Bismillah Allahu Akbar'
each time they approach,
as Abdul is doing now.
Having completed his 7 cycles
to make up the Tawaaf part of
the Umrah,
Abdul now proceeds to the
next ritual, the Say'ee.
Before he makes his way to
Safa Marwa for the Say'ee,
he stops
to perform 2 Nafl prayers,
and to take a drink of ZamZam.
As he arrives at Safa
Marwa, we're reminded
again of the purpose
of this ritual.
Remember the story
of the ZamZam well?
This part of the Umrah
is a literal re-enactment
of the scene,
where Hajar is frantically
searching for water,
for baby Ishmael
and Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala),
provided a spring
of water for them.
This is the same
source of water, that
is today called,
the well of ZamZam.
To perform this part of the
Umrah, Abdul walks seven
times back and forth between
the hills of Safa and Marwa.
He increases the pace
of walk to a brisk run,
when the green lights
in the Haram indicate.
This is representative of
Hajer running for a portion
between the 2 mountains, where
she could not see her son.
One of the astounding
things about Safa Marwa,
is that those 2 hills,
which Hajer ran
between all those centuries ago,
are still perfectly preserved
here within the Haram.
This means that these
pilgrims today, are
literally walking in the
footsteps of the blessed.
The final part of Umrah
is to cut, or shave the hair.
A partial shortening of
the hair is acceptable
and typically reserved
for women,
who cut a minimum of 1
inch or more of their hair.
Usually men will perform a
complete shaving of the hair,
both of these signify the
submission to the will of God,
over glorifying
physical appearances.
The head shaving/cutting
signifies the end of the Umrah.
It's the time for Isha,
the night prayer.
This is the fifth
and final prayer
before the cycle
starts again with Fajr.
In Mecca, everything is set by
the times of these 5 prayers.
If you are going to meet a
friend for coffee at night,
instead
of specifying a time,
you would simply say,
"meet after Isha".
Or, if you had to make
a daytime appointment,
you would say, "book
it for after Asr".
These are common phrases
used by Muslims,
not only in Mecca, but
all over the world.
It's swift approaching
the end of the day, as
Bandar and Mustafa return
to the Riazah offices.
They are exited to
share with the rest of
the team what they
have found in the Haram.
The Haram in Mecca
remains one of the most
important and respected
institutions of our times.
It significance only increased
by new modern day technologies,
and the ability for pilgrims
to arrive with ease,
from all over the world.
In these increasingly
dark times for humanity,
the Haram shines as a beacon
of moderation and leadership
for the Islamic world,
and Muslims everywhere.
But this ancient land is
rich with the sacred history
of Islam, making it conducive
to humidity, and worship.
For millions of Muslims, that
first vision of the Kaaba
and the holy mosque is an
unforgettable moment,
a moment that
transcend all things
into the life of this world.
For truly the Kaaba is a
magnificent structure, it
stands serene and majestic
as thousands circumvent it.
Sure, there are many
challenges ahead,
balancing modernisation
with tradition,
increasing the safety of the
pilgrims, crowd control,
completing the ambitious
expansion plans,
but with the sense of
awe and awareness that
the Haram inspires in the
individuals who work here,
there is a strong belief that
all challenges will be overcome.
That this place, and
this city, most beloved
by God, will rise
above any obstacles.
This is after all, the centre
of the world of worship.
The most important physical
space on earth for Muslims,
and the oldest pace of prayer,
to the God of mankind.
That's the word that comes to
mind when you look at Mecca.
For over one thousand
four hundred years,
its story has captured the
imagination of millions.
From here, a messenger
named Mohammed
(peace be upon him), was born.
From here, he commenced his
prophet-hood, and
the religion grew.
A religion that came to
dominate the entire Arab world.
The prophet (peace be upon him)
said, "Allah had made this
city sacred, the day he created
the heavens and the earth
and it's sanctity shall remain,
until the day of judgement."
The preaching of Mohammed,
and the founding of
Islam turned Mecca
from a local place
of pilgrimage,
to one of worldwide
significance.
Although it's true
that only Muslims
are allowed to enter the city,
all practicing Muslims
everywhere in the world
are obliged
to travel to Mecca
at least once in their lifetime
and perform the Islamic
pilgrimage, known as the Hajj.
Mecca is truly a city
that never sleeps.
A city that is in a
continuous state
of flux, expanding
and contracting.
Here construction
work goes on all
year round in preparation
for the Hajj.
From the air, you can see the
way the city has literally
been carved from the mountains,
and developed over the years.
At the centre of
Mecca is the Haram
the Haram, or sacred
mosque, is considered
to be the holiest place
on earth by Muslims.
Enclosed within the
vast structure
are not only the Kaaba,
but the ZamZam Well, the Hijr,
and the hills of Safa and Marwa.
The Haram is ringed
by seven towering
minarets and sixty-four gates.
The structure covers an area
larger than 356,000
square meters
and can accommodate
over one million
worshippers during
the Hajj period.
At the centre of the
Haram is the black
cubical structure,
known as the Kaaba.
Muslims throughout
the world turn
and face the direction
of the Kaaba
for their daily prayers
symbolising unity
in worshipping one God.
Here in the Mataaf, the area
immediately surrounding
the Kaaba, the sense
of awe is palpable.
The yearning of the people
to be close to the Kaaba
and their sense of love
and devotion to it,
is so tangible it feels like
an other worldly experience.
Imagine, that from childhood,
Muslims around the
world are seeing images
of this wondrous place
in pictures, on prayer
mats and hung on walls.
Subliminally the image of
this majestic black cube in a
land far away creates a
feeling of awe and admiration.
And as they grow, they develop
a sense of wonder and
feel an inexplicable calling
to this mystical place.
So naturally, that
moment when a worshipper
sees the Kaaba for
the first time
in all it's
magnificent glory, is
one that they will never forget.
Now for the first time
in history, we have been
granted access to the inner
workings of the Haram
as seen through the eyes of
the people who work here.
We followed these employees
over the course of
their regular duties,
intersected by the five prayers
that make up a full
days cycle in the Haram.
And who better than the General
President of the Haramain,
Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Sudais,
to introduce this concept.
It's dawn time in Mecca.
The sun has not yet risen,
but the streets as ever, are
busy with the hustle and bustle
of the pilgrims and locals
making their way to the Haram.
Mecca truly is a city
that never sleeps.
(prayer singing)
It is the time for the
Fajr prayer, Fajr,
translates to "dawn"
in the Arabic language.
For Muslims, their is no
better way to start the day.
Here one of the Imams, or prayer
leaders, Imam Bandar Baleela,
takes his customary
walk from the Imams' quarters
on the
outskirts of the Haram.
All the way down to the
front of the Kaaba,
to lead the Fajr prayer.
The Imams of Mecca are mostly
appointed by royal decree
by the custodian of the two
holy mosques of Saudi Arabia.
The criteria for
selection is mainly
their way of recitation
and knowledge.
The Imams of Mecca
hold an esteem
position with great
responsibility.
Their Quran recitation must not
only be accurate,
but also inviting.
Satellite and online
television now broadcast
the prayers of Mecca
live around the world
and their voices
become synonymous
with the awe inspiring feeling
of the holy city,
and the diversity of
the believers present.
As spiritual leaders,
people from all
around the world
seek their council
Mecca is the holiest place in
Islam, and to be the Imam of the
Grand Mosque (Masjid
Al-Haram) is
the pinnacle of an Imam's career
and an honour they have trained
for their entire lives.
The Fajr prayer is the
shortest of all the prayers
and consists
of two Fard Rakahs.
Fard means that it is
an obligatory prayer.
Rakahs refer to a single
unit of the prayer
with the prescribed
movements and words.
Of the five daily
prayers, Fajr is
considered the prayer
most favoured by God.
This could be because
worshippers who attend this
prayer do so whilst most
of the world is sleeping.
A powerful saying of the Muslims
is, "prayer is
better than sleep".
Ayesha, the wife of
the prophet reports
that Mohammed (peace
be upon him), said
"The two (sunnah) Rakahs
of Fajr are better
than this world … and
all it contains."
This is Bandar Al Hitlabh.
Bandar is part of the new social
media division at the Haram
under the supervision of
the Riazah department.
This department heads all media
initiatives at the Haram,
including responsibility for
updating the social
media networks.
They are based in
this office, just
a stones throw away
from the Haram.
Like many of the
workforce at the Haram,
for Bandar the opportunity
to work at the most important
of all Islamic institutions
were for too great to resist.
Today, Bandar is
organising a meeting with
the rest of the Haram
social media team.
They will discus ways
in which they can best
utilise the Haram's
popularity on social networks
to spread the positive
message of Islam.
The social media team
is relatively young,
and they bring fresh ideas
and impetus to an
institution that
is steeped in history
and tradition.
Many of the new
recruits have studied
abroad, primarily in
the UK, USA and Canada.
They are tech savvy,
multilingual and
skilled across a range
of media disciplines.
This is important within the
context of Saudi Arabia,
where many people rely on social
media as their first
port of call for updates
and information on the
Haram's activities.
We joined the team now at
the brainstorming meeting
where Bandar is
trying to organise
the various departments of
the Haram,
in terms of importance for
social media exposure.
This is no easy task,
considering that there are
over 65 different departments,
and every department
within the Haram
is important and
has its own merits.
After their
brainstorming meeting,
Haram social media
manager Bandar,
and photographer Mustafa
arrive at the Kiswah Factory,
located opposite the
finance ministry in Mecca.
This is the first time Bandar
has visited the factory,
and he is keen to find out
more about the Kiswah cloth
and how it is manufactured.
He meets with Abdul Aziz,
one of the mangers at the
Kiswah Factory, to gain
a better understanding.
In 1927, Saudi king Abdul Aziz
ordered the establishment of a
factory dedicated
to manufacturing
the Kiswah, in Mecca.
The Kiswah is the
iconic black cloth that
the structure of the
Kaaba is covered with.
It is adorned with specific
verses from the Quran, which
are engraved with threads of
pure gold on it's black cover.
Traditionally, the engraved
verses combine praise to Allah,
with the Islamic profession
of faith (the Shahada):
"There is no God but Allah, and
Muhammed is the
messenger of Allah".
The Kiswah cloth of the
Kaaba, has become one of the
most distinguishing
characteristics
of the grand mosque.
For this cloth is
part of the sanctity
and uniqueness of the holy site.
Throughout the ages, it
has been made from the
most luxurious quality
of material available,
making it one of the
most highly recognised
and revered sacred
textiles in the world.
The factory employs around
two hundred people, and
uses the latest technology
to create the Kiswah.
Today the design
of the Kiswah is
computerised, allowing
for faster results.
There is also a frame
for the entrance to the
Kaaba. It is 23 feet high,
and thirteen feet wide
and it also contains
Qur’anic verses, and other
embroideries made from the
gold and silver thread.
Dyed black, and padded
with white cotton
fabric, it weighs more
than 650 kilograms.
The Qur’anic verses are
skilfully embroidered
in different calligraphic forms,
by more than 200
talented artisans.
While the materials
used to be sourced
from Egypt and
surrounding countries,
the finest silk threads
are now imported
from Germany,
Switzerland and Italy.
The Kiswah is easily the most
expensive cloth in the world.
The Kiswah is a great
labour of love, taking
an entire year to
complete just one cloth.
The amount of work, detail
and design reflects the
great importance of the
Kiswah in the Islamic world.
Whilst Bandar is speaking
to some of the workers,
Mustafa is busy taking photos
which will be uploaded
to the Haramain
social media pages.
Both are impressed with
what they have seen.
As well as producing the cloth,
it is also the role of the
Kiswah factory workers
to maintain the shape
and cleanliness
of cloth once it
is up on the Kaaba.
With so many millions of devoted
pilgrims touching and moving
the Kiswah every year, it is of
course subject to wear and tear.
Therefore, it is
customary every Hajj,
to fold the Kaaba cover
up to protect it.
After the Hajj season
is over, the cloth
is dropped again to
it's usual position.
This only happens once in a
year, and this is the first
time that the process has
been allowed to be filmed.
We spoke to Mohammed Bajuwda,
the Director General of
the Kabaa Kiswah Factory,
on the ground in the Mataaf,
as this process
was taking place.
First, the supporting threads
that are holding the Kiswah
cloth up, are cut, all around
the sides of the Kaaba.
This allows the cloth
to drop to the ground.
The sides are then skilfully,
and meticulously sown
together by the factory's
team of dedicated tailors.
These tailors have
been working at the
Kiswah factory for
many, many years
and quite often the
job of preparing
and maintaining the Kiswah
runs in the history
of a family,
with skills being passed
on from father to son
for many generations.
These tailors are amongst
the most experienced
in Saudi Arabia,
having undergone rigorous
training courses
to hone and sharpen
their skills.
Once the sides are secured,
then the bottom portion
of the Kiswah is folded,
stitched and attached to rings
at the base of the Kaaba,
holding it firmly in place.
One of the most difficult
jobs in this process,
is to cut the doorway
of the Kiswah cloth.
Once the space has been cut, the
sides are then sown
together neatly.
The doorway of the Kaaba is,
in itself, a wondrous site,
it is made
of pure gold,
and is widely referred to
as the door of repentance.
Once the stitching on
the sides is complete,
the heavy embroidered cover
is dropped over the doorway,
and also sown firmly into place.
Finally, with the rest of the
Kiswah cloth secured, the
team begins to fix the excess
cloth around the black stone.
First, it is cut
to shape, and then
thickened around the perimeter.
Once this is done, the team
apply the finishing touches,
and sow this portion of the
Kiswah
into the circular
shape required,
to allow pilgrims access
to the black stone.
This is important because
the black stone is one
of the most revered of
all the Islamic relics.
It's colourful history
predates even that of Islam,
and according to
Islamic tradition,
it was originally set in
it's place on the Kaaba
by the prophet Mohammed,
peace be upon him.
This dedication to the
maintenance of the Kiswah again,
reflects the importance of the
Kiswah in the Islamic world.
Indeed it is seen as
a great honour to be
among those who clean
and maintain this cloth.
It's a very special
career field, and
one that not just
anybody can enter.
Upon their return to the Haram,
social media manager
Bandar has arranged a
meeting with a
representative from the
ZamZam water department.
He approaches through the main
gate in the Haram courtyard
This is known as
the King Fahd gate.
Upon entering through the
King Fahd gate, one is struck
immediately by the
elegance of the
interior design of the Haram.
Huge chandeliers adorn the high
ceilings, and the archways and
marble columns represent
the major talents
of Islamic architecture.
The architectural design of
the Haram is in itself, a
framework to help facilitate
the worship of the pilgrims.
So with exception to the
walkways, all areas
of the Haram can be
utilised for prayers
and are facing the right
direction to the Kaaba.
One of the amazing things about
the design of the Haram, is that
whichever gate you walk through,
all roads lead to the Kaaba.
Bandar approaches the Kaaba
now, to meet with one
of the supervisors of
ZamZam water department.
Bandar wants to experience
himself what it is like
to actually distribute the
water to the pilgrims.
To this end, he's persuaded to
try on the heavy water jacket.
Distributing the ZamZam water
to the pilgrims in the
Mataaf is the job of a special
group of ZamZam workers.
Their sole aim is to provide
refreshment for the
pilgrims to ease their
journey of Umrah or Hajj.
But what exactly is ZamZam? And
why is it so revered in Islam?
The well of ZamZam, is
a well, located within
the Haram, just 20
meters east of the Kaaba.
It's approximately
30 meters deep
Up until around 1953, water
was drawn by bucket,
but electric pumps now
pump water into tanks.
In earlier times, the well
was accessible for pilgrims
who would go to view the well,
but now it is underground and
only a few select employees
of the Haram have access to it.
The water of ZamZam is
distributed by water fountains,
and dispensing containers
built all around the Haram.
All traditions agree that the
origin of the well occurred
when Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala)
created a spring of water
to provide Hajira, the wife of
Prophet Ibrahim
(peace be upon him),
and her baby Prophet
Ismail (peace be upon him)
with water in the hot,
dry valley they were in.
The area around the spring,
which was later
converted to a well,
became a resting place
for the caravans,
and eventually grew into
the trading city of Mecca,
and hence that start of the
Meccan era in human history.
For 4000 years, it has
been quenching the thirst
and providing nourishment for
the pilgrims
and this testifies
to the sanctity
and holiness of this land.
Here in the courtyard,
it appears as
if suddenly the
Haram got very busy.
That's because it's the
time for Jummah prayer.
Jummah prayer occurs
once a week on Friday,
and it replaces the
Dhur prayer on this day.
In any given week,
this is the busiest
time for the workers
at the Haram.
Footfall can increase tenfold,
and with it the
level of safety and
security concerns for the team
managing this huge weekly event.
Jummah is the most
important prayer
of the week, and
this is visually
reflected by the
sheer numbers that
are drawn to the
Haram at this time.
The worshippers flock
into the Haram
from all sides, the
Mataaf is packed.
To understand the significance
within Islam the Jummah prayers,
one must first
seek to understand
the significance of Friday.
For Muslims, this
is no ordinary day.
The prophet Mohammed (peace be
upon him), is quoted as saying
on it God created Adam, on it
he was made to enter paradise,
on it he was expelled
from paradise,
and the day of judgement
will take place,
on no other day than Friday".
This shows the significance
of Friday, ultimately
it comes down to the
reward points system.
Aws ibn Aws narrated
that prophet
Mohammed (peace be
upon him), said
“Whoever performs
Ghusl on Friday
and causes (his
wife) to do ghusl,
then goes early to the
mosque and attends
from the beginning
of the Khutbah
and draws near to the Imam and
listens to him attentively,
Allah will give him
the full reward
of fasting all the
days of a year.
And observing night vigil,
on each of it's nights,
for every step he took
towards the mosque".
So when the rewards
for praying on Friday
are magnified by such
an extent,
it's no wonder that Muslims
prioritise this prayer.
In Mecca, everybody wants
to maximise the reward for
their worship, but more on
the rewards system later.
The workers in the
Mataaf are now
busy preparing for
the Jumah prayer.
They have to clear the
front of the Mataaf,
which can be quite a challenge
with thousands of
devoted worshippers
trying to touch the Kaaba.
Once it is clear, they lay down
the mats that the Imam, or
prayer leader will stand upon
to lead the actual prayer.
Firstly the Minbar
is brought out to
be placed at the
front of the Kaaba.
It is similar in function to
a lectern in a church, and
usually it is characterised
by 3 steps leading upwards.
It is from here that the Imam
will stand to
deliver the sermon.
The Haram has invested in
one of the worlds best
sound systems and it
is tested meticulously.
The Haram has round
the clock technicians
monitoring and mixing the sound.
This ensures that wherever
you are in the Haram,
even in the
courtyard,
you'll have a perfect listening
experience of the sermon.
The Friday prayer is exactly
like the 5 daily prayers,
performed during the
rest of the week,
except that on Friday the
imam, or prayer leader,
delivers a two-part sermon
known as the Khutbah,
with a pause between the
two parts of the sermon
to allow for a time of
personal prayer, or du’ah.
In the sermon, or Khutbah as
it is referred to in Arabic,
the Imam usually reads and
explains Qur’anic verses
relevant to community
at the time, and
offering guidance and
advice on how to live
as a true Muslim in daily life.
These reminders are an integral
part of the Friday prayer.
People come to the Haram
from all corners of the
earth, from many different
cultures and countries.
For this reason, the
Haram has integrated
a series of additional
services for Jummah,
to ensure that everyone,
regardless of their situation,
can benefit from the
words of the Imam.
Among these services, are
provisions for death people.
The Haram reserves and
special area within the
prayer hall, for those
who are hard of hearing.
Here, qualified
signers translate
the Khutba into sign language.
The language barrier is also
addressed, with many of the
visitors to the Haram unable to
understand the Arabic dialect.
A team of translators
work during the Khutba to
translate it in real time,
to many different languages.
The Haram has also
invested in radio
technology and smart phone apps
so the Friday Khutba
is carried out
across the airwaves worldwide.
The messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him), said
"Prayer in
congregation is superior
to praying individually
by 27 times".
(sounds of prayer)
Praying in congregation
is all about unity,
and Muslims see
themselves as all part of
one body, or one unmah,
regardless of race,
nationality, rich or
poor, powerful or weak.
During prayer, all
stand next to each
other in collective
obedience to Allah.
Once the Jummah prayer
and the following Du"ah
have finished, the Aman
leaves the Mataaf
and the circumvention
of the Kaaba continues.
But suddenly there is a
huge number of people
wanting to exit the
Haram all at once,
crowd
control become the main issue.
How to disperse of so many
people quickly and safely.
Most places of worship
are not designed
to handle such huge
surges in capacity,
and the crowd management
department at the Haram
has made huge strides in
recent years on this front.
Through carefully planned and
adjustable walking routes,
they have managed to
improve the traffic flow,
increase capacity and
maintain clear sight lines,
all without compromising
the emotional experience
of Jummah at the Haram.
The result is that of a
carefully regulated experience,
with a huge team both monitoring
CCTV for crown build-up,
and on the ground ensuring
the safety of the pilgrims.
Over the years, the Haram
has increased it's capacity
in terms of both the
numbers of worshippers,
and also the services it
provides to these worshippers.
Naturally, the number of
departments within the
Haram has also had a
corresponding increase.
To see the Haram
in the modern day,
is to see an organisation
with a fully
functioning infrastructure
that caters
to the every need
of its visitors.
In all, there are over 66
departments within the Haram.
Each department varies in
size and function depending
on the needs of the Haram
and the worshippers.
One of the areas in which there
has been a massive increase
in department size and
employee numbers,
is with technology, and the
Haram is keen to utilise
all the latest technology trends
within it's infer structure.
The I.T. department is one
of the quickest growing
departments, and has a
staff of over 100 people.
As well as maintaining
the servers
and monitoring all the systems
within the Haram,
this department
also produces
innovative mobile apps
that add further value to the
experience of the pilgrims.
The I.T. department
also helps connect
all the Haram
departments together,
making communications between
the departments easier
and allowing for powerful
online project management tools
that help identifying
isolate potential issues.
Through these systems, project
managers can communicate with
different departments to solve
any issue quickly
and efficiently.
Some of the departments,
such as the library,
have been around
for a few years,
but have been modernised
from time to time
to incorporate new
systems, and technologies.
The library of the Haram
has different sections
including a digital library,
a selection of audio books,
and also rare manuscripts.
It is located on the
second floor of the
mosque, in an area of
around 540 square meters.
It contains some 30,000
books and 200 CDs
The library is open
to the pilgrims and
visitors from 8am
until 10pm every day.
One of the busiest
departments within
the Haram is the
maintenance department.
Not surprising considering
they are responsible
for all the electrical
components for the Haram.
These include the lights,
the air conditioning,
sound systems, the
escalators and the lifts
The maintenance
department is notified
immediately if something
is not working
by the I.T. departments
online checking system.
So at any time of day or night,
it is commonplace
within the Haram
to see members
of the maintenance team
repairing chandeliers,
or getting an escalator
moving again.
Theirs is an important
role within the Haram,
as they need to always move
quickly and work efficiently,
because with so many visitors
continuously moving
through the Haram,
the smallest detail
can soon become
a huge health and
safety concern.
Another innovative department
that is gaining popularity
within the Haram is the online
Koran teaching facility.
Here, qualified Tajweed teachers
train people internationally
on the correct
pronunciation on the Quran.
There are big plans to expand
this department so the outreach
of the Haram will extend to
all four corners of the globe.
The online Quran
teaching department
is another example
of how the Haram
is extending it's
support for Muslims
far beyond the
confines of Mecca.
The internet is enabling the
Haram to exert influence
and leadership for Muslims,
all over the world.
There is a driving
force behind the
efforts of all the
workers in the Haram.
Yes, they do everything
for the love of God, but
beyond that, they also do
it for the worshippers.
The worshippers come from
every corner of the world.
They come in their millions,
and the workers in the Haram
take a great pride and
responsibility in their welfare,
and hospitality is something
of an art form, here in Mecca.
But it's not easy for the
workers, especially those on the
ground, as the pilgrims speak a
multitude of
different languages.
There is no common
tongue around the Haram.
This is the unique
mesh of cultures and
backgrounds, possibly
anywhere in the world.
Some have spent their entire
life savings to come here,
so you can
understand their need
to gain a maximum amount
of spiritual blessings.
And around the black
stone, add to that a
further, a quickening of
the collective spirit.
For some you see,
it's a desperate
last chance for salvation
for a prayer to be answered,
therefore it must be taken.
The black stone must be touched.
And the pilgrims
can be most over
zealous about achieving this.
But for the most part, the
pilgrims are tranquil,
respectful of
each other
and moderate in their desire
to touch the black stone.
Merely, the best things
come to the who are patient.
Contrary to popular belief,
and fuelled by the
inaccurate reporting
on the policies of the Haram,
photography is not
banned for the pilgrims.
This is evident by the
ever increasing phenomenon
of social media in
and around the Haram.
The most famous example
of this was in 2015,
when social media
giant Snapchat
released Mecca live, a
live streaming event
that went viral on
social media platforms.
Worshippers want to
remember the occasion.
In Islam, Muslims say they pray
each prayer as if
it's your last.
They may never be invited
to Mecca again, so wouldn't
you want a personal
memento of the occasion?
To really understand
the mentality
of the pilgrims in Mecca,
you have to understand
that for each pilgrim who comes,
he carries with him
the prayers of others.
Here a worshipper is reading out
a prayer, or du’ah, that he
has prepared for a relative,
requested specifically by name.
This is a scene that
is played out all over
the Haram, especially
in front of the Kaaba.
A common phrase amongst
the Muslims when
meeting someone who is
leaving for Mecca is,
"Please remember me
in your prayers",
and making prayers for others
who may not be fortunate enough
to ever visit Mecca themselves,
is paramount in
most pilgrims minds.
But the biggest smiles,
and the warmest
welcomes, are always
reserved for the children.
So amongst all these
different nationalities,
and this melting
pot of cultures,
what is it that these
worshippers actually
pray for when in
front of the Kaaba?
We decided to ask them.
I did one prayer,
just one prayer only,
that I should be in heaven
whenever I die, and that
I die with the belief that
there is only one God,
and Mohammed is the
messenger of God.
For the workers in the Haram,
these pilgrims are
the cornerstone
of everything they do,
their
ultimate reward is from God,
but it's nice to know there
is an earthy appreciation too.
This is Waheed Mohammed Nah-has,
he is the head of the Imam
department of the Haram,
we asked him to show us the
office from where he operates.
These 2 rooms are
integral to the
smooth running of the Haram,
because this is the place where
on of the most important
functions of the
Haram is carried out.
This is where the
call to prayer, known
as the "Azaan" in
Arabic, is made.
When making the call to prayer,
the Muezzin faces the Kaaba.
We spoke to one of
the Muezzin's to
gain a deeper
understanding of his work.
The professional Muezzin is
chosen for his good character,
voice and skills, to
serve at the mosque.
He is someone who can
recite the call to prayer
beautifully and melodiously.
Many western commentators
have marvelled
at the beauty of the
Islamic call to prayer,
sometimes without even knowing
what it was they were hearing.
Historically, the Muezzin would
have recited the call to prayer
atop the minarets in order to be
heard by those
around the mosque.
Nowadays, the mosques
often have loud speakers
mounted on top of the minaret,
and the Muezzin will use
a microphone,
allowing the call to
prayer to be heard
at great distances, without
climbing the minaret.
It's the time for Asr,
the afternoon prayer.
This is generally one of the
most difficult prayers, as it
takes place when the sun is
directly on top of the Mataaf.
This is the third of
the 5 daily prayers.
It's interesting to note that
the prayer times for
Muslims are not set,
but changed slightly everyday
to take into account
the movement of the sun
from any particular season.
(call to prayer)
(reverent music)
At any time of day or
night, it is common to
see the cleansing of the
Kaaba and the Haram.
Throughout the ages,
Islam has placed a major
emphasis on cleanliness,
both spiritual and physical.
This is one of the
common traits that Islam
shares with the worlds
other major religions.
The difference is that in Islam,
purification and
cleanliness have been
incorporated through
direct commandment,
into the core of the
religion itself.
It is obligatory for
all worshippers
to cleanse themselves
thoroughly
as part of the preparation
for daily prayers.
This process, known as "Wudu",
is an important ritual
part of the prayer.
The water, used to
wash the Mataaf area,
is mixed with rose perfume.
A mixture of disinfectants are
used for the marble floor.
And beautiful smelling
ouds, and musk perfumes
are used all over the
structure of the Kaaba.
Muslims take the cleaning
of the Haram very seriously.
Because to sanctify his house,
is a direct commandment of God.
Therefore, it is considered a
mighty honour to be amongst
those that work
in the department
of cleaning and furnishing
and this department
is granted unlimited
resource to fully actualise
this commandment.
Having considered the
importance of the cleaning
department to the
Haram, Bandar is on his
way to speak to Abdul
Majeed, who is one of
the shift managers at
the cleaning department.
Abdul Majeed has been working at
the Haram for 4 years, and his
role is to supervise the team
of cleaners around the Haram.
Abdul Majeed gives
Bandar more details
on the duties they perform
in front of the Kaaba, even
though Bandar has been working
at the Haram for
over 2 years now,
this is the first time he's
witnessed the cleaning
of the Mataaf up
close and personal.
The cleaning department
is one of the
largest in the Haram,
in terms of man power.
It is organised with 200
official and seasonal employees.
In addition
there are 2,700 workers,
260 controllers and
over 100 supervisors.
These employees are
organised into 4
revolving shifts,
enabling 24 hour coverage.
Their duties include washing and
cleansing of all
areas of the Haram.
The cleaners work with
military precision, and their
positioning and teamwork
is a sight to behold.
The cleaning of the
Mataaf area of the Haram
would be a straightforward task,
the reason there is so much
planning, precision and
technique involved
in this process
is because in the Haram,
there are always
thousands of worshippers
moving around the Kaaba.
The cleaners have to be
very, very organised,
because logistically they
cannot disturb the worshippers
or impede the flow of the people
before performing the Tawaaf.
This is one of the
great considerations
of all the departments of the
Haram,
and it is evident
in small details
anywhere around the Haram.
The extent of the planning,
the precision of the execution
and the unlimited resource
used in the cleaning,
is part in parcel of the
sacredness of this holy city,
and another means of
honour in the Haram.
So from the management view,
the motivation of such a unique
system of cleaning is evident,
but if you really want
to understand something,
ask the people, doing
the work, on the ground.
What is it that so
motivates these cleaners,
often referred to as the
heroes of the Haramain,
to take such care and
pride in their roles?
You certainly don't
find cleaners who
work like this in
other institutions.
We spoke to one of the cleaners
on the ground at the Haram,
as he went about his daily
duties, to try and find out
Sajid Ahmed has been
working as a cleaner
in the Haram for over 15 years,
and originally
hails from Bangladesh.
We asked him how his journey
brought him here to the Haram
This is Ali Jabber
He has been working at
the Haram for 4 years
Ali works for the religious
affairs department
This department is relatively
small, but the play an
important educational role
in the life at the Haram.
They are usually
scholars who have
an in-depth
understanding of Islam,
and gentle personalities, they
are instantly recognisable
around the Haram by their
distinctive brown robes,
which helps give them
an authoritative air
amongst a sea of worshippers.
In the Haram, you'll find people
of all different cultures
and countries, they come from
all corners of the earth.
With this they sometimes bring
cultural baggage with them.
By this we mean they
have sometimes
picked up customs and practices
that are born out of their own
cultural understanding of Islam,
and are not backed up by the
actual practices of Islam.
This department's role is
to guide the worshippers
from all the different
parts of the world,
to a more educated and
proven practice of Islam.
This is a role that requires a
great deal of understanding,
patience and
diplomacy,
especially when worshippers are
so fervent in their beliefs.
After praying his 2
customary Rak'at,
Ali Jabber joins the rest of
the religious affairs team
as they undertake some of their
specific duties in the Mataaf.
Ali Jabber tries
to keep the crowd
organised and moving along,
so as not too become a hazard
to the pilgrims
performing the Tawaaf.
It's a difficult job, and
it's only from the air that
one can truly appreciate
the enormity of this task.
We asked Ali Jabber
to describe the
best thing about
working in the Haram.
The sun sets over
Mecca, this denotes
the time for the Maghrib prayer.
Maghrib has 3 compulsory
Rak'at, or 3 units of prayer.
The first 2 units
are prayed aloud
by the Imam in congregation.
And the third unit,
is prayed in silence.
The time for these 5
prayers is the only time
you'll hear relative
silence in the Haram.
The hustle and bustle of the
place stops, all movement stops
the walkways and spaces
become empty and deserted.
Remember earlier we spoke
about the reward system?
And how every person
here in Mecca wants
to maximise the value
of their worship.
Well, one of the astounding
facts about Mecca,
is that every prayer here
in this holy place,
is equated to the value of
100,000 prayers elsewhere.
This is the level
to which the Haram
is elevated in the
eyes of Islam.
Over the years, the Haram has
been expanded several times
to facilitate the ever
increasing number of pilgrims.
The current expansion,
is the single
biggest expansion
project in history.
The expansion will complete it's
first phase in 2020, and the
construction work on the Haram
is non stop around the clock.
The late king
Abdullah had laid the
foundation stone for the
expansion of the grand mosque
at a ceremony held at
Mecca on August 19th 2011.
The holy mosques expansion
include the Massa expansion,
which has already been opened,
and the expansion of the Mataaf.
Added to it will be
external parks, flyovers,
a new complex of central
services buildings,
service tunnels, security
buildings, a hospital,
pedestrian-used tunnels,
transportation stations,
bridges leading to the mosque,
and the first ring road
that will totally surround
the area of the Haram.
A complete infrastructure,
which includes power stations,
water reservoirs and flood
draining systems,
will be built to support and
maintain and power
the expansion.
The Haram has a team of
international experts
looking after every
aspect of the expansion.
They work through day and night
and manage to plethora of
smaller construction projects
based off of the bigger
landscape changing designs.
Amongst the construction,
great consideration
has been given
to the comfort
of the worshippers,
so huge new prayer halls
have been constructed.
The elegance of the
design is consistent
with the rest of the Haram's
internal architecture,
and is quintessentially
Arabian in look and feel.
Impressive looking chandeliers
adorn the area, and huge
domes will eventually add
to the finishing touches.
The Mataaf, before the
expansion, received
around 50,000 per hour,
and 188,000 worshippers.
After the expansion,
the Mataaf will be able to
receive 107,000 people per hour
and 278,000 worshippers.
That's an increase of over 50%.
The expansion is an
immense project,
a grand vision that is
slowly becoming a reality.
It is a massive and complex
international effort,
but it demonstrates the
immense measures that
are taking place within the
Haram to increase the safety,
and comfort of the
millions of pilgrims.
The majority of visitors who
come to the Haram, both
locally and internationally,
are coming for the pilgrimage.
This consists of the Hajj,
which can only be carried
out between specific
dates of the year,
and the Umrah,
which can be carried
out all year round.
The Hajj is the single
largest gathering
and movement of
people in the world,
and the Haram is in
a continuous state
of preparation for the Hajj,
all year round.
The Hajj is compulsory as part
of the religion of Islam,
and every able bodied Muslim,
male and female,
is obliged to carry out the Hajj
at least once in their lifetime.
It is known as the
major pilgrimage and
it is one of the 5
pillars of Islam.
The Umrah is known as
the "minor" pilgrimage.
We joined one of the
thousands of pilgrims
who were performing
the Umrah,
to gain a clear understanding
and a step by step visual
account of the rituals involved.
This is Abdul Hakim,
Abdul has travelled to
Mecca from Nigeria,
with the intention to
perform his Umrah.
This is the first time he
has ever visited the Kaaba.
The first thing
that is noticeable
about Abdul, is
what he is wearing.
Two simple white unstitched
cloths, this is
known as the "Ihram",
meaning a sacred state.
A pilgrim must enter into
this state before crossing
the pilgrimage boundary,
known as the "Miqaat".
By performing the
cleansing rituals
and wearing the
prescribed attire.
Once a Muslim has entered
into the state of Ihram,
he agrees to abide by
certain conditions.
You see the state of Ihram
goes far beyond ones clothing,
and it is considered
most important
to enter a spiritual
state of mind.
There is also no
gender segregation
during the pilgrimage.
This is to remind everyone
that on the day of judgement,
both men and women will
be standing together,
side by side, in the same rows.
Now Abdul is performing Tawaaf,
this is the first
part of the Umrah.
Tawaaf consists of circumventing
the Kaaba, anti
clockwise, 7 times.
Men are encouraged to do
this 3 times at a hurried
pace, followed by 4 times
at a more leisurely pace.
During the Tawaaf,
pilgrims can recite passages
from the holy Quran,
and also pray for the
things that they want,
and ask Allah
to forgive their sins.
On each of the 7 passes, the
aim for Muslims is to kiss,
or at least touch,
the black stone,
but this is often not possible
because of the large crowds,
so it is acceptable for
them to simply point,
or hold up their hand to
the stone on each circuit.
They're also to make the prayer
'Bismillah Allahu Akbar'
each time they approach,
as Abdul is doing now.
Having completed his 7 cycles
to make up the Tawaaf part of
the Umrah,
Abdul now proceeds to the
next ritual, the Say'ee.
Before he makes his way to
Safa Marwa for the Say'ee,
he stops
to perform 2 Nafl prayers,
and to take a drink of ZamZam.
As he arrives at Safa
Marwa, we're reminded
again of the purpose
of this ritual.
Remember the story
of the ZamZam well?
This part of the Umrah
is a literal re-enactment
of the scene,
where Hajar is frantically
searching for water,
for baby Ishmael
and Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala),
provided a spring
of water for them.
This is the same
source of water, that
is today called,
the well of ZamZam.
To perform this part of the
Umrah, Abdul walks seven
times back and forth between
the hills of Safa and Marwa.
He increases the pace
of walk to a brisk run,
when the green lights
in the Haram indicate.
This is representative of
Hajer running for a portion
between the 2 mountains, where
she could not see her son.
One of the astounding
things about Safa Marwa,
is that those 2 hills,
which Hajer ran
between all those centuries ago,
are still perfectly preserved
here within the Haram.
This means that these
pilgrims today, are
literally walking in the
footsteps of the blessed.
The final part of Umrah
is to cut, or shave the hair.
A partial shortening of
the hair is acceptable
and typically reserved
for women,
who cut a minimum of 1
inch or more of their hair.
Usually men will perform a
complete shaving of the hair,
both of these signify the
submission to the will of God,
over glorifying
physical appearances.
The head shaving/cutting
signifies the end of the Umrah.
It's the time for Isha,
the night prayer.
This is the fifth
and final prayer
before the cycle
starts again with Fajr.
In Mecca, everything is set by
the times of these 5 prayers.
If you are going to meet a
friend for coffee at night,
instead
of specifying a time,
you would simply say,
"meet after Isha".
Or, if you had to make
a daytime appointment,
you would say, "book
it for after Asr".
These are common phrases
used by Muslims,
not only in Mecca, but
all over the world.
It's swift approaching
the end of the day, as
Bandar and Mustafa return
to the Riazah offices.
They are exited to
share with the rest of
the team what they
have found in the Haram.
The Haram in Mecca
remains one of the most
important and respected
institutions of our times.
It significance only increased
by new modern day technologies,
and the ability for pilgrims
to arrive with ease,
from all over the world.
In these increasingly
dark times for humanity,
the Haram shines as a beacon
of moderation and leadership
for the Islamic world,
and Muslims everywhere.
But this ancient land is
rich with the sacred history
of Islam, making it conducive
to humidity, and worship.
For millions of Muslims, that
first vision of the Kaaba
and the holy mosque is an
unforgettable moment,
a moment that
transcend all things
into the life of this world.
For truly the Kaaba is a
magnificent structure, it
stands serene and majestic
as thousands circumvent it.
Sure, there are many
challenges ahead,
balancing modernisation
with tradition,
increasing the safety of the
pilgrims, crowd control,
completing the ambitious
expansion plans,
but with the sense of
awe and awareness that
the Haram inspires in the
individuals who work here,
there is a strong belief that
all challenges will be overcome.
That this place, and
this city, most beloved
by God, will rise
above any obstacles.
This is after all, the centre
of the world of worship.
The most important physical
space on earth for Muslims,
and the oldest pace of prayer,
to the God of mankind.