Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture
The Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture is a museum that specializes in displaying rare artifacts and ancient and modern photographs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. It is located in the Makkah Al-Mukarramah City, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It houses rare manuscripts and copies of the Noble Quran retrieved from the libraries of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. It was inaugurated on February 1, 2000, during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz.
Establishment of the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture
The Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture was built on an area of 1,200 m. It consists of seven halls, each dedicated to a specific type of display. Its exterior design is consistent with the Islamic style and architectural design of the Grand Mosque. It is supervised by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque.
Halls of the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture
The exhibition consists of seven halls, each displaying its own collections and artifacts. The first of these halls is the reception hall, which is the place designated to welcome visitors and share an overview of the Two Holy Mosques' architecture and expansion, where this is displayed in the form of a modern model of the Grand Mosque and some old photographs of the Two Holy Mosques. The exhibition also houses the following halls:
The Grand Mosque Hall
It is the exhibition's second hall. It displays items related to the Grand Mosque, including the staircase of Al-Kaaba Al-Musharrafa, which is made of teak wood and dates back to 1825. It also displays the previous cover of Maqam Ibrahim, peace be upon him (PBUH), which was replaced during the reign of King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Moreover, it showcases several minarets dating back to 1882.
Al-Kaaba Al-Musharrafa Hall
Al-Kaaba Al-Musharrafa Hall, which is the third hall, houses items related to Al-Kaaba Al-Musharrafa. These items include Mizab (rain gutter) of Al-Kaaba, which is made of wood, covered with gold, and lined with lead on the inside, dating back to 1857. It also showcases one of the teak pillars of Al-Kaaba Al-Musharrafa, dating back to the construction of Al-Kaaba by Abdullah Bin Zubair in 685. Moreover, it displays the door of Al-Kaaba Al-Musharrafa, whose making was ordered by the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud in 1944.
Hall of Photographs
The fourth hall, the Hall of Photographs, features a collection of rare photographs of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and the Holy Sites. These photographs date back to 1881. They were gifted to the exhibition by Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. On the other hand, the Manuscripts Hall, which is the fifth hall, showcases rare copies of the Noble Quran and manuscripts retrieved from the libraries of the Two Holy Mosques, as well as a copy of the Ottoman Quran written during the reign of Caliph Uthman Bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him).
Hall of the Prophet's Mosque
The sixth hall of the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture specializes in showcasing items and artifacts related to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah and the Prophet's Mosque. It displays one of the main doors of the Prophet's Mosque, dating back to the first Mosque's expansion in 1954. It also displays the crescent of the main minaret of the Prophet's Mosque, dating back to the early eighth century.
Zamzam Hall
The Zamzam Hall, which is the exhibition's seventh hall, displays several tools that were used in Zamzam Well. These tools include the top of Zamzam Well, its collar, and its lid. It also displays a pulley that was used for pulling water out of Zamzam Well. The pulley dates back to the late eighth century. It showcases a copper bucket dating back to 1881. The bucket was used in Zamzam Well. The hall also showcases a sundial used to determine prayer times before printing and publishing the Hijri calendar. The sundial topped Zamzam Well, and dates back to 1614. The hall displays a clock which procurement was ordered by King Abdulaziz. The clock topped the seat of the government in 1933.
Sources
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque