Media Personnel Visit Historical Sites Ahead Of Haj Season

MADINAH, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- A total of 21 media personnel who are here to cover the Haj season this year, have been taken to visit several Islamic historical sites by Lembaga Tabung Haji (the Malaysian hajj pilgrims fund board). They were taken to visit the Quba' Mosque, the first mosque built by the Prophet Muhammad for holding mass prayer gatherings. Sybsequently, they visited the Archers' and Uhud hills, where the Battle of Uhud took place in the third year of the Muslim calender, claiming the lives of 70 Muslim soldiers and 23 soldiers from the Quraysh tribe. Prophet Muhammad's uncle, Hamzah Abdul Muttalib was among the martyrs buried at the valley of the hill. The group was then taken to the Qiblatain Mosque, and finally to seven mosques in the western edge of Mount Sala', which was where the Battle of the Trench took place. Mohamad Abdul Razak, who guided the delegation said besides the places visited Monday, the Prophet's Mosque and the date farm were among the must-visit sites, especially during the Haj season. This year, 11,796 out of 22,320 Malaysian pilgrims would be arriving at the Madinah International Airport, and the remaining at the King AbdulAziz International Airport, in Jeddah. -- BERNAMA