ALMISKEENAH

  

The black and white photo above is looking south, across the Dome of Felicity, towards the direction of Masjid Quba at a time when this Radiant City was girthed by the silvery green of palm groves.

 

This is the road that leads to Masjid Quba, looking back towards Masjid Nabawi with the soaring slender minarets and Jabal Uhud nestled shyly in the background. As I wander these Mubarak streets I imagine I have the ability to strip away all the changes and developments over the centuries, zooming my heart back to the time of our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. I do not see the minarets, or the modern Shariah courts, or cars, or buildings, or billboards. Jabal Uhud, fully resplendent, beams an aura of peace.  The humble muted tones of the palm thatched Masjid shines heavenward without the modern means of tinted glass or electricity. A light emanating from the one, who the entire creation was created for SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, dims all manufactured lights and glitter.

And just as this piece of selected earth is the same chosen by Allah Ta’ala to fulfill and finalize all His Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala promises for the Deen, so too are many aspects of our daily needs as humans. The need for sustenance, water, air, clothing, shelter will never change regardless of the massive changes constantly happening around us, and our purpose as needy slaves will never change, and our path to success will never be any way other than the Sunnah of Habib Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

And so for the eyes to rest upon the fruits that were loved and eaten by our Noble Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam brings our presence to his presents; his habits and manners, his Sunnah.

Colours, shapes, textures, varieties, tastes, aromas, delight and titillate not only the nafs, but also inject the Iman with a massive dose of sweetness! Ya Allah Ya Rabb, SubhanAllah!

Watermelons, musk-melons, cucumber are among the specific fruits mentioned in Ahadith that were commonly eaten in the hot summers by our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

A previous post showed the simple arrangement of one brother setting up his “pavement shop”; this morning I walked a little further along this road to Quba to a more permanent “shopping mall”! The variety not only includes the local produce, but also many imported fruits, from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, Yemen, and the decor is thrilling! 

 

This basic method of keeping the greens fresh with wet hessian bags is amazing. Temperatures are now in the low 40’s here, and yet the leaves of these vegetables, herbs and mints do not wilt.

 

The back of the "establishment", the storage area! The minarets of Masjid Nabawi are just beyond the trees.

 

 

Heat reflecting devices! 

 

The front of the "mall", the ancient pickups in the previous photos supporting the various sheets of canvas for shade. A shop specializing in HUBHUB, the local name for watermelon. 

 

The specialist himself! Normally I try to avoid people in photos, but he was insistent, and so proud of his business. Masha’Allah. Insha’allah I will make a print of this for him. May Allah Ta’ala bless these brothers for the hardships they endure while earning a Halal income. Ameen.

I did not buy a Hubhub, too heavy to carry home. But I did buy the first Indian MANGOES for the season, Alhumdulillah!

Reminding me of how Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would make the Du’a when eating the first fruit of the season:

O Allah! Bless us in our fruits. Bless us in our city, bless us in our Saa’, and bless us in our Mudd’. O Allah verily Ibrahim alaihis salaam is Your servant, friend and Nabi, and whatever he has supplicated to You for Makkah, I supplicate the same to You for Madinah.’

He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would then offer that fruit to a small child.

Being the morning, with children in school, I did not see a child to offer a mango, but someone with a child-like love for them was very happy, Alhumdulillah!

While my happiness was barely contained during my imagined walk to the market at the time of our Esteemed Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Alhumdulillahir 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.