84 Journalists Tour Makkah’s Religious Museums

By

 


By Hadiza Abdulrahman 

In a bid to enhance global understanding of Islamic heritage and scientific achievements, Saudi authorities hosted 84 journalists on a guided tour of Makkah’s most prominent museums.

The tour, organized by the Saudi General Authority of Media Regulation in collaboration with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, featured a curated visit to three key museums: the International Museum of the Prophet’s Biography, the Clock Tower Museum, and the Museum of the Holy Kaaba.

Mohammed Qamerein, a tour guide at the International Museum of the Prophet’s Biography who led the journalists through various sections of the museum, said the initiative aimed to provide them with firsthand insight into Islam’s spiritual, historical, and scientific legacy.


Qamerein said, sharing the knowledge with pilgrims is essential, as learning about the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is a fundamental aspect of understanding Islam.

He said the museum is divided into various sections, including a detailed exhibit on the Prophet’s (PBUH) life, a simulation of his sacred chamber, a 3D model of his migration route, and a section on prophetic medicine.

Other areas highlight his interactions with women, display replicas of his personal belongings, and feature presentations on other prophets.

The museum also includes a timeline of the Prophet’s life, an exhibit on the names and attributes of Allah, and an interactive scientific and cultural hall showcasing over 500 artifacts.


Speaking on the importance of the visit to the museum sites, Zakia Koya, a journalist from Malaysia, described the visit as informative.

Koya said, “I find that this kind of tour is very informative because most of the journalists that come with the media normally don’t have time to do this. They don’t have time to visit and see these places, and you have to pay a lot to enter these places”.

“So, this kind is very informative especially because most of the journalists, we are busy covering only the pilgrims and then we are going back with the stories of the pilgrims of our countries and most of us might not know the history.

“But I wish there were more instructiveness in the museums which allows us to touch, to feel, to hear, to listen, you know, rather than just one way.


“But it has been very interesting to see a lot, putting all the media together, to see that media from all over the world coming to visit the museums. Although some of the things are just replicates, but it gives an insight into what Makkah is and was.” he noted.

Another journalist from Turkey, Esra Hacioglu, said the visit was impressive and helped journalists to see Makkah’s environment as it was.

According to Hacioglu, it is a perfect chance to see this kind of old stories in a new technological way.







The International Museum of the Prophet’s Biography was inaugurated in 2021and became operational 2024 to focus on the life, character, and teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

While Clock Tower Museum focuses on the timekeeping, astronomy, and science, especially in relation to Islamic practices like prayer timing and moon sighting.



The Clock Tower Museum in Makkah, located within the iconic Abraj Al Bait complex, offers a unique blend of scientific exploration, historical insight, and panoramic views of the holy city.

Journalists were also given a tour of the third phase of the Makkah Grand Mosque expansion recognized as the largest and most advanced development in the mosque’s history, the expansion aims to enhance capacity and improve facilities for millions of worshippers.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Water Scarcity Threatens Maternal Health in FCT Communities

By
Image
  A woman washing at a stream in Wassa IDP Camp in the FCT. Photo: Hadiza Abdulrahman Nigeria faces significant challenges in guaranteeing the human right to water for its population. A 2022 World Bank report reveals that  60 million  Nigerians lacked access to basic drinking water, and in 2021, over 100 million lacked basic sanitation. This deficiency leads to waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid, causing millions of deaths annually, especially among children under five.  women and girls are disproportionately affected , spending hours collecting water and facing risks, leaving them little or no time for education, work, or other activities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Maternal health is also severely impacted, with expectant and new mothers facing increased risks without clean water. In Takushara, Abuja, young girls collecting water from a canal. Photo: Hadiza Abdulrahman TAKUSHARA In Abuja, the nation’s capital, some commun...
Read more

UN, Media Executives Sign MoU to advance Gender Equality

By
Image
Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative in Nigeria The UN Women in Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding  with several media organizations in Abuja to advance gender equality and women's empowerment.  On September 8, media executives from the southern part of the country signed a similar undertaking in Lagos. Ms. Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women representative in Nigeria, noted that the meeting presents an opportunity to examine and explore opportunities where the media could make impact in addressing challenges faced by women and girls. She pointed out  that the MoU would provide a framework for collaboration and collaboration to strengthen partnership in escalating media advocacy to promote women's economic empowerment, prevention of violence against women and girls and increasing women's representation and leadership along humanitarian, development and peace nexus. "Media is a tool that has been used over time in educating the society and accelerati...
Read more

Experts Advocate Increased Women Leadership in Biodiversity

By
Image
  Hadiza Abdulrahman  Experts have advocated increased inclusion of women’s leadership in biodiversity to strengthen sustainable and effective conservation strategies. This was the focus of a roundtable on Women and Biodiversity Leadership, held under the Scientific Diplomacy Programme organized by the Embassy of Spain and the Spanish Cooperation Office in Nigeria, with support from the European Union. The roundtable on women’s leadership in biodiversity highlighted the crucial role of women in biodiversity conservation and discussed strategies to close the gender gap in biodiversity science. It also explored innovative approaches to integrating gender considerations into biodiversity policies.  They called on stakeholders to address gender inequalities and ensure women's full participation in the sector, while also urging the government to provide adequate funding, inclusive policy development processes, strengthening network for knowledge sharing, enhance access t...
Read more