Re: Mecca for the rich: Islam's holiest site 'turning into Vegas'
What significance is a 5x5 foot mud house? What can you gain from its history?
Did Prophet (pbuh) ask us to preserve those homes so that they may benefit us here in life and after? If they were so important, he would have said something to that affect that "hey these homes of my wives and my sahaba are really important, mosque will expand but leave room in the masjid for these houses." Ridiculous.
Al-hamra in spain, taj-mahal in india are really different story, they don't have competition with a religious masjid EXPANDING since it was built and will continue to expand.
Peace jaan leva
The Saudi government have a restriction on Hajj travel for people who live within the Arab region, I believe it was once in five years, instead of putting the money higher and building more hotel space they can extend this restriction to the world ... let's say once in five years for all people, once in seven years for people in the Arab region and leave the Hajj trip affordable and retain the sites of classical antiquity.
As for what significance certain sites have ... well I wonder why "zayyarah" is amongst the biggest commercial activities in the Hajj. In fact why do we have the Muqaam-e-Ibrahim inside a glass and brass vessel bang in the middle of the mataaf area - that gets in the way ... doesn't it?
It is an inherent need in humans to visit places of significance. It puts context in to the hearts of travellers to feel that they are at where those blessed people have been. Blessed because they were favoured by Allah (SWT).
They should build housing in a concentric manner - i.e. like a stadium is set-up instead of resorting to building upwards at the first chance and just like the muqam-e-ibrahim they can build structures or have markings of the sites of historical significance. This includes homes of the close companions of RasoolAllah (SAW) ...
Saudi government have a big responsibility indeed, but that should translate to accomodating as many of the Muslims in their religious and emotional needs balanced against their comfort needs. I bet many Muslims today if they had a choice of luxury on Hajj with no semblance to the past versus fewer facilities with sites in tact then they would choose the latter.
Islam encompasses all aspects of the human condition ... and although there are some aversions due to the fear of shirk in early Islam with the enlightened state there is no doubt that Muslims will view such sites with architectural and historical regard in a mature manner. For those people who believe du'a at such sites is noble and praiseworthy they should be allowed to practice their beliefs.