A noticeable architectural feature, surviving the test of time and modernisation is the “Spring of Zubaidah” in Arafaat. The aqueduct for centuries brought fresh water to the pilgrim routes in Makkah from the Hunayn springs 95 kilometres away. Part of a series of canals and reservoirs that extended from Baghdad via Madinah and into Makkah, the project was the largest man made feat since the Great Wall of China. This Women’s month, let’s not forget the personality whose intent, passion and...

Ajyad Castle - Makkah   After 24 hours in Makkah Mukarramah, with Umrah completed, Alhamdulillah, and some much needed shut-eye. Relaxing past Isha on the roof top has always been a memorable experience. These days it affords an ideal vantage point to observe the ever changing topography of Makkah. Having come as a young adult, a truly nostalgic experience for myself was visiting the now demolished Ajyad Castle or as the Uthmani Turks called it “Ecyad Kalesi”. Entering the Abrajul Bait or “...

Makkah - Before and After With just a few weeks away for the annual Hajj, the holiest site in Islam has undergone a huge transformation, one that has divided opinion among Muslims globally. Today many call the city of Makkah, Las Vegas. Once a dusty desert town struggling to cope with the ever-increasing number of pilgrims arriving for the annual Hajj, the city today is a modern, futuristic vision of steel, glass and concrete skyscrapers, shopping malls and luxury hotels. Makkah is a...