Mujahid Syed Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – "The glimpse of the Prophet's Mosque gives our heart a new life," said pilgrims in a recent interview with Saudi Gazette. On the eve of Eid Al-Adha, at the Prophet's Mosque, I spoke to two pilgrims and jotted down their impressions regarding life in the Kingdom and the spiritual benefits they got during their long stay in the Kingdom. Muhammad Sadiq Ali Kirmani, who hails from Indian town of Gulbarga, is a long-time resident of the Kingdom. He is a lab technician and lives in Al-Khobar since 1992. He runs a WhatsApp literary group Alami Urdu Dhanak to serve Urdu language, poetry and literature. "Basically, I am a poet. I compose Urdu ghazal and I am about to publish my poetry collection. Among the WhatsApp groups that are trying to serve Urdu language, I found that the Urdu language and poetry is not proportionately represented as it should be. The people send video clips and other non-literary things. This observation compelled me to introduce a pure literary group to serve Urdu language and literature. I am all praise for the literary community, poets, writers and the readers who not only send their literary pieces and poems but give us delight and wisdom," said Kirmani. "In India, Urdu language is going through hard times. Provincial governments are spending hefty amounts through Urdu Academies on prizes and awards but can it revive Urdu language?" he asked. "Only a handful of poets and writers are benefitting from this scheme. Grass-root level work is needed. If Urdu language is not taught at the primary level, God forbid, within a decade or so many remaining Urdu newspapers and magazines would close down and no reader would remain to study Urdu books," he lamented while shedding light on the pathetic condition of Urdu language in India. "Teach Urdu at home, this can save our mother tongue from extinction," he appealed to the people who love Urdu language. "If Indian government is serious to save Urdu language it should give Urdu language its fair share in the employment sector," Kirmani added. "Every time I pay a visit to Holy Harams it enriches my soul. I am all praise for the Saudi government for the great extension of the two Holy Harams. Every type of modern facility is available here that has helped pilgrims a lot," he said. Arif Siddiqui, civil engineer and a long-time resident of Arar, in the Kingdom, hails from New Delhi. Originally from Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh, he too was all praise for the wise steps of the Saudi government taken in the direction of the reconstruction of the two Holy Mosques. "When I first saw the Holy Harams they were comparatively very small in size. In Madinah, the residential districts and their old lanes were very near to the Prophet's Mosque. The Holy City of Madinah itself was very small. In olden days the rooms, food and other commodities were very cheap. But one remarkable thing that I have observed is that there is no change in the nature of Madinah residents. They are as nice as they were ever before! The sight of the Prophet's Mosque gives every pilgrim immense pleasure and peace," said Siddiqui. "Earlier, small number of people used to come to perform Haj or Umrah. Now during the whole year large number of pilgrims from each and every country flock to the Holy Harams. The crowd management, cleaning of the two Holy Harams and providing health and other facilities to the guests of Allah is a rewarding duty that the Kingdom performs with great sincerity. The extension of the Holy Harams is going with the modern trend and modern global phenomenon. It's wonderful!" he added.
