In terms of an engineering project, its hugely interesting. A few features spring to mind:

• How to facilitate the wudhu needs of the people. This of course includes the need for restroom facilities
• Crush control structures in the common case of overcrowding
• Some kind of water mist system / water dispensing for when it gets really hot
• Entrance ways and exits
• Medical attention facilities
• Viewing platforms, for filming perhaps

These kinds of things, if properly addressed, will take more distractions away from what the people really went there for: to make pilgrimage for the sake of God, which itself is quite interesting. Like ramadhan, it is one of the pillars of Islam, and has positive effects on people. Its quite a demonstration of solidarity between people of all colours and backgrounds. Whilst everyone is dressed as humble pilgrims, there is no distinction between rich and poor, or even of where they are from. Its an oppourtunity to reflect on the origins of their faith, and to consider what that means in the 15th century AH, (21st CE) .

Calls to establish peace should and will be applauded and supported. Hypocrisy should not.

Its interesting to see how the President was greeted by Officials of the Arab nations. In Islam, it is recommended to give pleasant greetings and gifts. Offering of food and water is a stapple when you enter any muslim home. The prophet Mohamed PBUH would look after his neighbours and extend hospitality to his guests. I wonder if he would invite a man to his house, who led an administration responsible for the deaths of thousands of Muslims, or whether he would even have one of his officers goose step for him. Mind you, given that leaders of Arab states struggle to represent the interests of the Muslim people they rule, its not very surprising.

Once the placebo of a peace agreement begins to anaesthetise parts of the middle east, maybe we will see the levels of violence to non-combatants fall. The incredible thing about Bethlehem, seems to be the lack of effort on the part of the catholic church to defend the land and people in which Jesus was supposed to have been born. Now that Tony Blair is a Catholic and has showed signs of interest for peace in the middle east, he can go over there and work some secular magic on behalf of the Church to rescue his people from persecution.

Whilst the peace process is underway, we are likely to see continued efforts to arm the Palestinians with weapons and not intellect. The question I would want to ask would be whether or not they fight for their people in the way of God, understanding the non-secular nature of Islam, or whether they are simply furthering a Patriotic/Nationalistic doctrine.

Interestingly enough, many more women convert to Islam than men. But it shouldn’t be so surprising. Women don’t carry their ego as much as men do. Accordingly they are more receptive to things which they believe to be true. And when they hear some of the things about the position of women in Islam, its really a surprise that more don’t want to come!

• Women who do paid work whilst married are not obliged at all to contribute to the family; the money she earns is all hers. The responsibility is on the husband to provide!
• It obligatory on men when they come home from work to get involved in house duties! No excuses guys!
• Husbands are supposed to freshen up before they greet their wives after coming home from work, to look nice for her!
• Men are to lower their gaze, from women who aren’t in their family so to protect the womens modesty !

Here is a link to a Guardian newspaper article shedding light on a womens path to Islam.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,740616,00.html