November 10, 2008
This is the LAST entry with blogsome!!!
I have MIGRATED to
Insha’Allah you update bookmarks etc.
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
November 9, 2008
The Dome of Peace as seen towards the end of the Ottoman era, when out of respect for our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, no building was permitted to be higher than the Dome.
The following is copied from the
Riyadat an-Nafs blog. JazakumuLlahu khairan to brother Nuruddinzangi for so generously offering this beautiful account to be reproduced. Ameen to his Du’a, "hoping to gain the favor of Allah and to one day be counted among the servants (
khuddam) of His Messenger
, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam." May we all echo this Du’a.
Secrets of the Prophetic Chamber
Bism Allah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem, revealer of the Qur’an Kareem that says to His noble Messenger: And We have not sent you except as a Mercy to the aalameen: all the worlds.
And as-Salaatu was-Salaamu upon the most noble of the mursaleen (Messengers), our master Muhammad, and upon his family and descendants until the Yawm al-Deen.
I stood this Sunday morning in London’s V&A Museum before three magnificent pieces of silk in the Islamic Arts section. The most wonderful in design and color was a red band from the Honored Kaaba, dating from the 1800s, because for hundreds of years the Kaaba’s covering was green- not black- in color, with a red band instead of the gold of today.
The two others were green pieces of the silk that once covered the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). The first from 1517-1600, and the second from 1600 to 1700. For a hundred years each, these pieces of silk were exposed to all the blessings and mercies that were sent down from Allah upon the Noble Messenger, and to the majestic lights that rose up, emanating from the Light of the Worlds himself, Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
Ever since Abbasid times, the coverings of the Honored Kaaba and the Noble Chamber were made in Egypt; at one point in history the latter was being changed every five years. But after the reign of the Ottomans in the lands, the coverings of the inside of the Kaaba and of the Prophetic Chamber were made in Turkey, while the outer covering of the Kaaba remained the work of Egypt.
But the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abd al-Aziz bin Abd al-Rahman Aal Saud, ordered that a factory be created in Mecca to manufacture these coverings from his day forward. Journalist Omar al-Midwahy, whose writings focus on the two Holy Sanctuaries and other important Islamic sights, was able to interview in Mecca two of the men who worked on the last covering of the Prophetic Chamber and its installation.
On the occasion of this servant’s viewing of the blessed coverings, and hoping for forgiveness and acceptance from His Lord, he will attempt to translate this interview that reveals some of the secrets of the majestic chamber of Allah’s Beloved, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, hoping to gain the favor of Allah and to one day be counted among the servants (khuddam) of His Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
Omar al-Midwahy says to Alarabiya.net:
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The Conversations of Tears and Reverence
I still remember the conversations with the two old men in Mecca, while looking at their weaving. I was in Mecca, so I headed toward the factory of the covering of the Kaaba, and there I learned that the factory has another honor, for it produces also a covering for the Prophetic Chamber.
I met at that time- several years ago- with men who partook in the production and installation, and I didn’t want to waste that opportunity as their youngest was in his sixties and I feared that they would leave this world before I could document this work.
I recorded with them conversations that were mixed with tears and reverence; sometimes words would betray them, and at others, their emotions would choke them, as they spoke of their unique experience. Their limbs shook from just the memory- as if it happened yesterday- and not a quarter of a century ago.
Shaykh Muhammad Ali Madani, head of the automated weaving division of the factory at that time, was generous with me. I learned from him that he was one of those who took part in weaving and installing the covering of the Prophetic Chamber. I said to him, tell me about the covering and the Prophetic Chamber- describe them to me.
His sight wandered far, as if he was bringing those treasured memories before him. Then he answered: On that day, I felt a state of complete amazement take over me. It is a grand spot- of utmost grandeur. I do not know its exact circumference, but it seemed to me that the Prophetic Chamber was 48 meters in circumference.
The awe of the place was so overbearing that nothing attracted my attention. I was so dazzled that I only saw the lamps hanging from the chamber ceiling, which were old gifts that would be given to the Mosque of the Prophet in ancient times. I was told that there were some Prophetic relics that were kept in another place- I don’t know where- but I do know that some historical items were kept in the chamber of sayyida Fatima al-Zahraa- the same place that she lived in.
He added: the chamber covering is a weave made of pure silk, green in color, padded with a strong cotton cloth, and it is crowned by a belt similar to that of the covering of the Honored Kaaba, except that it is red in color. A quarter of its space is taken up by an embroidery of noble Quranic verses from Surat al-Fath, made of lines of cotton and wires of gold and silver…
The covering of the Prophetic Chamber is not changed every year like the covering of the Honored Kaaba, because it is kept inside the chamber and far from the hands of the people and of the elements, and so it is only changed when needed.
Then I met shaykh Ahmad Sahirty, head of the embroidery division of the factory. It was apparent to me - back then- how old he was, and how weak his vision. He took the initiative, saying: How can I speak to you about my feelings at the moment I entered the Prophetic Chamber… I can’t.. That is a speech above my abilities of speech, and I never thought that I would one day be asked about this experience. And I guarantee you that I will not be able to go through it again.
When the Doors Were Opened
He drew nearer to me and added: Look at the lenses of my spectacles- and he pointed at their thickness- and look at my white hair and the weight of the years that I carry. My age I do not count, but I’ve heard them say that I was born in the year 1333 A.H. (1917 C.E.). And in all those years, I did not know a single hobby other than the love of beautiful scents and perfumes. I’ve spent such a long period of time in those years that I’ve lived, trying to satiate that voracious appetite that is still with me; I traveled much and learned much, but I can tell you this with confidence: that I have my own special blends that you will not find with anyone else, and that no one else could ever make.
And I tell you this because I discovered my inability and the meagerness of my knowledge on that blessed night, when the doors were opened to us, and we entered the Prophetic Chamber, and I inhaled perfumes and scents that I have never known before, and have never known since. I still do not know the secret of its composition: it was a scent above scents, an aroma above and beyond aromas- something else that us people of expertise, the people of the trade, have never experienced before.
When I asked him to describe to me the Prophetic Chamber, a slight chill struck him and coursed through his body. And he said in a faint voice: I believe that the chamber is 11 meters in height. Below the green dome is another dome on which is written: “The tomb of the Prophet, the tomb of Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq, and the tomb of Umar ibn al-Khattab”. And I saw also that there was another tomb that was empty, and next to the four tombs was the chamber of sayyida Fatima al-Zahraa, which is the house in which she lived.
From our awe we didn’t know how to remove the special pieces made for the dome- our fingers would shake and our breaths would race. We stayed 14 full nights working from after the Isha prayer until the first adhaan of the Fajr, in order to finish our task. We kept removing the pieces, untying the knots of the old covering, and cleaning all the dust and pigeon feathers that were stuck in that pure place. This scene goes back to the year 1971 C.E., and the covering that we changed was old: it was 75 years old according to the date that was weaved on it, and had never been changed since.
I was the first to enter, with the Sayyid Habib, one of the notables of al-Madina al-Munawwara, As’ad Sheera the director of religious endowments of Madina at the time, and Habib Moghrabi from the factory management, and Abd al-Karim Flomban, Nasir Qari, Abd al-Rahim Bukhari and others. We were 13 men, I don’t remember most of them, for they have left unto the Mercy of Allah.
We were accompanied by the chief of the Aghas who kept the keys to the Prophetic Chamber, and a number of the servants of the Chamber. Whispering was our speech, and that was if signaling was not sufficient. I was, and still am, suffering from weakness of vision and these spectacles have not left my eyes since those days, but in that chamber I was another person… I felt it, and the difference was clear to me.
Strange Happenings
The shaykh Sahirti swore, saying: I used to put the thread into the hole of the needle without my spectacles, despite the dim light in which we worked. How do you explain that? And how do you explain the fact that I didn’t feel the allergy that I suffered - and still suffer- from? Because I cough severely from the slightest bit of dust. But that day, I was not affected by the dust of the chamber, or the sand flying into the air. As if sand was no longer sand, and as if the dust became a medicine for my ailment. I used to feel all during those nights that I was a young man, and that youthfulness had been given back to me.
Another strange thing happened to me whose secret I haven’t understood until today. We had to take out the old covering, and it was carried by whoever carried it. The embroidered band, 36 meters long, remained. I said to them wrap it and leave it. I went up to it, and despite my weakness, carried it over this shoulder. I went out of the Prophetic Chamber with it, without ever feeling its weight. But after that, they came with five young men to carry it from where I had put it down and they couldn’t.
The shaykh began to weep silently and continued, while sighing: Someone asked who carried it and brought it here. I replied saying: me. They didn’t believe me. I said to them: Ask Abd al-Rahim Bukhari, the famous calligrapher of the covering.
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[Source]
And may Allah continuously whelm the Messenger and his family with Salawaats, Peace, Blessings, and Light, until the day in which his brother Messenger, Isa son of Mary, is buried in that fourth empty grave of the Prophetic Chamber, and yet even after that, and forever.
——————–
Diagrams:
A previous post about the curtains in the Mubarak Hujrah.
And today….
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
November 6, 2008
JUMA’AH MUBARAK!!!
May it be a Juma’ah where we take extra time and effort to polish the mirror of the heart with the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala and Salawaat on His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam so that our hearts may reflect the attributes of Allah Ta’ala across the Universe, Ameen.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
November 5, 2008
SubhanAllah, the Angel of Rain still following the commands from Allah Ta’ala in sending the allocated drops of mercy on this Luminous City. No sooner have the workers dealt with one downpour, than the next lot of clouds share their load, Alhumdulillah:
..the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed signs for people of understanding. (2:164)
The following photos from the courtyard were taken within approximately ten minutes of each other this afternoon, and in this sequence. I was taken aback by how the heavens changed so rapidly, being mirrored on the ground with the continuous changing movement of people. An interlacing of cloud and light, shapes and space, movement and stillness, expanse and constriction, gathering and separating. A poignant enactment starring Allah Ta’ala’s signs; for those who believe with certainty, for those who remember, for those who are guided, for those of understanding, for those who are grateful, for those who know.
Allah oversees all affairs from the sky to the earth, and everything will ascend to Him in the end, on a day that will measure a thousand years in your reckoning. (32:4)
One of the magnificent heavenward signs of Allah Ta’ala’s arrangement for this existance is the rain. A tangible sign of the Divine Presence that He wills to descend to sustain all life. Understanding this sign in the material world around us is one of the keys to understanding the signs of the Hereafter. Just as Allah Ta’ala’s planning in providing all our needs stems from the heavens, so we need to reciprocate by ascending back to the Divine Presence with gratitude, glory, praise and awe. May our perceiving of His signs spark this intricate interplay in a manner that benefits our Akhirah.
Moving from the side of Jannatul Baqi towards the Abode of Peace seemed as though the transition was to an entirely differnt time and place. Sombre clouds hovering above as waves of seekers passed to give Salam…
to float, move away. And so too were groups of commandoes gathered as a security precaution for the visiting Pakistani President…
to then move away.
The dynamics of gathering and separation, as expressed by the Sufis to point to Allah Ta’ala’s unrestricted power over the whole creation. Al-Qushayri says: "All are comprehended in His freedom of action and government of events, inasmuch as He is the originator of the essences and the source of the attributes of everyone. Then He separates everyone by making them of differnet sorts: a portion of them He makes happy and a portion of them He makes distance from Him and miserable; a portion He guides and a portion He leads astray and blinds; a portion He veils from Himself and a portion He draws to Himself; a portion He makes intimate with His union and a portion He makes despair of His mercy; a portion He honours with His acceptance and a portion He causes to lose themselves in the realization of their desire; a portion He grants clear sobriety and a portion He obliterates; a portion He draws close and a portion He sends away; a portion He brings near Him and into His presence, then gives them to drink and makes then drunk; a portion He hinders and sets back, then drives them away and leaves them behind. The varieties of His actions cannot be confined by any boundary, and neither explanation nor recounting can approach them in detail."
While the varieties of His actions, most glorious and grand, can change the grey sky to a brilliant azure in the blink of an eye, SubhanAllah. All the more miraculous that this brilliant blue framed the most brilliant piece of ground in the Universe…
caressing the Most Loved in the Universe SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, whose mercy rains perpetually and abundantly upon his Ummah.
While the slight turn of the gaze echoes the stark contrast witnessed in Allah Ta’ala’s signs, speaking to the heart of His Omnipotence and His power of gathering and separating. May we be people of understanding.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
November 4, 2008
…its been raining in the City of Light…
as well as raining with new Hujjaj…
with hearts flowing with gratitude…
senses with awe…
intentions focused…
steps with direction…
souls with hope…
and aspirations…
to be cleansed…
faults rectified…
Iman strengthened..
deeds accepted…
worship deepened…
faith renewed…
glory restored…
peace to descend…in abundance equal to every drop of rain commanded to sustain and nourish…
and salutations upon our Beloved al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…
equal to the number of drops that have fallen from the beginning of time, multiplied by the number yet to fall, multiplied by the number just fallen these past days over his Mubarak Dome of Felicity, multiplied by the number that has ever showered his Radiant City multiplied by the number of breaths of the total number of Hujjaj to grace the Sacred Places this year.
Iman ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Alawi al-Haddad Rahmatullah alaihi, (may we recall the anniversary of his demise being on the 8th Dhul Qa’ada with prayers for him and his lineage) complemented the Imam Busayri’s famous poem the Mudariyya (transliteration, translation) by adding additional verses. With every two couplets of the original Imam al-Haddad added an additional three, thus multiplying the blessings upon the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Hence it is known as the Quintet or Takhmis. It is assumed that this poem was penned in 1079 the year Imam al-Haddad performed Hajj.
I include a selection from this Quintet. (from the Key to Arriving at the Door of the Messenger)
May the fragrance be guided to his presence in a sequence,
By the numbers of people that fill the streets,
Whenever the eyes blink,
May it be multiplied by the number of leaves that the trees hold,
And by every letter ever to be uttered, read and scribed.
And by the number of everything that Allah has bestowed or taken,
And by the number of portions of sustenance that have always been distributed,
And by the number of souls in the creation that seek sustenance,
And by the weight of the mountains
Followed by the drops of water and rain.
And by all the hours that have passed by in the universe from eternity,
And by every creature that has walked on foot, on the face of the earth,
And by the number of all the nations that Allah has created,
And by the number of birds, beast, fish,
Followed by the jinn, angels and human.
May the blessing be coupled with endless peace,
May its fragrance rise among the people,
By the number of plants on the earth that have been consumed,
By the number of atoms, ants and all the grains,
And also by the number of hairs, wool, feathers and fur.
And by the number of all things in existence, of every kind,
And by the number of all the things that are in Allah’s knowledge,
And by the amount of all sustenance that Allah has distributed,
And by the amount of knowledge that Allah encompasses,
And by what the Pen of decree and destiny has written.
And by the number of all the wonders on the earth,
And by the number of people who travel its highlands,
And by the number of things that rise to the highest level,
And by the number of all the blessings that Allah has bestowed
Upon the creation from the time of their creation to the time of their resurrection.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
November 2, 2008
1.
volcanic cone hijrah road, 2.
multazam, 3.
makkan window, 4.
sand storm hijrah road, 5.
Kaaba and towers, 6.
hijrah road, 7.
haram and towers, 8.
Haram and expansion, 9.
detail Masjid Haram, 10.
demolition makkah, 11.
carpet Masjid Haram, 12.
desert through car window hijrah road, 13.
baboons on boulders, 14.
after juma, 15.
Abraj al-bayt Makkah, 16.
baboon on hijrah road
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
November 1, 2008
Abu Malik as-Ash’ari RadhiAllahu anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: Cleanliness is half of Iman and Alhamdulillah fills the scale, and SubhanAllah and Alhumdulillah fill up what is between the heavens and the earth, and prayer is a light, and charity is proof of one’s faith and endurance is a brightness and the Holy Qur’an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves.
SubhanAllah, the area that Masjid al-Haram occupies on the earth must be the cleanest patch of land on the entire globe. Armies of diligent cleaners, brothers and sisters, are dusting, polishing, mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, washing and picking up all that is dropped 24/7. The efficient routine never ceases, and the care and love seen on all contibuting to this task is admirable. Their presence is evident in every direction one gazes; high above scaffolding meticulously cleaning each and every architectural feature and light fittings to all surfaces below.
It feels that this attention to cleanliness, emanating from Baitullah, somehow contributes to the collective Iman of all attending Masjid al-Haram. Just as the excessive recitation of Alhumdulillah and SubhanAllah in this sacred space brings peace and tranquility to hearts and souls of the Ummah as these words soar from this pivotal point. As rolling waves rippling between the earth and heavens in concentric circles.
The antics of the brothers in the turquoise uniforms as they are engaged in the major cleaning mesmerize. Children laugh excitedly, adults stare in amazement as if watching a skillfully choreographed ballet. The display of dexterity and nimbleness as they contol all the props is a performance of agility and devotion, and a mastery of organization. (a related article
20,000 mobilized for Hajj)
Brothers are constantly circumambulating the Ka’abah with wide mops to lesson the accumulation of fine fluff from the perpetual friction of clothing of the thousands attending to their worship.
Thus it is sad to see so many ignore this important section of the Hadith; Cleanliness is half of Iman when they casually leave rubbish in the Haramain. Children are not reprimanded when they collect dozens of the pastic cups that they shred or use as misslies or to build towers and then leave lying on the floor. Drinks are spilt, tissues and wrappers dropped and food crumbs ignored, all as if it is the job of the cleaners to deal with this lack of manners.
Alhumdulillah the general situation in and around Masjid al-Haram seems far more ordered than the two cordoned off sections for sisters and children in Masjid an-Nabawi. Maybe this is attributed to what seems to be more brothers on duty in the courtyard of Masjid al-Haram, coupled with the fact that families can sit together there, and thus the males can have an input regarding the behaviour of children, or at least parents together have more control. Whereas in Madinah in the sisters only areas, relativley fewer sisters seem to be on duty, and any disciplinary action comes only from the female members of the family. Allahu ‘Alum. Whatever the reasons, the truth of Cleanliness is half of Iman needs to be instilled in the hearts of the Ummah, especially the young, and more especially those who are blessed to be in Haramain. I have addressed this situation with others here, hoping to arrive at some pro-active answer to this issue but as yet no direct plan has been implemented. Suggestions more than welcome.
Meanwhile, may each of us impart the essence of
Cleanliness is half of Iman to all around us with the gentlest of Adab, be consistent with filling our scale with Alhumdulillah, adding to the waves of peace encircling the earth with Dhikr, eliminating darkness, even if only by a tiny amount with the birghtness of our endurance and the light of prayer, proving our faith with
charity and recitation and fulfilling all that will contribute to us going out in the morning to set ourselves free.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
October 31, 2008
soon….
…soon, Jabal Rahmah will appear as if covered in snow…with hearts recalling the words of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s
Farewell Sermon…
"Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds.…
Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone."
….soon, millions will flood this plain; "Hajj is Arafat"…
When you surge down from Arafat remember Allah at the sacred place. Remember Him:
He has guided you. Before that you were astray.
Surge down where the rest of the people do, and ask forgiveness of Allah: He is most forgiving and merciful. (2:198-199)
And proclaim among men the Pilgrimage: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path… (22:27)
…soon, thousands of animals will be sacrificed reminding us of Nabi Ibrahim Alaihis Salam’s obedience.
The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from Allah. in them is good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful. (22:36)
…soon, the faithful will follow the footsteps of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…"He urged al-Qaswa a little, and, following the middle road, which comes out at the greatest Jamra, he came to the Jamra which is near the tree."
…soon, the Shayateen will be cringing…."At this he threw seven small pebbles, saying Allah-o-Akbar while throwing every one of them in a manner in which the small pebbles are thrown (with the help of fingers)
and this he did in the bottom of the valley."
…soon, may the effect of the stoning by the millions of Hujjaj be as a massive rockfall on the Shayateen.
…soon, these apartment-like towers will replace the tents in Mina….
….soon, may Masjid Aqabah remind hearts to renew the pledge to our Blessed Al-Mustafa, making the Sunnah the focus of our lives.
~*~
Scroll down to the last photos of this
previous post to see the difference between February 2007 Jamarat Bridge and Masjid Aqabah and the now.
~*~
SubhanAllah, this years Hujjaj are flowing into the Kingdom by the thousands each day now. Huge groups from Turkey, Malaysia, India, and smaller numbers from South Africa are already gracing this City of Light, Masha’Allah.
….soon, their numbers will swell to millions. May all be rewarded a Hajj Maqbool, Ameen.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
October 29, 2008
"What an excellent place this graveyard is." said our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.
Mu’alla, the Makkan Maqbarah in the only valley, east of Masjid al-Haram, that precisley faces Qibla, is the resting place of
Ummul Mu’mineen Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha as well as many Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum, Tabi’een, Awliya Rahmatullah alaihum and distinguished scholars. Also known as Al-Hujun, where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would frequently visit.
An historic photo of how Mu’alla was before the demolition of the tombs. The main central tomb was of Ummul Mu’mineen Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha. Others known to be resting here include Abd Manaf, the great, great-grandfather, Hashim the great-grandfather, Abdul Muttalib the grandfather and Qasim the son of the our Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.
Another closer view of the tomb of Ummul Mu’mineen Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha.
Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha died on the 10th of Ramadan of the 10th year of the Proclamation of Islam. Also named the Year of Sorrow as our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam also buried his loved uncle and guardian Abu Talib one month later. Some narrations say Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam dug her Mubarak grave, others say he entered it while placing her body therein and after smoothing earth over it. Allahu ‘Alum.
The Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam was later to remark of his beloved Khadijah that "she believed in me when all others disbelieved; she held me truthful when others called me a liar; she sheltered me when others abandoned me; she comforted me when others shunned me; and Allah Ta’ala granted me children by her while depriving me of children by other women."
Peace on you, O the mother of the pure Imams
Peace be on you, O the mother of the believing men
Peace be on you, O the first of the believing women
Peace be on you, O the sincere lady among the devoted ones
Peace be on you, O the chief lady of the sacrosanct (haram)
And the queen of Mecca
Peace be on you, O the first one to believe in the Apostle of Allah from among the women
Peace be on you, O the one who observed servitude as it ought to be observed,
submitted herself and discharged her wealth in the service of the chief of the Prophets.
Peace be on you, O the companion of the beloved of the Lord of the Heaven.
The spouse of the epitome of the chosen ones.
O the daughter of Ibraheem, the friend (of Allah)
Peace be on you, O the one to whom Jibraeel used to salute and used to convey to her the salutations from Allah, the Majestic.
Peace be on you, O the protector of the religion of Allah.
Peace be on you, O the helper of the Apostle of Allah.
Peace be on you, O the one whose burial was arranged by the Apostle of Allah and he entrusted her to the Mercy of Allah.
I bear witness that you are esteemed near Allah and the chosen one among His nation and that Allah has placed you in His Mercy in a place built of ruby and in the highest grades of Paradise
May Allah send salutations upon you and His Mercy and Blessings
Source
The mountain and valley in the 50’s…
…and now.
The graves of our notable predecessors are behind the green gate and grills….
….while others are placed in walled areas as such…
…quite different from Jannatul Baqi.
Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu, the eldest son of Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu.
Abd Allah ibn Zubayr RadhiAllahu anhu, was the Grandson of Abu Bakr, nephew of our Lady Aishah, son of Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam, one of the ten guaranteed Jannah and Asma (known as the one with the two waist belts). His fellow Sahaabah said three thingsof him: his bravery, eloquence and worship. He was the first child to be born in Medinah. May Allah be pleased with them all.
Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib, the loved Uncle of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and the father of Ali RadhiAllahu anhu. He was the head of the Banu Hashim clan and married to Fatima bint Asad RadhiAllahu anha, who rests in Jannatul Baqi.
May Allah Ta’ala perfume all these homes of dust with a fragrant breeze from Jannah and fill them with Nur and Sakeenah, forgive all the inhabitants and unite them all in His Garden. Ameen.
[The first four and the last photos from a google search, and the three individual graves a sharing from an ‘Ashiq, Alhumdulillah and JazakumuLlahu khairan, the others from our visit last week]
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
October 27, 2008
Indeed Safa and the Marwa are among the signs appointed by Allah.. (2:158)
O Our Lord! I have made of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation by Your Sacred House; in order Our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and provide them with produce, so that they may be thankful. (14:37).
With all the modern changes to the Masaa area, one wonders how much the heart turns back to the noble Hajar Alaihas Salam’s running as a devastated mother’s concern for the well being of her son.
Her sense of urgency and her unshakable faith in Allah Ta’ala in such harsh circumstances are examples of not only what an excellent mother she was, but also what a strong believer in Allah Ta’ala she was. As we run over smooth marble with air conditioning and fans providing a cool fresh breeze, with the very water she was searching for available all along the way, with food and super fancy rooms to retreat to, with shopping outlets that rival the best in the world beckoning and tempting us, how much are we deepening our trust in Allah Ta’ala? How much do our actions, our Ibadah, honour the poignant Du’a Sayyidna Ibrahim Alaihis Salam made to his Rabb Subhanahu wa Ta’ala? And how much thought do we give to the ’signs appointed by Allah’?
The new minaret beside the Safa Hill. The Palace to the right.
Detail of the minaret with the massive Masaa project taking shape.
The elaborate facade showing the three levels plus the roof for performing Sa’i.
The feature section of the facade towards the Marwa end.
The Marwa end, jutting into the recently demolished area, that eventually will unite with the new extended part of the Haram.
The view looking from Marwa towards Safa. This new section was temporarily opened for the Ramadhan crowds, but now work continues with completing the final decoration and marbling of the floor.
Looking across the new section to what once was the courtyard and the base of the Palace. Earth digging machines were creating a deep trench just outside, but the photo is too dark to see them.
The noise is constant, as are the cleaners who are diligently and methodically at work attempting to combat the ever present dust.
The central section, between the two lanes of Masaa, which is designated for wheelchairs. The framework is the foundation for the barrier dividing the two way traffic.
A section of the central barrier separating the wheelchair pathways, looking over to what will exclusively become the one way path from Marwa to Safa. The area has been massively increased. While work progresses on the Safa to Marwa side, and the pilgrims are few, this one side accommodated the two way flow. Insha’Allah this ground level will be completed for the Hajj season. The second floor that was opened during Ramadhan was not available this visit while work continued to complete the extension.
Marble Zamzam outlets face towards the wheelchair pathway.
Decorative details seem to cover every surface. The absence of the hundreds of the Ottoman lanterns that were previously adorning the Masaa was sad.
This was looking into the Safa Hill. I could not get closer with all the scaffolding, but the drum of the dome that previously was decorated with a huge band of calligraphy had been resufaced with work being done on the dome. I am not sure what the plan is. It seemed the hill was still intact, though jackhammering was constant from this area. Notice the pillar on the right. Hundreds throughout the Haram have been stipped of their covering as they prepare the electrical wiring and whatever else in readiness for the entire structure to be airconditioned. Another awesome project.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
October 26, 2008
The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka; full of blessing and of guidance for all beings. (3:96)
May this blessing and guidance reach to the far corners of the Universe and the deepest recesses of every heart. The spiritual Barakah emanating from Baitul Allah is felt as a soothing balm erasing every trace of anxiety, remorse and all that does not resonate with the beauty and bliss of being in such a close proximity to our Rabb Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.
The Hadith related by Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu states that our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihiwasallam said that sins are expiated from the performance of one ‘Umrah to the next. How exquisite is the sensation of being a fragment of the Ummah participating in the ritual whereby accumulated sins are eradicated, but more so when the intention is for the sake of Allah Ta’ala, as He Himself has said with His Divine Speech:
And accomplish the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allah. (2:196)
The following photos are a sample selected over three days and nights from the copious ones taken whilst present in this City of Honouring, ‘visiting a populated place’, as is the translation of the word ‘Umrah. Though as some of the images show, during this time between the season of Ramadhan and Hajj, the attendees were very few compared to a mere few weeks ago. We were exceptionally blessed by the plans of the Best of Planners Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, to once more be gifted this opportunity and this view! Alf Alf Alf as-ShukriLlah!
The tower on the right is the Hajar Tower where
fire engulfed the top ten storeys. The damage could be seen from the opposite side facing the street.
Overlooking the new Masaa, the Safa end with a new minaret under construction. Immediately behind the Tower on the right is a corner of the Palace complex. While the across the temporary extension of the courtyard the Mubarak birthplace of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam can be seen.
From the Mubarak birthplace on the far upper right, to the Muabrak place where the house of our Lady Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha was…a duplicate image below, with the green dot indicating where Allah Ta’ala chose for the Best of Creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to become manifest on earth, and the blue dot indicating the approximate position where he SallAllahu alaihi wasallam spent his married life, and where his six children were born. SubhanAllah…..
….all so close to the Sacred House. How prodigious the time must have been then. It was emotional enough to keep meditating from this height on our glorious past, let alone trying to allow the heart’s imagination to be back more than 1400 years.
The Abraj al-Bayt complex of towers is adjacent to the Adjyad Hospital from where the bodies of the deceased arrive to Masjid al-Haram for the Janazah. They are bourne aloft a narrow stretcher carried by loved ones the short distance across a road and then the courtyard. The small cluster in the above photo, are brothers about to enter Haram, carrying a mayyit about half an hour before Salatul Asr. Once inside, the stretcher is initially placed on the floor of the corridor next to the area where the Imam leads Salat. Once Salat is over, it is moved to the Mataf for the prayers to be read, and then journey continues back across the courtyard to be transported to the graveyard. Some days there were multiple souls returning to their Rabb, Inna LiLlahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon. Unlike in Madinah where all are draped in green, various colours are used in Makkah; I saw brown, blue, black, fawn and sometimes a traditional tribal patterned shawl.
Insha’Allah, the next few posts will share various aspects of Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
October 21, 2008
I leave a cloak patched with vivid scenes of recent witnessing by eyes filled with tears of gratitude. Tears that trickle as beads of a tasbih falling over a wrinkled landscape of memories and attempted efforts of obedience. A cloak embroidered with threads spun from hearts assembled as they were before time and space echoing the very same resplendent chorus in Tawhid major.
The black net of night bulges with a bulging moon, inebriated from this recently passed spectacle of fasting worshippers, filling the horizon as a quivering shimmer as if the entire collections of stars had been sprinkled over the pristine marble. A glistening repetitive reverie at the Almighty’s command.
Weird and wonderful splashes of colour decorate the surface of this rainbow hued cloak. Superman leaps from tall pillars facing the Dome chasing a cute Tinkerbell type angel whose sparkly dress is aglow with pixie dust. A stooped grandpa bends as a kiss is gently placed on his hollow cheek, innocence instantly plucked akin to a rose bud delivering a romantic message of love. The rattle of cans in a sack being dragged by a grimy and dishevelled wanderer adorn the edges as jangly metallic trims. His gnarled hands rummage in bins searching for more to add to his collection. He momentarily stops in front of the Dome, salutes, and then shuffles off.
A blue, brown army chanting praises glides as a wave made from the pure essence extracted from kernels of joy. Smiles so honest and true seem to melt every atom for miles and years, reducing all animate matter to a honeyed mass of adoration.
Scrawny, beady-eyed cats waddle off a production line that seems to refuse to acknowledge quotas, peer from this huge Madian cloak. They slink by impervious to reality, until a tentative pat transfixes them into a statue, or children chase and torment them with silver guns, baseball bats and wayward maneuvers with their roller skates and runaway baby buggies.
Shiny satiny sections of this cloak glimmer with an eerie midnight light, revealing shadowy shapes of men polishing brass, replacing water containers, twirling monster machines, wielding an artillery of brooms, sticks and mops, riding chrome scooters, bicycles and tricycles while others cruise in the anti-vice matchbox car. All perched on this huge rotating ball as circus acrobats. So securely stitched that none of us fall off. Our falling is not of the physical kind.
I dream of sitting wrapped in this cloak, hoping by looking long enough and hard enough at the deep emerald gem that is the abode of the Prince of Creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam that all will dissolve into the One.
Instead I momentarily leave this cloak as I seek to stretch out for the Hand of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala as I circumambulate His House.
Labayk Allahumma Labayk
Makkah: STOP PRESS
The top ten floors of the under construction Hagar Tower, part of the Abraj al-Bayt ablaze last night. Arab News site is down as I edit this, but if you check it later you may read the details. Alhumdulillah there were no serious injuries or deaths.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
October 18, 2008
….with the discovery of a small shop nestled within these derelict alleys specializing in Indonesian food supplies! So lunch today was
Ikan Bilis and
Tempeh! ENAK ENAK!
ALHUMDULILLAHI RABBIL-’AALAMEEN!
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
October 16, 2008
Preparing for the Day of Judgement: a brilliant slender volume, brimming with wisdom, has so generously been added to my library. A huge JazakumuLlahu khairan to the giver.
Penned by ‘Abul Fadl Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Ali al-Kannani al-Asqalani, better known by the name of Imam Ibn Hajar, who was born in Cairo in 773/1372.
‘This book is a compilation of some of the wise sayings of the Prophet (pbuh), the companions, and of the pious predecessors and ascetics.
Reflecting on these wise sayings and heeding these counsels will assist in infusing us with the requisite awareness and fervour to prepare for the Day of Judgement.
We are all in need of such counsel, for our Day of Judgement begins not when the world ends, but when our life comes to an end - which is indeed imminent - as the Prophet (pbuh) stated.’
The nine chapters are divided into ‘counsels’ according to the number of advises included in each counsel: from Counsel in Twos to Counsel in Tens. The link above shares a selection from Threes, while I will share some that have pierced my heart, from Counsel in Fives. Insha’Allah in the future I will post others that may ripple responses for us to be more serious with our preparation.
“The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “There will come a time for my ummah when they will love five things and forget five things. They will love this life (dunya) and forget the life to come; they will love property and forget the grave; they will love wealth and forget the [Day of] Judgement; they will love their children and forget the truth; and they will love themselves and forget Allah. They have nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with them.”
The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “Allah does not give someone five things until He has prepared another five things for them. He does not give him gratitude except that He has prepared for him an increase [in provision and sustenance], He does not give him supplication (du’a) except that He has prepared its award; He does not give him the asking for forgiveness (istighfar) except that He has prepared for him forgiveness; He does not give him the asking for repentance except that He has prepared for him acceptance; and He does not give him charity except that He has prepared for him its reward.”
Abu Bakr as-Saddiq Radhiallahu anhu said, “Darkness is of five types and its lamps are five. Love of the dunya is a darkness and its lamp is God-consciousness; sins are a darkness and their lamp is repentance; the grave is a darkness and its lamp is: ‘There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’; the Hereafter is a darkness and its lamp is right actions; and the path is a darkness and its lamp is certitude.”
Umar Radhiallahu anhu said, “If it were not claiming to know the unseen, I would bear witness that these five types of people will surely be from the people of Paradise. The poor man who has to support a large family; the wife whose husband is please with her; the woman who gives her dowry to her husband, considering it an act of charity; the one whose parents are pleased with him; and the one who repents from sins.”
Ali Radhiallahu anhu said, “Were it not for five things all of mankind would have been righteous. Contentment with ignorance, covetousness over this world (dunya), miserliness over what is surplus, insincerity in actions, and conceit over one’s opinion.”
Yahya ibn Mu’ath al-Razi said, “He whose appetite increases, his corpulence will increase; he whose corpulence increases, his desires will increase; he whose desires increase his sins will increase; he whose sins increase, the hardness of his heart will increase; and he whose heart becomes hard will drown in the pitfalls of the dunya and its attractions.”
Sufyan al-Thawri said, “The poor have chosen five things and the rich have chosen five others. The poor have chosen sincerity of the soul, freedom from worries, worship of the Lord, ease of accountability, and the highest position. The rich have chosen weariness of the soul, preoccupation with worries, worship of the dunya, severity in accountability, and the lowest position.”
A sage said, “There are five obstacles to attaining God-consciousness (taqwa), and only the one who overcomes these five will attain it. Choosing hardship over ease, exertion over rest, lowliness over pride, silence over idle talk, and death over life.”
The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “In the gathering of wealth there are five [blameworthy] things, wearing oneself out in gathering it; neglecting the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah in preserving it; fear of robbers and thieves; being labeled a miser on account of it; and leaving the company of the righteous due to it. In distributing one’s wealth to the poor there are five [praiseworthy] things, ease of mind due to abandoning its amassing; having time to remember Allah rather than the worrying about preserving it; safety from robbers and thieves; gaining the title of ‘generous’; and accompanying the righteous due to leaving it behind.”
Sufyan al-Thawri said, “No one in this age amasses wealth except that he has five traits, the delusion that his lifespan will be long, overpowering greed, intense miserliness, lack of piety, and forgetfulness of the Hereafter.”
Muhammad ibn al-Duri said, “The damnation of Iblis was due to five things, he did not acknowledge his sin, he did not regret it, he did not blame himself, he did not resolve to repent, and he lost hope in the mercy of Allah. The salvation of Adam was due to five things, he acknowledged his sins, he regretted it, he blamed himself, he hastened to repent, and he did not lose hope in the mercy of Allah.”
Shaqiq al-Balkhi said, “Five precepts are obligatory upon you, so practice them: worship Allah to the extent that you need Him; take from the dunya to the extent of your stay in it; disobey Allah to the extent you can bear His punishment; prepare provisions during the dunya to the extent of your stay in the grave; and work for Paradise to the extent of your desired rank in it.”
Umar Radhiallahu anhu said, “I have seen all types of friends but I have never found a better friend than safeguarding the tongue; I have seen all types of clothes but I have never found clothes better than God-consciousness; I have seen all types of wealth but I have never found wealth better than contentment; I have seen all types of good deeds but I have never found a good deed better than giving good advice; I have seen all types of food and I never found food more delicious than patience.”
The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “There will come a time for my ummah when they will love five things and forget five others, they will love this dunya and forget the next world; they will love life and forget death; they will love palaces and forget the grave; they will love wealth and forget the [Day of] Account; and they will love creatures and forget the Creator.”
Yahya ibn Mu’ath al-Razi said in his entreaties and supplication, “O my Lord! The night is only pleasant to me when I supplicate to You; the day is only pleasant to me when I obey You; this world is only pleasant to me when I remember You; the Hereafter will only be pleasant to me if I receive Your pardon; and Paradise will only be pleasant to me if I see You.”
PREPARED??
JUMA’AH MUBARAK!
PREPARED??
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
October 14, 2008
The king is currently visiting Madinah. While the permament resident, the Prince of Creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s light perpetually illuminates this City Enlightened by his light.
Allahumma salli salaatan kaamilatan wa sallim salaaman taamman ‘ala sayyidina Muhammadin alladhi tanhallu bihil ‘uqod, wa tanfariju bihil qurob, wa tuqdo bihil hawaaiju, wa tunaalu bihir ragha`ib, wa husnul khawaatiim, wa yustasqal ghamaam, biwajhihil karim, wa ‘ala aalihi wa sahbihi fi kulli lamhatin wa nafasim bi’adadi kulli ma’lumin lak.
"O Allah! Send Your prayers the Salawat of perfect salutations and send Peace of complete fullness upon our Master Muhammad, with whom ceases all that binds, and ends all sadness, and fulfills all wishes, and attains all desires, and ends with goodness, and the pouring of rain, by his generous countenance, and upon his Family and his Companions, as much as every blink of an eye and every breath that is made that is in Your Knowledge."
Salawat an-Nariyyah [JazakiLlahu khairan for Umm Fatima (again!)’s reminder of this heartfelt Salawat]
"Soon on arrival in Madinah, the king visited the Prophet’s Mosque where he performed the Asr prayer and visited the grave of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and of Caliphs Abu Bakr and Omar." Image and article outlining his official role of launching various projects from todays Arab News.
While in yesterdays edition, along with emphasizing the SR12 billion budget for inprovements to the City, this comment was interesting: “The king has approved a proposal to make Madinah a Haj-related zone”. Until now, the general view from the Najd in the east has been that attaching a visit to Madinah, and specifically our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, during the Hajj season, has been considered an innovation.
Alhumdulillah ‘ala kulli hal.
The presence of dignitaries in Haramain is always a spectacle! During Ramadhan while walking strolling in the courtyard after Taraweeh a man with a huge professional camera mounted on his shoulder was filming as he made sweeping moves in every direction. Close upon his heels were commandoes, with h8uge rifles slung across their chest and policemen, arms flaying in the air in their attempt at dismissing any curious onlookers from coming too close. Close upon their heels was a ‘chain’ of commandoes, with guns in holsters tied around their thigh, tightly linked by holding hands, forming a barrier around a small group of ‘dignitaries’, moving as a unit.
Another evening the same gun toting commandoes boomed across the courtyard towards Bab Baqi, forming another human wall extending way out from the Green Dome area. This was the allotted time for sisters Ziarah, but when I entered the usual area to gain access for Ziarah the security sisters said it was closed for the night. Obviously sisters of some standing had the space to themselves, along with hundreds of guards for protection.
On the morning of Eid as the crowds of worshippers were literally pouring into Haram, a swathe of courtyard was cordoned off with the famous red and white tape, and once again lined with the ubiquitous commandoes and police. Fascinated as always with all these antics I stood back to see who may be arriving, and was dumbstruck when a group of Saudi nationals in the typical white thobe and red and white Shammag paraded along this guarded corridor. The amazing part was that each had a huge golden scabbard with sword, more than a metre in length, as well as a distinctive black leather belt holding a pistol slung across their left thigh. These brothers were entering the Masjid! Strange indeed.
The Eid gathering was estimated to be more than one and a half million worshippers here in Madinah! Squashed comes nowhere near to describe the scene of men and women filling the courtyard and spilling into all the arterial streets. For those who know Masjid Nabawi, to offer Salat in the southern courtyard renders the Jammat prayer null and void as it is actually in front of the position of the Imam. Signs in various languages clearly indicate this.
And yet this entire area was packed for the Eid prayer. No passage ways had been left in the advent of anyone trying to move anywhere. Police huddled and even hid in the small rooms housed in the main gate pillars, as they could no longer control any semblance of keeping pathways clear. And yet for ‘dignitaries’ an all out effort is made to clear and maintain space for them.
The worst crush was on Laylatul Qadr in Masjid al-Haram Makkah whilst performing Umrah during Taraweeh. The entire Mataf area was a surge of pilgrims circling the Ka’abah. I have never experienced such congestion. Not even during any Hajj. I wondered, as I was fighting for mere survival in this dense mass of humanity, how is this spiritual? Maybe one’s pleading for salvation as the tears and the perspiration seem to be all that is left defining one’s existence, was the essence of one’s finite link to Allah Ta’ala during such an experience. The imagination jumped to how maybe Yaumul Qiyamah may be. Drowning in our own perspiration, with a similar anxiety about what our fate may be. Ya Rabb.
The worst was to come…trying to negotiate a way out of the Mataf to Masaa. Each circuit while passing Imam Sudais as he was leading the Salat from the raised area opposite the Black Stone, I noticed a wall of brown…police shoulder to shoulder forming a barrier to protect a group of dignitaries. What made a difficult situation even more difficult was that they were occupying the main steps that lead directly to the Masaa. The crush up the adjoining steps was horrifying. No other word can paint this scene. It was surreal, as the Taraweeh was amplified full volume, people attempting to remain focused in their Salat as they filled all passageways, others trying to get out continuing with their Umrah, and yet others pushing to get into do Tawaf.
Eventually, after so many detours, so many doors blocked, so many police saying no entry, we found our way to the second floor. Construction was still ongoing. Stacks of marble slabs, tarpaulins, equipment, electrical wiring hanging from the ceiling, work mess, lined the way, as people vied for a place to join in the prayer, and others moving back and forth from Safa to Marwa.
And then suddenly ahead were the ‘dignitaries’. Spread across the entire width of the Masaa. A small group of brothers, not in Ihram, surrounded by the all too familiar wall of gun toting commandoes with police in front, beside and behind shooing off anyone who seemed they were coming too close, or who wanted to pass.
The crowd was estimated to be more than two million that night. Exiting was the next step in the endurance battle. Hours later one could see the ground beneath them.
SubhanAllah. It was Fajr before we were out of the crowd feeling like an individual instead of a glued component of humanity! Maybe therein lies the lesson! May Allah Ta’ala accept all eforts in our journey to Him, Ameen. And ‘dignitaries’ one and all!
~*~
JazakiLlahu khairan to the dear one whose photos I have used.
~*~
Alhumdulillah I have finally made some sense of trying to organize this blog. Slowly, the categories will be ‘concertinaed’ into some semblance of normality. You may notice that ‘rambling’ now includes all the previous ‘a ramble’ posts, and a ‘month of miscellany’ includes all the entries that previously were listed individually. Another JazakumuLlahu khairan for the kind souls who advised me on this. Maybe there should be a rule that ‘grannies’ are banned from blogging, as I realize that what has been a mammoth hurdle for me is truly so simple. Alhumdulillah. And, Insha’Allah once I have completed this laborious task I intend to take yet another bold leap into other changes. Please keep this humble space in your Du’a.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
