The Clock Towers in Mecca

The Clock Towers  is a government-owned complex of seven skyscraper hotels in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. These towers are part of the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project that aims to modernize the city in catering to its pilgrims. The central hotel tower, which is the Mecca Clock Royal Tower, is the fourth-tallest building and sixth-tallest freestanding structure in the world. According to Guinness World Records, the Makkah Tower is the tallest clock tower in the world, and the complex of seven buildings comprise the world's second most expensive building. The clock faces are the largest in the world, and the top four floors of the clock tower house the Clock Tower Museum.

The building complex is 300 metres away from the world's largest mosque and Islam's most sacred site, the Great Mosque of Mecca. The developer and contractor of the complex is the Saudi Binladin Group, the Kingdom's largest construction company. The total cost of construction totaled US$15 billion. The complex was built after the demolition of the Ajyad Fortress, the 18th-century Ottoman citadel on top of a hill overlooking the Grand Mosque. The destruction of the historycally significant site in 2002 by the Saudi government sparked an outcry and a strong reaction from Turkey.

Source : https://en.wikipedia, Foto : KBIHU Al Wahid Rezki Barokah Tarakan & https://en.wikipedia

Mecca al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia

 

Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia; it is the holiest city in Islam. It is 70 km (43 mi) inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley 277 m (909 ft) above sea level. Its metropolitan population in 2022 was 2.4 million, making it the third-most populated city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah. Around 44.5% of the population are Saudi citizens and around 55.5% are Muslim foreigners from other countries. Pilgrims more than triple the population number every year during the hajj pilgrimage, observed in the twelfth Hijri month of Dhul-Hijjah. With over 10.8 million international visitors in 2023, Mecca was one of the ten most visited cities in the world.

Mecca is located in the Hejaz region, a 200 km (124 mi) wide strip of mountains separating the Nafud desert from the Red Sea. The city is situated in a valley with the same name around 70 km (44 mi) east of the port city of Jeddah. Mecca is one of the lowest cities in elevation in the Hejaz region, located at an elevation of 277 m (909 ft) above sea level at 21º23' north latitude and 39º51' east longitude. Mecca is divided into 34 districts.

The city centers on the al-Haram area, which contains the Masjid al-Haram. The area around the mosque is the old city and contains the most famous district of Mecca, Ajyad. The main street that runs to al-Haram is the Ibrahim al-Khalil Street, named after Ibrahim. Traditional, historical homes built of local rock, two to three stories long are still present within the city's central area, within view of modern hotels and shopping complexes. The total area of modern Mecca is over 1,200 km² (460 sq mi).

Mecca is generally considered "the fountainhead and cradle of Islam". Mecca is revered in Islam as the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Hira cave atop the Jabal al-Nur ("Mountain of Light"), just outside the city, is where Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed to Muhammad.  Visiting Mecca for the Ḥajj is an obligation upon all able Muslims. The Great Mosque of Mecca, known as the Masjid al-Haram, is home to the Ka'bah, believed by Muslims to have been built by Abraham and Ishmael. It is Islam's holiest site and the direction of prayer (qibla) for all Muslims worldwide.

Original Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca, Foto : Sabudi & www.kompas.id

Ta'if City in Mecca Province

Taif is a city and governorate in Mecca Province in Saudi Arabia. Located at an elevation of 1,879 m (6,165 ft) in the slopes of the Hijaz Mountains, which themselves are part of the Sarat Mountains, the city has a population of 563,282 people in 2022, making it one of the most populous cities in the kingdom.

There is a belief that Taif is indirectly referred to in Quran 43:31. The city was visited by the Islamic prophet Muhammad, sometime in the early 7th century, and was inhabited by the tribe of Banu Thaqif. It is still inhabited to this day by their descendants. As a part of the Hejaz, the city has seen many transfers-of-power throughout its history, with the last being during the Saudi conquest of Hejaz in 1925.

The city has been called the unofficial summer capital of Saudi Arabia and has also been called the best summer destination in Saudi Arabia as it enjoys a moderate weather during summer, unlike most of the Arabian Peninsula. The city owes its popularity among tourists to its many mountain resorts and moderate climate, even during the harsh summers of Arabia. The city is connected to the nearby resort town of Al-Hada via the iconic Highway 15 (Taif – Al-Hada Road). It stands out from the rest of the Hijazi region as it is a city that plays an active role in the agricultural output of Saudi Arabia and is the center of an agricultural area known for its cultivation of grapes, pomegranate, figs, roses and honey. Taif is also very active in the manufacturing of traditional attar, and is known locally as "City of the Roses".

Sources : https://en.wikipedia.org, Foto : Sabudi

The Taif Cable Cars, Ta'if, Saudi Arabia

The Taif Cable Cars, also known as Telefric Al Hada, are found at the Al Hada Cable Car Resort. It is located on the first ring road in Taif. The route of the cable car begins from the highest Jabal al Hada from the Ramada Al Hada Hotel and leads down through the old pedestrian road towards al Kar, a tourist village which is situated at the bottom of the Karakoram Mountain Range. These two sites make up the upper and lower

stations of the Taif Cable Cars. This offers a nice ride up and down the hill in the cable car, with spectacular views of the village and mountain. Other activities which are part of this resort include tourist games and facilities at the lower cable car station in the village of al Kar. These include facilities such as restaurants, shops, and other public facilities and also games and activities such as paintball, car racing circuits, laser misses, water games, and summer ski games.

Taif University in Ta’if, Saudi Arabia

Taif University is located in Al Hawiyah, Ta'if, Saudi Arabia. It was established in 2004. The university is one of three created by TU. The university is a member of the Association of Arab Universities and offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields of study. Taif University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including arts, science, engineering, business, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and law. The university has a total of 16 faculties, which include the College of Science, the College of Engineering, the College of Medicine, the College of Dentistry, and the College of Pharmacy.

 Source : https://en.wikipedia, Foto : Sabudi

The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia

The Prophet's Mosque is the second mosque built by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad in Medina, after the Quba Mosque, as well as
the second largest mosque and holiest site in Islam, after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, in the Saudi region of the Hejaz.  The mosque is located at the heart of Medina, and is a major site of pilgrimage that falls under the purview of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Muhammad himself was involved in the construction of the mosque. At the time, the mosque's land belonged to two young orphans, Sahl and Suhayl, and when they learned that Muhammad wished to acquire their land to erect a mosque, they went to Muhammad and offered the land to him as a gift; Muhammad insisted on paying a price for the land because they were orphaned children. The price agreed upon was paid by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, who thus became the endower or donor of the mosque, on behalf or in favor of Muhammad. al-Ansari also accommodated Muhammad upon his arrival at Medina in 622.

Originally an open-air building, the mosque served as a community center, a court of law, and a religious school. It contained a raised platform or pulpit (minbar) for the people who taught the Quran and for Muhammad to give the Friday sermon (khutbah). Subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated the mosque, naming its walls, doors and minarets after themselves and their forefathers. After an expansion during the reign of the Umayyad caliph al-Walid I (r. 705–715), it now incorporates the final resting place of Muhammad and the first two Rashidun caliphs Abu Bakr (r. 632–634) and Umar (r. 634–644). One of the most notable features of the site is the Green Dome in the south-east corner of the mosque, originally Aisha's house, where the tomb of Muhammad is located. Many pilgrims who perform the Hajj also go to Medina to visit the Green Dome.

Original Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca, Foto : Sabudi &  https://haramainbd.com/15-important-places-inside-masjid-nabawi/

The Jabal Uhud of Medina

Mount Uhud is a mountain north of Medina, in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It is 1,077 m (3,533 ft) high and 7.5 km (4.7 miles) long. It was the site of the second battle between the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and the polytheist of his tribe of Quraysh. The Battle of Uhud was fought on 19 March, 625 CE, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina and a force from Mecca, in north-western Arabia.

The battle was fought on March 19, 625 CE (3 Shawwal 3 AH in the Islamic Calendar) at the valley located in front of Mount Uhud, in what is now northwestern Arabia. It occurred between a force from the Muslim community of Medina led by Muhammad and a force led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb from Mecca, the town from which many of the Muslims had previously emigrated. The Battle of Uḥud was the second military encounter between the Meccans and the Muslims, preceded by the Battle of Badr in 624, where a small Muslim army had defeated the much larger Meccan army.

Marching out from Mecca towards Medina on March 11, 625, the Meccans desired to avenge their losses at Badr and strike back at Muhammad and his followers. The Muslims readied for war soon afterward and the two armies fought on the slopes and plains of Mount ‘Uḥud.

Whilst heavily outnumbered, the Muslims gained the early initiative and forced the Meccan lines back, thus leaving much of the Meccan camp unprotected. When the battle looked to be only one step far from a decisive Muslim victory, a serious mistake was committed by a part of the Muslim army, which shifted the outcome of the battle. A breach of Muhammad's orders by the Muslim archers, who left their assigned posts to despoil the Meccan camp thinking the war ended, allowed a surprise attack from the Meccan cavalry, led by Meccan war veteran Khalid ibn al-Walid, which brought chaos to the Muslim ranks. Many Muslims were killed, including Hamza ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib, Muhammad's uncle and foster brother. Muhammad himself got injured. The Muslims had to withdraw up the slopes of ‘Uḥud. The Meccans did not pursue the Muslims further, but marched back to Mecca declaring victory. The two armies would meet again in 627 at the Battle of Trench.

 
Source : https:id.wikipedia.org, Foto Sabudi & https://id.wikipedia.org/

The Magnetic Hill of Medina (By KBIHU Al Wahid Rezki Barokah Tarakan)

Wadi al-Baida locally known as Wadi al-Jinn or Magnetic Hill  is a valley and an anti-gravity hill in al-Baida Park located approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Medina in the Medina Province of Saudi Arabia. Owing to its optical illusion, vehicles left out of gear in the valley appear to be rolling uphill against the gravity, thus, making the area popular among locals and pilgrims to be purportedly haunted by Jinns, the shape-shifting supernatural creatures mentioned in both pre-Islamic Arabian folklores and Islamic beliefs. However, the Al-Madinah Region Development Authority in 2020 rebutted claims of any spiritual presence in the valley.

https:en.wikipedia.org, Foto : KBIHU Al Wahid Rezki Barokah Tarakan

The Quba Mosque, Medina

The Quba Mosque is a mosque located in Medina, in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia, first built in the lifetime of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the 7th century C.E. It is thought to be the first mosque in the world, established on the first day of Muhammad's emigration to Medina. Its first stone is said to have been laid by the prophet, and the structure completed by his companions. The mosque was subsequently modified across the centuries until the 1980s, when it was completely replaced by a new building that stands today.

According to historical Islamic texts, during the hijrah (migration) of Muhammad from Mecca  to Medina (Yathrib), he stopped in the village of Quba' near Medina. Depending on the sources, he stayed there for 3 to 22 days. Two different accounts of the mosque's foundation exist in relation to this event. In one, Muhammad founded the mosque himself, though there are varying explanations for how the site was chosen: it was either a mirbad (place for drying dates) that belonged to Muhammad's host, Kulthum, or it was the place where a woman named Labba had tethered her donkey. Another version, probably a later legend inspired by the foundation story of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, tells that Muhammad made Ali get on a camel and then built the mosque where the camel went. Muhammad is said to have laid the first stone himself, with the next ones laid by Abu Bakr,

Umar and Uthman. He is also said to have visited the mosque every Saturday afterwards and conducted religious service there. In another account, the mosque had been built prior to Muhammad's arrival by the first Muslim emigrants from Mecca and some of the Ansar of Medina. Muhammad then prayed in the mosque with them.

Sources : https://en.wikipedia  Foto : Sabudi & https://en.wikipedia

Madinah al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia

Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah also known as Taybah and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib is the capital of Medina Province in the Hejaz Region of western Saudi Arabia. It is one of the oldest and most important places in Islamic history. The second holiest city in Islam, the population as of 2022 is 1,411,599, making it the fourth-most populous city in the country. Around 58.5% of the population are Saudi citizens and 41.5% are foreigners. Located at the core of the Medina Province in the western reaches of the country, the city is distributed over 589 km² (227 sq mi), of which 293 km² (113 sq mi) constitutes the city's urban area, while the rest is occupied by the Hejaz Mountains, empty valleys, agricultural spaces and older dormant volcanoes.

Medina is generally considered to be the "cradle of Islamic culture and civilization". The city is considered to be the second-holiest of three key cities in Islamic tradition, with Makkah and Jerusalem serving as the holiest and third-holiest cities respectively. Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (lit. 'The Prophet's Mosque') is of exceptional importance in Islam and serves as burial site of the prophet Muhammad, by whom the mosque was built in 622 CE (first year of the Hijrah). Observant Muslims usually visit his tomb, or rawdhah, at least once in their lifetime during a pilgrimage known as Zirayat, although this is not obligatory. The original name of the city before the advent of Islam was Yathrib and it is referred to by this name in Chapter 33 (Al-Ahzab, lit. 'The Confederates') of the Quran. It was renamed to Madinat an-Nabi (lit. 'City of the Prophet' or 'The Prophet's City') after and later to al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (lit. 'The Enlightened City') before being simplified and shortened to its modern name, Madinah (lit. 'The City'), from which the English-language spelling of "Medina" is derived. Saudi road signage uses Madinah and al-Madinah al-Munawwarah interchangeably.

Source : https://en.wikipedia,  Foto : Sabudi  

The Date Palms

Phoenix dactylifera, commonly known as the date palm, is a flowering-plant species in the palm family Arecaceae, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit called dates. The species is widely cultivated across Northern Africa, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, Australia, South Asia and the desert regions of Southern California in the United States. It is naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. P. dactylifera is the type species of genus Phoenix, which contains 12–19 species of wild date palms.

Date palms reach up to 60–110 feet in height, growing singly or forming a clump with several stems from a single root system. Slow-growing, they can reach over 100 years of age when maintained properly. Date fruits (dates) are oval-cylindrical, 3 to 7 centimetres (1 to 3 inches) long, and about 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, with colour ranging from dark brown to bright red or yellow, depending on variety. Containing 61–68 percent sugar by mass when dried, dates are consumed as sweet snacks on their own or with confections.

There is archaeological evidence of date cultivation in Arabia from the 6th millennium BCE.  Dates are "emblematic of oasis agriculture and highly symbolic in Muslim, Christian, and Jewish religions”.

Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/,  Foto : Sabudi

The Camel

A camel is an even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus that bears distinctive fatty deposits known as "humps" on its back. Camels have long been domesticated and, as livestock, they provide food (camel milk and meat) and textiles (fiber and felt from camel hair). Camels are working animals especially suited to their desert habitat and are a vital means of transport for passengers and cargo. There are three surviving species of camel. The one-humped dromedary makes up 94% of the world's camel population, and the two-humped Bactrian camel makes up 6%. The wild Bactrian camel is a distinct species that is not ancestral to the domestic Bactrian camel, and is now critically endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals.

The word camel is also used informally in a wider sense, where the more correct term is "camelid", to include all seven species of the family Camelidae : the true camels (the above three species), along with the "New World" camelids: the llama, the alpaca, the guanaco, and the vicuna, which belong to the separate tribe Lamini. Camelids originated in North America during the Eocene, with the ancestor of modern camels, Paracamelus, migrating across the Bering land bridge into Asia during the late Miocene, around 6 million years ago.

Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel,  Foto : Sabudi

The Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi

The Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi (Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi) is the diplomatic mission of Indonesia to the Republic of India and also serves as Indonesia's representative to the Kingdom of Bhutan.  Another Indonesian diplomatic office in India is a Consulate General in Mumbai. The current ambassador is Ina Haganingyas Krishnamurthy who was appointed by President Joko Widodo on 17 November 2021.

Indian–Indonesia relations refer to the bilateral relations between India and Indonesia. India and Indonesia are neighbouring countries . India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Indonesia in the Andaman Sea . Relations between the two countries are also almost two thousand years old.

In 1950, Indonesia's first President Sukarno called on the people of Indonesia and India to "intensify the cordial relations" that had existed between the two countries "for more than a thousand years" before they were "interrupted" by colonial powers .  India has an embassy in Jakarta  and Indonesia operates an embassy in Delhi. 

The Embassy of The Republic of Indonesia in New Delhi                      50-A Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 India               Mail : newdelhi.kbri@kemlu.go.id

Source : id.wikipedia.org & kemlu.go.id/newdelhi  Foto : Sabudi & x.com/KBRI_NewDelhiost here

Singapore City

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree of latitude (137 kilometres or 85 miles) north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordering the Strait of Malacca to the west, the Singapore Strait to the south along with the Riau Islands in Indonesia, the South China Sea to the east, and the Straits of Johor along with the State of Johor in Malaysia to the north.

In its early history, Singapore was a maritime emporium known as Temasek; subsequently, it was part of a major constituent part of several successive thalassocratic empires. Its contemporary era began in 1819, when Stamford Raflles established Singapore as an entrepot trading post of the British Empire. In 1867, Singapore came under the direct control of Britain as part of the Straits Settlements. During World War II, Singapore was occupied by Japan in 1942 and returned to British control as a Crown colony following Japan's surrender in 1945. Singapore gained self-governance in 1959 and, in 1963, became part of the new federation of Malaysia, alongside Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak. Ideologi diffenerences

 led to Singapore's expulsion from the federation two years later; Singapore became an independent sovereign country in 1965. After early
years of turbulence and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the nation rapidly developed to become one of the four Asian Tigers.

Source : https:en.wikipedia.org/  Foto : Sabudi

The Nusantara Capital City (IKN)

Nusantara, officially Nusantara Capital City (Indonesian: Ibu Kota Nusantara, abbreviated IKN), will be the capital city of Indonesia. Located on the east coast of the island of Borneo, the city is founded on partial areas of East Kalimantan regencies of Kutai Kartanegara and Penajam North Paser. Nusantara is planned to be a special capital region at the provincial level, replacing Jakarta to save the city from overpopulation and land sinking. Nusantara is adjacent to the port city of Balikpapan, which serves as the main gateway to the new capital.

After being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, construction of the city began in 2022, starting with land clearing and creating access roads. The project is estimated to be worth Rp 523 trillion (US$35 billion) and will be fully finished in five phases until 2045, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Indonesia. Phase 1, known as the "Main Governmental Area" zone, started in August 2022. Around 150,000 to 200,000 workers from around Indonesia participated in this project with an additional workforce around the Nusantara region to ensure the participation of local workers.

By the end of Joko Widodo's presidency, many buildings had been completed such as the State Palace, ministry offices, residential buildings, monuments and parks, as well as projects outside government budget such as hotels, hospitals, and PSSI training center. On 17 August 2024, Indonesia officially celebrated its Independence Day for the first time in Nusantara. Nusantara has attracted tourism, with daily visitors ranging between 3,000 and 5,000. The project continued during the presidency of Prabowo Subianto, who has allocated Rp 48.8 trillion (US$2.98 billion) for Phase 2 and has decided to include Nusantara as one of Indonesia's 2025–2029 National Strategic Projects. The city has an area of 2,561 square kilometres (989 sq mi) and a population of approximately 490,000 people.

Source : https://en.wikipedia.org, Foto : Sabudi