MAKKAH — The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques has set up an exhibition to document the history and artifacts of the Two Holy Mosques. The manager of the Two Holy Mosques Exhibition, Mohammad Al-Jabri said that the exhibition will include artifacts, architectural and inscriptions from the Umayyad era until the present era. The exhibition seeks to document these items for the benefit of future generations. The exhibition includes old inscriptions of the Qur'an, historical items, rare photographs, and architectural models representing the various Islamic eras. It is made up of different halls: — The reception hall which has a model of the Grand Mosque and old and new photos of the Two Holy Mosques. — The Grand Mosque hall which exhibits a model of the Holy Kaaba stairs, made of wood dating back to 1240H. — The hall also exhibits the kiswa (Kaaba cover) used through ages, in addition to a Kaaba door which dates back to 1363H. It also includes one of Kaaba's most important pillars which is made of wood, dates back to the year 65H and is one the most important historical items on exhibit. — Photographs hall which includes rare photographs of Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites. These photographs were taken during 1297H-1298H, and were presented to the exhibition by the late Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz. — Inscriptions hall which exhibits a photocopy of the Qur'an that was written during the era of Othman Bin Affan (may God be pleased with him), in addition to rare copies of the Qur'an and other inscriptions. — The Prophet's Mosque hall which includes one of the main doors of the mosque, dating back to 1373H, and the crescent of the main minaret, in addition to an old clock dating back to 1277H. The hall also includes the door of the Ottoman platform, which dates back to 998H, and a model of the Prophet's Mosque in the center of the hall. — Zamzam hall which includes parts of the old Zamzam well, and a vertical model of the well. The hall also includes a sundial dating back to 1023H, that was used to determine prayer times in the past, in addition to the first clock in the Grand Mosque, dating back to 1352H during the King Abdulaziz era. Al-Jabri added there are 2,500-3,000 visitors to the exhibition daily, and that studies are under way for the expansion of the exhibition. The expansion will include a hall for visual presentations, as well as for providing wheelchairs for the elderly and visitors with special needs. The exhibition employees receive training in organizing visits and explaining the contents to visitors. The exhibition has received more than 1.9 million visitors since its opening until now, and visiting hours are from 7.30 a.m. until 11 p.m.
