After esha salah accompanied with Professors N A Zaigam and Omar Siraj Abu-Rizaiza from Department of Earth Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University Jeddah, Shaikhs Mufti Rafi’ Usmani and sayyidi wa sanadi Mufti Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve them) visited the basement area of the masa’a to ascertain the boundaries of Mount Safa. This was essential to validate the sa’ee in the newly extended construction.

The base of the original Mount Safa is still preserved. It is quite wide. It starts approximately in line to the hajar e aswad corner of the Holy Ka’aba and extends beyond the present constructed area of the masa’a’s eastern wall.

Sayyidi wa sanadi discussed with the experts and made sure that the base of Mount Safa was being distinguished from thatof Jabal Abu Qubais, since they are from the same mountain range. This was firmly established. The professors explained in detail about the various extensions that have been done in the past. They also told about a new very expensive device (ground penetrating radar) that will be used to map the deep geology of this area without excavation. They reassured that the results from this study will provide further validation.

Mount Marwa was not seen as sayyidi wa sanadi said that there was no issue regarding its boundaries. They were well established.

On the way back sayyidi wa sanadi commented that apparently it looks to be fine and the sa’ee in the newly extended area will be valid without any reservations. Previously we had not issued an explicit ruling (fatwa) of permissibility about it.

Makkah e mukaramah, Tuesday, 26th July 2011, after esha