King Abdulaziz Public Library is a visual memory of the history of Hajj and the architecture of the Two Holy Mosques

Since the library was established more than 40 years ago, it has been working to provide this qualitative knowledge, while working to update and develop it on an ongoing basis according to its cultural program in supplying and renewing research sources and renewing materials and collectibles. Which develops scientific research in this field.

Rare Collections

The library is not satisfied with this role, but it works to display its rare heritage collections to the public, especially when it comes to the Hajj pilgrimage, and to highlight its great interest in introducing it, and to the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca, which contains the first house built for people, and in Medina, where the Mosque of the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers is located, the Prophet’s Mosque.

And through this great interest, which embodies a distinctive cultural vision, which falls within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the care that the Kingdom treasures of antiquities, history, heritage and cultural tourism that is unparalleled in the world, the King Abdulaziz Public Library launched the first screening in Riyadh of the film " The greatest journeys…the Hajj to Mecca: in the footsteps of Ibn Battuta"The historical documentary film received great praise from observers, scholars and researchers, as the film achieved global resonance when it was shown in large-screen cinemas in the world.

Hajj Rituals

Ibn Battuta’s film links the past and the present as it shows scenes of Hajj rituals in the modern era, as well as highlighting the great efforts made by the Kingdom to rebuild the Two Holy Mosques, and provide all means of ease and comfort for pilgrims.

More than 2,000 people from 24 countries participated in this work, as Ibn Battuta’s journey to Mecca during the 14th century AD was inspired as a historical background for the film, and the contents of the film highlighted its dimensions as a message of peace and tolerance.

The film deals with the Hajj and its rituals, and was produced by an international company specialized in the field of producing and filming documentaries, and is shown on a giant screen display system with a high-quality sound and image, (( IMAX) The pilgrims’ march and their entry into Mecca was filmed by air, sea, and land, and the duration of the film is (45) minutes.

The film – which is produced by the library – had previously been shown in a number of international capitals, where it was shown in New York, Paris, London, Singapore, Jakarta, and Dubai, and won three awards at the Houston, Boston, and Paris festivals. The film was translated into a number of international languages, including French, Russian, and Turkish, in addition to English. And Arabic.

Visual Memory

The library maintains collections of historical photographs that have not been published before, the most prominent of which are: collections about the Kingdom and the Arab world in general, among them the first and most famous collection photographed by Major General Muhammad Sadiq Pasha, which includes a global picture of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina, of which there are only three copies in the world.

It also has (365) pictures with their originals that have not been published before of the Two Holy Mosques. The Two Holy Mosques, photographed by the international Egyptian photographer Ahmed Pasha Helmy, who was commissioned by King Farouk to photograph the Two Holy Mosques during the entry of King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – Mecca and Medina, in addition to a group of albums depicting the Hejaz Railway and some regions of the Kingdom.

Ahmed Mirza is considered the first Indian professional photographer who came to the Holy Lands for Hajj in 1325 AH / 1907 AD, where the library issued his book:"Watching the Two Holy Mosques and the aspects of Hajj through the lens of Hajj Ahmed Mirza"

Contents of the book

The 240-page book includes an introduction to the Two Holy Mosques in old maps, ancient drawings and miniatures, initial photographs, and photographs in India.

The King Abdulaziz Public Library obtained a collection of old, original photographs of the international Brazilian photographer Humberto da Silveira, numbering (165) collected by the photographer who traveled throughout the Kingdom for twelve years. year, in which he produced a group of pictures documenting historical places in the Kingdom before the contemporary modernization phase, including pictures of the Two Holy Mosques.

These pictures gain importance in that they contribute to introducing future generations and giving them insight into their history and the customs prevailing in the Kingdom at the time. They also received great international care and attention when the photographer participated in them as an exhibitor in major international exhibitions: the exhibition of the Arab World Institute in Paris, and the other in the Elysee Museum in Lausanne.

And thus the great role of this is highlighted. The stock of knowledge possessed by the King Abdulaziz Public Library, which is considered the most important photographic and manuscript documentary heritage for this great religious season in which Muslims from all over the world meet to get to know each other, perform the Hajj rituals, and perform the rituals of God.