The value of glorifying the Sacred City

The importance of values lies in the fact that they are the criterion
by which people, ideologies,actions, positions and subjects can be
judged and measured; moreover,values decide the identityof the
community; the values in a given community have a direct effect and
influence on the manners and conductwhich the members of that
community adopt.
Whenever the values of acommunity originate from the teachings of its
faith, the behaviour and conduct of its people will reflect such a
faith and they will certainly enjoy fine and fulfilling lives within
their respective communities.
Strengthening the social values that Islaam instructs and emphasises
upon is the safety valve that protects and guards the community, and
one of the greatest and most important of such values is to glorify
the symbols of Allaah. Indeed, such glorification results in lofty
social customs and etiquettes that guaranteethe stability of the
Muslimcommunity and assures happiness in this life and the Life to
come.
Allaah Almighty has madethis city a Sacred and Secure one and has
honoured His House )the Ka'bah(; He made glorifying this city one of
the most honourable actsof worship by which a person draws close to
Allaah; He Says )what means(:"That ]is so[. And whoever honours the
symbols]i.e. rites[ of Allaah — indeed, it is from the piety of
hearts."]Quran 22: 32[
Glorifying what Allaah and His Messengerhave glorified results in
establishing great social values that will yield countless benefits to
the Muslims, and will reflect the unity of the Muslims - a nation that
direct themselves to one Qiblah,believe in one religion and harbour
the same objectives and hopes, as if their hearts are that of a single
person.
Due to the great value that glorifying Honourable Makkah has in the
hearts of the Muslims, it is a very easy task to attract diverse human
resources to invest in a project that aims to glorify this great city,
and for Muslims fromdifferent sectors within the Muslim community to
cooperate in order to instil such glorification inthe hearts and
spread it amongst the people.
This was the initiating point for the project of 'Glorifying
theSacredCity'. The project was derived from the texts of the Book of
Allaah that were revealed in Honourable Makkah and the Sunnah of His
Prophet, whose prophethood began in it.
The Prophettaught us how to build this value ofglorifying Makkah -
since his prophethood started in Makkah itself - in a practical manner
that is away from fantasy and ina realistic manner that is easy to
comprehend, andmade it deeply rooted in the hearts in a way that
guaranteed the continuity of such glorification by those who reside in
the Sacred City and those who come to visit it. He did so with great
wisdom and with tender care which causedpeople to long to see
andglorify thisSacredCity.
Under the sponsorship of his Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul-Majeed bin
'Abdul-'Azeez, the Governor of the province of Makkah, on the
fifteenth day of the month of Sha'baan, 1426 AH this project was
initiated in a celebrationattended by many princes, government
officials from different departments in the city of Makkah, mayors,
neighbourhood chiefs and school principals.
The gathering included video footage and Islaamic songs and was
concluded with a speech delivered by his Royal Highness in which he
announced the launchingof the project and encouraged government
officials and the residentsof Makkah to support and partake in the
project.
The project aims - through various committees, programs and
advertisements - to revive the role of organizations and individuals
in shaping the social behaviour of the Makkan community, raising
people's awareness about the status of Honourable Makkah and
encouragingpeople to glorify it, so that this value and principle of
glorifying Makkah becomes an influential tool that affects and directs
people's vision and strengthens community bonds, families,
neighbourhoods and the Makkan community in its entirety.