Does anyone even think about the massive nature of this building overshadowing the real center of Makkah? I have to wonder what people from the first Islamic century would have thought?
The Petronas Towers are shorter than the (former) Sears Tower in a number of official height categories:
The Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world until Taipei 101 was completed in 2004, as measured to the top of their structural components (spires, but not antennas). Spires are considered integral parts of the architectural design of buildings, to which changes would substantially change the appearance and design of the building, whereas antennas may be added or removed without such consequences. The Petronas Twin Towers remain the tallest twin buildings in the world.
The Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the World Trade Center towers were each constructed with 110 occupied floors – 22 more than the Petronas Twin Towers’ 88 floors. The Willis Tower and the World Trade Center’s roofs and highest occupied floors substantially exceeded the height of the roof and highest floors of the Petronas Twin Towers. The Willis Tower’s tallest antenna is 247.4 ft taller than the Petronas Twin Towers’ spires. However, in accordance to CTBUH regulations and guidelines, the antennas of the Willis Tower were not counted as part of its architectural features. The spires on the Petronas Towers are included in the height since they are not antenna masts. Therefore, the Petronas Twin Towers exceed the official height of the Willis Tower by 10 m, but the Willis Tower has more floors and much higher square footage.
saudi royal family making Maka , aplace like a lasvegas. all these Hiltons, intercontinental, Sheratons are belong to Saudi royal family members, and someof the money goes to these hotel chain. why they are making our religion a business !!
Wasn’t there some taboo, at some point in Islamicate history, against building tall on the grounds that it was considered in some sense arrogant? I read it somewhere, but can’t find the reference now, so I’m not sure how reliable the claim is.
I have to admit to finding the almost universal condemnation of KSA for hte development of Makkah, especially amongst wealthy (I mean wealthy by global standards, which would include the vast majority of western Muslims) western Muslims, to be a little frustrating for a few reasons.
First, there are hundreds and hundreds of better reasons to hate the rulers of KSA.
Second, there is no religious prohibition on making money off the hajj nor is there one on building large buildings (the fact that it is a sign of the Day of Judgement does not in intself make it haram).
Third, many of these people live in western countries with large skyscrapers and western luxury hotels and I rarely hear them complain about how evil this is. There may be a few who are uncomfortable with such things in general, but most seem instead to want Makkah preserved as some kind of preserved tourist attraction for them to visit, of course I am sure none of these westerners want to stay in fancy hotels near the Ka’bah when they visit (although for some reason although the western hajj packages advertise such accomodatons).
None of which is to say I necessarily find these projects exciting or a good thing, just that I find it odd that among all the other things the government of KSA does which are truly evil, people seem to find this such an emotional topic.
Your very valid criticism reminds me of this Gary Larson cartoon. Not fashionable to say so, but I do think KSA authorities do deserve some recognition for trying to make things easier for pilgrims*. (I know people directly involved in the design/engineering of Makka.)
However, a lot of more well-reasoned criticism seems to be about the widespread destruction of historical buildings, including mosques and cemeteries, which are of significance to the cultural and religious histories of Muslims around the world. It is not that such buildings should not be renovated or replaced when needed (I am a professional engineer so I hope do understand these aspects), but that we don’t even know what has disappeared.
This destruction also ties in with the history of early Saudi zealotry (and brutality), and its destruction of mosques and shrines.
*’Greens’ may still express alarm at the environmental aspects though…
mirelle, 
thabet, 
abunoor, and 7 others are discussing.
mirelle 5:36 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
Does anyone even think about the massive nature of this building overshadowing the real center of Makkah? I have to wonder what people from the first Islamic century would have thought?
AA 5:52 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
They probably just want to resolve the moon sighting issues once and for all. Well worth the cost.
bingregory 6:40 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
Funny, why are the Petronas Towers drawn as shorter than the Sears Tower?
Also, testing.
bingregory 6:41 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
Hey wow, I can post again!
zahed 6:59 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
The Petronas Towers are shorter than the (former) Sears Tower in a number of official height categories:
aziz 9:44 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
zahed was able to give you a more measured response than I, a Chicago native, would have done.
here’s my post on this a few years ago which goes into more detail.
issay 7:08 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
saudi royal family making Maka , aplace like a lasvegas. all these Hiltons, intercontinental, Sheratons are belong to Saudi royal family members, and someof the money goes to these hotel chain. why they are making our religion a business !!
AA 9:37 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
The clan which controls the Mecca has always ran it as a business. This is even before the Prophet’s time. Nothing new.
mirelle 10:12 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned the Hadith Jibreel yet.
Tayat 9:12 pm on June 27, 2010 Permalink
I began to read Sinclair’s “The Profits of Religion”, and this graphic illustration gives you food for thought. A disgrace and anger comes to my mind.
Yakoub 6:56 am on June 28, 2010 Permalink
Wasn’t there some taboo, at some point in Islamicate history, against building tall on the grounds that it was considered in some sense arrogant? I read it somewhere, but can’t find the reference now, so I’m not sure how reliable the claim is.
thabet 2:20 pm on June 28, 2010 Permalink
I believe you’re talking about this.
mirelle 7:36 am on June 30, 2010 Permalink
Yep, the Hadith Jibreel! I knew it would come up eventually.
abunoor 4:10 pm on June 28, 2010 Permalink
I have to admit to finding the almost universal condemnation of KSA for hte development of Makkah, especially amongst wealthy (I mean wealthy by global standards, which would include the vast majority of western Muslims) western Muslims, to be a little frustrating for a few reasons.
First, there are hundreds and hundreds of better reasons to hate the rulers of KSA.
Second, there is no religious prohibition on making money off the hajj nor is there one on building large buildings (the fact that it is a sign of the Day of Judgement does not in intself make it haram).
Third, many of these people live in western countries with large skyscrapers and western luxury hotels and I rarely hear them complain about how evil this is. There may be a few who are uncomfortable with such things in general, but most seem instead to want Makkah preserved as some kind of preserved tourist attraction for them to visit, of course I am sure none of these westerners want to stay in fancy hotels near the Ka’bah when they visit (although for some reason although the western hajj packages advertise such accomodatons).
abunoor 4:12 pm on June 28, 2010 Permalink
None of which is to say I necessarily find these projects exciting or a good thing, just that I find it odd that among all the other things the government of KSA does which are truly evil, people seem to find this such an emotional topic.
thabet 4:25 pm on June 28, 2010 Permalink
Your very valid criticism reminds me of this Gary Larson cartoon. Not fashionable to say so, but I do think KSA authorities do deserve some recognition for trying to make things easier for pilgrims*. (I know people directly involved in the design/engineering of Makka.)
However, a lot of more well-reasoned criticism seems to be about the widespread destruction of historical buildings, including mosques and cemeteries, which are of significance to the cultural and religious histories of Muslims around the world. It is not that such buildings should not be renovated or replaced when needed (I am a professional engineer so I hope do understand these aspects), but that we don’t even know what has disappeared.
This destruction also ties in with the history of early Saudi zealotry (and brutality), and its destruction of mosques and shrines.
*’Greens’ may still express alarm at the environmental aspects though…