MAKKAH: The Royal Commission for Makkah and Holy Sites recently inaugurated the cultural and recreational center of Khasirat Ayn Zubaida as part of its efforts to develop historical sites.
The inauguration took place in cooperation with the commission’s partners, including the Pilgrim Experience Program, the Ministry of Culture, the General Authority for Awqaf, the Heritage Commission and Kidana Development Company.
The region includes a 1.2 km hiking route and six different cultural and recreational areas that enrich the visitor experience.
The commission said that these will be open until Feb. 28.
As a source of fresh water and a rest stop for pilgrims, the Ayn Zubaida stream is one of the most historic monuments in Makkah and holds significance for Muslims. It is also a symbol of the rich history and heritage of the holy city.
The development and rehabilitation of the Khasirat Ayn Zubaida region reflects the commission’s keenness to preserve historical areas of Makkah. It is developing sites to enhance cultural and heritage awareness, enrich the experience of residents and visitors to Makkah, and promote historical tourism in the Kingdom.
Speaking to Arab News, Dr. Mohammed bin Hussein Al-Harethi Al-Sharif, who specializes in history and civilization, said that Khasirat Ayn Zubaida is “one of the most outstanding historical and cultural regions” and includes ancient heritage associated with Islamic civilization.
Al-Sharif added that for years, he has called for similar investments in tourism sites and monuments across the Kingdom, and in Makkah specifically.
Zubaida bint Ja’far Ibn Al-Mansour, an Abbasid-era princess, is remembered for promoting the construction of a series of wells, reservoirs and artificial pools that provided water for Muslim pilgrims along the route from Baghdad to Makkah and Madinah.
Al-Sharif said: “It was significantly hard for Makkah’s residents and pilgrims to get water … when Al-Mansour found out, she ordered the construction of an aqueduct in the years 809-810 in Makkah. The aqueduct was supplied by a water spring from Masjid Al-Haram but the quantity was insufficient for the people of Makkah. After suffering significant losses, she ordered a group of engineers to create water springs for the aqueduct from Al-Hill.”
He added that Al-Mansour spent great amounts of money and ordered the construction of the aqueduct’s first water spring, but it was polluted. “She removed all the previous springs and built a new one, which worked perfectly … she spent huge amounts of money on the construction of several water springs stemming from Al-Hill, including the Al-Mishash water spring.”
The royal also ordered the construction of the Wadi Nu’man water spring which flows into Arafat. “The Wadi Nu’man water spring stems from Jabal Kara, which is a very steep mountain topped by the Taif land. From Wadi Nu’man, the spring flows into a site called Al-Ojar, as well as into a site with farms located between two steep mountains in Arafat, up until the Ain Nu’man water spring started flowing into Arafat.”
The aqueduct was then directed toward Mount Arafat, where pilgrims gather and pray during Hajj, and the roads were paved from the aqueduct to ponds, where water is available for pilgrims to drink on the Day of Arafat.
Nasser Bukhari, a visitor to Khasirat Ayn Zubaida, said that the development is a “leading step” in highlighting the region’s cultural significance for Makkah and its history in the pilgrimage system.
