Latest news with #Ibrahim
Leaders
6 hours ago
- Leaders
Hajj Sacred Journey: A Rare Glimpse Inside Kaaba
Muslims across the globe are gearing up for their most sacred journey, the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam. Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, lies at the center of Hajj rituals. The Kaaba is a cube-shaped building located at the center of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Great Mosque) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The Holy Kaaba is covered with a black silk cloth (Kiswah), adorned with silk, gold, and silver embroidery. Although millions of Muslims perform Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage each year, only few people are allowed to enter the Kaaba. These include high-ranking Muslim dignitaries, prominent clerics and scholars, as well as special guests. In this article, we will explore the interior of the Kaaba, offering a privileged glimpse into the aesthetic richness of its details. Kaaba Significance in Islam The Kaaba is the center of worship (Qibla) for Muslims all over the world. During their prayers, Muslims face the direction of the Kaaba. The Kaaba also has a great significance in the spiritual journey of Hajj. Pilgrims travel to Makkah during the first ten days of Dhu'al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar. They undertake a set of rituals performed by Prophet Mohammed PBUH centuries ago. Hajj rituals can be traced back to the time of Prophets Ibrahim and Ismael. @alhmoo70 تعرف على ما بداخل الكعبة المشرفة #الكعبه_المشرفه🕋 ♬ الصوت الأصلي – د محمود حمو Upon arriving in Makkah, pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction for the arrival Tawaf. They perform another Tawaf, Farewell Tawaf (Tawaf Al-Wadaa). During this rite, they circumambulate the Kaaba seven times right before leaving Makkah in the last ritual of Hajj. Hajj lasts four to six days depending on the pilgrim's speed. This year, the sacred journey is expected to take place from June 4-9, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon. Inside Kaaba The Kaaba interior spans an area of about 180 square meters. It has three wooden pillars holding its roof, built by Prophet's companion, Abdullah bin Zubair, each with a height of 9 meters. The wooden pillars have a dark brown color; each has a perimeter of about 150 centimeters and a diameter of 44 centimeters. To the right of this area lies Bab al-Tawbah (The Door of Repentance), which has a staircase leading to the roof. Bab al-Tawbah door is made from pure gold, while the staircase consists of 50 steps made from aluminum and crystal. Kaaba Lanterns A number of lanterns and incense burners hang from the ceiling. Those lanterns, which were gifts from rulers and wealthy benefactors over the ages, are made from copper, silver, and glass. They are adorned with Quranic verses and some of them carry the names of rulers who gifted them. There is also a dark-colored marble spot, where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to pray inside the Kaaba. The wooden pillars area also contains a large box for storing the Kaaba perfuming materials. It includes Oud and Taif Rose oils as well as silver incense burners. These items are used to perfume and incense the interior of the Kaaba after its washing with Zamzam and rose waters. Marble Walls The internal floor of the Kaaba is covered with white marble, with a strip of black marble bordering it. Meanwhile, the walls are covered with rose-colored marble stones. They are constructed in a way that ensures they do not come into contact with the Kaaba's original walls. A large green cloth covers the upper part of the wall, extending 5 meters up to the ceiling. It is adorned with a white inscription of the Islamic Shahada (the Islamic declaration of faith: There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Decorative Stones The interior of the Kaaba is adorned with eight decorative stones carrying scripts in Thuluth Arabic calligraphy and one stone carrying Kufic script. They all date back to after the sixth century AH. The inscriptions on these stones, which use precious and colorful pieces of marble, commemorate the architectural contributions of Saudi Arabia's past rulers to Islam's holiest site. Moreover, the eastern wall carries a document commemorating King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud's renovations and expansion of the Kaaba. Short link : Post Views: 7
Mint
7 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Bank holidays next week, June 2-8: Banks to be closed for 2 days in THESE cities; Check full list here
Bank holidays next week, June 2-8: Banks will be closed for two days this week in some parts of India, due to Id-ul-Ad'ha (Bakrid) and Bakri ID (Id-Uz-Zuha), according to the bank holiday calendar by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Banks will also be closed on Sunday, June 8, 2025 across the country. Bank holidays in India differ from state to state and are based on national, regional, and religious observances. Banks in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram will be closed on Friday, June 6, 2025, to mark Id-ul-Ad'ha (Bakrid), an Islamic festival that recognises Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God. Banks across the country, except Ahmedabad, Gangtok, Itanagar, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, will be closed on Saturday, June 7, 2025, on account of Bakrid, also known as Id ul-Zuha. Commonly known as the 'goat festival', the bank holiday designated regions will celebrate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son on this day. Banks in Ahmedabad, Gangtok, Itanagar, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram will be open on Saturday, June 7, 2025, since it is the first Saturday of the month. As per the RBI calendar, banks are typically closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Notably, banks are closed on all Sundays of the month. Hence, banks will be closed on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Apart from Id-ul-Ad'ha (Bakrid) and Bakri ID (Id-Uz-Zuha) banks are scheduled to be closed for three days except weekends in the month of June. June 11 (Wednesday) — Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti / Saga Dawa — Banks will be shut in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. June 27 (Friday) — Ratha Yatra / Kang (Rathajatra) — Banks closed in Odisha and Manipur. June 30 (Monday) — Remna Ni — Banks closed in Mizoram. Online banking services will be available across the country during bank holidays. Customers can use these services for convenient financial transactions. Fund transfer requests can be made using NEFT/RTGS transfer forms, demand draft request forms, and chequebook forms. Credit cards, debit cards, and ATM cards can be secured through card services. Services such as account maintenance forms, setting up standing instructions, and applying for a locker are also available.
Middle East Eye
a day ago
- General
- Middle East Eye
Palestinian woman buries husband alone after two months trapped under Israeli siege
In a garden in southern Gaza under Israeli attacks, Aziza Qishta dug a grave with her bare hands. With no shroud, the 65-year-old Palestinian wrapped her husband's body in a window curtain and buried him alone. Ibrahim Qishta, 70, had died after being struck in the neck by shrapnel during Israel's military incursion into Rafah earlier this year. For two months, the couple remained trapped in their home in Khirbet al-Adas, surviving off dwindling supplies as air strikes and shelling pounded the city. When neighbours fled, Ibrahim refused to be displaced, and his wife refused to leave him behind. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Since Israel broke the Gaza ceasefire in March, the army has killed nearly 4,000 Palestinians, bringing the death toll since October 2023 to over 54,000. In the following account, Aziza tells her story to the Middle East Eye. Trapped for two months When the Israeli army re-invaded Rafah in March and imposed a full siege, all of Aziza's children fled the area. Ibrahim, however, refused to leave. 'He was blind, unable to move on his own,' Qishta told MEE. 'He told me: 'I'm not leaving the house, and you'll stay with me.'' Her reply was unwavering: 'Of course. I won't leave you after 50 years together. Never.' Aziza Qishta surrounded by her grandchildren (MEE/Ahmad Aziz) For two months, they remained in the house. With movement impossible and supplies scarce, they survived on stored provisions - canned food, beans, rice, lentils, vermicelli, jam, and pasta. Water was fetched from a nearby building whenever possible. 'Day and night, we were surrounded by shelling - east, north, west,' she said. 'The worst was from the west.' They could hear Israeli gunfire, jets, and tanks all around them. 'We couldn't move,' she explained. Even when her son's house next door was bombed and collapsed, they stayed put. 'My husband insisted on staying, and I stayed with him.' Her cousins were in a nearby house that was also hit. 'It collapsed on them. More than 10 of them are still under the rubble today.' 'I had no one to help me' - Aziza Qishta, Palestinian woman Then, one day, a loud explosion struck the building's iron gate. 'Dust filled the house. When it cleared, I saw the house around us had been destroyed,' Qishta said. Only a single room and a bathroom were left. 'Suddenly, I saw my husband bleeding from his neck - he had been hit by shrapnel.' When she spotted the injury, she rushed to him, tending to his wound, washing his face, applying antiseptic, and wrapping him up. Despite his heavy weight, she lifted him onto her back. 'I had no one to help me. We moved slowly. I would stop to let him rest, then continue,' she explained. For five hours, Ibrahim continued to bleed. 'We were alone. No voices, no light.' Final hours Eventually, she reached her cousin's house and laid him down on a mattress. 'I said: 'Let me get you some food,' but he refused.' He accepted only a spoonful of honey and later asked for some water. 'Then he said: 'Pour some water on my head.'' Aziza stayed by his side throughout. 'I laid him down, sat next to him, never leaving his side.' She noticed his left hand trembling and offered to massage it. 'He said: 'No, leave it.' Then suddenly, it went limp.' When she looked at his face, he had passed away. 'There were no soldiers around,' she said. 'They come, bomb, and leave.' A photo of Israeli troops in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, released on 18 October 2024 (Israeli Army via AFP) Alone, she searched the garden and found a small hole near an olive tree. With no shroud, she used a window curtain to wrap his body and began to roll him into the hole by herself. 'I placed his body in a plastic bag and continued rolling him gently. It took me two hours of exhaustion. But God gave me strength.' She buried him with her own hands, covering the body first with a zinc sheet, then wood, and finally soil. 'I recited Ayat al-Kursi and Surah Yasin from the Quran over him and wept silently.' 'I recited Ayat al-Kursi and Surah Yasin from the Quran over him and wept silently' - Aziza Qishta After the burial, she returned home. 'I bathed, and for the first time in two months, I slept deeply from sheer exhaustion.' Ibrahim was killed on 10 May but Aziza remained alone in the house for another two weeks, until 24 May, when the last of the food and water ran out. That day, she began to suspect that the grave might have been bombed. 'I heard the buzzing of drones and gunfire.' The following day, she went to check. 'I found the zinc pierced with bullets, and his head exposed.' Her voice heavy, she recalled: 'My heart broke. I picked up his head, it felt as light as a loaf of bread, and returned it to the grave, dug a bit deeper, added a new piece of zinc and wood, and buried him again.' She said she didn't feel fear or hesitation, 'just pain, and patience'. 'I returned home, made a cup of tea, and had a simple breakfast,' she said. 'I had just 250 millilitres of clean water left.' Confrontation with soldiers Eventually, she decided to leave and confront the Israeli army. Carrying a stick with a white cloth and two small bags, she walked to a military checkpoint. 'They told me to stop and threw me a leaking water bottle,' she said. 'Then a tank approached and threw another.' Ordered to empty her bags, which held some medicine and clothes, she was then told: 'We want to take your photo.' 'This isn't me': Israeli war and healthcare collapse leave Gaza child unrecognisable Read More » When she explained she was wearing a hijab, they demanded she remove it. 'I refused. A soldier shouted, and about twenty of them pointed guns at me, saying: 'If you don't remove it, we'll kill you.' So I removed it, broken.' They made her walk with them but after ten minutes, she told them she was too tired to continue, so they placed her in a jeep. 'One soldier spoke Arabic. He asked my name and about my children. I told him I had four sons and nine daughters. He asked why my husband hadn't left earlier. I said: 'He refused, and I couldn't leave him.'' They told her to wait under a palm tree, but she insisted on moving. They left her near a place called Marj, where she then got lost for four hours. She said she then found an aid centre run by the Israeli army and an American company. 'They told me: 'Head north. Don't go east or west.'' Eventually, she reached a camp for displaced people, near Rafah. 'They told me to head for Khan Younis.' On the way, she met four young men. 'I gave them my name. They called the Qishta family, my family, and they came to get me.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Opportunities for Chinese investments - Economy - Al-Ahram Weekly
A delegation from Egypt is set to visit China next month following last week's visit of a Chinese investment delegation to Egypt A delegation from the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) is scheduled to visit China next month to promote the industrial opportunities available in the SCZONE, Mustafa Ibrahim, vice chair of the China-Egypt Relations Committee at the Egyptian Businessmen's Association (EBA), told Al-Ahram Weekly. The visit is part of ongoing efforts to boost Chinese investments in Egypt. Wang Weizhong, governor of Guangdong Province in China, was also in Cairo last week with a delegation representing Chinese government agencies and Chinese companies interested in investing in the Egyptian market. The delegation also included representatives from Chinese companies already operating in Egypt. Some 2,800 Chinese companies currently operate in Egypt, with total investments exceeding $8 billion, according to the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI). Ibrahim expects Chinese investments to reach $12 billion by the end of 2025. The Chinese delegation explored investment opportunities in various sectors, including electric vehicles. The visit aimed to support the Chinese government's Belt and Road Initiative and to study investment opportunities in the Egyptian market. China plans to move many of its factories abroad due to its commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 2026 and to avoid obstacles that could affect its exports to various countries, including members of the European Union, Ibrahim explained. China is also keen on redirecting its labour force towards high value-added industrial sectors such as the technology industry, in which it has outperformed many of its competitors, he added. Chinese companies are interested in investing across several sectors in Egypt, including textiles, ready-made garments, electrical appliances, the automotive industry, and natural gas exploration. Ibrahim said that China has moved into a new era, transitioning from product imitation to innovation, which has made countries like Germany eager to learn about the technologies used in Chinese robots, for example. China is seeking partners with whom it can strengthen its ties, and Egypt stands out with its large market and trade agreements with many other countries that enable access to nearly three billion consumers, Ibrahim said. He noted that over the past year and a half visits from Chinese delegations have taken a new and more serious turn, with provincial governors and leaders from the ruling party heading the delegations. Chinese investors are also planning to invest in new sectors, including tourism and the establishment of hotels and are currently studying investment opportunities in that field. Ibrahim said that cooperation between Egypt and China takes three main forms, with China exporting production inputs and finished products to Egypt, undertaking projects managed by Chinese companies for implementation in Egypt, and injecting direct investments into the Egyptian economy. He stressed the need for consistent laws and a stable economy to attract foreign investors, making the investment climate more appealing. Ahmed Mounir Ezzeddin, chair of the China-Egypt Relations Committee at the Egyptian Businessmen's Association (EBA), told the Weekly that Egypt's infrastructural development, both in terms of urban expansion and power networks, has opened the door for the establishment of large and medium-sized factories and has encouraged various investments, including those from China. China's only industrial city on the African continent is in Egypt in the shape of the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone on the shores of the Red Sea and south of the Suez Canal. This started on an area of three million square metres and has now expanded to 10 million, reflecting Egypt's importance to Chinese investors. Ezzeddin said that Egypt possesses several factors that attract Chinese investments, such as the new investment law, an improved business environment and a competitive labour force, in addition to competitive electricity and fuel prices. He highlighted that recent measures to regulate the import of finished products have encouraged Chinese investors to inject capital into the home appliance sector, aligning with Egypt's goal to provide competitively priced locally produced products for both domestic consumption and export. * A version of this article appears in print in the 29 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Middle East Eye
How do Muslims perform Hajj?
Hajj is an annual Muslim pilgrimage that takes place in Saudi Arabia. It is a religious obligation on all Muslims who are healthy, financially able, of sound mind and of age to perform this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. It is one of the largest gatherings of humans in the world with more than two million people expected to take part this year from around 188 countries. Hajj season for 2025 will likely fall between 4 and 9 June. The pilgrimage rituals take place over a period of several days and culminates in Eid al-Adha, a day of celebration enjoyed by Muslims around the globe whether or not they took part in the Hajj itself. Eid al-Adha falls on Sunday 11 August in 2019. One of the philosophies of the Hajj is that of spirituality and unity. All Muslims perform the same rites and are encouraged to share in a spirit of equality. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters All pilgrims are to remain in a state of purity and simplicity during the Hajj as much as possible. This includes wearing simple clothes, which for men includes two pieces of white unsewn cloth. Women are not restricted to a specific colour but are also encouraged to wear non-elaborate clothing. Mina Having arrived in Mecca, on day one pilgrims leave the city and head to an area called Mina where they spend the day in prayer. Here over 100,000 tents have been set up as temporary shelter and accommodation for the pilgrims in what looks like a huge tent city. An aerial view of some of the pilgrim tents in Mina (AFP) Arafat On the Day of Arafat, pilgrims spend the entire day on, or near, a hill known as Mount Arafat - the Mount of Mercy. This is considered to be a great day of forgiveness and the day is spent repenting for past sins. Muslims believe that if you spend this day in a state of true repentance, all past sins will be forgiven. Muslims around the world who cannot physically take part in the Hajj also spend this day engaged in prayer, fasting and supplication. Pilgrims converge on the Mount of Arafat (AFP) Muzdalifa Pilgrims spend a night in an area called Muzdalifa, which is part way between Arafat and Mina. Pilgrims spend their time here in prayer and also gather pebbles to be used in a ritual the next day called the Jamarat. Pilgrims in Muzdalifa gather small pebbles to be used in a ritual the following day (AFP) Jamarat The Jamarat is a ritual and symbolic stoning of the devil. Three pillars - small, medium and large - are stoned by pilgrims with the pebbles they collected on their route from Muzdalifa the night before. The story associated with the stoning of the devil relates to the devil's attempt to dissuade Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) from obeying Allah's commands. Jamarat is the ritual and symbolic stoning of the devil in which pilgrims throw pebbles at three walls (AFP) In past years, so many people gathered to take part in this ritual that people were crushed and trampled. That has led to the Saudi authorities attempting to modernise the walkways and access points to the area to make it safer for pilgrims. Pilgrims on their way to perform the Jamarat ritual (AFP) Eid Pilgrims return to Mina for the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice. This is the second of the two annual Islamic holidays. Muslims throughout the world celebrate Eid on this day. In remembrance of the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to make any sacrifice commanded of him by God, Muslims on this day sacrifice an animal - usually a sheep - and distribute a portion of that meat to the poor. On this day pilgrims also cut their hair. While men may shave their heads or cut their hair short, women are only required to cut a lock of hair. Vendors sell balloons to children as Indonesian Muslims gather to take part in special Eid prayers (AFP/Sonny Tumelaka) Farewell tawaf Pilgrims return to Mecca for the final tawaf - circling of the Kaaba. The Kaaba is an ancient stone structure in Mecca towards which all Muslims around the world face to pray five times a day. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first place of worship built on Earth and that it was originally built by the Prophet Adam, the first man created by God. Pilgrims walk around, or circumambulate, it seven times in a counter-clockwise direction. The Kaaba is an ancient stone structure in Mecca which pilgrims circumambulate (AFP) Although not a part of the Hajj itself, many people round off the pilgrimage with a visit to Medina and the site of the grave of the Prophet Muhammad since, for most, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
