The Prophet's Mosque here is geared up to receive millions of visitors this Umrah season, according to Abdul Wahid Bin Ali Al-Hattab, Director of Media and Public Relations in the Presidency of Two Holy Mosques' Affairs. The official said a 2,800-strong workforce consisting of engineers, technicians, and skilled and unskilled laborers has been pressed into service to provide facilities for the visitors. Although visiting Madina is not part of the Umrah rituals, pilgrims invariably come here to pray at the Prophet's Mosque, offer salutations to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and visit other historical places. With the start of the Umrah season, the Prophet's Mosque and its adjoining plazas are totally crowded these days. With the recent expansion, the Prophet's Mosque can now accommodate about a million people. The government has provided a huge air conditioning plant about seven kilometers from the mosque that controls the temperature in the Holy Haram. Cool air from extra large compressors in the plant is brought to the mosque through a specially built tunnel. The mosque has 21 underground tanks regularly supplying Zamzam water. Tankers coming from Makkah supply 200 tons of Zamzam on a daily basis and it is distributed by 1,000 workmen in 7,000 thermoses placed around the mosque. The management supplies sterilized glasses and cleaners work round-the-clock to replace used glasses and make the place neat and clean, said Al-Hattab. The first floor of the Prophet's Mosque has six two-way electronically operated stairs for worshippers. The management has earmarked two places for women – one on the west of the mosque and the other on the east. These two places accommodate more than 50,000 women and they have been provided with separate toilets. The mosque has about 1,000 movable chairs for the disabled and every gate has a ramp. There are 85 gates manned by 400 guards who work 24/7 in shifts. Women are allowed entry close to the Prophet's grave after Isha prayers till midnight and after Fajr prayers till about 10.30 A.M. This arrangement provides women with complete privacy and a portion of Riyadh Al-Jannah is also reserved for them during their visiting hours. Al-Hattab further said the management has appointed religious scholars to inform visitors about Islam and how to perform their prayers and other duties enacted in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). These scholars give sermons in small groups at 11.30 A.M, after Asr prayers and in between Maghrib and Isha prayers. Similarly, women scholars give sermons on different aspects of Islam. These sermons are given in various languages, such as Arabic, Urdu, Malay, etc. Al-Hattab added that as per the directives of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, several electronically operated sunshades have been provided in the open plazas on three sides of the mosque.
