ENGINEERING DRAWINGS REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF THE PROPHET'S MOSQUE 1949

The importance of expansion engineering drawings is considered to be exceptional for the masterpiece of the Prophet’s Mosque. The idea of expansion began in the period of late King Abdelaziz in 1368 during his open speech No. 27 dated 12/08/1368 (08/07/1949) addressed to Medina Manawara Newspaper and published on issue No. 301/1368 announcing good news for the Islamic World that he decided to make expansion for the Prophet’s Mosque on his own account, since then the project was under study till 1370 (1950), then expropriation and demolition of neighborhood buildings and clearing activities started, the total expropriation was 22955 meter followed by workshop drawing, then construction of administrative and technical offices for this grand project. In 1372 (1952) the Crown Prince on behalf of King Abdelaziz put the foundation stone for the new expansion on 14, Sha’ ban 1372 (27/04/1953). The excavations work began on 14, Ramadan 1372 (26/05/1953) construction started, and the total area for the new expansion was 6024 meters. The total expansion since Prophet’s period, Caliphs and Sultans was 103030 meters i.e. the expansion of King Abdelaziz is two third of what has been done during 14 centuries.

The presentation will only be for the (maps 1 and 2) for their importance and the details as follows: 1 It was established and constructed during the Saudi period, especially the period of King Abdelaziz as the first expansion for the Prophet’s Mosque (Peace and Blessing be upon Him) which proof to the Islamic World the credibility of the State towards the Holy places. 2 The drawings (1 and 2) have witnessed two important events:

First: drawings sketched by Pakistani engineers on the first map, which retain the southern side of the Prophet’s Mosque as it is and demolishing the eastern, western and norther sides which to be rebuild with the new expansion, but the height must be equal to the southern side. The reason for assigning Pakistani engineers is because Egyptian engineers decided to demolish the whole Prophet’s Mosque and then to be reconstructed, but Mohammad Saleh Ghazaz called for the help of His Excellency Mohammad Sarour Al Saban who stopped the demolition process. What they did is considered as a distinguish achievement and both of them are recognized by their adherence to the old architecture and especially the building of the Prophet’s Mosque by its architectural art and old Osmani fonts done by famous sign-writers like Abdullah Zuhri, who’s sign-writing is decorating the Prophet’s Mosque. 
 He also sends a telegraph for the King and Princes and the reply came from His Highness the Crown Prince of King Faisal who ordered to stop the demolition and to get help from the Pakistani engineers, who in return decided what mentioned in the Map. No. 1 (source (special document), also including descriptions and margins by red color, confirming that it was used in the expansion.

Second: The second map is the map for Prophet’s Mosque and surroundings, clearly defined, identifying the new extension and including inside the boundaries of the old demolished mosque and the places at the neighborhood of the Mosque, like Nasiriya School, and the School of Shari’ a Science beside the old Allies Shops, lighthouses and the streets and buildings, and represent the map for Medina Munawara before expansion especially the present surroundings of the Prophet’s Mosque is included in the future expansions. The rest of the maps are also important, but its importance cannot be compared to those two maps.