THE
MINA JAMARAT
Introduction
The stampede in
Mina not far Mecca, took place on Zulhijjah 10 1424 H or Sunday February 2 2004
AD, remain in the heart of many Muslims the world over who lost their love one
in the unexpected accident. It later came to light, that Jamarat, the place
where pilgrim (hujjaj) carry out the rite to cast pebbles into three pillars, known
as: Ula, Wustha, and ‘Aqabah, can no longer cope with rising number of Muslim
coming from around the world willing to perform Hajj pilgrimage to the Holy
Land in Mecca and Medina. Please bear in mind, when Prophet was alive
around 600 AD, the earth population was around 200.000.000 people. Now the
population of the blue planet is over 7.000.000.000. It seems that the earth is
getting smaller with time, and ever becoming smaller in future as science and
technology advance.
What many Muslim from around the globe really
concern during Hajj pilgrimage to Holy Land, is congregation in Mina on Tasric
Days. At that time a multitude pilgrims pour down from Mount Arafat to Mina to
execute the rite of pebble casting in an open-air affair Jamarat, after Wuquf
(a short stay from noon until dusk on Mount Arafat), followed by collecting adequate
number of pebble in Musdalifah, a location on the way to Mina from Mount Arafat.
To get rid of recurring stampede, it is necessary
to bring down the density of pilgrim on rites venue, with the introduction: Multi-elevation
Pebble Casting Rite, abbreviated MPCR, making each stoning venue on various elevation
in the multistory building may be controlled. It is also about the makeover of present
Mina Jamarat from: “open-air affair”
into “event inside a multistory-building”,
so pilgrim can get access to every sites: Ula, Wustha, and ‘Aqabah, from various
floor inside the multi-story building, so the density of pilgrim on every venue
may be controlled and monitored closely, to get rid repeat of stampede.
A. Number of Building Floor
One aspect of
the makeover is to establish a building in Mina, right where the Jamarat is, to
multiply number of ritual sites as shown in Figure-I. Figure-Ia shows the
multi-floor building seen from the side, without scale.
Figure-I
As can be seen in this proposal, the building is
supposed to consist of five floors, including the ground floor. The sites represented
by letters: A stand for Ula, B stand for Wustha, and C stand for Aqabah, complete
with the respected pillars are visible in the side view. There are sumps underneath
each pillar to collect pebbles thrown out by pilgrims gathered by earth’s
gravity. With the conversion of Mina Jamarat from open-air affair into inside a
multistory building, the number of rites venue will be increased by three as
number of the floor grows. The ceiling height in each floor be taken the same.
Figure-Ib shows the bird’s-eye view of the multistory Jamarat building. An
ellipse chosen to give pilgrims plenty room to wander around. Other bird’s-eye
views like square or round are also welcome. The pillars are seen in Figure-Ib.
Figure-II shows a typical Pebble Cast Site,
abbreviated PCS, will be available on every floor of the multistory Jamarat
building, where pilgrims throw pebbles at its pillar. The pillars will
represent sites known as: Ula, Wustha, and ‘Aqabah, to be available on every
floor at which pilgrims carry out the ritual of casting pebbles, or small
stones. Figure-IIa shows the side view of cross-section of PCS, while Figure-IIb
shows its bird's-eye view. Please note that there is a hole at the center of
each pole for purpose channeling the thrown pebbles into sump beneath. In an
open-air affair Jamarat there are only 3 (three) PCS to cast, but inside the multistory
Jamarat building with five floors, there are 15 (fifteen) PCS, rises due to “magic
multiplication” of multistory new Jamarat building.
Figure-II
To get pilgrims from ground surface or ground
floor to various elevation in the new Jamarat building, or back the other way
round, a special designed elevator be used, called: Jamarat Elevator, shorten
JE. There are eight JE be propose to move pilgrims from ground floor up to
elevation of various heights inside the new Jamarat building, or back the other
way round.
The bird’s-eye view of elevators (JE) to be built
around the periphery of the new Jamarat building, are shown in Figure-Ib,
indicated by numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; and equally spaced. Should each
floor is served by two elevators, then it follows: JE-1 and JE-5 for the fifth
floor, will ascend pilgrims from ground floor to the fifth floor; or back to
ground floor the other way round. JE-2 and JE-6 are for the fourth floor, will
ascend pilgrims from ground floor to the fourth floor; or back to ground floor
the other way round. JE-3 and JE-7 are for the third floor, will ascend
pilgrims from ground floor to the third floor; or back to ground floor the
other way round. JE-4 and JE-8 are for the second floor, will ascend pilgrims
from ground floor to the second floor; or back to ground floor the other way
round.
Ground floor will keep the old established
custom of pebbles casting on every site. With the advent of elevator (JE),
pilgrims will effortlessly get to every altitude in the new Jamarat building
from ground floor to carry out religious rites; also effortlessly get back to
ground floor the other way round; because every JE is driven by brake induction
motor fed from utility.
With a new building in Mina Jamarat complete with
eight JEs from around the building, density of pilgrims on the rite venues of every
floor may be controlled and monitored closely in real time on Tasric Days, to
get rid of recurrent stampede.
The propose JE-1 and JE-5 are as in Figure-III use
to serve fifth floor, or highest floor of the new Jamarat building. As shown in
the picture, it consists of two main parts: saucer (S) and column (K).
The saucer also known as Pilgrim Elevator, shorten: PE, built circular like a saucer.
It is build to move pilgrims standing from ground floor to the fifth floor in
the new Jamarat building; or back to ground floor the other way round.
Figure-IIIb is the bird’s-eye view of JE-1 or JE-5, where JE or saucer and its central
column are seen. An EDP (Embarking Disembarking Port) is required by the saucer
to mediate with each floor in the multistory building, so pilgrims can be easily
get into PE or saucer, or leave it the other way round, trouble free.
Having PE or saucer built for pilgrims, number of
pilgrim entering or leaving every floor of the new Jamarat building may be
controlled and monitored to avoid stampede. The dimension of JE-1 or JE-5 may
be estimated the following. If ceiling height of every floor is supposed to be:
10 m, then height of the Central Column, shorten: CC of JT-1 or JT-5 would
approximately: 4 x 10 = 40 m. If CC height to diameter ratio is taken: 10
to 1, then the diameter of JT-1 or JT-5 would be: 40 : 10 = 4 m. If the ratio
of PE or saucer diameter to CC diameter is supposed: 4.5 to 1, then diameter of
the PE or saucer become: 4 x 4.5 = 18 m. Having such a diameter, a PE or saucer
will have the capacity to move about 500 pilgrims one way up to fifth floor, or
back to ground floor the other way round.
Figure-III
Figure-IV is the JE-1 or JE-5 be enlarged.
Figure-IVa shows the side view where the saucer and its central column seen
clearly. The saucer will be equipped with multi-door out of thick glass around
the circumference of the saucer, and will be synchronously open or close driven
by a mechanical system, and open ceiling. Having multi-door that open and close
mechanically, it also become fence to guard pilgrims from falling to ground. An
octagonal rotating axle is established to become part of driving mechanism to
ascend the saucer up, or descend it back the other way round, lies under the saucer’s
floor, is seen as straight line in the drawing.
Similar multi-door also be built around the
circumference of each EDP, face-to-face with the saucer’s multi-door to prevent
pilgrim from falling to ground when saucer on the move. Figure-IVb shows
the bird’s-eye view of the saucer along with the central column. The drive
mechanism use to ascend the saucer up, or descend it back the other way round,
will comprise of: an induction motor, an octagonal rotating axle for mechanical
power transfer, and a number Lifting Devise (LD). With this mechanism, will enable
the saucer climbs the central column up, or climbs it down the other way
round.
There are eight LD being proposed be installed
around the periphery of every central column to move the saucer up, or down the
other way round, driven by a brake induction motor. Every LD is backed by simple technology: 1. Bolt-Nuts
with Bevel Gears, or 2. The Rack-Pinions with Bevel Gears and Worm Gears. All
LD will in unison move the saucer up, also in unison move it down back the
other way round, driven by a brake induction motor.
Mechanical power comes from a brake induction
motor (M) under the saucer floor to move the saucer (PE), first sent to a
torque converter for speed adjustment, and to bevel gears I (white dot), then
into polygonal revolving axles. These revolving axles connected with each other
by way of bevel gears at their ends (black dots). The polygonal drive system is
really an octagonal revolving axle: AB, BC, CD, DE, EF, FG, GH, HA, in horizontal
position. From center of every axle (white dots) at points: P, Q, R, S, T, U,
V, W, mechanical power be delivered to every LD, each being fixed to
C-Channels, or U-Channels. Then LD C-Channel pair, or LD H-Channel pair, being clamped
around the circumference of central column, equally spaced.
The saucer cannot sink by the pull of earth
gravity due its weight and pilgrims inside, unless be driven by its brake
induction motor. The octagonal revolving axles will synchronize speed of each
LD mechanically, will enable all LD in unison climb the central column up, or in
unison climb the central column down the other way round. Number of LD to be place
around the circumference of central column may vary, much depend on design,
dimension, and the lifting force required to move the saucer up or
down.
With the introduction of stepper motor, each LD now
get individual drive. Then the mechanical
synchronization of all LD to climb the central column up, or climb it down
the other way round, must be switched to electrical
synchronization, or electronic
synchronization, or digital synchronization.
Figure-IV
The saucer and EDP built out of steel involving: channels,
pipes, plates, etc. Also for driving mechanism such as axles, gears, etc.
Lighter material can also be used to reduce weight such as: aluminum, carbon
fiber, and others. The saucer is equipped with multi-door around its periphery out
of thick glass driven by mechanical system to open or close synchronously. The
mechanical drive to move the saucer up, or down the other way round, is under the
floor to allow a brake induction motor drives it against the central column making use eight LD. The
central column can also been built out of reinforced concrete on site, or
rolled steel or cast steel, right from factory.
Electricity comes from utility by way power cable
to enter the Jamarat panel. Power then be distributed to each JE panel, and by
way of a three phase insulated copper rails running along inner central column to be collected by
carbon brushes before being sent to saucer’s panel. In case of power failure,
an emergency power supply will immediately take over.
With advent of solar panel and wind generator,
energy harnessed from sun and wind can run JE after being converted into
electricity.
From saucer’s panel electricity be distributed into
a brake induction motor, emergency power charger, lighting, air condition, electronic
control, etc. Electric power system be equipped with the necessary switching
apparatus, circuit protection, and monitoring.
A PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is
necessary to interface the saucer operator with its electromechanical drive
system, along with electrical wiring, push buttons, control, etc..
A monitoring system will help the saucer’s operator
monitor event, adjust speed of ascend or descend based on gear ratio put to
motor torque converter. A troubleshooting system must be available for the
smooth operation during service.
A trained operator has to run JE professionally.
First, he/she presses the OB (Open Button) while the saucer is on the ground
floor, then multi-door around the periphery of the saucer and EDP immediately open. He/she then invites
pilgrims to get in from various directions to save time and hinder stampede. As
the pilgrim count approaches the proposed number, in this case 500, he/she
presses the CB (Close Button) causing saucer and EDP doors to close. He/she
then presses the UB (Up Button), and saucer ascends along its central column at
a minimum speed of 10 m/minute, or 0.6 km/hour. As the saucer hits its upper
limit switch, the brake induction motor stops, and the saucer arrived at its destination.
He/she then presses the OB (Open Button), and both multi-door around the
saucer and EDP open, and pilgrims leave the saucer. Finish.
At its destination floor, another group of
pilgrims may have been waiting. When the saucer is empty, He/she pleases them
to get in. As the pilgrim count get to saucer’s capacity, he/she presses CB and
multi-door around the saucer and EDP periphery close. He/she presses the DB
(Down Button) and the saucer descends along its central column. The saucer
moves downward at almost the same speed as it moves upward. As the saucer hits its
lower limit switch, the brake induction motor stops, the ground floor has
reached. He/she then presses OB, and all multi-door open, and the pilgrims allowed
to leave. The saucer is now empty, and it is ready to ascend again, and so on.
Finish.
B. Environmental Concern
Another aspect
of this proposal, is about to conserve the environment around Musdalifah from becoming
small stone quarries. It is about to establish a Pebble Making Factory (PMF)
nearby, so pilgrims only collect MP (Manufactured Pebbles) from a prearranged dispensers
strategic location in Musdalifah,
instead collecting NP (Natural Pebbles). One day in the future, pilgrims only cast
MP and refrain from exploiting NP so the environment around may be preserved.
Already enjoin in the Holy Al-Quran 2: 11, a verse stating: “Make no mischief
on the Earth”, with similar verses repeated many times after in the Holy Book.
It is now the time for Muslim scholar to define
properties of MP such as: shape, volume, density, hardness, rebound factor,
color, and imprint, etc. From the PMF in nearby, MP be carried to Musdalifah,
en route from mount Arafat to Mina, is distributed into the pebble dispensers,
so the wayfarers and vehicle riders can collect the required amount to
Mina during the midnight transit, for casting onto Ula, Wustha, and ‘Aqabah. Thrown
MP be gathered by earth’s gravity to the sump underneath every PCS column, be sent
back to Musdalifah and fed into MP dispensers. In this way, MP will run a close
cycle, and the exploitation of NS from the surrounding will decrease with time,
and in long run ceased completely.
With advent MP, no worthless things such: worn
out sandals, dilapidated materials, etc., ever be thrown into rite site by naughty
pilgrim, making every venue in new Mina Jamarat building always immaculate. Of
course some MP may lost in the cycle, or taken by pilgrims to their land for memento,
or lost in transport, or other. Lost MP be replenished immediately by PMF. In
this way, Muslim of the next generation will get better taught to save and
value the natural living environment. If kinfolks in far places across the
world might be convinced, even for small stone like pebble one better resort to
MP instead of NS to cast. Hopefully one day the message can get across the
globe, and “mischief on earth” since the outbreak of industrial revolution may surely
come to an end.
Note
This innovation
been filed at the Patent Office of the Republic of Indonesia, in Jakarta, under
the title “Jembatan Pemuat Penumpang Horizontal (The Horizontal Passenger
Loading Bridge), registration number P00200700203, dated May 7, 2007 and April
30, 2007.
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Penulis:
H.M.Rusli
Harahap
Pamulang
Residence G1
Jalan
Pamulang-2, Pondok Benda.
Kode
Pos: 15416. Tangerang Selatan.
Tel.
021-74631125.
