O people of the media, where are the Haram’s guards among us?

D. Ibrahim bin Jalal Fadloun

I saw with my own eyes but did not hear in the Noble Sanctuary, where the clock hands do not stop moving, and the crowds do not stop circling, in a great scene of faith, inside which the security personnel of the Noble Sanctuary stand as an unstoppable safety valve. They have a humanitarian role before it is a security one, which goes beyond the traditional concept of serving the guests of God in the Two Noble Mosques and maintaining order. With a combination of “spiritual service” and complex “logistical management,” the officer transforms from a security man into a guide, paramedic, and translator, putting the comfort of the guests of God above all else. It is as if (Mimiyya), the famous Umayyad poet Al-Farazdaq, highlighted these aspects:

This is what Al-Bathaa knows the brunt of

He knows the house, the lawful and the sacred

This is the son of the best of all God’s servants

This is pious, pure, pure, and knowledgeable

While the visitor is busy with the humility and serenity of prayer, a precise system of security efforts operates behind this spiritual scene, which is the cornerstone of achieving reassurance for millions of visitors. Security in the Mosque is not just procedures, but rather a message in which humanity is integrated with professionalism, to preserve the sanctity of the place and the comfort of the person.. Therefore, the hidden side here is of officers with “diplomatic” and linguistic skills standing behind the majestic military uniform, where there lies a side that many do not realize except in direct contact; The Meccan Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque are the two most linguistically diverse places on earth, which makes them living bridges of communication between the world’s different cultures.

Perhaps most strikingly, they not only direct crowds, but also calm anxiety, explain instructions, and contain emergency situations with calm, effective language that combines firmness and kindness. In the crowd of feelings and the differences in cultures, the kind word becomes a security and diplomatic tool par excellence, contributing to avoiding crises before they occur, and turning guidance into a refined human experience. This linguistic diversity does not come as a luxury, but rather a necessity imposed by the nature of the Holy Mosque as a global destination, receiving millions of pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims from all over the world. This required special preparation for the security personnel, and an effort by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques throughout the history of the Saudi state, which God honored with this long ago.

“Proficiency in languages: Officers who are proficient in English, French, Urdu, Persian, Turkish, and even sign language appear in the corridors of the campus. These officers represent the “linguistic bridges” that break the barrier of alienation for the pilgrim coming from the farthest corners of the earth, making communication immediate and effective.

“Rhetorical skills: Language was never just vocabulary, but rather a method of persuasion and a rhetorical skill. Sanctuary security officers have a superior ability to manage crowds with selected words that combine “military firmness” and “human softness,” which contributes to absorbing tension and preventing stampedes in a highly civilized manner.

In the language of numbers, the quality of services and technical development speak, according to official statements issued by Saudi security authorities (such as the Special Forces for Hajj and Umrah Security). The security system works according to a precise strategic trilogy:

“Human cadres: Thousands of security cadres work around the clock, with teams speaking international languages ​​allocated at the main points of contact (such as Al-Mataf and Al-Masa’a).

“Linguistic diversity: Reports indicate that the security guidance and guidance centers include officers and non-commissioned officers who are fluent in more than 10 basic international languages.

“Logistic support: The human effort is integrated with more than 5,000 smart surveillance cameras, and advanced operating rooms that use artificial intelligence to monitor human densities, which facilitates the tasks of field officers in rapid guidance and maintaining order.

The campus security system includes thousands of trained individuals, working within integrated operational plans, and a large number of them are fluent in more than one language, within the framework of specialized training programs concerned with linguistic and communication rehabilitation. As reports indicate, security teams provide thousands of field services daily, including guidance, organizing movement, helping the lost, and dealing with humanitarian cases, taking advantage of an advanced technical structure that includes smart monitoring systems, guidance applications, and instant means of communication that enhance the speed of response and accuracy of performance.

A message to the media: They are “ambassadors of the Two Holy Mosques” and we must see them with strength and reverence, highlighting these tremendous efforts that deserve to be at the forefront of the media scene. Therefore, we appeal to the visual, audio and print media to:

First: Producing and monitoring documentaries – they exist, but I mean to highlight them more – of the diaries of the officer “translator” and “speaker” in both mosques, and how he balances his security duties and his humanitarian role.

Second: Highlighting the Saudi model: presenting these young people as a model of the educated and cultured Saudi citizen who serves his religion and his country by the finest means. This aspect enhances the positive image of the Kingdom as a leader of the Islamic world and has unique powers in managing the largest gathering of crowds, and shows the world the extent of human investment in building a human being of “service and security.”

The silent face: The campus security personnel remain unknown soldiers in the eyes of many, but their impact is present in every moment of tranquility that the visitor experiences. They are the silent face of mercy and the watchful eye on the comfort of millions. They deserve to have their stories told, their efforts celebrated, and to be seen as partners in creating this unique faith experience. They are the “smiling face” of the Kingdom, and they are the guardians of tranquility who deserve all our appreciation and support, just like our security guards on the borders. Continuing investment in their linguistic and rhetorical skills is an investment in the global message of the Holy Mosque, and a continuous call to the media to do justice to these sincere efforts that work silently behind the walls of the Holy Kaaba and the Holy Mosque of the Prophet. The Mosul poet Abdul Baqi Al-Omari was right:

A country that contains the Sacred House and its people

They are security and benevolence in every scene

pause

Serving the Two Holy Mosques remains a great honor and a grave responsibility that calls for continued support and appreciation, and requires the media to play its role in highlighting these efforts, so that the picture remains complete (a spirit that is worshipped, security that protects, and a human being that is honoured). We must be proud of these great efforts on the part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his trustworthy Crown Prince and those responsible for them for the greatness of loyalty, and the ultimate pride remains for everyone who has set foot on the land of the Two Holy Mosques, for it is an honor to serve, as the poet said. The great Arab Abu al-Tayyib al-Mutanabbi:

The honor of a place belongs to those around it, but

God has forbidden men for him as a sacrifice

May God protect the protectors of the Two Holy Mosques, and preserve our country’s pride and security.