Shots of the architectural landmarks of Mecca Al-Mukarramah, Medina Al-Munawwarah, and Taif 1387 - 1404 AH / Cardboard cover

In the book "Snapshots of the Architectural Landmarks of Mecca Al-Mukarramah, Medina Al-Munawwarah, and Taif 1387 - 1404 AH" by Mr. Anis Bashir Shoudri, published by Dar Al-Thaqafa for Printing in Mecca Al-Mukarramah, it came in more than two hundred large-sized pages and included about three hundred pictures varied between historical events, architectural arts, and memories of streets, roads, and markets. In each page, a memory stopped us at a shot to illustrate an event preserved by the lens and recorded by history to convey to generations a life of a recent past carrying suffering and pain, and smiles and joy, events narrated to serve as lessons for others. Before flipping the pages, we stop at "a shot of the Holy Mosque on the third day of heavy rain falling on it on Wednesday 4/11/1388 AH, after the flood entered especially from the Qashashiya side into the Haram," so the picture talks about the suffering experienced by visitors to the House of the Holy Mosque whenever it rained, and invites us to praise Allah, the Almighty, for the blessings we now enjoy that are countless, as the effects of rain floods are no longer present inside the courtyards of the Holy Mosque. From a historical event inside the courtyards of the Holy Mosque to another event outside related to politics, a "memorial shot of the members of the Saudi delegation participating in the first Islamic conference held in Mecca Al-Mukarramah on 20/11/1344 AH" at the entrance of the Finance building, shows in the center of the picture Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz (Deputy King of Hejaz), and to his right and behind Fuad Hamza, then Amin Fouda and father of Ibrahim Fouda, then Khalid Al-Ayyubi in official dress, and to the left of Prince Ali Al-Idrisi and Youssef Yassin, followed by Sulaiman Shafiq Pasha, then Muhammad Mughairbi - in white ghutra - and behind him Aziz Baghdad "Director of Public Security at that time, not visible in the picture." As the author highlighted other historical snapshots of prominent events in streets, roads, and buildings, models of door arts and mashrabiyas in the houses of Mecca appeared, along with shots of the Small Market, one of the well-known markets in Mecca, located on the western side of the Holy Mosque, and the Night Market located in the northeastern part of the Holy Mosque. From Mecca Al-Mukarramah, the author then moved us with his shots to Medina Al-Munawwarah, showing us scenes from the Prophet's Mosque, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque, and Omar bin Al-Khattab Mosque, and then touring the area surrounding the Holy Mosque, capturing several shots reminding us of the Aref Hikmat Library established in 1270 AH, and other shots of Sheikh Muhammad Mazar Al-Farouki's library founded in 1291 AH. From the libraries, he moved to the streets of Medina and stopped us at the old Saha Alley, known to the public as "Kumat Hashifa," then to Al-Ayina Street, highlighting shots of the Emarat Al-Amah in Al-Ayina Street, Fuhmi Hussein Effendi, the Khuraiji House, the Egyptian Tekiyaa building, and the Hejaz Railway station. To Taif, the author takes us to highlight shots of the Kadhoun Mosque near Al-Mithna, and Al-Koua Mosque, as well as other shots of the Qashla, Shubra Palace, and "one of the historic palaces located in Taif city. King Abdulaziz Al Saud and Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud used to make it their palace when visiting Taif. It was converted into a regional museum for Taif Governorate and opened to visitors in 1415 AH corresponding to 1995 AD." From there, he moves us to the writer's house, called "Al-Niyaba Palace" because King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud used to stay there during the summer, and the Qattan House located in Barhat Al-Qazzaz east of the Qashla, considered an important house where some significant occasions are held. In summary, it can be said that the book represents a documented past history with evidence carrying messages. It is an addition to the historical events it covered, reviving beautiful days gone by in memory. It also collected, organized, and presented beautiful historical information. Article by writer Ahmed Halabi