Have You Been To Mecca And Madinah Masjid? This Historical PIECE was sent to me by my Childhood Friend and Umrah companion, Ibrahim Dapo Elias. I dedicate this to our Late Brother, Friend, and Madinah Landlord Abdul Ganiyu Idowu Ogunleye. May Allah, SWT, be pleased with him.
Here is an exceptionally amazing story unknown to many. Please read on…..
THE AMAZING NARRATIVE OF AN EGYPTIAN EXTRAORDINARY & EXCEPTIONAL ENGINEER & ARCHITECT WHO MADE A GREAT SACRIFICE OF OBTAINING THE MARBLE WHICH IS CURRENTLY ON THE PREMISES OF MASJIDIL NABAWI OR HARAMUL MADANI IN THE CITY OF MADINAH. IT IS A REMINISCENT OF THE STORY OF TWO ORPHANS WHO OWNED THE PIECE OF LAND OF THE PROPHET’S MASJID WHEN HE FIRST ARRIVED IN MADINAH AND ASKED THEM TO SELL TO HIM. THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY PAYMENT. BUT THE PROPHET INSISTED PAYING FOR IT…AND THIS PAYMENT FOR THE LAND WAS MADE OR DONE BY SAYYIDINA ABABAKARI SIDDIQUE…
هل تساءلت يوما..
Have you ever asked..
من هو المهندس الذي صمم الحرمين الشريفين المكي والنبوي؟
Who was the engineer who designed the two holy mosques of Makkah and Madinah?
هل تساءلت يوما… من هو المهندس الذي صمم وأشرف على الحرم المكي حتى خرج بهذا الشكل البديع؟
Have you ever asked… who was the engineer who designed and ennobled the holy mosque of Makkah with this splendid shape?
وهل تساءلت يوما… من صمم أيضاً الحرم النبوي بمآذنه البيضاء وتصميمه الفريد بكل أناقته وجماله وروحانيته؟
Have you ever asked …who also designed the holy mosque in Madinah with its white minarets, with its unique design, with all its elegance, its beauty, and spirituality?
إنه المهندس والمعماري المصري البعيد عن الأضواء، المجهول لدى الكثيرين:
الدكتور محمد كمال اسماعيل (١٩٠٨-٢٠٠٨).
He was the Egyptian engineer and architect who was far away from the public limelight, unknown to many:
Dr. Muhammad Kamal Isma’eel (1908-2008).
*محطات من حياته:
▪هو الدكتور محمد كمال اسماعيل، مصري الجنسية يلقب بأستاذ الأجيال.
*Stages of his life:
▪He was Dr. Muhammad Kamal Isma’eel, an Egyptian citizen who was know as the professor of generations.
▪ كان أصغر من حصل على الثانوية في تاريخ مصر، وأصغر من دخل مدرسة الهندسة الملكية الأولى، وأصغر من تخرج فيها، وأصغر من تم ابتعاثه إلى أوروبا للحصول على ثلاث شهادات للدكتوراه في العمارة الإسلامية، كما كان أول مهندس مصري يحل محل المهندسين الأجانب في مصر، وكان أيضا أصغر من حصل على وشاح النيل ورتبة البكوية من الملك.
▪He was the youngest person in the history of Egypt to obtain high school (certificate), the youngest to get enrolled in the first royal school of engineering and the youngest to graduate from it, the youngest to be sent to Europe to obtain three doctorate degrees in Islamic architecture. Besides, he was the first Egyptian engineer to replace foreign engineers in Egypt. He was also the youngest to obtain the “Nile” scarf and the rank of “iron” from the king.
▪هو أول مهندس قام على تخطيط وتنفيذ توسعة الحرمين أكبر توسعة للحرمين في تاريخ الإسلام، وعلى امتداد 14 قرنا.
▪He was the first engineer who undertook the planning and implementation of the (haramain) Makkah and Madinah mosques expansion project in the history of Islam (since its inception) 14 centuries ago.
▪رفض أخذ الملايين مقابل التصميم الهندسي والإشراف المعماري رغم محاولات الملك فهد وشركة بن لادن. وعندما أعطي شيك بالملايين
قال للمهندس بكر بن لادن: “آخذ مال على الحرميين الشريفين، وين أودي وجهي من ربنا؟”.
▪He refused to receive million (of money) as payment for his engineering design and architectural supervision, despite efforts by king Fahad and Ben Laden Company. So when he was handed a cheque of millions (of money).
He told engineer Bakar Bun Ladan: Why should i accept money (for my work) at the two sacred
mosques, how can I face our Lord (on the Last Day?”.
▪عاصر جميع ملوك السعودية من الملك عبد العزيز إلى الملك سلمان.
▪He was a contemporary of the entire kings of Saudi from king Abdul Aziz to king Salman.
▪كان دقيقا جدا في التصميم والإشراف وكان لا يجامل أحد أبدا في عمله حتى لوكان الملك، وبهذا كسب ثقة ومحبة الملك فهد والملك عبد الله.
▪He was a great expert in designing and supervision (of engineering work) and he would not accept flatter (or compliments) from anybody in his duties even if it were the king himself. So he attracted so much trust and love from king Fahad and King Abdallah.
▪لم يتزوج إلا في سن 44 وأنجب ابنا واحدا فقط، ثم رحلت زوجته، وعاش وحيدا متفرغا للعبادة حتى وافته المنية. وقد تجاوز المائة عام قضاها في خدمة الحرمين الشريفين بعيدا عن الإعلام والأضواء والشهرة والمال.
▪He had never married until he attained 44 years of age and he gave birth to only one son, then his wife died. And he remained single and devoted his full-time to worship until he died. He exceeded hundred years which he spent in the service of the two holy mosques, far from the mass media limelight, fame, and money.
من حق الجميع أن يتعرفوا على هذا النابغة المعماري….!!!
It is the right of everyone to know about this architectural genius.
هذا العبقري له قصه رائعه مع رخام الحرم، حيث أنه أراد وضع رخام في أرضية الحرم للطائفين ورخام مخصوص يمتص الحراره تماما.. كان هذا الرخام موجود في جبل صغير باليونان، ذهب لليونان وتعاقد علي شراء الكميه الكافيه للحرم وكانت نصف الكميه الموجوده تماما..
This genius has an amazing story in regards to the marble (works) of haram (holy mosque), as he wanted to cover the floor of the haram mosque for those making tawaf or circumambulation. And marble, in particular, absorbs heat completely.. This marble is available in a small mountain in Greece (northern Europe). He traveled to Greece and signed a contract of buying a sufficient quantity for haram (marbling). And it was only half of the quantity in demand completely.
تعاقد وعاد وجاء الرخام الأبيض وتم فعلا وضع الرخام في كل أرضية الحرم المكي.. تمر السنوات وبعد خمسة عشر عاما تطلب الحكومه السعوديه منه وضع نفس نوع الرخام في الحرم النبوي بالمدينه..
He sealed the deal and returned (to Makkah) and the white marble came (in stock). And indeed the placement of the marble on the floor of the holy mosque in Makkah was completed. So years passed by and after 15 years later, the Saudi government requested from him to place a similar type of marble in the premises of the holy mosque in Madinah.
يقول المهندس محمد كمال عندما طلب مني مكتب الملك تغطية الحرم النبوي خفت جدا فلا يوجد على الأرض برحابتها من هذا النوع من الرخام إلا في منطقه صغيره باليونان، وأنا إشتريت نصف الكميه وهي كميه بسيطه جدا..
Engineer Muhammad Kamal said when the king’s office requested from me to cover the premises of the Prophet’s mosque, i got very scared, because there is nowhere on earth to get this type of marble to cover it wide space except in a small area in Greece, and I have already bought half of the quantity (they had) which is quite a small quantity..
قال ذهبت لنفس الشركه باليونان وطلبت مقابلة رئيس مجلس إدارتها وسألته عن الكميه المتبقيه.. فقال لي لقد تم بيعها بعدك مباشرة.. يقول حزنت كما لم أحزن في حياتي، حتي أني لم أشرب قهوتي وغادرت المكتب وحجزت على طيارة اليوم التالي للعوده، عندما خرجت من مكتب رئيس الشركه وجدت السكرتيره فسألتها ولا أعلم لماذا.. من إشترى الكميه المتبقيه؟
He said I went to that same company in Greece and requested to meet its director of administration and asked him about the quantity that remains. He said to me it has been sold immediately after you left. He said l became so sad as I have never been in my life before to the extent that I could not drink my coffee (that I was served with). I then left the office and prepare to leave with the next day’s flight. So when I left the office of the director of the company, I met the secretary and asked her and I do not know why. Who purchased the rest of the quantity?
قالت لي هذا أمر مر عليه سنوات طويله ويصعب الرجوع للمشتري.. قلت لها مازال أمامي يوم في اليونان أرجوكي إبحثي وهذا رقم تليفون فندقي.. تركت الرقم وذهبت وأنا حزين.. يقول بعدما خرجت سألت نفسي.. لماذا تريد معرفة من إشترى؟ يقول المهندس العبقري قلت لنفسي لعل الله يحدث أمرا..
She answered me saying this happened for many past years and it is difficult to return to the buyer. I said to her, since I have one day before I leave Greece, I implore you to search (his contact) for me and this is my hotel direct fone line. I left the number and went (back to the hotel so sad). He said when I left I asked myself. Why do you want to know who bought (it)? ..The genius engineer said I said or soliloquized to myself perhaps Allah will make something wonderful to happen.
في اليوم التالي وقبل ساعات قليله من ذهابي للمطار وجدت السكرتيره تتصل بي وتقول تعال إلى الشركه فعندنا عنوان المشتري.. ذهبت متباطئا متسائلا ماذا أفعل بعنوان من إشترى؟..
On the next day, few hours before I left for the airport, I received a phone call from the secretary saying: Come to the company we have found the address of the buyer.I went there at a slow pace asking (myself) what would I do with the address of the buyer?..
كان عندي بعض الساعات المتبقيه علي السفر فذهبت مره أخري للشركه وقابلت السكرتيره فأعطتني عنوان الشركه التي إشترت الرخام.. يقول الدكتور المهندس خفق قلبي بشده عندما وجدت المشتري شركه سعوديه..
It so happened that I had some remaining hours before departure, so returned to the company and met the secretary. She gave me the address of the company which bought the rest of the marble. The doctor and engineer said, my heart pulsated and pumped deeply the moment I discovered that the company which bought it was a Saudi company.
طرت مباشرة إلي السعوديه ثم من المطار إلى الشركه التي إشترت الرخام ودخلت على رئيس مجلس إدارتها وسألته ماذا فعل بالرخام الذي إشتراه منذ سنوات من اليونان.. قال لا أذكر.. إتصل بالمخازن وسألهم عن الرخام الأبيض اليوناني فقالوا له… كل الكميه موجوده كما هي..
I then took a flight immediately to Saudia, then upon arrival at the airport, I went directly to the company that bought the marble and went in to consult its director of administration. I asked him what he did with the marble he purchased for many years from Greece. He said I can’t remember. He contacted the stock room (of the company) and asked them about the white marble from Greece and they told him all the quantity is available as it was (brought).
يقول المهندس محمد كمال بكيت كالطفل وسألني صاحب الشركه لماذا تبكي.. حكيت له القصه كامله وقلت له هنا شيك على بياض إكتب المبلغ الذي تريده.. قال والله الذي لا إله إلا هو صاحب الشركه عندما علم أن الرخام للحرم النبوي قال لا أخذ درهما واحدا، الرخام كله في سبيل الله وإنما أنساني الله الرخام وجعلني أشتريه ليكون هنا لهذه المهمه…
Engineer Muhammad Kamal further narrated, I then cried like a toddler. And the owner of the company asked me why I was crying. I then narrated to him the full story and said to him this is a blank cheque just write the amount that you want. He said by Allah who there is no god but Him, he is the owner of the company, when he realized that the marble is for the holy mosque of the Prophet, he said I will not accept even one dirham (Saudi money or currency), I dedicate all the marble “fisabililah”, free for the sake of Allah. Perhaps Allah made me purchase this marble and forget about it, so we can use it for this all-important work (of the Prophet mosque when the time is due)…
من حق الجميع أن يتعرفوا على هذا النابغه المعماري..
أعجبتني فحببت أشارككم هذه المعلومه، أسأل الله العلي القدير أن يبني له قصرآ في الجنه هو و والديه…اللهم آمين يارب العالمين.
الکاتب: الدکتور زغلول النجار, عالم الأرضي المصري
It is important for every (Muslim) to know about this architectural genius..It really amazed me and I wanted to share this information with you. I, therefore, ask Allah the highest and most Powerful to build for him a mansion or palace in Paradise, he and his parents. Ameen Oh Lord of the Universe.
