Saudi Gazette report

Visitors to the Grand Mosque enjoy the safety and security the Kingdom is blessed with, but they are not alone, as pigeons that are spread out in practically all of Makkah’s neighborhoods roam around the Grand Mosque’s yards in complete tranquility, Al-Hayat daily reported.



Visitors to the Grand Mosque are welcomed by flocks of pigeons flying around the Kaaba, many of whom eventually land between worshippers without any fear. Pilgrims and visitors can be seen taking pictures of pigeons, which many upload to social networking websites and some photos are even exhibited in photography exhibitions.



Grand Mosque pigeons have become part of Makkah’s life as they share streets, sidewalks and rooftops and many locals even carry small bags of seeds to feed the pigeons. Abdulrazzaq Mohammad, an 80-year-old who has spent his entire life in Makkah, said pigeons share residents’ food and water. He said after Fajr prayer he usually goes to the roof of his house to feed pigeons and enjoy their presence.



“Since childhood, Makkawis have become accustomed to these pigeons, offering them food and water anywhere we find them, especially around the Grand Mosque where pigeons are present in large numbers. Many Umrah visitors and pilgrims express their admiration of these pigeons and their way of life with Makkah residents,” he said.



Abdulrazzaq went on to explain how pigeons are protected from being hunted or killed in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque and if one does kill a pigeon, he or she is required to pay blood money.



There are varying opinions on the origins of these pigeons, as some believe they are descendants of the two pigeons that nested on the cave where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) hid when he migrated from Makkah to Madinah, and God has rewarded them by having their offspring inhabit Makkah. Others, however, believe that these pigeons are descendants of the birds that were ordered by Allah to carry small rocks in their beaks and bombard the army of Abraha when he tried to destroy the Kaaba.



Due to the large amount of waste from these pigeons and the seeds that Grand Mosque visitors scatter around the yards, Makkah Municipality has intensified its efforts to keep these areas clean, according to Osama Al-Bar, the city’s mayor.



“The municipality, in coordination with King Abdulaziz University, is currently studying a number of alternatives to combat this waste,” he said.