Friday, July 29, 2011

Surah an-Nazi'at (1)

Jakarta - this Surah is one of the suras of the whole verse agreed down before the Prophet Muhammad emigrated to Medina.

His name was Wa sura an-Nazi'at, namely with the letter wauw at first. There also are named without using letters wauw. The name is removed from the first verse. His name is another as-Sahirah and ath-Thammah. Both were also lifted from the words mentioned by the verses.

Many scholars assess the main purpose of this chapter is a proof of its inevitable Day of Resurrection is accompanied by the evidence, including the description of the experience of the Prophet Moses by Pharaoh and the depiction of rububiyyah (maintenance) and the Divine arrangement involving humans that eventually split into two large groups, namely the inhabitants of heaven and hell.

Sayyid Quthub writes that this sura is an example of the many examples in this section of the Koran in order to touch the hearts of men concerning the nature of the afterlife, which is about the awesomeness and glory and keniscayaannya from the beginning in the ordinance of God for the destiny and the universe. Likewise about the Divine arrangements for the phases and steps of creation in the surface and bowels of the earth, then in the hereafter that is the end of creation.

The main purpose of this sura, according to al-Biqa'i, is a description of the final stage of the journey of human life on this earth and the inevitability of their resurrection on Judgement Day. That is illustrated by taking the life through the glorious angels as well as a description of the Pharaoh and the Prophet Musa. The purpose of this becomes very clear if the note name, ie an-Nazi'at (pullers), as well as another name, ie as-Sahirah (Padang Mahsyar) and ath-Thammah (catastrophe).

This sura is the 79th sura in terms of its placement in Mushhaf, was he is the 81st sura of the terms perurutan downs. He fell after surah an-Naba 'and before the sura al-Infithar. The number of verses as many as 45 verses after the manner of calculation of scholars of Kufa and as many as 46 verses by other scholars.
Alif Magz - detikRamadan

Debt Fasting Pregnant Women

Alif Magz - detikRamadan

Jakarta -

Question:
My wife has a debt of fasting 7 days last year due to pregnancy (although later miscarried). This year alhamdulillah 8 months pregnant so can not pay the debt fast last year. How to pay the debt last year (7 days) of Ramadan this year (30 days) because it certainly could not fasting this year because of being pregnant?

Thank you.

(Great, agoenk.mail @ gmail.com)


Answer:
Pay at the first opportunity coupled with a ransom every day is not fast by feeding a poor person. There are scholars who also require the addition of such fidyah payment was due until it is suspending payment of Ramadan
next.

(M Quraish Shihab)

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Makkah, Cities with Most Expensive Real Estate

Makkah - Makkah, Islam's holiest city, to prove themselves as exceptional cases on gloomy real estate market in the Middle East. Continued increase in the number of people who worship Hajj and Umrah, led to a booming hotel construction in this city.

Real estate experts said the price per one square meter in the commercial area around the holy city, can reach 375 thousand riyals (U.S. $ 100,000 or approximately USD 848.55 million), making Mecca as the most expensive city in the world. Similarly told Al Arabiya on Thursday (28/07/2011).

Saudi Arabian newspaper, 'Al-Yawm' once wrote, more than 2.5 million pilgrims go to Mecca for the hajj each year. Luxury hotels, high-occupancy buildings and commercial skyscrapers overshadow the Grand Mosque, where the Kaaba is located.
 
Shoujaa Zaidi, Vice President of Project Management and General Manager of the Hilton Hotel and Towers Makkah, said, "Makkah is currently at its peak."

'Forest' grows tall building beside the Grand Mosque, built by the Jabal Omar Development Company, with a budget of over 5.5 billion dollars. Hilton immediately opened the door there, along with 26 other new hotels, adding 13 thousand new rooms in the city.

"No doubt these hotels will be booked out. A growing population of Muslims justifies this expansion," he said.

Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) states, governments and developers of investment real estate in Mecca and Medina, estimated at 120 billion dollars in the coming decades. In Makkah alone, projects worth 20 billion dollars currently being run.
 
Hotel Marriott International and Hyatt International interest to manage and operate the hotels built by the developer Jabal Omar. The development is expected to increase the capacity of Makkah in receiving the pilgrims up to 50% in the next 10 years.

Expert problem Makkah and Madinah, Ankawi Sami, who settled in Jeddah said, "Mecca and Medina are historically almost perfect. You can not wander in the central area and only found a skyscraper," he said.

Here there is also Mecca Clock Royal Tower that looked at the city, which has the largest clock tower in the world, which is also a towering hotel overlooking the Kaaba.

Traditionally, Makkah only provide accommodation which contains small rooms with basic facilities to run the service, with no other services, because they are regarded as only temporary residents who live within a short period. Many of them rented in houses with cheap fare.

However, the scene changed a few years after the international and regional hotel operators popping up in Makkah. Famous luxury hotels began providing 24-hour service for tourists and pilgrims.

Company based in Dubai, Emaar and Damac, as Arabtec and Drake & Scull excited to enter the Saudi market.

These companies, along with their competitors from Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt, felt that success in Makkah will help them enter the Saudi market is broader, which is currently experiencing a housing shortage due to population growth in the country kingdom. Saudi population now 29 million.

Zeina Al-Tabari, Executive Director of Drake & Scull said, the majority of the contracts currently in Saudi. "We bid on many projects in Jabal Omar and around Mecca. We expect a large increase in Saudi Arabia," ujarnya.Nurul Hidayati - detikNews

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Mosque Architecture: Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca Morocco


The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca was completed in 1993 after great expense and artistic labor, and the result is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. Its gleaming newness and tremendous wealth is a stark contrast against the rest of Casablanca.
History

The great Hassan II Mosque was commissioned by its namesake, King Hassan II, in part to provide Casablanca with a single landmark monument. On his birthday, July 9, 1980, the king declared:

    I wish Casablanca to be endowed with a large, fine building of which it can be proud until the end of time... I want to build this mosque on the water, because God's throne is on the water. Therefore, the faithful who go there to pray, to praise the creator on firm soil, can contemplate God's sky and ocean.

Designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, construction of the Hassan II Mosque began in July 1986 on land reclaimed (without compensation to the former residents) from a run-down area near the sea. The goal for completion of the mosque was King Hassan II's 60th birthday in 1989, but it ended up not being finished until August 30, 1993.

The project is estimated to have cost as much as $800 million, funds that were remarkably raised entirely from public subscription. International reports have suggested both local resentment and less-than-voluntary donations to the project, but Moroccans seem to be genuinely proud of their monument. The massive fundraising also had a positive side-effect: it temporarily reduced Morocco's money supply and brought down inflation.

Nearly all the materials of the Hassan II Mosque are from Morocco, with the sole exceptions of the imported white granite columns and glass chandeliers (from Murano, near Venice). The marble is from Agandir, the cedar wood is from the Middle Atlas and the granite comes from Tafraoute.

Over 6,000 Moroccan master craftsmen and artisans were employed to work these local materials into the intricate decorations that embellish the entire structure. When construction passed its deadline in the early 1990s, 1,400 men worked by day and 1,000 worked by night to bring the vast project to completion.
What to See

The Hassan II Mosque is open to all Muslims at daily prayer times and for special Friday services. Non-Muslim visitors may enter the mosque on guided tours, which take place several times a day in English.

The most distinctive characteristic of the Hassan II Mosque is its spectacular location (see aerial view below) on a platform over the Atlantic Ocean. Uniquely, part of the mosque's floor is made of glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea. Unfortunately, this wonderful feature is mainly for royal use and is off-limits to visitors.

Above, an automated sliding roof opens (on special occasions) to the heavens. Thus the faithful of Casablanca can indeed contemplate God's sky and ocean in accordance with Hassan's wishes.

At 689 feet, the Great Mosque's minaret is the tallest structure in Morocco and the tallest minaret in the world. At night, lasers shine a beam from the top of the minaret toward Mecca, "to point the way to God." The building was designed to withstand earthquakes and has a heated floor and electric doors.

The style of the Hassan II Mosque displays strong Moorish influences, bringing to mind the Alhambra and Mezquita in Spain. Horseshoe arches prevail both outside and in, and the walls and columns of the interior are delicately carved in a variety of intricate patterns.

There is a huge women's gallery on the right as you face the prayer area, which is beautifully carved of dark wood. The prayer area in the back is spacious and carpeted in red. Downstairs are Turkish-style baths and fountains for washing.
Quick Facts
Site Information
Names:     Hassan II Mosque; Grand Mosquée Hassan II; مسجد الحسن الثاني
Location:    Casablanca, Morocco
Faith:    Islam
Category:     Mosques
Architecture:     Moorish
Date:    1986-93
Patron(s):    King Hassan II
Architect:    Michel Pinseau (France)
Size:    Capacity: 25,000 worshipers
Minaret height: 210 m (689 ft)
Status:    active
Visitor Information
Coordinates:     33.608508° N, 7.63258° W   (view on Google Maps)
Lodging:    View hotels near this location
Opening hours:    By guided tours: Sat-Thu 9am, 10am, 11am, noon, 3pm
Cost:    adults 120dh; students 60dh; children 30dh
Rules:    Visitors must be dressed modestly and remove their shoes for the tour. Head coverings not required.

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.
from: www.sacred-destinations.com

Dome of the Rock Mosque Architecture

Also known as Kubbat as-Sakhra, Kubbet es Sakhra, “Mosque of Omar,” Qubbet el-Sakhra, Templum Domini
Aerial from East

Built atop the earlier location of the Temple, the Dome of the Rock was erected by the Muslim ruler Abd el-Malik in 688-691. Because of its situation on bedrock, the numerous earthquakes over the centuries have not caused significant damage to the structure (unlike its neighbor Al Aqsa mosque).  This shrine was covered by a lead dome from 691 until it was replaced with a gold-colored covering in 1965. Because of rust, the anodized aluminum cover was again replaced in 1993 with a gold covering.

Dome with Mt. of Olives

The Mt. of Olives overlooks the Temple Mount from the east and gives a picture of Jesus' weeping over the city from the Mt. of Olives (Luke 19:41).  From the Temple Mount Jesus delivered the famous "7 Woes" against the Pharisees (Matt 23), probably pointing at tombs on the Mt. of Olives in his discourse (v. 27).  Jesus' ascension probably took place some distance behind the tower of the Russian Orthodox Church.

View from South

Sometimes referred to as the "Mosque of Omar," actually the Dome of the Rock is neither.  Omar built an earlier structure, but not the Dome of the Rock.  And this building is considered a shrine and not a mosque.  Men pray instead at the Al Aqsa mosque located 200 meters to the south.  Muslims believe that this is the place where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son Ishmael.

Founding Inscription

Inside the building in classical Arabic is inscribed,  "O you People of the Book, overstep not bounds in your religion, and of God speak only the truth.  The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is only an apostle of God, and his Word which he conveyed unto Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from him.  Believe therefore in God and his apostles, and say not Three.  It will be better for you.  God is only one God.  Far be it from his glory that he should have a son."

from: www.bibleplaces.com

Mosque Architecture Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Israel


 The most famous Islamic site in Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat as-Sakhrah). An impressive and beautiful edifice, the Dome of the Rock can be seen from all over Jerusalem. It is the crowning glory of the Haram es-Sharif ("Noble Sanctuary"), or Temple Mount.

The Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but a Muslim shrine. Like the Ka'ba in Mecca, it is built over a sacred stone. This stone is believed to be the place from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven during his Night Journey to heaven.

The Dome of the Rock is the oldest Islamic monument that stands today and certainly one of the most beautiful. It also boasts the oldest surviving mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca) in the world.
History

The sacred rock over which the Dome of the Rock is built was considered holy before the arrival of Islam. Jews believed, and still believe, the rock to be the very place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac (an event which Muslims place in Mecca). In addition, the Dome of the Rock (or the adjacent Dome of the Chain) is believed by many to stand directly over the site of the Holy of Holies of both Solomon's Temple and Herod's Temple.

The Dome of the Rock was built by the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik from 688 to 691 AD. It was not intended to be a mosque, but a shrine for pilgrims. According to tradition, the Dome of the Rock was built to commemorate Muhammad's ascension into heaven after his night journey to Jerusalem (Qur'an 17). But there seems to have been more to it than this, since the Dome of the Ascension was later built nearby.

Actually, according to the Oxford Archaeological Guide to the Holy Land, "Abd al-Malik's purpose was more complex and subtle." He wished to erect a beautiful Muslim building that could compete with the majestic churches of Christendom and would be a symbolic statement to both Jews and Christians of the superiority of the new faith of Islam. "His building spoke to Jews by its location, to Christians by its interior decoration." [1]

In the 10th century, the Jerusalem visitor Mukaddasi wrote of the magnificent structure:

    At dawn, when the light of the sun first strikes the dome and the drum catches the rays, then is this edifice a marvellous sight to behold, and one such than in all of Islam I have not seen the equal; neither have I heard tell of anything built in pagan times that could rival in grace this Dome of the Rock. [2]

By the 11th century, several legends had developed concerning the Dome of the Rock and its sacred stone, including the following:

    They say that on the night of his Ascension into Heaven the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, prayed first at the Dome of the Rock, laying his hand upon the Rock. As he went out, the Rock, to do him honor, rose up, but he laid his hand on it to keep it in its place and firmly fixed it there. But by reason of this rising up, it is even to this present day partly detached from the ground beneath. [3]

In the Middle Ages, Christians and Muslims both believed the dome to be the biblical Temple of Solomon. The Knights Templar made their headquarters there during the Crusades and later patterned their churches after its design. [4]

The exterior mosaics that once adorned the Dome of the Rock suffered from exposure to Jerusalem winters. They were repaired in the Mamluk period, and then completely replaced with tiles by Sulieman the Magnificent in 1545. At the same time, he created the parapet wall with its intricate inscription by filling up the thirteen small arches that originally topped each facade. The windows of the Dome of the Rock date from this period as well. The tiling was completely replaced in the last major restoration in 1956-62.
What to See

The extraordinary visual impact of the Dome of the Rock is in part due to the mathematical rhythm of its proportions. All the critical dimensions are related to the center circle that surrounds the sacred stone. For example, each outer wall is 67 feet long, which is exactly the dome's diameter and exactly its height from the base of the drum.

The same principles were used in Byzantine churches of Italy, Syria, and Palestine, but none compare to the integration of plan and elevation seen in the Dome of the Rock.

The great golden dome that crowns the Dome of the Rock was originally made of gold, but was replaced with copper and then aluminum. The aluminum is now covered with gold leaf, a donation from the late King Hussein of Jordan. [6]

The dome is topped by a full moon decoration which evokes the familiar crescent moon symbol of Islam. It is aligned so that if you could look through it, you would be looking straight towards Mecca.

The beautiful multicolored Turkish tiles that adorn the shrine's exterior are faithful copies of the Persian tiles that Suleiman the Magnificent added in 1545 to replace the damaged originals. The lower half of the exterior is white marble.

The Arabic inscription around the octagonal part of the Dome of the Rock are verses from the Qur'an. The inscription dates from the renovation under Suleiman. The tiled area just below the golden dome is the drum. Its glazed tiles were made in Turkey, and its Arabic inscription tells of the Night Journey of Muhammad as described in the Qur'an (surah 17).

Inside the shrine, an arched wall called the octagonal arcade or inner octagon follows the exterior shape. An open space between this and the central circle forms the inner ambulatory around the Rock, carpeted in lush red. The area between the inner octagon and outer octogan (exterior wall) forms a smaller, outer ambulatory, carpeted in green. The two ambulatories recall the ritual circular movement of pilgrims around the Ka'ba in Mecca.

The cupola, the interior of the great golden dome, features elaborate floral decorations in red and gold, as well as various inscriptions. The main inscription in the cupola commemorates Saladin, who sponsored extenstive restoration work on the building.

The mosaics of the interior feature both realistic and stylized representations of vegetation and related themes (Muslim law forbids the representation of living beings in art). The mosaics evoke an exotic garden, perhaps the gardens of Paradise. Rich jewelry is also depicted in abundance, including breastplates, necklaces, and a Persian crown with features gathered at the base. The caliph Omar had conquered Persia in 637, and the mosaics symbolize the Persian crowns he sent to hang in Mecca.

The founding inscription is a monumental 240-meter long line of Kufic script running along the top of both sides of the octagonal arcade inside the Dome of the Rock. On the outer side of the arcade, the inscription quotes Quranic verses glorifying God.

On the eastern side, an inscription gives credit for the building's construction to the Abbasid caliph al-Mamun in the year 72 AH (691 AD). However, al-Mamun reigned from 813-33 AD, so the inscription clearly represents an Abbasid effort to claim credit for the achievement of the previous dynasty.

Much of the inscription on the inner side of the octagonal arcade exhorts Christians to depart from error of the Trinity and recognize the truth of Islam:

    O People of the Book! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning God save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a Messenger of God, and His Word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and say not 'Three' - Cease! (it is) better for you! - God is only One God. Far be it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son. ... Whoso disbelieveth the revelations of God (will find that) lo! God is swift at reckoning! [5]

The columns supporting the inner octagon and the center circle are of different sizes; they were recycled from previous structures. The crosses on some show them to have been taken from churches. The carved ceilings on either side of the inner octagon were not part of the original design; they first appeared in the 14th century and have been restored since then. The Mamluk star is the dominant motif.

The small, flat mihrab (niche showing the direction of Mecca) belongs to the original building, and is the oldest mihrab preserved in the Islamic world. The wooden screen around the sacred rock was donated by the Ayyubid sultan al-Aziz in 1198. The Crusaders protected the rock from relic-snatching pilgrims by erecting a wrought-iron screen between the columns of the circle; it remained in place until 1960 and is now on display in the Islamic Museum.

The sacred rock that is the central focus of the shrine is a large, ancient rock that may have once stood in the center of Solomon's Temple. For Jews, it is the rock on which Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac. For Muslims, it is the rock from which Muhammad's winged horse leapt into the sky, accompanied by the Archangel Gabriel, on the "Night Journey" into heaven (Qur'an 17). The rock is said to bear the horse's imprint. Muslim tradition holds that an angel will come to the rock to sound the trumpet call of the Last Judgment at the end of the world. [7]

The reliquary next to the rock dates from the Ottoman period and contains a hair of Muhammad's beard.

The cavity beneath the rock, accessible by a staircase near the south entrance, is known as Bir el-Arwah, the "Well of Souls." It is said that here the voices of the dead mingle with the falling waters of the lower rivers of paradise as they drop into eternity.

Another legend says that the dead meet here twice a month to pray. In earlier days, those who prayed here after having walked around the rock were given a certificate entitling them admission to paradise; it was to be buried with them.
Quick Facts
Site Information
Names:     Dome of the Rock; Qubbat as-Sakhrah
Location:    Jerusalem, Israel
Faith:    Islam
Categories:     Shrines; Mosques
Date:    688-91
Features:    Oldest; Mosaics
Status:    active
Photo gallery:    Dome of the Rock Photo Gallery
Visitor Information
Address:    Temple Mount, Jerusalem
Coordinates:     31.778097° N, 35.235139° E   (view on Google Maps)
Lodging:    View hotels near this location
Opening hours:    Currently open only to Muslims, 8:30am to 3pm daily. Closed to tourist visits during midday prayers.
Cost:    Combined admission ticket of NIS 38 for Al-Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock, and Islamic Museum.

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.