Nawab Muhammad Ali Wallajah, Nawab of the Carnatic (1749 1795 A.D.) had purchased lands and constructed Rubats (Lodging) which are now known as the Arcot Wakf, in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the benefit of the pilgrims, especially from South India.
This original wakf property was acquired by the Saudi authorities in 1986 and a compensation was awarded out of which a new 7-storeyed building ,was purchased in 1989. To this day, a number of pilgrims take advantage of the benefit offered to them by the present Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, who is the direct descendant of Nawab Muhammad Ali Wallajah.
During the ruling period of Nawab Wallajah, he had his own permanent staff stationed at Makkah and Madinah in the Hijaz in Arabia for the distribution of charity to the poor there. The Nawab supplied a ladder covered with gold and silver at Makkah to enable the pilgrims get into the precincts of the Kaa'ba during the Haj. He provided carpets and lights to the Holy Prophet's Mosque in Madinah (Masjid-e-Nabavi).
Nawab Wallajah purchased two ships, "Safinathullah" and "Safinathun Nabi" for commerce and trade, but they were mainly used for transporting Haj pilgrims from South India. So long as Nawab Amir-ul-Ulnra, Nawab Wallajah's second son lived, his charities poured into Makkah and Madinah without reserve.
Even today the same family, who were sent to the Holy Lands are looking after the Arcot Wakf at Makkah as 'Nazirs' (Caretakers) and the present descendant of the original Nazirs, Mr. Mohammed Ahamed Ibrahim Saab is looking after the 'Arcot Wakf', at Makkah. https://princeofarcot.org/contributions.html
Tales of the Nawabs of Arcot
This was a Sunday when a bunch of history enthusiasts from all age groups got together to learn about the Arcot Nawabs. Organised by Kombai S Anwar, an academic and Tamil documentary filmmaker, this tour took the assembled crowd on a heritage tour of Triplicane in a van to unexplored nooks where Nawabs once walked...
Anwar, whose documentary film, Yaadhum, based on the history and cultural identity of Tamil Muslims, won the Bronze Remi Award at the 48th WorldFest-Houston International Film and Video Festival, USA, has been conducting this trail for the past six years now.
He begins this tour with an elaborate story of how, when, why and under what circumstances the Nawabs moved to Madras. The participants then hop into a van; the first stop is Chepauk Palace.
And Anwar explains how the prolonged siege of the Senji Fort by the Mughal Army led to the camps developing into a township, which eventually became Arcot. When the Mughal rule started to decline by the 1740s, the Nawabs almost became independent rulers. “Those days, the palace was spread over a quite a large portion — the northern boundary was on the Cooum River, and the southern one led to the Presidency College; on the east was the sea and towards the west, the land where the Chepauk Stadium, also known as MA Chidambaram Stadium, stands today, was also a part of the palace.
The palace had two wings — the northern wing is called Humayun Mahal and the southern, the Kalas Mahal. The place where the Madras University stands today was where the bathing pavilion of the Nawab was. Unbelievable as it may sound today, back then, the Walajah used to bathe in the Cooum,” explains Anwar, and adds, “It is believed that an engineer from the East India Company (EIC), Paul Benfield, was given the contract for building the palace. The term ‘Kalas Mahal’ was probably given due to the kalasam-like structure.”
As we enter Wallajah Road, Anwar tells us how what used to be the langar khana (community kitchen) has now become Triplicane Police Station. And diagonally opposite, on the left, is the Mohammedan Public Library, which was started in 1850 at the behest of an Englishman, Edward Balfour, who was EIC agent to the Nawab. “The Walajah Road connects to the gate in Fort St George and was named after Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah by the Britishers. In the 1760s, Nawab Muhammad Ali moved to Madras for safety reasons. He bought land in Chepauk and built a palace, which was the official residence of the Nawab of Arcot till 1855,” says Anwar.
Our next stop is the Walajah Mosque, also known as the Triplicane Big Mosque. “When Walajah moved here, he felt there should be a state mosque. During Ramzan, Muslims would break their day-long fast with the nonbu kanji served by the Sindhi community. This tradition is believed to have been established by Muhammed Ali Khan Walajah. As we leave the mosque, we pass by what used to be known as Shadi Mahal, where the Nawab’s family moved after the death of the last Nawab, Ghulam Ghouse Khan, in 1855, when the British took over the Chepauk Palace in lieu of the Carnatic debts.
The next stop is Amir Mahal, the present-day residence of the Nawab of Arcot, Mohammed Abdul Ali and Dewan to Prince of Arcot, Nawabzada Mohammed Asif. The trail then moves on to Kapaleeswarar Temple, to look at the temple tank.
The Arcot palace represents the beginning of Indo-Saracenic architecture in India, and it is also considered to be forerunner to the other monuments constructed by British elsewhere in the country.
This tour took the Triplicane High Road, went to Walajah Mosque, Masjid-e-Anwari. Amir Mahal, Dastageer Saheb Dargha on Natesan Road, and finally, the Kapaleeswarar Temple Tank, which Nawab Walajah helped enlarge.
The langar khana (community kitchen) was meant to feed poor people. Interestingly, casteism existed even back then. The langar khana only had a Brahmin as a cook because food prepared by them was considered unpolluted and acceptable by every community. SOURCE
Due to the world war people performing Haj has dropped drastically in the past 4 - 5 years. As a result the income of the Arabs dependent on this income and living in the hijaas areas particularly surrounding Makkah and Madhina has plummeted. They are suffering.
On learning about the hardship we at Colombo have formed a Makkah Madhina panja nivarana committee (Makkah Madhina Famine rehabilitation committee) and have raised Rs.71,832/81.
People from 86 places including Colombo contributed to this endeavour.
We had remitted two TTs, Rs.50,000/- and Rs.20,000/- in all a total of Rs.70,000/- through Colombo Eastern Bank to HH Sulthan Abdul Azeez Ibn Saud, the King. He had accepted the contribution and have thanked the donors.
The head of this committee is Dr.M.C.M. Khaleel MSc. Secretary P.S.Abdul Kader, office at 163 second cross street, Colombo.
An effort by Colombo, Keelai, Kayal and other traders in Colombo.
Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali
Heir Apparent and Dewan to the Prince of Arcot
Born in the Royal House of Arcot, Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali is the eldest son His Highness the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali. He lives in the city of Chennai in India in his ancestral historic Amir Mahal. He is the Heir-Apparent to the present Prince of Arcot and his Dewan with several responsibilities to his title.
He hails from the lineage of Nawabs and Princes who were the sovereign rulers of the Carnatic region, which covered much of South India. Today, the Prince of Arcot continues to enjoy certain special privileges, honours and courtesies accorded to him by the Government of India, since 1870. The title is also accorded a very high protocol by the Government Protocol in the Warrant of Precedence, under Article 15-A, and his rank is on par with State Cabinet Ministers.
The Nawabzada administers his ancestral Endowments, known as "The Prince of Arcot Endowments", and maintains several mosques in the State of Tamil Nadu. The administration of these Endowments is governed by the Madras Act II of 1923. He also manages the Wakfs in the holy city of Makkah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, known as 'Arcot Wakf', which arranges the stay and arrangements of the pilgrims from India. He was nominated by the State Government to be a member of the Tamil Nadu State Haj Committee.
On many occasions, the Nawabzada, along with the Prince of Arcot, was the Royal Guest of His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia, during his visits to the Kingdom.
Many dignitaries and diplomats, including Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Consuls General, Chiefs of Defense Forces, Religious Heads and Leaders from across the globe, have honoured the Prince of Arcot by visiting his ancestral Amir Mahal.
He is a well known committed philanthropist, involved in many social, cultural and religious institutions in the country. He is a non-political and non-communal person like his forefathers. He is the Founder-Member of 'Harmony India', a registered Association formed in 1990, by the Prince of Arcot, to promote communal amity, secularism and national integration in the country.
He is the Vice-Chairman of Prince of Arcot Holdings (India) Private Limited. He also heads ‘Foxtek India’, a software development company. He is the Founder of ‘Arcot Foundation’, an organisation which supports the less privileged people with their basic needs. He is a Patron-Member of the Carnatic Family Association, which mainly works on helping the needy people of the Carnatic, especially in the education sector, by way of distributing scholarships.
He is a motivational speaker and delivers inspirational talks in various institutions and organisations in their development programs. He is an educationist and shares knowledge by way of organising competitive academic programs for schools, colleges, consulates, corporates and various organizations in the country. He is a sports enthusiast himself and conducts various sports events on a competitive level. He is also the President of the Darts Association of the State of Tamil Nadu.
As his passion, he is a Pianist and a composer himself and scores music at his personal professional studio at Amir Mahal. He is a patron of art and literature and is an artist himself. SOURCE
Born in the Royal House of Arcot, on the 9th August, 1951, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali Azim Jah is the eldest son of the Nawab Ghulam Mohammed Abdul Khader Azim Jah, the late Prince of Arcot and lives in the historic palace of his ancestors, 'Amir Mahal', in Royapettah in the city of Chennai (Madras), India.
His Highness, the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali Azim Jah, is one of the premier citizens of our country. Carrying on his family tradition, The Prince of Arcot enjoys more than a title and enormous prestige. He was the Sherriff of Chennai (then Madras) for two terms, from 1984-1985 and again from 1988-1989. He is recognised by the Government as the 'First Nobleman' in the Muslim community of south India.
His Highness is decendant of second Caliph of Islam, Hazrath Umar ibnu Khathab (Ral) and bears noble character and pleasant disposition. Our Prince is a man with sympathetic attitude who strives hard in the upliftment of the downtrodden, disabled, sick, illiterate, destitute and needy people in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere by associating himself in various service organizations like Lions Club, Red Cross Society & Anjuman etc.
He is a well known committed social activist, involved in many social, cultural and religious institutions in the country. He is a non-political and non-communal person like his forefathers.
He is the founder secretary-general of Harmony India, (founded-1990) an association to promote communal amity, secularism and National Integration. Through this organization His Highness and other members brought considerable attitudinal changes among the people of different community in Tamil Nadu. They helped to wipe off ill feelings, hatred and misunderstanding among them and succeeded considerably in bringing about better understanding and cordial relationship between them by conducting meetings, seminars and get-together etc. Thus they achieved the aim of our nation, “Unity In Diversity”. In short we may proudly call our Nawab Sahib as the Champion of Communal Harmony.
The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India had nominated His Highness Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali as a Jury Member of the National Foundation for Communal Harmony, an organisation established by the Central Government, Ministry of Home Affairs.
His tireless efforts, energetic actions and positive thinking brought many changes for the betterment in the life of poor and helpless people whenever and wherever any natural calamity occurs and shatters their normal life miserably. Unlike others His Highness participate actively in the projects, seminars and all kind of social activities conducted or convened by the organizations in which he is a member.
Through the Arcot Wakf at Makkah, His Highness is doing yeomen service to the Haj Pilgrims in many a way. It is a pleasure to note that Arcot Wakf is a house hold name among the people of Tamil Nadu. Every Haji who stays there feels homely and comfortable. Though it is a bit far, it is a pleasure to walk through the tunnel from Wakf to Haram and always have the satisfaction of entering Haram by Babussalaam Gate.
When the Saudi Government took over all the Wakfs of India at Makkah and Madhina, our Prince took pain, effort and used his good rapport with the King of Saudi Arabia to retain the Wakf. Alhamdulillah.
On many occasions, the Prince was the Royal Guest of His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia, during his visits to the kingdom. He was nominated as the Deputy Leader of the Indian Goodwill Haj Delegation by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, in the year 1997 and 1998.
He enjoys a rank equivalent to that of state cabinet ministers and is officially recognised by His Excellency 'The President of India' as The "His Highness The Prince of Arcot".
The State Governor and the Tamil Nadu Government have nominated His Highness Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali as a member in many high-level State committees. He is the Vice-Chairman, Tamil Nadu Government Urdu Academy. He is the State Chief Scout for Tamil Nadu Branch of the All India Boys Scouts Association and an active member of the Lions Club of Marina Beach, Lion's International District 324-AI. The Prince has been the recipient of many awards for this social service, including the National Unity Award from His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu on many occasions. He was the recipient of "For the Sake of Honour" award from the Rotary Club. SOURCE
The Nizam's Rubath is an accommodation building for pilgrims coming to the Mecca. It was purchased by the Nizam for the people of Hyderabad State.In 2017, a total of 3,400 pilgrims were selected for free accommodation.
Located about 2 km from the Grand Mosque of Mecca, the Rubaath now comes under the "AWQAF (Endowment) Committee" of The H.E.H. the Nizam's Charitable Trust.
History
Originally there were 42 Rubath buildings purchased in 1860 by V th Nizam, Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V for the people of Hyderabad State, but only a couple are left after the expansion of the grand mosque of Mecca.
With the massive expansion of Makkah's Grand Mosque, the 140-year-old Rubath today comprises only three buildings, containing 500 rooms that can accommodate a minimum of about 1200 people. The people who use the facilities of Rubaths do not have to pay any fee.
Pilgrims from the erstwhile Nizam's dominion (Hyderabad State) were accepted here. This would translate to today's Telangana, Marathwada and Hyderabad Karnataka regions who can apply for the Rubath accommodation. Since there is a great demand for accommodation during the Hajj season, the pilgrims are selected through a draw of applicants.
It is located in Ibrahim Al Khaleel Street, Al Misfalah in Mecca. It has capacity for nearly 500 people
The Rulers of Hyderabad State had purchased late in 12th Century Hijri in their names and in the name of their family member dear and near , some immovable properties in Makkah al Mukarrama for the benefit and convenience of the pilgrims coming to the Holy Place from Hyderabad for Haj, Umrah and Ziarath.
As Known from the date of purchase, these properties were being used for the accommodation of pilgrims coming from Hyderabad .These properties were never used for personal purposes of the founders.
Since more than 100 years these properties were being utilized for the same purpose.
These properties were first purchased during the regime of the Ruler of Hyderabad The Nizam V , Nawab Afzaluddaoula Bahadur.
As per the declaration made by H.E.H. Nawab Mir Barkath Ali Khan Mukarram Jah Bahadur it was confirmed that these are waqfs and solely dedicated to provide accommodations to pilgrims coming from Hyderabad
On 24th Safar 1400 A.H.(Corresponding to 13JAN1980 A.D.) Mr Mohammed Mudar Hussain Al Shareef also known as Shareef Mohammed Advocate; a Saudi National ,Shareef e Makkah and Legal Advisor to Petroleum Minister in Riyadh was appointed as "Nazer of the Waqf " .He served the Rubath for a period of 30 yrs out of which 16 Yrs he served as official Nazer until his Demise on 26th Dul Haj 1416 A.H. (Corresponding to 13MAY1996 A.D.)
On 29th Moharram 1417A.H. (Corresponding to 16JUN1996 A.D.) , Mr. Hussain Mohammed Mudar Hussain Al Shareef A Top Executive in Saudi Airlines Catering at Jeddah King Abdulaziz Internation Airport and also son of Late Shareef Mohammed Advocate was appointed as Nazer by the Royal Court of Makkah Al Mukarrama with a support from Co-Nazer ,Sheikh Yousef Awad Al Ahmadi and both have been serving the Rubath ever since providing Accomodation for Haj , Umra and Ziarath for pilgrims coming from Hyderabad and staying comfortably in these Rubaths free of any charges. During Hajj 1436(h) / 2015(g) apart from free accommodation - Free Food was also provided to 600 Pilgrims.
"As my father always said - Providing Comfort to the Guest of Allah is an account for Aakherath..." Nazer/ Hussain Mohammed Al Shareef son of Shareef Mohammed Advocate.
Nizam States - 1909
Eligibility – Who can apply?
Any one from the NIZAM STATE i.e from the below
listed place of birth and residence.
1.Adilabad - Telangana
2.Hyderabad - Telangana
3.Mahbubnagar - Telangana
4.Medak - Telangana
5.Nalgonda - Telangana
6.Nizamabad - Telangana
7.Karimnagar - Telangana
8.Warangal - Telangana
9.Ranga Reddy - Telangan. a
10. Khammam - Telangana
Kindly Note for administrative reason the above 10 Nizam State Regions from Telangana has been officially expanded to 31 Districts as below by the Government of Telangana.
1 Adilabad - Telangana
2 Mancherial - Telangana
3 Nirmal - Telangana
4 Komaran bheem Asifabad - Telangana
5 Karimnagar - Telangana
6 Jagtial - Telangana
7 Peddapalli - Telangana
8 Rajanna Sircilla - Telangana
9 Nizamabad - Telangana
10 Kamareddy - Telangana
11 Warangal Urban - Telangana
12 Warangal Rural - Telangana
13 (Jayashankar) Bhupalpally - Telangana
14 Jangaon - Telangana
15 Mahabubabad - Telangana
16 Khammam - Telangana
17 Bhadradri Kothagudem - Telangana
18 Medak - Telangana
19 Sangareddy - Telangana
20 Siddipet - Telangana
21 Mahabubnagar - Telangana
22 Wanaparthy - Telangana
23 Nagarkurnool - Telangana
24 Jogulamba Gajwel - Telangana
25 Nalgonda - Telangana
26 Suryapet - Telangana
27 Yadadri Bhuvanagiri - Telangana
28 Vikarabad - Telangana
29 Medchal - Telangana
30 Rangareddy - Telangana
31 Hyderabad - Telangana
Bidar - Karnataka
Gulbarga - Karnataka
Raichur - Karnataka
Yadgir - Karnataka
Osmanabad - Maharashtra
Aurangabad - Maharashtra
Beed - Maharashtra
Nanded - Maharashtra
Parbhani - Maharashtra
Latur/Udgir - Maharashtra
Hinjoli - Maharashtra
Jalna - Maharashtra
Hussain Mohammed Al Shareef
Nazer Rubath Nizam Hyderabad
ANY QUERIES ARE WELCOME AT RUBATH DEDICATED NUMBER:-
00966534892637 - Rubath Mobile
00966125306900 – Rubath Office
Address :
3082 , At Taqwa Street
Makkah - Behind Bank Al Rajhi
Saudi Arabia
THE OFFICIAL E-MAIL OF RUBATH NIZAM HYDERABAD
admin@hrubath.org
nazer@hrubath.org
Nizam States - 1909
The Saudi Connection Of The Ruler
Of An Erstwhile Indian Princely State
By loovinsaudi December 14, 2021
The Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan, was the richest man in the world (basically the Jeff Bezos of the early 20th century). Photos of him with King Saud have resurfaced on some expat groups. We dug deeper on this and we did find some interesting connections. Read on.
One of the oldest records linking the monarch of Hyderabad with the Hejaz comes from Osman Ali Khan’s ancestor, Afzal Ud Daulah, who was the 5th nizam. Afzal Ud Daulah bought properties in Makkah and Madinah to house his state’s pilgrims. These properties were called Rubath and lodging for pilgrims was provided here for free. This was back in the 19th century.
Subsequent Nizams of Hyderabad added to these properties with some being walking distance from the Great Mosque in Makkah. At one point in time, it is said the Nizam of Hyderabad owned up to 30 properties in Makkah alone.
However, not all these properties survive though as many were acquired by the Saudi government for expansion works on the Two Holy Mosques.
To this day, there is a Rubath in Makkah that is open for pilgrims as has been the case for over a century and lodging continues to be provided for free.
Many of the erstwhile nobility of India like the Nawab of Arcot also had rubaths built in the two Holy cities but unlike them, Hyderabad’s connection with Saudi Arabia was deeper.
Osman Ali Khan is said to have installed a new electric plant and lights at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. The letters containing the original proposal by the Nizam are on display at the India Office.
The letters show his intent to send his Chief Engineer,
Nawab Ahsan Yar Jung, to Madinah to oversee the project.
In the 1950s, King Saud paid a visit to Hyderabad to meet with the Nizam, who had previously been one of the largest benefactors to the Holy Mosques’ construction projects.
King Saud Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia with HEH The Nizam of
Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan travelling to Falaknuma Palace
A huge banquet was held in a hilltop palace called the Falaknuma in King Saud’s honor.
HEH Nizam with King Saud of #SaudiArabia during
their tour to #Hyderabad #Telangana @HiHyderabad SOURCE
Today in Hyderabad, there’s a sprawling complex of shops in the older part of the city called the Madinah Building. All rent that was generated from this building was donated to the residents of Madinah and hence the name.
King Saud was presented with a model of the structure on his trip to Hyderabad by the Alaudin Family who were the main benefactors of the building.
Placed in front of H. Majesty is a silver model of Madina Building of
Hyderabad which was presented to H. Majesty. SOURCE
Eventually, all expansion and maintenance works of the Two Holy Mosques were directly funded by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. This practice has continued to this very day.
Nizam Auqaf Wants New Properties at MeccaPublished Sep 8, 2017,
Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan
Hyderabad: The Nizam Auqaf Committee has asked the Saudi Arabia government to give new properties as a replacement for the Rubath properties which were acquired by the Saudi government during expansion works it had carried out in Mecca and Madina.
The fifth Nizam, Afzalud Dawlah Bahadur had bought the properties in Mecca and Madina to provide accommodation for the pilgrims from the Hyderabad State. The practice still continues with the Nizam Auqaf Committee accepting online applications and through a draw selecting the beneficiaries.
Many buildings, however, were razed during the last two decades due to the expansion of the Masjid Al Haram or the Grand Mosque in Mecca. At least three properties were acquired during the developmental works in the holy city of Madina.
“There is a policy in Saudi Arabia to compensate any property acquired for developmental works with another property valued to the same extent as the one taken over. So we are asking for properties and not compensation so as to benefit a large number of pilgrims from the erstwhile Hyderabad State,” said Mr M.A. Faiz Khan, Trustee, Auqaf Committee HEH the Nizam.
He said that Prince Mukaramjah Bahadur, grandson of Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan, who is now staying in Turkey, had also expressed his intention of seeking property to benefit more pilgrims during their visit to Saudi Arabia for the Haj pilgrimage or the Umra pilgrimage.
Around 5,000 odd pilgrims from the erstwhile Hyderabad State are now spread over Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra and go for the Haj pilgrimage.
“Our plan is to accommodate almost all the pilgrims from the erstwhile Hyderabad State in the Nizam Rubath. We are going to hold talks soon and will identify the buildings,” said Mr Faiz Khan. There are also reports of the Rubath facility being extended to pilgrims going for the Umra. “We have no official communication regarding it. But are following it up with the Saudi government and hope to get a positive reply,” said Mr Faiz Khan.
In Haj 2017, a total of 1,153 pilgrims (568 pilgrims from Telangana, 450 from Maharashtra and 117 from Karnataka) were provided accommodation at Rubath. They were provided food too which was free of cost.
Return gift
The Auqaf Committee Nizam will select buildings which are close to the Grand Mosque.At Madina city one big building will be sought as compensation for acquiring three Rubath buildings.A total of 1,153 pilgrims were accommodated in the Rubath buildings in Mecca during Haj 2017.
Accommodation is provided free of cost for pilgrims from Telangana and some districts of Karnataka and Maharashtra which were part of the erstwhile Hyderabad State.
SOURCE
A pilgrim who stays in Rubat saves Rs 44,000 and enjoys the full of Deccani environment in the holy city.
Asaf Jahi dynasty of Nizam almost faded away with time and many people of this generation do not know much about them. But, Nizam Nawabs are still remembered by Haj pilgrims from Telangana and other parts of the erstwhile Hyderabad State through Rubat in Makkah in Saudi Arabia, where State pilgrims still stay free of cost as Nizam guests.
Otherwise, the cost of accommodation comprises a larger portion of Haj expenditure. Besides Nizams of Hyderabad, Nawabs of Bhopal, Arcot and Tonk also have similar facilities in Makkah and Madina for pilgrims of their erstwhile princely States.
Though none of the Nizam Nawabs performed Haj they had built the facility (Rubat). It was the fifth Nizam Afzal ud Daula, who procured properties in Makkah and Madinah, which was continued by his successors and well maintained by last Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan.
The Rubats were private properties of Nizam, known as Sarf-e-Qas, but it belonged to Nawab Mir Barkat Ali Khan, commonly known as Prince Mukarram Jah, grandson of Mir Osman Ali Khan and was anointed the Nizam of Hyderabad, who made these Rubats as Waqf only for Haj pilgrims. Prince Mukrram Jah is the ‘Mutawalli’ of the Rubat and also other endowments of Nizam family.
None of the Rubats, which were built by Nizams, exist in Makkah. All of these vanished over the course of time with the development of the holy city and expansion of the grand mosque. One of the Rubat was relocated to Misfalah long ago.
Like many other properties of Nizam, Rubat is also entangling legal issues among stakeholders yet it is continuing to provide free inn facility for Telangana pilgrims.
Nizam Auqaf Committee (NAC) in Hyderabad and its caretaker in Makkah known as Nazer, Husain Al Shareef, were at loggerheads and running the feud for the last few years over the control. As a result, pilgrims were in a state of confusion and were facing difficulties in the past as both Nazer and NAC both held separate draw of lots to accommodate Hajis.
However, it was the Telangana government which managed to conduct draw in Hyderabad to select pilgrims for the free accommodation.
A pilgrim who stays in Rubat saves Rs 44,000 and enjoys the Deccani environment in the holy city. The capacity of Rubat was only 264 till two years ago in its old building at Mansour Street, however, the capacity has been increased to 1,283 this year by renting two other buildings.
“We are fulfilling the responsibility of providing maximum comfort to pilgrims during their stay in Makkah,” said Rubat Nazer, Mohammed Hussain Al Shareef. All rooms in these three facilities have modern facilities with well-maintained housekeeping services round the clock, he said.
Hussain Shareef added that in addition to Hyderabadi cuisine and famous Deccani tea, Rubat is also offering free Wi-Fi service. Besides, wheel chair and laundry services, Rubat is also offering free bus transportation to pilgrims to Haram, he said.
Hyderabad: The incharge of the Rubath accommodation facility in Makkah Rubath Hussain Al Shareef in an email on Thursday informed the Telangana Haj committee that the accommodation facility will not be available for Hujjaj this year.
Al Shareef informed that the government of Saudi Arabia has not issued a permit for the accommodation of Hujjaj this year as the building has gone under demolition process.
Rubath is an accommodation building for pilgrims coming to Makkah. It was purchased by the Nizam for the people of Hyderabad State. It is located in Ibrahim Al Khaleel Street, Al Misfalah in Makkah. It had a capacity of nearly 1200 people.
In the absence of this accommodation facility, the cost of the Telangana Hujjaj will go up further as they have to pay for their accommodation in addition to other expenses.
Nizam’s legacy of Rubaaths
still thrives in Makkah
Dr Mohammed Najeeb Shahzore
The Nizams of Hyderabad were known for their philanthropy. It is well documented that Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Seventh Nizam, donated generously for the propogation of knowledge in India. Among a long list of his donations his financial assistance for the publication of Mahabharatha and development of Benares Hindu University stand out. The Asaf Jahs also contributed greatly to the service of pilgrims who travelled to the Muslim holy city of Makkah.
Sometime in the late 1850s, the then Nizam V, Nawab Mir Tahniyath Ali Khan who is otherwise known as Afzal Ud Daula, decided to purchase land close to the Masjid Al-Haram or the Grand Mosque in Makkah. A school for the locals was set up along with over 40 lodges constructed for pilgrims coming from the Nizam’s Dominion for the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage. They are known as Rubaaths (from Arabic meaning places to stay).
Located about 2 km from the Grand Mosque the Rubaath came under the Awqaf (Endowment) Committee of The Nizam’s Charitable Trust. The Chairman of this trust is Prince Barkath Ali Khan or Mukarram Jah. His title now has changed as Mutawalli of the Rubaath. The prince had visited the Rubaath some years ago where he reaffirmed his personal commitment and that of the Nizam’s Trust for the service of the pilgrims. Prior to his ascension, the Rubaaths were private property of the Nizam under the Sarf-e-Khas or the Private Estate. He brought it under the Nizam’s Charitable Trust in 1967.
With the massive expansion of Makkah’s Grand Mosque, the 140 year old Rubaath today comprises 3 buildings in all containing 500 rooms that can accommodate over 1200 people. The people who avail the facility of Rubaths do not have to pay any fee. Pilgrims from the erstwhile Nizam’s dominion are accepted here. That means the travelers from Telangana, Marathwada and the Hyderabad Karnataka. Since there is great demand for accommodation during the Hajj season, the pilgrims are selected through a draw of applicants.
The Rubaaths are managed by a Naazer or Administrator that is selected by the Royal Court at Makkah. The current Naazer is Mr Hussain Al-Shareef with Sheikh Yusuf Al-Ahmadi. The Nizam’s Trust is working to get few more buildings for the Rubaath so that up to 5000 pilgrims can be accommodated without having to go through a draw process.
Rubath Nizam Hyderabad,
Ibrahim Khaleel Road, Misfallah,
Makkah Mukarama
Why Telangana State Wakf Board is unable to collect rent at Hyd’s Madina market
The Telangana State Wakf Board is mandated to collect the rent, however, the rent is being collected by the Mecca Madina Alladin Wakf. Mithun MK Friday, August 31, 2018 - 19:38
Why Telangana State Wakf Board is unable to collect rent at Hyds Madina market
Shopkeeper tenants at the Madina market at Pathergatti next to Charminar are a confused lot as far as paying rent is concerned. The responsibility for collecting rent rests with the Telangana State Wakf Board (TSWB) but the rent from the property is still being collected by the Mecca Madina Alladin Wakf (MMAW), a trust. The trust had been collecting money from tenants from the time the properties were built, up until 2016, when the court intervened.
However, most of the 600-700 odd tenants at the two properties, the Nabi Khana Moulvi Akbar complex and the Mecca Madina Wakf building, still pay rent to the trust. While some of the tenants pay rent to either TSWB or MMAW, a few pay rent to both.
Karim who has been a tenant for over 40 years at the market is one such shopkeeper who pays rent to both, TSWB and MMAW. “Why to displease both? If the control of the property changes hands tomorrow, it's better to be on the safe side.” Karim is able to afford paying rent to both entities due to the low amounts.
A few others like S Aleem have stopped paying rent altogether, “I will pay rent when the issue has been resolved.”
The tussle between the two Wakf boards dates back several decades.
The two buildings in question were built by Nawab Ali Nawaz Jung Bahadur who was the chief engineer during the Nizam’s rule in Hyderabad.
The orders for construction of the buildings were issued in 1944 by the then Nizam. The purpose of the buildings was to send part of the rents collected for the poor in Madina, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed Nawar Jung was the muthawalli (trustee of a religious building) of these properties. However, after his death in 1954, the position of the muthawalli fell vacant. The Wakf Board too then did not pay attention to the matter.
But in a 1989 gazette notification, the MMWT was named custodian of the said properties but without the sanction of the TSWB or the Central Wakf Board (CWB).Both, the Telangana Department of Minorities Welfare and the CWB had in the past sent memos to the TSWB to take legal and criminal action against the trust in 2015 but action was taken only in 2016.
The MMWT is presently headed by Habeeb Alladin, who is the self-appointed muthawalli. The TSWB had initiated criminal proceedings against him in 2016 and then again in 2018, the cases are still ongoing. Habeeb Alladin could not be reached for comment.
Shahnawaz Qasim, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TSWB is optimistic that the issue will be resolved in five years. “Some of the tenants are approaching us but if all of them approach, there will be no more litigation and we will be able to move forward. The trust is misleading the tenants, but they will slowly realise that they have to come to us. At present, the rent collection from these two properties are next to nothing.”
The official is of the view that the tenants don’t want the property to be managed by the TSWB as the rents are really low under the MMAW. “The main issue is that the tenants don't want to come to us. The rents are as low as Rs 100 and Rs 200 for a prime property and it’s the community that loses from this arrangement. These rates have to be revised to current market and government rates,” the TSWB CEO added.
Some of the tenants still pay rent to the MMWT as they have maintained the rent at very low levels. The rent for most the shops at the two properties range anywhere between Rs 100 to Rs 4,000.
M Rahmath Ali Zafar, president of the Mecca Madina Alladin Wakf shopkeepers Association is ready to pay rent to the TSWB but is afraid that if the rents are collected as per market rates, many of the tenants will be unable to afford those rates. “If you set the standard of Banjara Hills for this locality, how will we pay rent? The people who sell goods here are poor, the people who buy here are also poor. The TSWB officials do not know how to run the board, one day they say the rent will be 500% more than what we pay now and another day they say the rent will be double than what we pay. Both these ideas of theirs have been shot down in court in the past,” he says.
The TSWB has been sending notices repeatedly to the tenants, the defaulters will finally have to answer to the Wakf tribunal. Zafar knows this and says, “Let the tribunal and the High Court decide rent rates, then we will pay.”
Another official with the TSWB on condition of anonymity said, “At every stage, there is litigation. Earlier, our own department officials were not ready to take the bull by the horns. Now we are ready to, and are sending legal notices. We don’t want to harm the community but the present way of doing this is harming the development of the Old City. The people within the Wakf earlier are the reason for the situation to have gone this bad, the TSWB has only itself to blame. Can you believe that for a department that has properties and many responsibilities under it, there are only 115 class four employees and just 60 officers including clerks for the whole state?” SOURCE
HYDERABAD Nizam descendants demand new properties be acquired for Rubat
HYDERABAD : With the Nizam's Rubat ( guesthouse ) in Makkah unable to serve a large number of Hajis , the descendants of the Nizam VII , Mir Osman Ali Khan , demand the Nizam Augaf Committee to acquire new properties in Saudi Arabia by utilising the compensation paid by the government there .
The Augaf Committee controls the Rubat and only about 1,300 Hajis from the city and other parts of the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad are accommodated .
The Saudi government , which acquired properties as part of the expansion of the grand mosque in Makkah and Medina , paid huge compensation .
The amount is yet to be spent on acquisition of new properties . About 5,000 Hajis can be accommodated if the compensation is utilised for purchase of new buildings , says Osman Ali Khan's grandson Nawab Mir Najaf Ali Khan , who is also the president of Nizam's Family Welfare Association.Stay at the Rubat is free and thus , Hajis save a considerable portion of their Haj budget .
Hajis are aware only of the Nizam's Rubat in Makkah . In fact , there were seven Rubat and 35 properties attached to them .
There is no Rubat at present in Medina .
The properties were acquired between 1857 and 1869 with the mehar ' ( dower ) money of Nizam's wives .
" Where are the 42 properties bought by Nawab Afzal udDowla , Nizam V , between 1857 and 1869 CE ? It is evident from records that the Nizam V bought 33 properties in Makkah ( 5 Rubat , 17 shops , 3 houses and 8 godowns ) and nine properties in Medina ( 2 Rubat , 6 shops , and 1 house ) . He wanted to give dower to his wives , but they requested him to buy properties in the holy cities to provide free residential accommodation for Hajis , "Najaf Ali Khan said . He told TOI that Mir Osman Ali Khan appointed Mohammed Shareef , a Saudi national as a caretaker in 1960s . After Shareef's death , his son Hassan Shareef is looking after the Rubat as a caretaker . As per Saudi law the caretaker should be a Saudi national .
" Who is holding the money that was received ? I posed this question several times , but the Augaf committee did not reply , " Najaf Ali Khan alleged .
He said the committee was formed three decades ago but it did not bother to obtain documents related to the properties . " Neither the committee nor the Mutavalli has ever bothered to keep an account of the 42 properties or the compensation which runs into millions of Saudi Riyals . Najaf Ali also found fault with MA Faiz Khan , who holds general power of attorney , for allegedly not taking full control of the Rubat . Source
The Auqaf-e-Shahi is a charitable trust BHOPAL that was endowed by the royal family of the princely state of Bhopal. The trust manages a portfolio worth Rs 1200 crore, consisting mainly of real estate (both, religious and otherwise) in Bhopal, apart from properties in Mecca as well as Medina in Saudi Arabia.
The seats can be increased in Rubat, the Saudi Arabian team is preparing to check
In 2015, 400 people were accommodated here, currently 228 seats- after that, 172 seats decreased
Published: March 14, 2019 09:05:19 am
Bhopal For pilgrims from Bhopal, Sehore and Raisen, the number of seats in Mecca's Rubat may increase. Officials of the Royal Archdiocese of Saudi Arabia have gone to check this arrangement. Currently, there is room for 228 people. Efforts are being made to increase it to more than 400.
About 800 people from these three districts will go on pilgrimage. There will be a place for everyone in Madinah, but in Makkah, because of the limited number of seats, the Kurau is resorted to. In 2015, there were 400 people in Makkah. During that time, the royal palace built an additional building to accommodate the travelers. This arrangement is ready to be done this time. A team of royal officials has gone to Saudi Arabia for this review. If arrangements are made, pilgrims will benefit from this.
It will cost less than 80 thousand
Pilgrims who will have a place in both Rubats will benefit up to 80 thousand rupees in the cost of the pilgrimage. The expenses incurred for the release of these passengers will not be paid.
What are the rubats?
Those who are selected for pilgrimage from Bhopal, Sehore and Raisen will find a place in Mecca and Medina. They were built there during the Nawab dynasty. Anyone from the capital who was going on a pilgrimage was provided with free accommodation in Rubat. This continues today. The decision has started to be made through the increase in the number of people. SOURCE
Two Muslim families from Kerala fight over Saudi money equal to billion dollars
Cithara Paul By Cithara Paul Issue
Date: November 07, 2021 Updated: October 31, 2021 10:43 IST
This work was made using a woodcut image of Mecca of 1870s and an old map of Kannur | Artwork Bara BhaskaranThis work was made using a woodcut image of Mecca of 1870s and an old map of Kannur | Artwork Bara Bhaskaran
In 1870, Mayankutty Keyi, a shipping magnate from Kerala’s Malabar region, performed the hajj. The wealthy Mayankutty was not pleased with the facilities provided for Indian pilgrims in Mecca.
So, he bought 1.5 acres, barely 300m away from the Kaaba—the most sacred site for Muslims—and built a villa there with seven rooms and a huge hall. He named the villa Keyi Rubat, adding the Arabic word for rest house to his surname.
Buying the house was not a big deal for him, as he already had homes and warehouses across the globe including in Amsterdam and Vienna. Keyi means ship owner in Persian. The Keyi family’s clients included traders of all sizes and even the biggest joint stock company of those times, the English East India Company.
Mayankutty’s father, Abdul Qadir Keyi, was a renowned trader who had hired great scholars to tutor his son. Barely three years before performing his hajj, Mayankutty did something that irked orthodox Muslims in Malabar; he translated the Quran into Arabi Malayalam, the traditional language of the Mappila Muslims of Kerala. He took 15 years to complete the translation, which he thought would make the Quran more accessible to the common man. Enraged puritans tied stones to the translated copies and dumped them in the Arabian Sea. Mayankutty ignored the critics and printed more copies.
Mayankutty married from the Arakkal family. It is the only Muslim royal family in Kerala, and it follows a matrilineal system. The senior-most member, regardless of gender, heads the Arakkal family. Before Mayankutty and his wife left for Mecca, he handed over his business operations to his brother. There are multiple versions of what followed. One is that the couple stayed on in the rubat and never returned. Another is that Mayankutty appointed Moosa Haji Malabari, a Malayali, as his nazir (representative) at the rubat, and returned home.
The fact remains that the rubat continued to host Malabari pilgrims for nearly a century. After the death of the nazir, the wakf department of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia maintained the property.
Precious land: A view of the Grand Mosque of Mecca in the 1930s before the Saudi government started the mosque extension project | Getty Images
Around the same time, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Arcot also built rubats near the Kaaba. Later, many nawabs and elite Muslim families built rubats in Mecca, Medina and Jeddah. Being the first mover, the Keyi Rubat had more land than any of them.
The oil boom of the late 1930s transformed Saudi Arabia, and with it the holy cities. In 1956, the Saudi government took over Keyi Rubat’s land as part of a mosque extension project and allotted another plot, a little away from the original site. In 1970, the second plot, too, was acquired for expansion and a generous amount was issued as compensation. As Mayankutty’s legal heir could not be traced, the Saudi government ordered that the money be held in escrow by the treasury of the Awqaf department, which manages wakf affairs, until the heir is found.
THE BIG SEARCH
The Saudi government then launched the hunt for Mayankutty’s legal heirs. It approached the Indian government in 1971; the Indira Gandhi government forwarded the request to Kerala chief minister C. Achutha Menon and asked him to report back.
Like the Arakkals, the Keyis, too, are matrilineal. So, hereditary property is transferred from mother to daughter, or from brother to sisters’ children.
On November 28, 1972, the Thalassery tehsildar issued a certificate of legal heirship to C.V. Aluppy Keyi and C.V. Moidu Keyi, Mayankutty’s great-grand-nephews. The Arakkals challenged the certificate on three reasons: i) The Keyis’ claim that Mayankutty died childless is false; ii) Mayankutty’s children—a son and a daughter—were the legal heirs; iii) Saudi Arabia does not accept the matrilineal system. This challenge triggered a tussle that continues to this day.
FAMILIAL FIRE
Rafi Adiraja, head of the Arakkal Museum in Kannur, has ties to both families. His mother, Adiraja Zainaba Ayisha Beevi, was the 37th queen of the Arakkal dynasty; his father was C.O. Moidu Keyi. “I belong to both the families. Still, I am saying that the Arakkals are the legal heirs of Keyi Rubat, because that is the truth,” he said. Rafi said that the original deed of 1870 showed Mayankutty’s name with the suffix Elaya (the younger)—a title bestowed on him after his marriage to the Arakkal beevi.
Kozhikode-based Harshad Adiraja, a dry-fruits merchant from the Arakkal family, accused the Keyis of fabricating documents to show that Mayankutty died childless. “Mayankutty Elaya’s son, A.P. Ummerkuttty, wrote a book, Keyi History, in 1916. It clearly says that (Mayankutty) had two children—a son and a daughter. We are his heirs.”
The Keyis, however, insist that the Arakkals have only claims and no proof. “We have enough documented proof to nullify their claims,” said P.V. Zainuddeen, a lawyer representing the Keyi family. “The Kerala government had reported back to the Union government in 1972 itself that Mayankutty had no kids, and had chosen his two nephews as the heirs.” Zainuddeen's father is from the Keyi family, but he is not considered a Keyi because of the matrilineal system practised in the family.
FAILED MEDIATIONS
Successive state governments have been trying for a consensus ever since the tussle became public. Similarly, Indian Union Muslim League leaders such as chief minister C.H. Mohammed Koya, Sayed Abdul Rehman Bafakhy Thangal and Union minister E. Ahamed had mediated; the tussle outlived all three.
The first government-level attempt was made by the E.K. Nayanar government in 1998; it appointed P. Kamalkutty IAS to find a solution. “I could not make much headway as there was not much documentary proof available here,” recalled Kamalkutty. “So, I recommended a detailed investigation with the support of the Saudi Arabian government. But nothing much happened after that.”
The matter was followed up by the A.K. Antony government, which took over in May 2001. The government asked state wakf board CEO B.M. Jamal to submit a report. “I studied the matter in detail and even managed to get the original deed of 1870,” said Jamal. “But nothing much could be done as the state government has limitations in dealing with a foreign country. It needed the permission of the Union government to take it forward.”
The matter gathered momentum again in 2013, when the Saudis sounded out the Union government again. Chief minister Oommen Chandy then appointed T.O. Sooraj IAS to follow up. “I had collected all available documents,” Sooraj told THE WEEK. “Going to Saudi was necessary for joining the missing dots, but the state government did not give permission for the travel.”
The matter was taken up by the first Narendra Modi government, too. In 2016, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the then minister of minority affairs, had sought the details of the case. But the tussle remains.
SPECULATORS AND SCHEMERS
There is no end to speculation about how big the amount with the Awqaf treasury is. In 1971, according to official documents, 1.4 million Saudi riyals had been deposited. Many international media reports value this at $1 billion (approximately Rs7,500 crore) today.
Sooraj admitted that there is no clarity about the amount. “There is no interest [system] in Saudi Arabia, but what is not clear is whether the amount will be adjusted for inflation since 1972,” he said. “There had also been talks that the money was invested in the land bank there. In either case, the amount would be humongous.”
The controversies have brought lots of attention good and bad to both families. According to Zainudeen, some international agents and middlemen have approached the family with some deals for lobbying. “The amount they promise is so huge that people will go crazy,” he said.
“There are a lot of conspiracies and vested interests in play. The money involved is that huge,” said a Keyi, who requested anonymity.
Rafi, however, said that since the rubat was taken away without due process, the Saudi were willing to meet any demand of the legal heirs. “The amount is what we ask for.... It can go anywhere up to Rs1 lakh crore,” he said.
Harshad said that he shudders at times “thinking of the amount his family is owed”. “We may or may not get it. But it does give a sense of satisfaction may be a false one that a huge amount is awaiting us in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
WAKF PROPERTY OR NOT?
Interestingly, there is a third claimant to Keyi Rubat God, through wakf. Wakf property is a permanent dedication of any movable or immovable property by a Muslim, for a cause which is pious or charitable according to the shariah. A section of the Keyis insist that Keyi Rubat belonged to God. “It was certainly a wakf property dedicated to Allah. How can anyone even think of taking it home?” said Zainuddeen.
His view was corroborated by Jamal. “The wakf would be a continuing entity. A person creating the wakf cannot take back the property,” he said. “All that the legal heir can decide is the muthavally (manager) to look after it.” According to him, the Saudis may allow the legal heirs to bring the money to India. “But that money can be used only for religious purposes,” he said. He added that the state wakf board has requested the Central wakf board to re-establish Keyi Rubat as a rest house for hajj pilgrims from Kerala.
But Rafi says there is no evidence that the rubat was a wakf property. “Keyi Rubat was certainly a rest house for pilgrims, but that does not make it a wakf property,” he said. He pointed out that the legal heirs of the other three Indian rubats were compensated by the Saudis.
Rafi also said that Saudi Arabia, being a rich country, does not need the money. “They do not need our money, while our country needs it badly. We want to build something meaningful with the money to reinforce the secular culture of our land,” he said.
A Keyi, who wished to remain anonymous, told THE WEEK that he did not understand why some family members were insisting that it was wakf property. “Who will say no to such an amount?” he asked. According to him, many Keyis are no longer as rich and powerful as they used to be. “We would be grateful if we get at least a small share of the family fortune,” he said.
When asked about the delay in producing the legal proof, which both families claim to have, Zainudeen said there are hundreds of family members to be traced and established. “It will take some time,” he said.
Rafi, on his part, said he had set all the records correctly and would be making the “right moves” soon.
Both the families are meanwhile planning to take up the matter with the state and the Union governments again. Thalassery MLA A.N. Shamseer said that the Pinarayi Vijayan government would do its best to settle the matter amicably. “We all are proud of Mayankutty’s contributions. The need of the hour is to find his legal heir,” he said.
SAUDI’S PREROGATIVE
Despite these claims and counterclaims, the ball is in the Saudis’ court. “The last word, certainly, is that of the Saudi government,” said Jamal. “If anyone from the two families could stake their claim with evidence, then they will be accepted as the legal heir by the Saudi government.”
According to Kannur City Heritage Foundation director Muhammed Shihad, any proof should match Saudi records. “Only the Saudis have the [original] documents. The day someone can provide matching proof, the matter is settled,” he said.
Culture connection
The culture of north Kerala, especially that of the Muslim community, is a mix of Arab and Kerala traditions, thanks to long-standing trade links between Arabia and the Malabar coast. The sea trade to India was almost entirely controlled by Arabs, until the Portuguese landed. Many Arabs settled in Malabar and married into local families, cementing the blend of cultures. The origin of Arabi Malayalam is one striking example of this cultural blending.
The Keyis
The Keyis of Thalassery were wealthy traders and reportedly owned properties in all major ports in India, and some in Europe, too.
The Keyis started trading in the 17th century, when the French East India Company established a factory at Thalassery. Aluppy and Moosa were the pioneers. Their successor, Kunhipacki Keyi, who became the head of the family in 1809, was the first one to receive the honorific keyi (ship owner). He had a large number of sea-going vessels; reportedly, 650 at one point.
His nephew Moosakakka Keyi took the business to greater heights. When Tipu Sultan invaded north Malabar, he hid the Chirakkal Hindu royal family and then provided the Chirakkal raja with safe passage to Travancore. Tipu’s invasion hit the Keyis badly and it was the king of Venad who helped them rebuild their business.
The Arakkal royals
There are many stories about the founding of the Arakkal family, Kerala’s sole Muslim royals. A popular legend is that a princess from the Chirakkal Hindu royal family was saved by an Arakkal man from death by drowning. He gave her a dhoti after pulling her out of the river. The princess insisted that she was given a pudava—a Hindu marriage ritual—and that she would prefer to live with the man who first performed the rite.
The Chirakkal Raja, though not happy initially, accepted his daughter’s choice, granted her property and a palatial home. It is generally believed that the matrilineal system followed by them began with this princess and her inter-religious marriage.
In the Arakkal family, the senior-most family member becomes the head—regardless of gender. If the titular head is a female, then she will be called Arakkal beevi. The beevi’s husband’s name is suffixed with the title Elaya, to denote that he is the royal consort. That is how Mayankutty Keyi became Mayankutty Elaya. Historically, the Arakkal royals and Keyis have had strong ties through marriage.
Finding the rightful heir is key
V. Muraleedharan, minister of state for external affairs, told THE WEEK that the Union government will do everything possible to solve the Arakkal-Keyi dispute. “It has been going on for quite some time and needs to be sorted out,” he said. He said that the only official communication that the Indian government has received is a letter from the Saudi Arabian government requesting assistance to trace the legal heir of Keyi Rubat. “Being a native of Kannur, I have heard lots of stories about this rubat since my childhood,” he said. “The solution lies in finding the rightful heir, and that needs to be done.”
When Aurangzeb’s army took on the English East India Company in the Anglo-Mughal War (1686-1690)—the first Anglo-Indian war on the Indian subcontinent—the Arakkal royals sent their warships to support him. The company was humiliated in this war.
The Keyis were keen sportsmen. Cricketers such as C.P. Poker Keyi and Kunhipackey ‘Sixer’ Keyi had played against English teams, as Kannur was a cantonment for the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. The family is also credited with popularising tennis in Thalassery, Kannur.
According to legend, Mumbai’s Malabar Hill, now an elite residential area, once belonged to the Keyis, who are Malabari Muslims. The port city would have been a natural base for this shipping family.
In the Arakkal family, the senior-most family member becomes the head—regardless of gender. Among the 39 titular Arakkal heads, 13 were women. Junumabi, the 23rd ruler, reigned for 42 years, and Aishabi, the 25th, ruled for 24 years SOURCE
Saudi Arabia is holding a fortune for the legal heirs of a 19th-century businessman from Malabar. And, two prominent families from Kerala have been fighting over it since 1971
CITHARA PAUL
In 1870, Mayankutty Keyi, a shipping magnate from Kerala’s Malabar region, performed the hajj. The wealthy Mayankutty was not pleased with the facilities provided for Indian pilgrims in Mecca.
So, he bought 1.5 acres, barely 300m away from the Kaaba—the most sacred site for Muslims—and built a villa there with seven rooms and a huge hall. He named the villa Keyi Rubat, adding the Arabic word for rest house to his surname.
Buying the house was not a big deal for him, as he already had homes and warehouses across the globe—including in Amsterdam and Vienna. Keyi means ship owner in Persian. The Keyi family’s clients included traders of all sizes and even the biggest joint-stock company of those times, the English East India Company.
Mayankutty’s father, Abdul Qadir Keyi, was a renowned trader who had hired great scholars to tutor his son. Barely three years before performing his hajj, Mayankutty did something that irked orthodox Muslims in Malabar; he translated the Quran into Arabi Malayalam, the traditional language of the Mappila Muslims of Kerala. He took 15 years to complete the translation, which he thought would make the Quran more accessible to the common man. Enraged puritans tied stones to the translated copies and dumped them in the Arabian Sea. Mayankutty ignored the critics and printed more copies.
Mayankutty married from the Arakkal family. It is the only Muslim royal family in Kerala, and it follows a matrilineal system. The senior-most member, regardless of gender, heads the Arakkal family. Before Mayankutty and his wife left for Mecca, he handed over his business operations to his brother. There are multiple versions of what followed. One is that the couple stayed on in the rubat and never returned. Another is that Mayankutty appointed Moosa Haji Malabari, a Malayali, as his nazir (representative) at the rubat, and returned home.
The fact remains that the rubat continued to host Malabari pilgrims for nearly a century. After the death of the nazir, the wakf department of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia maintained the property.
Around the same time, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Arcot also built rubats near the Kaaba. Later, many nawabs and elite Muslim families built rubats in Mecca, Medina and Jeddah. Being the first mover, the Keyi Rubat had more land than any of them.
The oil boom of the late 1930s transformed Saudi Arabia, and with it the holy cities. In 1956, the Saudi government took over Keyi Rubat’s land as part of a mosque extension project and allotted another plot, a little away from the original site. In 1970, the second plot, too, was acquired for expansion and a generous amount was issued as compensation. As Mayankutty’s legal heir could not be traced, the Saudi government ordered that the money be held in escrow by the treasury of the Awqaf department, which manages wakf affairs, until the heir is found.
Culture connection
The culture of north Kerala, especially that of the Muslim community, is a mix of Arab and Kerala traditions, thanks to long-standing trade links between Arabia and the Malabar coast. The sea trade to India was almost entirely controlled by Arabs, until the Portuguese landed. Many Arabs settled in Malabar and married into local families, cementing the blend of cultures. The origin of Arabi Malayalam is one striking example of this cultural blending.
THE BIG SEARCH
The Saudi government then launched the hunt for Mayankutty’s legal heirs. It approached the Indian government in 1971; the Indira Gandhi government forwarded the request to Kerala chief minister C. Achutha Menon and asked him to report back.
Like the Arakkals, the Keyis, too, are matrilineal. So, hereditary property is transferred from mother to daughter, or from brother to sisters’ children.
On November 28, 1972, the Thalassery tehsildar issued a certificate of legal heirship to C.V. Aluppy Keyi and C.V. Moidu Keyi, Mayankutty’s great-grand-nephews. The Arakkals challenged the certificate on three reasons: i) The Keyis’ claim that Mayankutty died childless is false; ii) Mayankutty’s children—a son and a daughter—were the legal heirs; iii) Saudi Arabia does not accept the matrilineal system. This challenge triggered a tussle that continues to this day. SOURCE
Saudi Arabia announces successful, safe Haj season 2022
Total number of pilgrims in the current Hajj season reached 899,353, including 779,919 foreign pilgrims and 119,434 domestic pilgrims
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has announced the current Haj season is successful and safe.
Saudi Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, also chairman of the Central Haj Committee, announced the success of the pilgrimage of 2022 at all security, service and health levels, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Saudi Press Agency.
The prince said no accidents nor epidemic diseases were reported among pilgrims, thanks to government efforts and projects as well as all those involved in serving pilgrims.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Fahd Al-Jalajel said the health plan for the current Haj season was successful as there were no epidemic outbreaks or other major public health incidents.
He said only 38 Covid-19 cases were detected in the holy sites and were all dealt with in accordance with health protocols.
The Makkah light rail reopened pilgrimage transport service between July 6 and July 12 after a two-year suspension due to the pandemic of Covid-19, safely transporting hundreds and thousands of pilgrims on time.
This year is also the first time since the coronavirus outbreak in 2020 that Saudi Arabia allows foreign pilgrims to perform Haj, as the last two seasons were limited only to domestic pilgrims.
The Saudi General Authority for Statistics announced on Friday that the total number of pilgrims in the current Haj season reached 899,353, including 779,919 foreign pilgrims and 119,434 domestic pilgrims. SOURCE
The Well of Zamzam is a lasting miracle
With no impurities, its water contains a good amount of natural minerals and hence distinct heavy taste
Before the end of the Hajj or Umrah journey, visitors make sure to get a bottle or two of Zamzam water
MAKKAH: It is one of the most enduring miracles of Islam, representing God’s mercy. The Well of Zamzam first sprang 5,000 years ago under the feet of the Prophet Ismael after his mother Hagar, the second wife of Ibrahim, ran seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwah looking for water to save her thirsty son.
The name of the well comes from the phrase Zome Zome, meaning “stop flowing,” a command repeated by Hagar as she attempted to contain the spring water.
The well’s ever-clean water has no moss, insects, fungus, or any other impurities. It contains a higher level of natural minerals than normal desalinated water. For this reason, it has a distinct, heavy taste.
Pilgrims are always keen to drink from the well and carry bottles filled with the water to their homelands since it is believed to be a natural source of healing for the sick, according to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Holy Kaaba in the center of Makkah’s Grand Mosque on March 21, 1967. On the left is the entrance to the Zamzam well. Every year, millions of Muslims complete the Hajj pilgrimage to this sacred spot. (Getty Images)
The development and maintenance of the Well of Zamzam has been of major importance, with the water source protected for centuries in many ways. As the main source of water for visitors to Makkah in ancient times and for present-day pilgrims, the well has never stopped generating the blessed water for Muslims, except for a short period of time.
Throughout the ages, the well was guarded by Abd Al-Muttalib bin Hashim, grandfather of Prophet Muhammad, then by many Muslim caliphs up until modern times, when it fell under the protection of Saudi kings starting with the founder of current Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz.
In the past, the holy well was protected in a primitive way, but during the late King Abdullah’s reign, a great leap was taken with regard to developing the way the well was maintained. He changed the methods of filling and distributing water across the Two Holy Mosques.
He also started the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Zamzam Water Project (KPZW) in 2013.
With the increasing number of visitors coming for Umrah and Hajj, the demand for Zamzam water also rapidly increased. This necessitated more development for the well.
The construction cost of the project amounted to more than SR700 million ($187 million).
The project did away with many of the old unprofessional methods related to pumping, filtering, distributing and filling the water, replacing these with the newest, safest technologies.
In the past, the water used to be bottled manually in different-sized containers, without following an authorized bottling process, resulting in unwanted water pollution.
With this new project, however, there are two main sizes of authorized containers — five and 10 liters — in which the water is treated, bottled, stored, and distributed efficiently.
Before the end of the Hajj or Umrah journey, visitors make sure to get a bottle or two of Zamzam water before they leave, which in previous years used to result in chaos and unorganized queues. Today, the project allows water containers to be distributed to pilgrims inside buses or in airports in order to save time and prevent crowding.
Inside the Two Holy Mosques, the water is provided in coolers that undergo a daily cleaning and filling process.
The online purchase of Zamzam water is a part of the National Water Company’s project, which was initiated following the suspension of sales as a precaution during the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Zamzam water is now distributed via the Saudi electronic business platform HNAK, which offers home delivery service as well.
Extraction, pumping and continued surveillance of storage and pipelines are achieved through the optical fiber technology of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition network.
With all these technologies, the quality of Zamzam water’s natural minerals is preserved and sustained according to meticulous research carried out to determine the most suitable methods of pumping and filtering.
To prevent all the characteristics of Zamzam water from being affected by any external natural contaminations, the Zamzam Studies and Research Center has applied rigorous quality control.
“In order to be able to manage the Well of Zamzam in a sustainable manner, we need to have a full understanding of the environmental and hydrogeological setting of this holy well and the sources of water reaching it, including water conductors in the area,” Samer Showman, president of the research center, told Arab News.
“We need to see how the water is being stored and how fast it is moving and the types of minerals it extracts through its journey between the rocks to understand what characterizes the fingerprint of Zamzam water.
“We have linked the mathematical model with a rainfall data network and rainfall stations in a different part of the aquifer to determine the exact volume and quantity of water that can be extracted throughout the year in Wadi Ibrahim,” he added.
Showman said that a special laboratory for Zamzam water in Makkah tracks and tests different samples of the water, which are analyzed on a weekly basis to maintain water quality.
Zamzam well is 10.6 feet long and it pumps 8000 liters of water per second to the higher side which is 28.8 million liters per hour.
Interesting that Zamzam water fountains fill back the water in 11 minutes that was out for 24 hours. And not to forget this well is providing water from the time of Hazrat Ismaeel as till now.
There are 2 miracles here, the first that ZamZam was re-filled immediately, & the second is that Allah Holds the extra-ordinary y powerful Aquifer for not throwing extra ZamZam out of the well.
It is the translation of the word ZamZam, which means Stop Stop!said by Hajirah RZ. Zimam is an Arabic word, it is the rope / REIN attached to bridle or noseband & it is used / pulled to stop the running animal.
Zamzam water has no color or smell, but it has a distinct taste. Water usually fills your thrust. But surprisingly, Zamzam fills your hunger as wel as your thrust. One can stay alive just by drinking Zamzam water for as long as he can.
The results of the water samples tested by the European laboratories shows that Zamzam water contains
1. CALCIUM & MAGNESUIM:
The difference between Zamzam water and other water was in the quantity of calcium and magnesium salts. The content of these was slightly higher in Zamzam water. This may be why this water refreshes tired hajis.
2. FLUORIDE:
But more significantly, the water contains fluorides that have an effective germicidal action.
Masaru Emoto is a Japanese energy scholar, author and entrepreneur, best known for his claims that human consciousness has an effect on the molecular structure of water. Following is his research on zamzam water:
1. The quality / purity of Zamzam water has, will not be find any where else in the water on this earth.
2. He used the technology named NANO, and researched a lot on Zamzam water. And found out that if one drop of Zamzam water mix in 1000 drops of regular water, regular water will get the same quality like Zamzam water.
3. He also found that a mineral in one drop of Zamzam water has its own importance that will not be find any other water on this earth.
4. He also found in some tests that the quality or ingredients of Zamzam water can not be changed, why, science does not know the reason.
Even he re-cycled the Zamzam water, but no change it was still pure.
5. This scientist also found out that, the Muslims say BISMILLAH before eating/drinking. He says that after saying BISMILLAH on regular water, there are some strange changes happened in the quality of regular water. That make it best water.
6. He also found out that if some one recites the Quran on regular water, it gets the ability for the treatment of different diseases.
Saudi Arabia: Six jailed for desecrating
Masjid-e-Nabawi by hurling abuses at Pak PM
Saudi court convicted six Pakistani out of which three Pakistanis were sentenced to jail for 10 years each and three Pakistanis were sentenced to jail for 8 years each . 6th August 2022
Islamabad: A Saudi Court on Thursday convicted six Pakistanis over desecrating the holy place Masjid-e-Nabawi by raising slogans against Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation.
Some protesters, allegedly belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), violated the sanctity of the Masjid-e-Nabawi by loudly chanting slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation in Saudi Arabia.
A viral video had been circulating on social media platforms that showed hundreds of pilgrims raising “chor chor” [thieves] slogans upon seeing the delegation making their way to Masjid-e-Nabawi.
The Saudi court convicted six Pakistani out of which three Pakistanis were sentenced to jail for 10 years each and three Pakistanis were sentenced to jail for 8 years each, Pakistani local media outlet The News International reported.
According to the Saudi Court, all six were found guilty of blasphemy at Harm-e-Madina. Anas, Irshad and Muhammad Salim were sentenced to 10 years, while Khwaja Luqman, Muhammad Afzal and Ghulam Muhammad were sentenced to 8 years.
In a video, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and member of the National Assembly Shahzain Bugti were seen along with others.
According to the Pakistani newspaper, Aurangzeb indirectly blamed ousted Imran Khan for the protest. “I will not name this person on this holy land because I do not want to use this land for politics. But they have destroyed the [Pakistani] society,” she said.
This came during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s maiden three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. Dozens of officials and political leaders have accompanied the Pakistan Prime Minister on his visit to the Kingdom.
Moreover, the Madina court slapped 200,000 riyals fine on the six people and confiscated their mobile phones as they were found guilty of abusing Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb and other ministers.
A statement issued by the Madina Police spokesperson said, “The legal process has been completed with the arrest of these Pakistanis and the matter has been referred to the appropriate authorities. SOURCE
Work starts on major expansion of historic Quba Mosque in Madinah
expansion of historic Quba Mosque in Madinah. (SPA)
Quba Mosque will be able to receive more than 66,000 worshippers in an area covering 50,000 square meters
The road network and surrounding infrastructure will also be revamped to provide easier access to the mosque
JEDDAH: Major redevelopment work has got underway at Madinah’s historic Quba Mosque to further expand the holy site first built upon by the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,440 years ago.
In April, during Ramadan, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced that the mosque would be increased tenfold in size as part of a project named after King Salman.
Four years ago, the crown prince ordered the restoration of 130 historical mosques in the Kingdom under the Saudi government’s national regeneration program.
In a visit to Madinah during the recent holy month of fasting, he said the enlargement project was aimed toward achieving the objectives of Vision 2030 within the Guests of God Service, and Quality of Life programs.
On completion of the largest development in its history, Quba Mosque will be able to receive more than 66,000 worshippers in an area covering 50,000 square meters.
The project was designed to link the current mosque with shaded courtyards on four sides, all capable of providing the necessary services but not structurally attached to the main building.
The road network and surrounding infrastructure will also be revamped to provide easier access to the mosque and improve visitor safety and security, while the project will resolve overcrowding issues as well as preserving the architectural style of the mosque and other nearby monuments.
Its current praying area covers 5,000 square meters, with the building and facilities taking up 13,500 square meters and accommodating a maximum 20,000 worshippers.
Crown Prince Mohammed said the improvements would heighten visitors’ devotional and cultural experience.
Quba Mosque is located 5 kilometers south of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and was constructed in 622. It is believed that the Prophet Muhammad frequently prayed at Quba Mosque, especially on Saturdays, and urged his companions to do so too.
There is a hadith about the mosque, with the Prophet Muhammad reported to have said: “Whoever makes ablutions in this house and offers one prayer therein, will be rewarded the equivalent of one Umrah.” It is why the mosque remains of considerable religious and historical importance to Muslims.
It underwent renovation during the eras of caliphs Uthman bin Affan and Omar ibn Al-Khattab. The latter was the first to add a minaret to the structure.
During the Saudi era, Quba Mosque, along with other houses of worship, were regularly revitalized. In 1968, its northern side was expanded, and then in 1985, King Fahd ordered several enlargements while maintaining the building’s historically significant architectural features.
Work starts on major expansion of historic Quba Mosque in Madinah
Quba Mosque will be able to receive more than 66,000 worshippers in an area covering 50,000 square meters
The road network and surrounding infrastructure will also be revamped to provide easier access to the mosque
JEDDAH: Major redevelopment work has got underway at Madinah’s historic Quba Mosque to further expand the holy site first built upon by the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,440 years ago.
In April, during Ramadan, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced that the mosque would be increased tenfold in size as part of a project named after King Salman.
Four years ago, the crown prince ordered the restoration of 130 historical mosques in the Kingdom under the Saudi government’s national regeneration program.
In a visit to Madinah during the recent holy month of fasting, he said the enlargement project was aimed toward achieving the objectives of Vision 2030 within the Guests of God Service, and Quality of Life programs.
On completion of the largest development in its history, Quba Mosque will be able to receive more than 66,000 worshippers in an area covering 50,000 square meters.
The project was designed to link the current mosque with shaded courtyards on four sides, all capable of providing the necessary services but not structurally attached to the main building.
The road network and surrounding infrastructure will also be revamped to provide easier access to the mosque and improve visitor safety and security, while the project will resolve overcrowding issues as well as preserving the architectural style of the mosque and other nearby monuments.
Its current praying area covers 5,000 square meters, with the building and facilities taking up 13,500 square meters and accommodating a maximum 20,000 worshippers.
Crown Prince Mohammed said the improvements would heighten visitors’ devotional and cultural experience.
Quba Mosque is located 5 kilometers south of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and was constructed in 622. It is believed that the Prophet Muhammad frequently prayed at Quba Mosque, especially on Saturdays, and urged his companions to do so too.
There is a hadith about the mosque, with the Prophet Muhammad reported to have said: “Whoever makes ablutions in this house and offers one prayer therein, will be rewarded the equivalent of one Umrah.” It is why the mosque remains of considerable religious and historical importance to Muslims.
It underwent renovation during the eras of caliphs Uthman bin Affan and Omar ibn Al-Khattab. The latter was the first to add a minaret to the structure.
During the Saudi era, Quba Mosque, along with other houses of worship, were regularly revitalized. In 1968, its northern side was expanded, and then in 1985, King Fahd ordered several enlargements while maintaining the building’s historically significant architectural features. SOURCE
Nizam’s Rubath in Saudi to serve
pilgrims from three States
Nikhila HenryHYDERABAD JULY 22, 2017 23:19 IST
UPDATED: JULY 22, 2017 23:19 IST
568 pilgrims from Telangana to stay there this year
This Haj season, an old home set up by the Nizam of Hyderabad State, Afzal ud-Dawla Bahadur, would accommodate 1,153 pilgrims from the former Nizami provinces.
Rubath, a pilgrim house built at the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to serve Hajis from Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka which were once part of the Nizam’s State, would also provide food for the pilgrims who were selected by a draw of lots this month. While 568 pilgrims who would get to stay at Rubath during Haj-2017 are from Telangana, 450 are from Maharashtra and 117 from Karnataka.
It was Mir Barkath Ali Khan Mukarram Jah Bahadur, who assumed the Nizam title in 1967, who declared Rubath a Waqf property which should be used for public good. Apart from those selected by the draw of lots, 10% of the accommodation at Rubath is reserved for the descendants of the erstwhile royal family of Nizam.
The management rights of Rubath was granted to Md. Mudar Hussain Al Shareef, a Saudi national, in 1980. Currently, his children Md. Mudar Husain Al Shareef and Sheikh Yousuf Awad Al Ahmadi maintain the property, which has been serving the travellers for over 100 years. Since their takeover as Nazer or caretakers of Rubath in 1996, the pilgrim home has been maintaining strict records to facilitate maximum number of travellers from deprived economic backgrounds. “The Rubath tradition shows close ties between different States in India,” said Deputy Chief Minister Md. Mahmood Ali, who conducted a review meeting on Thursday with the departments that coordinate the Haj pilgrimage.
This year, 3,676 pilgrims from Telangana, 2,672 from Andhra Pradesh and 700 from Karnataka would go for Haj. A total of 7,045 passengers would start their journey from Rajeev Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. The Deputy Chief Minister directed the officials to make all arrangements to facilitate a smooth pilgrimage. The first flight to Saudi Arabia from Hyderabad left on July 14 and the last left on Saturday.
Rubath, located on a prime property on Taqwa Street, Mecca, has already started taking applications for the next Haj in 2018. SOURCE
Great pride for Tamil!
'Arafat speech in Tamil too!..
'Saudi Arabia Mecca'
Good rain falling on the Grand Mosque.
Aug 6, 2022
Part of the Kaaba's Changing Ceremony.
Jul 30 2022
The Security Barriers Around
The Holy Kaaba Were Removed
Aug 3 2022
The following number of pilgrims
arrived in Saudi Arabia each year
to perform Hajj:
Pictographic world map comparing the largest periodic human migration events[131]
There has been a substantial increase in the number of pilgrims during the last 92 years, and the number of foreign pilgrims has increased by approximately 2,824 percent, from 58,584 in 1920 to 1,712,962 in 2012.[132] Because of development and expansion work at Masjid al-Haram, the authority restricted the number of pilgrims in 2013.[133][134]
Between 1940 and 1945, foreign pilgrims were restricted from arriving in Saudi Arabia as a result of World War II; all pilgrimages from 2020 onwards will be severely restricted as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following number of pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia each year to perform Hajj:
By Ahmed Maher BBC Arabic, Mecca Published 25 October 2012
The Hajj pilgrimage netted Saudi Arabia an estimated $10bn in 2011
Millions of Muslims from all walks of life have converged on Saudi Arabia to perform the pilgrimage known as the Hajj.
The annual occasion has become a lucrative business in recent years, proving a great financial asset to the economy of the oil-rich kingdom.
Many pilgrims, however, struggle to reconcile their spiritual needs with their wallets.
Mohammed Zayan, a 53-year-old pilgrim from Tunisia, has waited a lifetime to perform the religious obligation, which does not come free.
"I spent up to $6,000 (£3,700) on my Hajj," says Mr Zayan, who wears the traditional white pilgrims' clothes.
"I thank God that he enabled me to save this amount of money but I'm sad I could not afford taking my wife and son with me."
The millions who come to Mecca every year bring billions of dollars to the Saudi economy.
Restaurants, travel agents, airlines and mobile phone companies all earn big bucks during the Hajj, and the government benefits in the form of taxes.
Last year, the 10-day event generated some $10bn (£6.2bn), according to the Chamber of Commerce in Mecca.
Worthwhile investment
The private sector also maximises its returns during Hajj, with investment in real estate an attractive proposition ahead of the pilgrimage.
The highest rents in Saudi Arabia are found in the holy city of Mecca, the birthplace of Islam.
Owners of hotels close to the main mosque ask for $700 a night, blaming the skyrocketing prices of land for the sharp rise in rates.
"I have been investing in this sector for 35 years. I remember when I first sold a metre of land in Mecca for just 15 rials ($3), now it has reached 80,000 rials ($22,000)," said Mohamed Saed al-Jahni, one of Mecca's real estate tycoons.
"The demand is higher than supply and that is why many buildings and hotels have been built in recent years to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims".
Super-tall buildings are filling the Mecca skyline at an unstoppable pace.
The ancient city's centuries-old sites are giving way to glitzy luxury hotels, which are not affordable for many pilgrims.
The government says it is a necessary step, even if the construction comes at the expense of historical mountains dating back to the age of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad and his companions.
Spiritual relief
Muslim pilgrims perform their prayers in the Grand Mosque of the holy city of Mecca, on October 22, 2012
Selling Mecca souvenirs is another very lucrative business during the Hajj.
There are no official estimates for this profitable trade, but it is believed to bring hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
Ahmed Abdel Rahman, 43, will leave Mecca laden with presents and souvenirs for loved ones back in Mauritius.
"These are blessed souvenirs," he says, holding a bead he just bought at almost three times its original price outside the city.
The price of Mecca souvenirs is often eye-wateringly high and most of the products like prayer mats and beads are not made in the city, but rather in China.
But Mr Abdel Rahman says he feels a great spiritual relief when he spends his money in Mecca.
"I don't find shop owners opportunists but we help our brothers in Islam to make profit and make ends meet. This is a highly rewarded act."
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and an obligation, provided a Muslim is financially and physically able.
The ritual, which demonstrates the unity of Muslims and their submission to Allah, has been carried out for nearly nearly 1,400 years.
However much it costs, Muslims will not stop coming to this spiritual and also commercial hub. They simply cannot do Hajj anywhere else. SOURCE
ABOUT ALL INDIAN STATE RUBAT IN MAKKAH AND MEDINA NEWS LINK
Haj pilgrims to get 5-star level facilities at 'Rubaat' in Saudi Arabia
