Bradford Mosque

Arabs Competing to build Taller buildings

 There is a lenghty saying of the prophet (S.A.W) which sumarises what Islam is very nicely. At the end of the saying a prophecy is mentioned...

Umar ibn Khattab (ra) said: “As we were sitting one day before the Messenger of Allah (saw), a man suddenly appeared. He wore pure white clothes and his hair was dark black-yet there were no signs of travel on him, and none of us knew him.

He came and sat down in front of the Prophet (saw), placing his knees against his, and his hands on his thighs. He said, “O Muhammad! Tell me about Islam.”

The Messenger of Allah (saw) replied, “Islam is to bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God; and to perform the prayer; pay zakat (ie obligatory charity); Fast Ramadan; and to perform Pilgrimage to the House if you are able.”

The man said, “You have spoken the truth,” and we were surprised that he asked and then confirmed the answer.

Then, he asked, “Tell me about belief (iman).”

The Prophet (saw) replied, “It is to believe in Allah; His Angels; His Books; His Messengers; the Last Day; and in destiny-its good and bad.”

The man said, “You have spoken the truth. Now, tell me about spiritual excellence (ihsan).”

The Prophet (saw) replied, “It is to serve Allah as though you behold Him; and if you don’t behold him, (know that) He surely sees you.”

 “Now, tell me of the Last Hour,” asked the man.                                                        

                                                                                                     The Burj-al Arab

The Prophet (saw) replied, “The one asked knows no more of it than the one asking.”

“Then tell me about its signs,” said the man.

The Prophet (saw) replied, “That slave women give birth to their mistress/master; and that you see barefoot, unclothed shepherds competing in the construction of tall buildings.”

Then the visitor left, and I waited a long time. Then the Prophet (saw) asked me, “Do you know, Umar, who the questioner was?”

I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”

He said (saw), “It was Jibril. He came to you to teach you your religion.”"  [Sahih Muslim]

                                 Burj - Jeddah                                                                            Al Mamlaka Tower

The prophey realised.  The last two decades has seen intense competition between the oil rich arabs, to build the worlds tallest buildings. Such examples are witnessed in rueters news and Wikipedia articles  below...

DUBAI | Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:37am EST

"The Burj Dubai, part of a $20 billion project in the emirate, ...will be the world's tallest building," in Dubai.

... "Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, plans to ... build the world's tallest tower in Saudi Arabia...The Mile High tower, which could reach 1,600 metres (5,249 ft) in height,is to be built in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah and may cost up to $10 billion.The Mile High tower could be twice as tall as Burj  Dubai. *2

From Wikipedia *3

Almas Tower (Arabic: برج الماس‎ Diamond Tower) is a supertall skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Construction began in 2005. The building topped out at 360 m (1,180 ft) in 2008, becoming the third-tallest building in Dubai, after Emirates Park Towers and Burj Khalifa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almas_Tower

The Rose Rayhaan by Rotana (also known as Rose Tower) is a 333 m (1,093 ft), 72-story hotel located on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the world's tallest hotel, fully open in December 23, 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Tower

The Emirates Office Tower, also known as Emirates Tower One, is a 54-floor office building along Sheikh Zayed Road in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, making it the 19th-tallest building in the world

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Office_Tower

Kingdom Center (aka Al Mamlaka Tower (Arabic: برج المملكة‎)) is a skyscraper located in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia (will be surpassed by Abraj Al Bait Towers). It's also the third tallest building with a hole in the world (after SWFC and Tuntex Sky Tower).^[4] It is also host to the highest mosque in the world after the mosque in the Burj Khalifa. AL-Mamlka Tower contains a total of 99 floors and 2 basement levels.^[1] AL-Mamlka Tower is owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, a prince of the Saudi royal family. It is also the headquarters of his holding company: Kingdom Holding Company. The total cost of the project was US$ 1 billion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Centre

We see this now even being implemented in the Holy City of Mecca.. 

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The are other sayings of the Prophet (S.A.W) which make the same point. Including the point of these certain arabs becoming rich. 

 In Sahih al-Bukhari   “when the barefoot and the naked are the top leaders (lit. “heads”) of the people.” In the hadith Sahih Muslim: “you shall see the barefoot, naked, indigent (al-`âla) shepherds compete in building tall structures.”

Another version in the hadith Muslim states: “when the naked and barefoot are the top leaders of the people.” A third version in the hadith Muslim has: “when you see that the barefoot and naked, the deaf and dumb are the kings of the earth.” *1

It is interesting that the prophecy not only mentions competition in building taller buildings, but imply these people who accomplish this will be the leaders or even kings, as is the case *1. This prophecy could literally be unravelling in front of us.

Scholars have noted this is an observation and prophecy of the messenger and not a clear and explicit prohibition for erecting tall buildings.  

                                      Burj - Khalifa

* 1 In Ibn Hajar's commentary about these passages (in Fath al-Bari): states the “bear-foot and naked,” “deaf and dumb” are their attributes showing how coarse they are.That is, they did not use their hearing or sight in anything concerning their Religion even though they are of perfectly sound senses.

 * 2 http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/23/saudi-tower-idUSL2361035820080223

 “The heads of the people” means the kings of the earth. Sulayman al-Taymi’s and other narrations makes explicit: “Who are the barefoot and naked?”. “The Bedouin Arabs.”