A journey through Sinai Valley

Mount Toor Sinai is a sacred place which is  having plenty of significance in history of mankind. It is one of few places which Allah has referred in Quran by name. This is the place on which Allah mentioned in Quran as “the sacred valley”, the place to where Allah called Prophet Moosa (عليه السلام) to receive the Book of Tourah, the place where Prophet Moosa (عليه السلام) asked Allah of his ambition to see Him.

Mount Toor Sinai is located in Sinai peninsula in Egypt. Sinai peninsula  is a triangular region separated from Egyptian mainland by Suez Canal and Red Sea and with Jordan and Mediterranean Sea on other two sides.

Nile River

Nile, The longest River in the world.It has many stories to tell about civilizations.

Nile

Nile

Nile

Nile

Nile

Nile

Nile

Snap shot of Masjid Al Azhar Egypt

Masjid Al Azhar Egypt

Masjid Al Azhar

Masjid Al Azhar

Masjid Al Azhar

Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Alexandrian Library

This astonishing landmark in port city of Egypt, Alexandria is one of the largest libraries in the world. Alexandria is an ancient yet well maintained and beautiful city established by emperor ‘Alexander the great’. It is spread along a 32 KM stretch on coast of Mediterranean Sea north of Egypt.

This library named ‘Bibliotheca Alexandrina’ has a unique and stunning structural design. Its slanted roof facing the sea provides bright sunlight to interior of the library thus avoiding wastage of electricity during day time. The library is arranged in many floors with many sections offering references on various disciplines.

There is a huge collection of manuscripts mostly written by great Scholars of ancient Islamic era.  One of the important collections in this section is letters sent by Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alihi Wasallam to emperors of His age. It is a well known history that Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alihi Wasallam had sent letters to Kisra (Persia), Kiser (Rome), Muqouqis (Egypt), Habashah (Najjashy of Abyssinia – current Ethiopia) through envoy of His companions.

There is a planetarium with another impressive design beside to the library which shows pretty virtual view of galaxies in our universe. With all this there is a big time to spend in Alexandria.

These photos were snapped during our recent visit to Egypt. We felt that we ran out of time to get more glimpse of many of old Egyptian civilizations as there are much to watch!

Exterior view

Exterior view

Exterior view

Interior view

Interior view

Old printing machinery

Old printing machinery

Old printing machinery

Old printing machinery

Manuscripts

Manuscripts

Manuscripts

Manuscripts

Manuscripts

Manuscripts

Manuscripts

Manuscripts

Manuscripts

Manuscripts

Letters of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alihi Wasallam

Planetarium

A view of Alexandria beach on Mediterranean sea

Water Pump in Al Fayoum City

This picture is of a water centrifugal pump in Al-Fayoum City 120 KM away from Cairo, Capital of Egypt. This circular water pump elevates water from a depth of 10 meters. It is said to be constructed by design and supervision of Prophet Yousuf (Alihi Ssalam) almost 3500 years ago. There are three such pumps seemingly made of wood still intact!

The wonder is that no electricity or external power source is used in this machine! This is a great achievement considering the age at which it was constructed. Also it indicates that old civilizations were much more technically advanced than we common people in this modern era presume.

The water so elevated is used for irrigation. It is known that this whole city was constructed during era of Prophet Yousuf (Alihi Ssalam) with 1000 days. The name Alf-Youm in Arabic means 1000 days and so is the city named.

This picture was taken during our recent trip to Egypt. Sorry for the clarity of the picture as we reached Al-Fayoum late in a cold night after a long day visit in many historical places and monuments in Egypt.

Al-Fayoum Water Centrifuger