By Rafique S. M. Ahmed, President, Muslim Monitor Foundation, San Dimas, CA
When I first took my family to Saudi Arabia in 1977 to perform Umra, I found the conditions quite pathetic. Good telecommunication and transportation systems were almost non existent. There was an acute shortage of drinking water. By the time we got to Madina after performing Umra, the weather was so hot in October of that year that my wife with a small baby in her arms got dehydrated and fainted at the doorsteps of our beloved Prophet’s Mosque. Much to my discomfiture, I found that even drinking water was not readily available for her!
A year after King Fahd took over the reins of Saudi Arabia, I was blessed by Allah to perform Hajj. That was in 1983. I felt extremely happy to see that the King’s government was fully committed to improving the infrastructure and providing basic necessities and services. Drinking water was available in abundance everywhere. Even Abae Zam Zam was made available in the Holy Prophet’s Mosque in Madina. Retired Army personnel from Pakistan were busy in the maintenance of both the holy mosques in Mecca and Madina.
Seventeen years after, I had another opportunity last year to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Umra. It was, indeed, mind boggling and I was quite astonished to see the great expansion and renovation that had taken place in both the holy mosques in Mecca and Madina. My heart was full of appreciation and gratitude for King Fahd for rendering an extraordinarily remarkable service to Muslims and Islam. May Allah bestow His choicest Blessings on King Fahd and all those who helped him undertake these projects. Amen!