ALMISKEENAH

 

I share a visit I made to a friend who lives on the fourth floor of an apartment block, with the rooftop as part of their space, where the following photos were taken just before Maghrib. The building is located in the Awali area, which is a little south of Jannatul Baqi, a short distance from the first ring road.

During the time of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam the Banu Harith Khazraj tribe inhabited a place known as Sunah in this area. According to Hadith, Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam declared this tribe the third most eminent from the Ansar;  the first was Banu Najjar  and the second Banu Abdul Ash’hal one of the Aws tribes.

Abu Bakr as-Saddiq RadhiAllahu anhu resided here after he migrated with our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and it was Kharija bin Zaid RadhiAllahu anhu from this tribe who was declared the brother of Abu Bakr as-Saddiq RadhiAllahu anhu by Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam when he was pairing the Muhajireen with the Ansar.  And Abu Bakr as-Saddiq RadhiAllahu anhu married his Ansari brother’s daughter Habibah bint Kharija bin Zaid, who bore him Umm Kulthum. Also it was in this tribe that our Lady Aishah Ummul Mu’minin RadhiAllahu anha first lived after her arrival in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, prior to her living with our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Abdullah bin Rawaha RadhiAllahi anhu was one of the official poets to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was from this tribe. He later was assigned the position of Commander in the Ghazwah-e-Mutah where he obtained Shahadah, SubhanAllah.  

Sa’ad ibn Al-Rabi RadhiAllahu anhu, from this tribe, the half brother of Habibah bint Kharija RadhiAllahu anhu, was bonded in brotherhood with Abdur Rahman ibn Auf RadhiAllahu anhu, who, like the majority of the Muhajireen arrived to Madinah with nothing.  Sa’ad ibn Al-Rabi RadhiAllahu anhu offered Abdur Rahman ibn Auf  RadhiAllahu anhu half of his wealth, but the latter refused and asked him to show him where the market place was where he began to sell cheese and butter, and with his Makkan expertise in trading, he was soon to become one of the richest Sahabah.  

Sa’ad ibn Al-Rabi RadhiAllahu anhu was martyred in the Battle of Uhud. Just before he breathed his last he gave Ubai ibn Ka’b RadhiAllahu anhu the message to convey his Salam to Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and to his tribe, telling Ubai ibn Ka’b RadhiAllahu anhu to remind them to be firm on the promise they made at Aqaba. He said Allah Ta’ala would not accept any excuse if the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was harmed while a single person of Banu Harith was left alive. SubhanAllah!

Such was the caliber of the Ansar and the people living in this area. Sa’ad ibn Al-Rabi’s widow RadhiAllahu anha came to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam enquiring about the law of inheritance, soon after Jibreel Alaihis Sallam came with the detailed revelation:

So now we embark on a giant leap….to the here and now….Insha’Allah, we also are blessed with the huge giant leap we all need to make with our Iman. From the time when our blessed Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum were in the presence of our Noble Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, immersed in the perfection of all that he was and all that he imparted. The leap we take is not just one through time, but in the very core of our Faith. How Kareem is our Rabb Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala blessing us with a Faith that lives on in hearts after all these centuries. May we continually beseech Him to increase and strengthen our Iman as we relive such noble times by visiting the very land where so much of our heritage remains in the very dust. This view is to the southeast.

 

Looking down….signs of the youth culture…..the square "box" in the middle of land awaiting development is their "meeting place", set up with carpets and cushions resembling the coffee shop arrangements found throughout the Kingdom, minus the TV!  Insha’Allah take a few minutes to make Du’a for their Hidayah, for the reality of where they live and "hang out" to enter their hearts, Ameen.

 

The northeastern view with our loved Jabal Uhud standing guard! Allahu Akbar! 

 

Another gathering of the Shababul Al-Madinah! One had a duff, so every now and then they would set up a rhythmic beat. This happens in most areas around the Radiant City!  

 

A patch of green amidst the sombre browns, for how long, only Allah Ta’ala knows. Looking westward….the two mountains in the distance are Jabal Jammah on the right and Jabal Ghurabah to the left. 

Moving slightly to the left of the previous photo, the mud brick walls having been rendered in cement and given a touch of colour. 

 

The Minarets of Haram Shareef, looking directly north. A tiny corner of Jabal Uhud with the green topped Minaret beside the Green Dome just visible between the two buildings on the left. A pity that photos have to be compressed for the blog.

 

Maghrib almost in, as I turn a little to the left of the above photo. The double humped mountain in the background is Jabal Sal’a, with two Ottoman ruins silhouetted against the reddening sky. One of the western Minarets dwarfed by the crane and the green spired Minaret to the right of the whitish building, a light from it like a beacon announcing the position of our Beloved Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  

 

Moving to the left of the previous photo, Masjid Bilal minaret, cranes and telecommunication tower pierce the glow of the setting sun.

I was hoping the full moon would be up, but it was nowhere to be seen. Alhumdulillah for the perfection of the here and now.

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.