Indication emerged shortly after the 2016 Hajj exercise, which was officially concluded a few days ago that major historic mosques in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will undergo another round of renovation.

This is aside the major renovation and expansion already going on in the Holy land to accommodate more pilgrims for the annual hajj rites. The renovation of the major mosques, we gathered would revive the historic status of some of these mosques.

As at press time, in a bulletin monitored by Facing the Kaabah, the head of the  Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), Prince Sultan bin Salman, announced that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has also concurred to the plan to renovate a number of historic mosques in Madinah.

Prince Sultan also announced the establishment of a fund for renovation of historic mosques in Madinah that will allow every citizen to participate in the process. He confirmed that King Salman given great importance to historic mosques and has emphasized that any renovation projects launched in areas like Historic Jeddah, central Riyadh, and Historic Dariyah give considerable importance to the renovation of historic mosques.

“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques — may God bless him — has given utmost importance to the care of mosques, and generally national heritage, as evidenced by the number of projects launched, such as Iman Turki bin Abdullah Mosque,” he said. “These efforts confirm his belief that mosques are a path to history and a place for people to come together, as does the state’s adoption of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques project for care of the national heritage.

Historic  mosques

The SCTNH also confirms its concern with historic mosques through its foundation of a programme for care and rehabilitation of historic mosques as part of the Urban Heritage Center, and its partnership with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in this regard.”

“The care and attention to historic mosques began in the era of founder King Abdul Aziz and has continued throughout the eras of subsequent leaders,” said Prince Sultan, noting that Madinah saw the first of these projects.

He expressed appreciation for the initiative of Prince Faisal bin Salman to support the renovation of Al-Ijabah Historic Mosque, as well as the initiative of the General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque Affairs to renovate a number of historic mosques in Madinah.

He also praised the donations of citizens and businessmen in Madinah to support the renovation of 14 historic mosques. He said the purpose and message of these efforts is not merely the renovations and rehabilitation of mosques, but rather to bring back to life these historic mosques as central pillars in the community and to appreciate the role of these mosques in national unity.