Circumambulation and Circumambulator Seminar

Under the auspices of his Royal Highness Prince Salamn ibn Abdulaziz, the Heir Apparent and Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Angari opened “Circumambulation and Circumambulator Seminar”. The Umm Al Qura University represented by the Prince Salman ibn Abdulaziz Chair for Makkah history studies organized the seminar in partnership with Makkah emirate and the Ministry of Haj. The seminar took place on Wednesday and Thursday, December 24-25, 2013, at the King Abdulaziz historic Hall at Umm Al Qura University. Following are a report about the seminar in terms of preparation, implementation and recommendations.

Seminar Objectives:

• Serving Makkah history through attending to circumambulation and circumambulator, and writing down its history
• Enriching the historic thought by studying the circumambulation history
• Shedding light on the circumambulation nature, history and ethics
• Highlighting the efforts of circumambulators in Makkah public life
• Providing a window to the Kingdom’s efforts in paying attention to circumambulation and circumambulator, and in developing the Haj performers’ services.
• Shining light on the social, economical and cultural  impact of the  circumambulation on Makkah society
• Searching for the documents relevant to the circumambulation and circumambulator

Seminar Pivots:

First: Circumambulation Concept and its historic origin

Second: historic evolution for circumambulation during Al Saud’s reign

Third: Circumambulation systems and their historic significance

Fourth: Circumambulators
 

• Way the circumambulators are assigned
   
• Conditions the circumambulators must meet
             
• Tasks and services

Fifth: Circumambulation groups

Sixth: Circumambulation institutions

Seventh: the Kingdom’s interest in circumambulation and circumambulator

Eighth: circumambulation on globetrotters’ books

Ninth: historical documents of circumambulation and circumambulation

Tenth: Social, economical and cultural impacts of circumambulation on Makkah society

Research Terms and Authoring Standards

1. Research involves one of the seminar pivots
2. Research is characterized with practical approach and features its terms and standards
3. Research must be not previously published or presented for some other entity to have published or taken part in a scientific event. Or, it is plagiarized from a thesis or a book.
4. Research must be no more than A4 30 pages with margins, reference and supplements included, and postscripts are placed at the bottom of the page. It is appended by the list of sources and references.
5. Research must be written with Word Microsoft, and font size is 18 for titles, 16 for body and 12 for margins. 
6. Summary of the researches are sent on 10/5/2013
7. The deadline for submitting all the researches is 6/9/2013
8. Synopses and researches undergo assessing from the panel
9. Researcher is committed to making modifications noted by the panelists
10. Researcher is to enclose their curriculum vitae in Arabic and English in no more than a page
11. Researcher is to send their research synopses in Arabic and English in no more than a page
12. Researcher submits three copies of their research on IBM disc or in the form of a file sent via email. Researcher is not allowed to  restore their researches whether they are published or not.
13. Researcher is to send their address and email
14. Financial prize is given to the researches presented at the seminar

Seminar Preparation:

At his University-based office, The University President, Dr Bakri ibn Ma’atuq Asa’as held a meeting with the University Vice-president for Activities and Knowledge Innovation, Head of the Scientific Chair Supervisory Committee, Head of the  Occasions Committee and its members, Chair Supervisor and relevant bodies to prepare for the seminar. Having discussed the preparations, they decided the following:

1. The University President instructed the entities in charge at the University to act according to their own duties
2. The President instructed upon providing the necessary needs and services for organizing the seminar, and fully cooperating with the organizing body
3. The president gives directives to signing a contract with one of the bodies specialized in organizing seminars

The University President instructed upon forming supervisory committee, scientific committee and organizing committee in the following manner:

Supervisory Committee:

It is chaired by the University President, Dr Bakri ibn Ma’atuq A’asas, and its membership includes:

Work and Knowledge Innovation Vice-president     Dr Nabil ibn Abdul-Qadir Kushuq

Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research        Prof Hani ibn Osman Ala’alami

Acting Director-General of the Makkah-based Haj Ministry branch       Dr Amin ibn Tasin Fatani

Director-General of Makkah Umrah and Haj Genera Department   Dr Salah ibn Mohamed Saqr

Director-General of Makkah History Center     Dr Zuhair ibn Ahmed Alkazimi

Head of the Coordinating Body for Circumambulation Institutions      Mr. Abdul-Waheed ibn Burhan Seif eldeen

Supervisor of the Chair                                 Dr. Abdullah ibn Hussein Alsherief

Scientific Committee

It is chaired by the Supervisor of the Chair, Dr Abdullah ibn Hussein Alsherief, and its members are:

• Prof. Yousief ibn Ali Alzaqfi             Academic Staff member of the History Department
• Prof. Rashad ibn Mahmoud Baghdadi           Academic Staff member of the History Department
• Dr. Fawaz ibn Ali Aldahas            Academic Staff member of the History Department
• Dr. Talal ibn Sharf Shafa’ai            Academic Staff member of the History Department
• Prof. Lamia’a Ahmed Shafa’ai             Academic Staff member of the History Department

Organizing Committee

It is chaired by the Supervisor of the Chair, Dr Abdullah ibn Hussein Alsherief, and its members are:

Dr Faisal ibn Ahmed A’alaf

Dr Abdulrahman ibn Hussein Abu Alkhayur

Dr Mona Bint Hamid Alsibia’ai

Dr Lamia’a Ahmed Shafa’ai

Mr. Abdulwahid Seif eldeen Burhan

Mr. Samir ibn Jameel Awan

Mr. Faisal ibn Abdulrahman Asruh

Mr. Sami ibn Ali Alyami

Mr. Hatem Abdullah Nitu

Each entity adequately lived up to its own responsibilities, and the Chair avails itself of the opportunity to extend thanks and gratitude to the following bodies:

• Work and Knowledge Innovation Vice-deanship
• Research and Studies Institute
• Scientific Chairs Department
• Occasions Department
• Operation, Maintenance and Public Services
• Public Relations
• Media Unit
• Aids and Education Technologies Center
• Information Technology and Technical Support
• University Security 

King Abdul-Aziz Darah Foundation Role in the Seminar

The Chair was introduced as a partnership between the Umm Al Qura University and King Abdul-Aziz Darah Foundation. As such, the Darah played an effective role in the events of the seminar embodied by its Secretariat Dr. Fahad ibn Abdullah Alsmari. Dr Fahad participated in the process of directing, consulting, following up and assisting through his membership in the Advisory Body of the Chair. He also scientifically took part in knowing and reviewing the scientific researches of the seminar, as well as sharing his expertise in terms of organizing , printing and publishing its intellectual output. Not only that, Dr Fahad attended the opening ceremony and gave a speech on behalf of the Darah. Also, present at the seminar was the Makkah History Center Director-General.   

Advertising, Publicity and Awareness-raising 

The Saudi News Agency circulated news items announcing about the seminar and introducing its topics and pivots. The news items also highlight the Chair’s activities and shines light on the interests of the Chair sponsor: Prince of Historians. The seminar news made headlines to many of the Saudi newspapers and websites. The media coverage for the seminar events continued to the effect that the opening ceremony, seminar events and scientific sessions were aired through the Saudi Television, Alekhabariyah TV, Saudi Culture TV (Al Thaqfiah), Saudi radio and Nida radio.  Many of the TV and radio channels interviewed HE the Minister of Higher Education, President of the University, Secretariat-General of King Abdul-Aziz Darah and Supervisor of the Chair for speaking about the Chair and the Seminar.

• Launching a website covering the seminar and  its events and news and the process of registering
• Announcing on the University and Chair websites
• Announcing about the seminar on billboards
• Sending a circular inviting the staff of the University on behalf of the University President, Vice-presidents, college deans and departments , as well as academic staff members
• Inviting officials of the governmental departments in Makkah, society elites, scholars interested in Makkah history
• Inviting Tawafa (Circumambulation) operators
• Preparing ceremony hall
• Preparing a documentary about the Chair and seminar
• Inviting the Dean of the University Studies Department, Dr Mona Alsibia’ai for attending the seminar and supervising the female section; and this took place in cooperation with the Vice-dean of Development Deanship, Dr Hanan Abdullah Rizq, member of the Organizing Committee; Prof. Lami’a Ahmed Shafa’ai and a work team made up of the Deanship female staff

Publications:

• Preparing the ceremony program
• Preparing a induction brochure about the seminar
• Preparing a brochure for the scientific sessions of the seminar
• Making short accounts on researchers and the scientific researches of the seminar
• Preparing a special release for the Chair magazine
• Preparing the Chair induction handbook
• Preparing the seminar attendance credentials 
• Invitation cards
• Participants cards
• Handing out a CD about the seminar and the Chair
• Distributing seminar-related bags to participants
• Preparing shields for guests of honor, sponsors, participants and working committees
• Printing the scientific seminar release and publishing the seminar researches
• Distributing folders holding all these publications to the attendance
• Preparing and installing advertising billboards
• Documenting the seminar by photographing and videoing it

Services:

• Harnessing all the University capabilities and relevant departments for organizing the seminar and  making a success of it
• Holding the seminar at the University King Abdul-Aziz historic hall
•  Providing first-class cars for the seminar guests and participants
• Means of transportation
• Showing hospitality for the participants and attendance during the two-day seminar
• Providing housing for the participants next to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi at Alshohada hotel

Ceremony Program:

• Holy Quran
• Speech of the Supervisor of the Chair, Dr. Abdullah ibn Hussein Alsherief
• Motawifs’ (Circumambulators’) speech given by the Head of the Coordinating Body of the Arbab Al-Tawafa (Circumambulation Operators) Establishments
• Mr. Abdulwahid Burhan Seif Eldeen
• Speech of the Secretariat-General of the King Abdul-Aziz Darah, Dr Fahad ibn Abdullah Alsmari
• Speech of the University President, Bakri ibn Ma’atuq Bakri A’asas
• Honoring: guests of honor and supportive entities in terms of  Arbab Al-Tawafa (Circumambulation Operators), researchers, session heads, coordinators and scientific and organizing committees members
• Closing

Seminar Events:

HE the Minister of Higher Education, Prof Khalid bin Mohammed Al Angari inaugurated the seminar  at the University King Abdul-Aziz historic hall in Abidyah. The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday, December 24, 2013, at 1:30 pm. Present were the University President, Dr Baqri ibn Ma’stuq A’assas, the Secretariat-General of the King Abdul-Aziz Darah; Dr Fahad ibn Abdullah Alsamari, Ha’il University President; Dr Said Al Omar, the Director of the Holy Capital police; general A’asaf Alqurshi.

Similarly, among the attendance were honor guests, vice-presidents, deans, a big number of officials, Motawifs (Circumambulators), intellectuals,   media professionals, academicians and students from within and outside the University, the University Studies Department Dean and a group of female officials, female Motawifs (circumambulators) and female students-as well as academies.

Still, the seminar drew 38 researchers from the Saudi universities, males and females alike. Among those universities are King Saud University, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Taibah University, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jizan University and Umm Al Qura University as well as a number of Motawifs (circumambulators).

Exhibit accompanying the seminar:

At the sidelines of the seminar the Minister of Higher Education opened the Makkah historic images exhibit, organized by the Chair at the King Abdul-Aziz historic hall, where the ceremony took place. The exhibit housed 60 old and new historic images for Makkah, the Holy Sites and the Kingdom’s Kings in the holy lands.

Attendance Number

The seminar was adequately attended as the attendance reached a thousand individuals, males and females.

Opening Ceremony:

Mr. Sami ibn Ali Alyami presented the ceremony, and kicked off the speech ceremony prepared for this occasion:

First: reciting verses out of the holy Quran by the reverent sheikh Sajad Mustafa Kamal

Second: Speech given by the Supervisor of the Chair, Dr. Abdullah ibn Hussein Alsherief

Third: Motawifs (Circumambulators) rendered by the Head of the Coordinating Body of Arbab Al-Tawafa Establishments

Fourth: speech of the Secretariat-General of the King Abdul-Aziz Darah, Dr Fahad ibn Abdullah Alsamari

Fifth: speech of the University President and Chairman of the Center Board of Directors, Dr Baqri ibn Ma’atuq Baqri A’asas

Sixth: honoring

Seventh: Closing

Scientific Sessions Table

Seminar Results

1. Shining light on the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques interest in serving the Haj performers, visitors and Umrah performers- as well as taking care of those serving them such as Motawifs (Circumambulators), agents, guides and zamazemah (watermen)
2. Providing a window to the interest of the Chair sponsor; Prince of Historians, his royal highness Prince Salman ibn Abdul-Aziz; the Heir Apparent ,deputy premier and defense minister; in history and historians in general and the history of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in particular
3. Promoting for the Chair and raising awareness about its importance in serving the history of Makkah
4. Recording the history of Tawafa (circumambulation), and shining light on its importance and the role of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in serving the Haj performers and making them perform their rituals smoothly
5. Shedding light on the role of Tawafa (Circumambulation) operators and Tawafa establishments in serving the Haj performers, and the role of our prudent government in developing Tawafa and its systems and institutionalizing it according to the latest methods
6. Adding the scientific release to the Islamic Arab Library, and contributing to deepening and spreading the history knowledge

Seminar Recommendations

Praises go out to Allah, and peace be upon the messenger of Allah and all his folk and companions

May Allah be praised that He guided us to make a success of this seminar. And given the research participation, comments and recommendation made by the attendance, and which enriched the scientific seminar sessions, the Scientific Committee issued the following recommendations:

First: sending thanks and gratitude wires bearing the name of the University President, Prof. Bakri ibn Ma’atuq A’assas to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah ibn Abdul-Aziz; the Chair sponsor his royal highness Prince Salman ibn Abdul-Aziz, the heir apparent and deputy premier and defense minister; his royal highness Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz; second deputy premier and the advisor and special envoy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, his royal highness emir of Makkah, Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Angari; higher education minister for sponsoring the seminar and all what serves the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Haj and Umrah performers and the Holy lands’ visitors

Second: having the Chair complete the studies of the Makkah history in general and Tawafa (circumambulation) and Motawifs (circumambulators) in particular

Third: striking partnership between the Prince Salamn ibn Abdul-Aziz Chair for Makkah history studies and the Coordinating Body for Arbab El Tawaf Establishments in order to address the deficiency aspects in the researches and studies related to the history of Tawafa (circumambulation) and Motawifs (circumambulators

Fourth: stressing on the importance of building a digital archiving for the documents and studies relevant to Tawafa (circumambulation) and Motawifs (circumambulators)

Fifth: calling on the Kingdom’s scientific bodies to adopt scientific studies for master and doctorate on Tawafa (circumambulation) and Motawifs (circumambulators) over ages

Sixth: holding educational and jurisprudence (fiqh) courses about the Haj rituals for those working at the Tawafa (circumambulation) establishments

Seventh: Documenting the verbal history of the senior Motawifs (circumambulators) and Haj performers as an important source for Tawafa (circumambulation) and Motawifs (circumambulators)