ALMISKEENAH

Celebrate the praises of your Lord before the rising and the setting of the sun; proclaim His praise in the night and at the end of every prayer.

(50: 39-40)

Narrated Abu Dhar RadhiAllahu anhu: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam asked me at sunset, "Do you know where the sun goes at the time of sunset?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes, travels till it prostrates itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then a time will come when it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come and so it will rise in the west. And that is the interpretation of the Statement of Allah:

The sun too, runs its determined course laid down for it by the Almighty, the All-Knowing.  (36.38)  (Bukhari)
 

After Maghrib Salat…the small domes decorate the northern side of Haram. 

Sisters in the courtyard where a gentle breeze brings relief from the intense heat of the day….the sun already on its way to the Throne, SubhanAllah!  

All the architectural features take on so many different qualities according to the time of the day or night.

A celebration of the Muhabbat connecting the Ummah….COOKIES…home made, and carried all the way from the UK by the current neighbours of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu laihi wasallam….so Yummy! JazakumuLlahu khairan Katheeran!

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. 

The whimsical WHY? 

My brain is in meltdown as the temperature nudges fifty these past few days….and the AC where I sit bashing at the keyboard refuses to co operate….its brain in sympathy melt down too!

For some strange reason….this melting brain in “push mode” got me to thinking about children and their learning and how often we push their small brains too hard in our efforts to get them to understand concepts….which led me down reminiscing lane to when I used to spend some time with children in “play mode” as they grappled with the skills of word recognition and reading. Discovering the enchanting world of DIPHTHONGS….the word alone sounding like a surrealistic planet far away….and all the nuances that go with this may as well be from another planet.  There were many WHY’s, and sweet confused wrinkled brows over all the “WH” words…..Why is it pronounced like this…but looks like that….Why are the letters different but sound the same….Why are the letters the same but sound different…..WHY WHY WHY??

The following nonsensical, whimsical words grew out of these precious times…as well as fun loving children with great imaginations, creative lateral thinkers…and avid readers. Invent some more with your little…and maybe not-so little ones……

The moon like a balloon

Made me swoon.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

 The fly in the sky

Wanted to cry.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The flea on my knee

Went for a spree.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The fox in the box

Lost his sox.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The bug in the jug

Gave me a hug.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The jar in the car

Hit a bar.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The ants in pants

Sang in chants

WHY? WHY? WHY?

 The pip on my lip

Was about to slip.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The ball on the wall

Rolled into the hall.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The mice on the ice

Ate the rice.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The hair on the chair

Was fair.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The frog on the log

Was in the fog.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The fish on the dish

Made a swish.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The bear over there

Doesn’t care.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The sheep in the jeep

Couldn’t peep.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The llamas in pyjamas

Slipped on bananas.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

 The snail on the trail

Had no tail.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The boy with his toy

Drank some soy.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The girl with a curl

Loved to twirl.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The skunk in the bunk

Almost sunk.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The bun in the sun

Was having fun.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The lark in the dark

Heard a bark.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The bee in the tree

Winked at me.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The hare in the lair

Ate a pear.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The drink in the sink

Is bright pink.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

A mosquito on the go

Crunched a dorito.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The louse in the house

Befriended a mouse.

WHY? WHY? WHY? 

The pet in the jet

Is dripping wet.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The hen in the den

Wrote with a pen.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The chook in the book

Swung on a hook.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The duck in the truck

Got stuck.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The bell in the well

Went ding dong dell.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The Qur’an and a man

Are in a van.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

 Heavenly scent in the tent

A spectacular event.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The flower in the bower

Loves a spring shower.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

The tasbeeh on my knee

Is never free.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

Because Allah says BE, BE, BE.

So we can see

How great is He.

Loving His wise decree.

He created you and me,

So let’s shout with glee,

SubhanAllahi

Wa bi hamdihi,

As Salamu alaika Blessed Nabi.
 

1.

http://www.warriorofthelight.com/engl/edi58_mili.shtml

2.

http://family.go.com/parentpedia/preschool/milestones-development/preschool-asking-why/

"There is among trees one that is pre-eminently blessed, as is the Muslim among men; it is the date palm."

Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam 

This blessed palm is at its peak of production during these intense days of heat. The Mubarak city of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam is sweltering under extreme temperatures, the ideal conditions for ripening the very fruits Allah Ta’ala has said will be in His Garden.  

With fruits…date palms and pomegranate trees….

(55:68)

And bunches of fruits thereof will hang low within their reach.  

(76:14)

And one of the wondrous things that our Beloved Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam has told us is that the trunks of the trees of Jannah are made of gold! Allow the eyes of the heart to bask in such a vision…look at this trunk of gold…tears smudge the cheeks even with our inferior and limited imagination . Ya Rabb Ya Lateef….may all reading this be blessed with this reality. We ask Allah Ta’ala to grant us what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no tongue has tasted, no human heart can comprehend, we ask You to grant us this, by Your Grace.  Ameen, Ameen Ameen.

This magnificent palm has been providing fruit for thousands of years, evidence of its existence dating back to 5000-6000 BC. Allah Ta’ala has created the strong stalks capable of nourishing large bunches, each containing  more than a thousand dates, weighing between 6 to 8 kg, and each tree can produce between five and ten bunches. A mature female tree can produce upwards of 150 pounds of fruit annually.

The sugar content of ripe dates is about 80%; the remainder consists of protein, fat and mineral products including copper, sulphur, iron, magnesium and fluoric acid. Dates are high in fiber and an excellent source of potassium. Five dates (approx. 45 grams) contain about 115 calories, nearly all from carbohydrates. Bedouin Arabs, who eat them on a regular basis, show an extremely low incidence of cancer and heart disease.

These styrene foam boxes are seen all over the city; laden pickup trucks line the sides of all major roads, boxes are piled high in all shops and markets, while in the homes all are indulging in consuming these delicious summer gifts along with freezing the excess in readiness for Ramadhan Iftas!

Eat two, pack one, eat three, pack one….these are the sticky, juicy, succulent, superlative yummy,  syrupy sweet Rutana dates freshly plucked from a friend’s farm that I have been packaging for Ramadhan…..eat four, pack one! 

Same dates, same growing conditions, same soil, same sun, same water, same sweetness as when our Blessed Messenger of Allah Ta’ala graced this Mubarak City. How Merciful, how Kareem is our Lord Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, the Nourisher, the Sustainer, in maintaining such Barakah over all these centuries. May we all work towards our gratitude being commensurate with His Bounties, Ameen.

Previous "date" posts include more information, stories and Ahadith.   

Once again, appreciation to a special sister who was recently blessed in visiting the Holy Sanctuaries and now sharing her experiences with you by so generously allowing me to use her photographs. May Allah Ta’ala fill her life with the best of His Bounties from His Unlimited Treasures, 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. 

And Alhumdulillah that there are thousands who currently have been invited to visit Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah these days, thousands who have just left, and thousands on their way, to be able to greet the best of creation, Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam from within the confines of the city he brought enlightenment to. Brothers are given the opportunity to present themselves within meters of our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, anytime during the hours of Masjid Nabawi, while sisters are restricted in the area they may visit as well as the times. And we are taught to say Alhumdulillah for all circumstances, all conditions and all situations. Alhumdulillah!

This post is in response to Sister Shahida’s inquiry about the conditions of Ziyarah for sisters when visiting our Blessed Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in this Luminous City of Light and Radiance. Information is not only relevant for sisters but also for brothers to understand, as many visit with their female family members who need the basic information on where and when to go. Sisters often arrive at the wrong section assuming they can access the Rowdha Shareef from there, or some arrive towards the end of visiting times and are prevented from entering. In some cases some miss visiting altogether due to not knowing the routine.

Also, the conditions vary according to the time of the year, between the few months when there are no Umrah visa issued, the low and the peak Umrah seasons culminating in Ramadhan and Hajj.

There are only two prayer areas for sisters; the north western corner (orange line) accessed through doors 13-15, and the north eastern corner (pink line) through doors 25-28. In both sections the areas on the Qiblah side of the light blue lines are for sisters without children with a barrier separating the area for sisters with children. Security sisters are positioned at the openings of this barrier ensuring this rule is abided by. However during the busy times of Hajj and Ramadhan this division usually does not apply as the number of children at these times is far less. Access to Rowdha Shareef for sisters is ONLY through the eastern section, by following the blue path.

The sisters prayer area is separated from the men’s area by a tall finely decorated “mashrabiyah”, the traditional wooden Arabic screen, which allows air to still circulate, but limits visibility either way. The purple dotted line indicates where the huge doorways are for gaining entrance to the Rowdha Shareef. These are only opened during the Ziyarah times for sisters. The main session being after Ishraq until approximately 10.30am, but it is advisable to arrive by 10am the latest as the entry doors will be shut, even though sisters will still be inside the visiting area. During the crowded seasons it is best to remain in the Masjid from after Fajr Salat making your way to as near to the mashrabiyah (purple dots) as possible. The wait may be an hour or so as brothers need to be vacated from the area allocated for sisters and the white canvas fence to be erected. This demarcates the pathway to be followed to reach the visiting area and the greater men’s section of the Masjid, brothers are still able to access the Masjid and cross the sisters’ pathway during their visiting times. The actual position of this barrier tends to change, especially in and immediately around the Rowdha Shareef area, maybe according to the numbers, maybe trying various configurations, as the whole arrangement is far from satisfactory.

The second time for sisters’ ziyarah is after Salatul Zuhur. This session is only very short compared to the morning session so once again wait at the mashrabiyah soon after Salat has finished.

Now all this may sound straight forward…and for certain times during the year it is. However over the past couple of years the plan to bring more and more in for Umrah has increased the number of pilgrims. I read the other day, that just a few years ago, when we first came here, the Umrah figure over the space of a year was 1 million. Now it is 3.8 million, with the projected figure to be 10 million within the next few years!! I find this boggling on so many levels, the most pressing being the conditions sisters are subjected to in visiting Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. And I sense that this has been the least concern for all the “authorities”.

During these peak times they have tried to implement a one way system….the lime green line represents the exit pathway, which is a separate fenced area.  Many do not realize this and leave their shoes in shelves on their way into the Rowdha Shareef, and then find they have to walk all the way back to the main sisters area to enter the way in again. Shoes and bags can be a hindrance in the crowds, and yet leaving them somewhere also can cause distress in locating them again, and the issue of “lost” shoes has also become rife! I always recommend you come with a shoe bag….one that has a strap that is across the chest so your hands are free. 

The other “feature” employed when the crowds are great is the marshalling into groups according to nationality. Various “security” guards are given placards on sticks with the name of the main different countries on them…they stand in certain places on a chair waving these placards for the sisters to assemble around them. They are given a lecture on the Adab of Ziarah and can be “held” in these holding areas for ages. I have seen physical fights with this arrangement, and there are many cases of broken bones and sisters taken to hospital! Another aspect of trying to organize the crowds is the use of megaphones! Yes….megaphones in the Masjid, as well as under the umbrella area, so close to our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam! And then there is the moving canvas tactic! Two “security” guard sisters hold a piece of canvas about one meter wide and five long…they “wrap” this around a group of sisters….and “pull” them into place! And during Ramadhan and Hajj , this holding place is literally a fenced in area positioned in front of one of the doors of the mashrabiyah. Once it is full it is shut. Sisters have to wait in these pens until space is made available under the umbrella area.

If all this sounds like a disgrace it is because it is! It is a shambles. The emotions are high. Thousands of sisters have come to pay their respects, to give their Salam, some having waited decades for this opportunity. Many just sit and cry, Many are too weak or incapacitated to sustain this treatment. Hundreds resign themselves to never making it to the Rowdha area and convey their Salam from the back of the Masjid, or from the other sisters prayer area where it is calm and quiet.

This is a detail of the visiting area. The smaller green section is the green carpet area of Rowdha Shareef available for the sisters. The darker green lines represent the fence that is erected prior to our visiting times. The blue arrows indicate the direction one is to follow, the central green line is the fence separating the going in area to the exit area. It is almost impossible to offer two Raka’ts now, the crowds being too dense, and the "security" guards are on high stools yelling directions, and madly gesturing the whole time. At no time are sisters in the area where the Mihrab or the Minbar are, and as can be seen the closest we can be to our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam is at the far end of what was the house of our Lady Aishah RadhiAllahu anha.

The line of purple dots indicate where the barrier is erected when it is high season, which is the majority of the year now, other times sisters can enter into this larger green area to be near the place of Tahujjud, to have access to the raised platform, which some narrations say was the Suffah, others as written on this diagram. The narrow area is most sought after to offer Salam as it it as the Mubarak feet of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and those of his blessed companions, Abu Bakr and Umar RadhiAllahu alahi wasallam. The red lines represent what are like wooden counters, reaching about waist high that are placed there during the sisters visits, the "security" guard ladies walk up and down this narrow area looking for "bida’h" and soon pounce on any one they feel is facing the "wrong" way or reading the "wrong" book of Du’a.

From this area you can look ahead to the corner of Bab Baqi, and the Qiblah wall….the pink dot indicates where we have been told, is one of the places where Jibreel Alaihis Sallam would come when visiting Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Brothers can see this as a small wire grill with a beautiful flower design on it, and sisters fortunate enough to be here during the off season can see this, as well as use Bab Jibreel and Bab An-Nissa’. It is not that long ago when sisters could enter and exit from this side of the Masjid for Ziyarah, but for some reason we no longer can access this side. It makes it a very long walk for those staying, or living on the southern side, as you have to walk to the back of the Masjid and then all the way to the front again to be in the visiting area. 

 “A group of Angels travel throughout the earth to convey greetings of my Ummah to me.”

How blessed we are that these Angels are not confined to only those who are blessed to be in the immediate vicinity of our blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Alhumdulillah.
By saying one Durood as you read this, wherever you happen to be on the face of the earth, an Angel will immediately carry this to our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as he rests under the splendid Dome of Felicity. Alhumdulillah!

And this is for everyday….EXCEPT Yaumul Juma’ah….when, wherever you are Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam hears your greetings himself! SubhanAllah!

JUMA’AH MUBARAK! to all I see across the globe clicking on this page…..Insha’Allah make your connection to our Blessed and Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam more so on this Mubarak day, knowing that he hears you and he responds wherver you are!

JUMA’AH MUBARAK! 

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. 

Narrated Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, "I have made Medina a sanctuary between its two (harrat) mountains." The Prophet went to the tribe of Bani Haritha and said to them, "I see that you have gone out of the sanctuary," but looking around, he added, "No, you are inside the sanctuary."  (Bukhari)

Volcanoes….revisited.

Known as Harrat, the shiny black lava tracts form a large area in Al-Hijaz mountain chain, extending along the coast of the Red Sea covering about 1760 kilometers. The main Harrrats almost surrounding this most Radiant of Cities is the most northern section of this long impressive feature. Harrat Rahat extends from the south east of Al-Madinah all the way to Taif. Herbs and wild plants abound in the streams of the valleys and slopes, and this is where the original villages and tribes would settle to capitalize on the fertility of the soil between these tracts.

The official Saudi tourist department are planning to make Harrah Rahat an Eco-Tourist Centre, as reported in the current edition of Arab News. Insha’Allah this becomes a reality, instead of the more common quarrying, excavating and devouring by companies extracting the resourses for commercial use. There needs to be a balance. To see some of these magnificient cones and mountians eroded away is akin to inflicting them with wounds. Many significant events during the time of the Prophet’s 10 years in and around this Enlightened City specifically refer to the Harrah in various Ahadith.

It has been narrated on the authority of A’ishah RadhiAllahu anha, wife of the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who said: The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam set out for Badr. When he reached harrat-ul-Wabara (a place four miles from Medina) a man met him who was known for his valour and courage. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam were pleased to see him. He said: I have come so that I may follow you and get a share from the booty. The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to him: Do you believe in Allah and His Apostle? He said: No. The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: Go back, I will not seek help from a Mushrik (polytheist). He went on until we reached Shajara, where the man met him again. He asked him the same question again and the man gave him the same answer. He said: Go back. I will not seek help from a Mushrik. The man returned and overtook him at Baida’. He asked him as he had asked previously: Do you believe in Allah and His Apostle? The man said: Yes. The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to him: Then come along with us.

Insha’Allah, future generations are aslo able to visit such places and relive some of these momentous events in their hearts making the places a means of connecting and relating to our blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

Yathrib at the time of Hijrah, another one of the large maps from the current historical display at the Ottoman Railway station. The darker areas represent the volcanic eruptions of almost 10 million years ago, with the central greener area being Yathrib, to become the sanctuary. Qaswa, our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s camel chose the place for the establishment of Masjid Nabawi in the midst of this fertile land (Almost in the middle of this map….slightly to the left of the middle is an isolated dark area, which is the volcanic Jabal Sal’e, with Masjid Nabawi eventually built just to the south east of it.) The younger volcanic activity came in 1256 A.D. when the city was threatened, see previous entry for details.

The following photos were taken by an enthusiastic and energetic and extremely generous sister during her very recent visit. I appreciate her kind and open hearted gesture of presenting me with all of her photos from her trip, which I will be sharing with you when appropriate, Alhumdulillah. May Allah Ta’ala accept the efforts of all who make sacrifices to come to the place where His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam is resting, and where he sacrificed his all for his Ummah, Ameen.  

Once the people doubted the appearance of the moon of Ramadan, and intended neither to offer the tarawih prayer nor to keep fast. A bedouin came from al-Harrah and testified that he had sighted the moon. He was brought to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. He asked: Do you testify that there is no god but Allah, and that I am the Apostle of Allah? He said: Yes; and he testified that he had sighted the moon. He commanded Bilal who announced to the people to offer the tarawih prayer and to keep fast.

Narrated Jabir ibn Samurah RadhiAllahu anhu: A man alighted at Harrah with his wife and children. A man said (to him): My she-camel  has strayed; if you find it, detain it. He found it, but did not find its owner, and it fell ill. His wife said: Slaughter it. But he refused and it died. She said: Skin it so that we may dry its fat and flesh and then eat them. He said: Let me ask the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. So he came to him SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and asked him. He said: Have you sufficient for your needs? He replied: No. He then said: Then eat it. Then its owner came and he told him the story. He said: Why did you not slaughter it? He replied: I was ashamed (or afraid) of you.

Rabi’ah ibn al-Hudayr RadhiAllahu anhu said: I did not hear Talhah ibn Ubaydullah RadhiAllahu anhu narrating any tradition from the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam except one tradition. I (Rabi’ah ibn AbuAbdurRahman) asked: What is that? He said: We went out along with the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who was going to visit the graves of the martyrs. When we ascended Harrah Waqim, and then descended from it, we found there some graves at the turning of the valley. We asked: Apostle of Allah, are these the graves of our brethren? He replied: Graves of our companions. When we came to the graves of martyrs, he said: These are the graves of our brethren.

Narrated Abu Sa’id RadhiAllahu anhu:  A person belonging to the clan of Aslam, who was called Ma’iz ibn Malik, came to Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and said: I have committed an immoral crime, so inflict punishment upon me. Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam turned him away again and again. He then asked his people (about the state of his mind). They said: We do not know of any ailment of his except that he has committed some crime and he thinks that he will not be able to relieve himself of its burden unless the Hadd is imposed upon him. He (Ma’iz) came back to Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who commanded us to stone him. We took him to the Baqi’ al-Gharqad. We neither tied him nor dug any ditch for him. We attacked him with bones, clods and pebbles. He ran away and we ran after him until he reached the stony ground al-Harrah and stopped there and we stoned him with the heavy stones of the Harrah until he became motionless and died. The Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then addressed us in the evening saying: Whenever we set forth on an expedition in the cause of Allah, some of those connected with us shrieked like the bleating of a billy-goat. It is essential that if a person having committed such a deed is brought to me, I should punish him. He neither begged forgiveness for him nor cursed him.

A story from the time of the Caliphate of Umar RadhiAllahu anhu. 

Abdullah bin Qart was appointed by Umar RadhiAllahu anhu as the Governor of Emessa. When Umar RadhiAllahu anhu went on a tour of Syria, he enquired of the people of Emessa as to how was their Governor. The consensus of opinion was: "He is a good man, but he has some pride and haughtiness about him, and he has constructed a double storied house for himself, while the houses of all other Muslims are single storied." Umar RadhiAllahu anhu deputed an agent to verify whether Abdullah had in fact built a double storied house. The agent was further instructed that if the house was in fact double storied the door on the upper storey should be burnt as indicative of the displeasure of the Caliph. The agent found that a double storied house had actually been constructed. He, therefore, in compliance with the order of Umar RadhiAllahu anhu had the door burnt. Abdullah watched the burning of the door with a sense of hurt pride. This was reported to Umar RadhiAllahu anhu.

When Umar RadhiAllahu anhu returned to Madina, he summoned Abdullah bin Qart to Madina. Having arrived at Madina, Abdullah bin Qart waited on Umar RadhiAllahu anhu. Umar RadhiAllahu anhu did not see him for three days and kept him waiting. When after three days, Abdullah was admitted to the presence of Umar, Umar RadhiAllahu anhu asked him whether he had built the second storey with his own money, or with money produced through unlawful means. Abdullah produced accounts to show that the house had been constructed with his own money. Umar RadhiAllahu anhu showed his satisfaction on that count. Thereupon Abdullah behaved haughtily and asked "When the house was constructed with my own money, where lay the offence."

Umar RadhiAllahu anhu cast a searching look at Abdullah and then said with some show of anger, "As a Governor of a Muslim state, you had to set a standard of equality among the Muslims. You have violated this principle by constructing a double storied house for yourself, thus placing yourself above the people."

Umar RadhiAllahu anhu ordered Abdullah to see him at Harrah the following day. Harrah was the state pasture a few miles from Madina. When Abdullah appeared at Harrah, Umar RadhiAllahu anhu ordered him, "Take off your costly clothes, and don this dress of a shepherd. Till further orders you have to look after the camels in this pasture". Abdullah reluctantly complied with the orders. Umar RadhiAllahu anhu visited Harrah a fortnight later and asked Abdullah as to how he felt. Abdullah said, "I feel repentant". Thereupon Umar RadhiAllahu anhu said, "A Muslim Governor cannot be haughty or proud. If you are repentant I send you back as Governor. I hope you have learnt the lesson that a Governor is not superior to the people; he is only one of them, with great responsibilities." Abdullah returned to Emessa a changed man.

Such a harsh environment, lava tubes, air vents, huge fissures more than 20 meters deep, crusty ash deposits, razor sharp shards of rock….all the result of temperatures in the thousands, forces beyond our comprehension, the incredible power of the Qudrat of Allah Ta’ala. Desolation, decay and destruction….may we be among the heedful, Ameen.

Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah serenely nestles in the distance.

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. 

…..rambling along from the previous post…..as part of the Taiba Summer 28 Festival is an exhibition depicting various aspects of the time of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam on large light box screens in the Ottoman Railway Station. This is the middle section of a mural illustrating how the original Masjid Nabawi may have been.

The rugged western corner of Jabal Uhud is in the background, so the side where the bluish light reflection is south and thus direction of Qiblah. There is a small area thatched with palm branches on this southern wall in the right hand corner where the Mihrab and the Minbar would have been. The small building is the house of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and our blessed lady Aishah RadhiAllahu anha, the humble room where the most loved and best of creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam rests along with his two faithful companions RadhiAllahu anhuma.  

A large poster, almost identical to the above is available along with a new basic pictorial publication Al-Madinah History and Monuments. Both are from Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Research and Studies Centre.

There were other maps and diagrams in the main hall of the station, as well as displays of traditional crafts, furniture, cooking and a children’s theatre, along with the permanent railway exhibits. The festival is spread over five main locations offering an array of activities for families. This is the only one I have attended.

 A view from one of the nearby hotel rooms of one of the temporary neighbours of our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. The policy of the hotels immediately surrounding the courtyard is for rooms with a "view" regardless of how narrow, are in a higher price bracket than rooms without a view.

This was taken just before Asr yesterday with the scorching north western ladies courtyard empty. Nearer to Maghrib as the sun loses its intensity many gather here enjoying the evening breeze.   

Fulfilling the request of brother Qushayri…..this is brother Khalid in his perfume shop, taken from the side where you can see the angle of the escalator left top. The triangular section underneath is his "store room"! The other day when I first arrived to buy a few things and take the photos for the previous entry brother Khalid was nowhere to be seen….the shop open, the beautiful bottles of perfume, and other products all over the counter. I waited and waited….and was about to go when I saw a small curtain below shelves inside the shop area flutter,  …he was hunched down in that tiny store area searching for things! To watch him enter and exit his working abode is another gymnastic skill! He suddenly "springs" over the counter, SubhanAllah! There are other outlets for the same company in this complex so if brother Khalid does not have certain items he hurriedly goes to the other shops obtaining that which you request.

The other side of the shop …. the escalator is above….a small ceiling of mirrors and various styles of tasbehs displayed help to give the illusion of space and height. And where is brother Khalid now? Seeking some amber beads to be strung into a tasbih for the sister (above) in his little triangular cubby hole store room. The main shopping areas within the hotels sublet these tiny spaces…walking around you see corners and the sides of corridors transformd into a commercial outlet. Every conceivable space speaks money!

Brother Khaild’s Almadinah Museum for perfumes is in the Taibah Commercial Centre near entrance number 2. If any of you require specific details ask in the comment section, Insha’Allah.

*

For sister Saimah…and others interested in the Haramain Imams. During the summer time some of the Imams travel to other countries, being absent for a short time. I do not have television, so I have no idea as to how much is televised from the Haramain. I am sure many readers are well informed and up to date with the current Imams. Some time ago brother Muhamed sent this excellent link, where if your downloading is "normal" as distinct from the snail pace here, then many Salat are posted. Maybe this duplicates what TV provides….I do not know.

I previously posted the following from here:

"MAKKAH, 12 July 2007 — The Grand Mosque in Makkah is to see two new imams, Sheikh Abdullah Awad Al-Johani and Sheikh Mahir ibn Hamad Al-Muayqali, lead regular prayers according to a royal decree issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

Both sheikhs have previously led Ramadan night prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah."

The main Imams here in Masjid Nabawi are:

Shaykh Huzaify

Shaykh Qasim

Shaykh Ali Sheikh

Shaykh Budair

Shaykh Thubaity

May Allah Ta’ala preserve His Sacred Words, bestowing His abundant blessings on all who memorized, or in the process of memorizing our Qur’an Majeed. 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. 

We glide on the allure of Al-Mustafa’s  SallAllahu alaihi wasallam Attar.

Golden droplets burst, exploding from the memory of

his every step, his every word, his every smile, his every nuance, his every touch,

his every breath;

LIGHT MANIFEST.

Frenzied senses ignite as seeds

dispersing across the arid desert

of the heart.

How bland are musk and amber in comparison with this caressing breeze.

A fragrance that extracts stubborn cries of repentance.

Awakening and rustling a dormant Iman

Transforming into star-filled bubbles

Effervescing.

Infectious.

Perfumed.

Oh my heart, sit with a person
who understands the heart.
Sit under a tree
which has fresh flowers.
In the market of perfume sellers
don’t wander like you’re jobless.

Sit with a shopkeeper
who has sugar in the store.

Not every eye has eyesight.
Not every sea contains a jewel.

Rumi

A scavenger, walking down the street of the perfume-sellers, fell down as if dead. People tried to revive him with sweet odours, but he only became worse. Finally a former scavenger came along, and recognized the situation. He held something filthy under the man’s nose and he immediately revived, calling out: ‘This is indeed perfume!’

Idries Shah’s Tales of the Dervishes. 

In the realm of the Unseen

there exists a sandal wood, burning.

This love

is the smoke of that incense.

SubhanAllah! During the past few days I have been mulling over this entry. Going to Khalid’s tiny perfume “shop”, a tiny two square meter structure in the space under an escalator in a busy shopping mall, to take these pictures and buy some Attar, and pondering over poems referring to perfume. Then the other day while walking to Masjid Nabawi I saw smoke rising from some contraption in the middle of a roundabout. I was curious as to what this was, never having seen anything like it before, apart from when the council fumigates around Haram with kerosene which produces smoke like fumes. Initially I thought it was someone in difficulty, so I hastened my pace. As I came closer the heady fumes carried the scent of a rich Bakhour emanating from this unique mobile incense burner, proudly attended by a very old man! I bought some of his mix from the large brass container and requested taking a photo, which he was so happy about. I continued on my way.

When I came to the shade of a building I checked the photos I had taken….seeing that my shadow was impeding the amazing contraption, so I turned back with the intention of asking if I could take more time in setting up the position of his cart for better shots

But he was nowhere to be seen! In the space of a few minutes he had disappeared….I scanned the entire open area. The whole scene was as if it was an illusion. Gone up in the smoke from this burner. All that remained was the perfume trapped in my Abaya and the Bahkour I purchased from him filling the space around me as I type this. Ajeeb!

* 

And when you are immersed in the Fragrance of Madinah, (a 1 hour 38 minute Youtube presentation of the Seerah of the Prophet SallAllahu laihi wasallam)  Insha’Allah seek Khalid out for all your perfume purchses, as do so many of the illustrious Shuyukh.  

 
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.

Sallallahu ‘alaa Muhammad

Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallim

Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Rasul Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Habib Salaam ‘alaika

Salawatullah ‘alaika.

Allah Ta’ala has blessed us with His most glorious of Words and Promises concerning His most Beloved Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Insha’Allah by taking the essence of these lofty stations and attributes into our hearts our love and longing for our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasllam will soar, making our visits, whether vicarious or real, momentous and soulful.  

Selected Verses From The Holy Qur’an On OUR BELOVED PROPHET MUHAMMAD Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam.

HIS EXALTED STATUS

1. He is Nur (Sacred Light)

O people of the Scripture! Indeed Our (Prophetic) Messenger has come to you, expounding to you much of that which you used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. Undoubtedly, there has come to you light from Allah and a clear Scripture. (5:15)

 2. Allah blesses him

Indeed, Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. (33:56)

3. Mercy for all the worlds

And We have sent you not except as a mercy for all the worlds. (21:107)

4. His name is Muhammad (Meaning the Most Praised One)

And those who believe and do good works and believe in that which is revealed to Muhammad, and it is the truth from their Lord, He removes from them their ill-deeds and improves their state. (47:2)

5. Allah has exalted his Zikr (remembrance)

And exalted for you your Zikr (remembrance) (94:4)

6. His exaltation on the Night of Mi’raj

Then he drew near, then he came closer

Till he was (distant) two bows’ length or even nearer. (53:8-9)

7. His Station of Praise (Al-Maqam al-Mahmud)

And some part of the night offer Tahajjud (salah), an additional prayer for you. Soon will your Lord raise you to a Station of Praise. (17:79)

The collection of Ayat continues under the following Mubarak headings.

HIS EXALTED STATUS

THE BELOVED OF ALLAH

HE RECEIVED THE HOLY QUR’AN

AMONG THE PROPHETS ‘Alayhimussalam

SERVES ONLY ALLAH, THE GLORIFIED AND THE EXALTED

HIS EXEMPLARY CHARACTER

PREACHES ISLAM

HIS BLESSED HOUSEHOLD AND COMPANIONS, Rady Allahu ‘Anhum

BELIEVE, ASSIST, HONOUR, LOVE, RESPECT AND OBEY HIM

WAGED JIHAD AMIDST PERSECUTION

HIS MIRACLES

INTERCESSOR (SHAFI’)

"Let the visitor imagine the Prophet’s magnificent and generous form, as if he is sleeping in his grave, knowing him (the visitor) and hearing his words. Only then does he say: Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah… and the visitor conveys to the Prophet the greetings of those who asked him to send Salam to to the Prophet, so he says: Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah, from [name of person] the son of [name of parent] who seeks shafa’a (intercession) with you to your Lord, therefore ask for his shafa`a for all believers…."

Read accounts of what the following scholars of Ahl al-Sunna say about travelling to visit the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.
Al-Hafiz al-qadi iyad al-yahsubi al-Mali
Ibn Qunfudh al-Qusantini al-Maliki
Imam Malik’s preference of Madina over Mecca
Al-gawth al-a`azam al-imam `abdul Qadir Jilani al-hasani al-Hanbali
Al-hafiz ibn al-Jawzi al-Hanbali
Shaykh al-Islam al-Hafiz al-Imam Nawawi

The following quotes are from “Baargar-e-Risaalat” “In the Court of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam”, also available to download as a 16 page booklet.

“The grief of my carelessness. The guilt of my inner state. The anxiety of staying unaware. I have come to you from place to place. With this entire caravan”

“Madinah is coming closer and closer, our fortune is escalating higher and higher.”

“Let the darkness of your sins accompany you to the perfect spiritual guide”

"O Allah my eyes are so impure that they do not deserve the vision of the grave of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) - How do I find purity within my eyes that will enable me to set my eyes upon the Rauda Mubarak?

O Allah, if only You can grant me such tears that will purify and cleanse the impurity and weakness of my sight so that I can see the blessed grave of your beloved Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). This purification will enable me to see it with due respect.

O Allah my fortune has proliferated! Your mercy is immeasurable. You have given me the opportunity to make sajdah in Riyadul Jannah, O Allah! upon which ground have I made sajdah today? The ground upon which Sahabah (RA) used to make sajdah!"

"For this lowly unfaithful servant there can be no greater favour and honour than to be given the privilege of making sajdah where the Sahabah had placed their foreheads."

“(Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is Makki, Madani, Hashimi, Muttalibi For mankind this family lineage and genealogy is of great pride Advance gently and respectfully, with lowered gaze and speak softly As the soul of the Arabian messenger is resting here "

Sallallahu ‘alaa Muhammad

Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallim

Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Rasul Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Habib Salaam ‘alaika

Salawatullah ‘alaika.

(photos taken this afternoon about half an hour before Maghrib on my way to meet a very special sister, Alhumdulillah. The courtyard work having just begun directly in front of the Blessed Green Dome. The grey barrier now extending from Bab Salam to the right to the eastern fence, leaving a very narrow walkway between the Masjid wall and the construction fence. it seems that itr could be months before being able to sit just opposite the Abode of Al-Mustafa.) 

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. 

THE SHROUD

Abi Ishaq narrated that Haritha bin Mudhrab said: “One time, after the passing of Allah Ta’ala’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam we visited Khabbab ibn Al-Arat RadhiAllahu anhu on a day he was cauterized in seven areas of his body to treat some festering wounds he had suffered earlier at the hands of his torturers. When we enquired how he felt he replied, ‘Had Allah Ta’ala’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam not forbade us to wish for death, I would have wished for it right away!’ Someone asked Khabbab, ‘Tell us something about the early days in Islam, about your fellowship with Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and how it was like to visit with him?’

In the course of his talk, Khabbab, RadhiAllahu anhu ‘I know of no one who was subjected to unbearably painful and harrowing physical torture, yielding permanent injury such as I sustained. Furthermore during slavery I was so poor there was a time when I did not even have a decent rag to put on me to go and see him SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and by contrast, here I am today, sitting on forty thousand Dirham, laying somewhere in the house.

Khabbab, RadhiAllahu anhu then asked for his burial shroud, and when he saw it and held it in his hand, he embraced it and wept over it. When he recouped he resumed: ‘When Hamza RadhiAllahu anhu was killed, we couldn’t find more than a begrimed scanty piece of an old cloak to shroud him with, and which when pulled up to cover his head, it became short of covering his feet, and when we stretched it down to his feet, it exposed his head. Finally we laid it down as it was to cover his head and we then covered his feet with some branches of Athkhar, Makkan grass.’”

*

Ishaq al-Thaqfi narrated that Umm Dharr RadhiAllahu anha, the wife of Abu Dharr al-Ghafari RadhiAllahu anhu said: “When Abu Dharr was dying, he saw me crying and asked me, ‘Why are you crying?’ I replied, ‘I do not know what to do! I surely cannot wash your body and shroud you all by myself. I do not have a single robe that is big enough to shroud you, nor do we have in this entire place enough material to shroud your body with!’ Abu Dharr RadhiAllahu anhu said: ‘Do not cry, listen, I was once sitting in a group of people, and I heard Allah Ta’ala’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam say to us, ‘One of you will die in a desolated place, and near his death a group of believers will pass by and they will bury him and officiate his funeral prayer.’ O Umm Dharr RadhiAllahu anha, none of those who were sitting in that gathering is alive today except me, and each one of them have died in a town, or surrounded with a group of believers, and therefore, I believe that I am the one who will die in a desolated area as predicted by Allah Ta’ala’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. I swear by Allah Ta’ala that I am not lying, nor did I ever disbelieve in what Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said. Go and look outside and perhaps you will see a group of travelers coming this way.’

Umm Dharr RadhiAllahu anha continued: ‘When I understood I had no more excuses but to accept what I was told to do.’ She then divided her attention between attending to her dying husband, and looking outdoors to find out about the traveling group of believers. One moment she stood near a dune looking in all directions, and in the middle of her dilemma there appeared in the horizon the shadows of travelers on their horses, they floated smoothly across the desert, and the winds raised their overcoats to near their shoulders, making them appear from a distance like gliding kites. She immediately waved her extra robe signaling them to come to her rescue. When they arrived, they asked her what she needed. She replied there is a dying Muslim in this dwelling, would you please help me in shrouding and burying him?’ Someone asked who it was and she sobbingly told them: ‘Abu Dharr’ Hearing his name the entire group gasped: ‘This is the beloved companion of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and by Allah, we will surely sacrifice and risk everything for his sake.

They jumped off their horses and hastened to his bedside. Seeing them Abu Dharr smiled and then told them of what Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had predicted. He further continued: ‘O good people, did you hear what I said? I swear in the name of Allah that is I had even a single overcoat which could cover me or my wife I would certainly ask to be shrouded in it, and I would not have asked anyone for a piece of shroud. I beg you in the name of Allah and Islam, let no leader among youwash me or shroud me, nor should a corporal, a captain, or a courier among you do that, for no one among your elite but has committed what he admonishes others not to do. Furthermore, let no one who last night had relations with his wife shroud me, except for a youth from Madinah and who is here with you.’

Immediately a young man from the ansar said; ‘O uncle, I am not married, I will shroud you in my own coat, and I will use two extra coats my mother has spun and woven for me.

When Abu Dharr RadhiAllahu anhu died, the young man washed and shrouded him as promised, and a group of Madinites, including Hajru ibnAl-Adbar and Malik ibn al-Ashtar, among others from Yemen officiated at his funeral. May Allah Ta’ala be pleased with them all, Ameen.

*

Abu Hamed ibn Jabl narrated: “Huthaifa RadhiAllahu anhu was leaning on Abu Mas’oud’s RadhiAllahu anhu shoulder when he saw someone bringing a new shroud. He said: ‘Why would you shroud your friend in this new fabric? Surely should your friend be of any worth, the Allah the most exalted, blessed be His Name, will replace it with what is better. Otherwise, should he be unfitting to wear such excess, his shroud will writhe him contortedly between the two walls of his grave and it will throw him perpetually from one side of his grave to the other, from the time he is buried until the Day of Resurrection.’”

*

Hafs ibn Umar, Abu Umar al-Barmaki narrated that Maimoun ibn Mihran said: “I witnessed the funeral of Abdullah ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu at the city of Ta’if. When he was laid down for the funeral prayer, a white bird flew in and alighted on his body, and then it entered in between the layers of his shroud.  We immediately looked for the bird to let it out but we couldn’t find it, so we gave up searching for it. Once we had finished the prayer and laid the body in the grave, the entire congregation heard a distinct voice, although no one was to be seen, reciting the verse,

O soul at peace, return to your Lord well pleased and well pleasing, go in among My servants, and into My Garden  (89:27-30)

All above excerpts from The Beauty of the Righteous and Ranks of the Elite. (contents, preface)

Detailed descriptions and diagrams of the kafn, shroud here, 2, 3, and buy shroud kits here.

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. 

Lots of links….some from current edition of Arab News (only because it covers the local news)…others I had archived, others instructional and explanatory regarding the forever controversial issue of MOONSIGHTING….. 

New Imams and billions of riyals on new projects in and around the Haramain:

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=98388&d=12&m=7&y=2007

And another SR20 billion for rail links between Makkah and Madinah and Jeddah:

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=98301&d=9&m=7&y=2007

And air conditioning to be installed throughout entire Masjid in Makkah:

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=93453&d=8&m=7&y=2007

Madinah is in summer festival mood….Insha’Allah will post on this later, after visiting some of the places:

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=98153&d=4&m=7&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

MOONSIGHTING announcement, Saudi style!!

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=98392&d=12&m=7&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

Befriend the moon….become aware of its phases and seek the correct knowledge for determining the new moon:

http://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/

An excellent detailed dissertation from Shaykh Hamza Yusuf…

http://www.zaytuna.org/articleDetails.asp?articleID=100

This paper advances several arguments and rebuts others in an effort to prove that the only acceptable basis for determining the lunar month is the actual sighting of the dawning crescent. At the root of the problem is a failure to recognize that the crescent moon’s appearance is a legal cause (sabab) determined by God in the Qur’an and through His Prophet’s words. That being the case, no scholar in the history of Islam has ever permitted calculation in lieu of sighting until the modern era. Moreover, predicting the new moon’s visibility with absolute certainty is impossible, even by modern scientific calculations, as opposed to the degree of certainty that has been attained in predicting the astronomical new moon, which is invisible to the naked-eye. Furthermore, the ability to predict the new moon’s probable appearance has not increased greatly from premodern times. For these reasons, and others discussed in this paper, actual sighting poses difficulties in terms of the scheduling requisites created by a modern industrial or postindustrial society.

The following is a video of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf sighting the new moon of Shawwal 2006, regardless of the dateand the locality the beauty of witnessing the birth of a new moon is moving, and the message he delivers is for all time and all places:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeItA_44Rgk

A moonsighting home page where you will find articles, facts, fatawa and much more. Every month an Islamic calendar will be uploaded which is produced using the criteria we use to sight the moon:

An audio:

http://www.alghazzali.org/display/audio scroll to number 6.

Shaykh Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti’s Definitive Reply to the Moonsighting Controversy:

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/moonsighting.htm

Other sites offering insights and information: 

http://moonsighting.com/

http://islam.about.com/od/ramadan/a/moonsighting.htm

http://www.hilal-sighting.com/

http://www.madania.org/english/article_ramadan_moonsighting.php

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

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. 

Follow my tracks for this "virtual tour" around Jannatul Baqi and Masjid Nabawi from this morning after Ishraq, beginning and ending at the pink cross at the southern edge of the courtyard.

Blue dot, looking back towards the top of the Dome of Peace and the minarets. Shops line the entire length of this curved section of the fence of Jannatul Baqi, the lights on in the few that were open at this time. The area on the left is hotel after hotel at various stages of construction.

Pink dot looking north to Jabal Uhud. 

Lime dot, the curved marble fence on the left and our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi
wasallam’s Abode, in the realms of peace and beauty of his Masjid, near the splendour of the Garden of Paradise which radiates with the effulgent lights of the message, the chosen Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and the heavenly host of Angels who continuously, and up tp the Day of Resurrection will continue to descend upon this resting place. This is the place where Jibreel Alaihis Salam came with revelations of the holy scripture and the place that witnessed the birth of this Radiant City of Enlightenment and housed the school of divine truth. Where thousands of the esteemed Comapanions rest. "Peace be upon you, the abode of the believers. That which was promised to you has reached you, Insha’Allah we shall join you. O Allah, grant pardon to the inhabitants of Baqi al-Gharqad."

Aqua dot, turning towards the direction of the complex where they prepare the bodies for Janazah. Brothers streaming in from the right coming for Ziarah, with a solitary one sitting near a loved one, SubhanAllah! Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to visit our dear departed, greet them with Salam, and they will reply to your greetings till the Day of Resurrection.

Taken from nearby. The baked mud bricks stacked ready for sealing the graves. May the reality of our destination be embedded in our hearts.  

Sulaiman bin Ahmad narrated that when Mu’ath ibn Jabal RadhiAllahu anhu, stood up to pray in the middle of the night, he used to say: "O Lord, the eyes are asleep, the stars have ebbed out, and You remain the ever living watchful Controller over all. Lord, my soliciting Your Paradise is indeed slow, and my flight from the Hell-Fire is tenuous. Lord grant me the gift of a hidden guidance which You will demonstrate as an award out of Your generosity on the Day of Resurrection, for surely You do not fail Your promise."

‘Amr ibn Khalid narrated that when Abu Musa al-Ashari RadhiAllahu anhu laid on his deathbed, he called his children to his side and said to them: “Go and dig a grave and make it spacious and deep.” When the children completed what their father asked them to do, they came back and reported to him: “We dug a grave, and we made it large and deep as you asked.” Abu Musa RadhiAllahu anhu then said: “I swear by Allah, that it will soon come to one of two conclusions: 1) Either my grave will expand to form angles stretching up to forty yards wide, and then a doorway to Paradise will open to reveal my house, family, stations, blessings, and honours Allah has reserved for me, and I will then know my way to my dwellings therein better than I know the road to my house in this world; and I will smell the fragrance of Paradise and perceive the vivacity of that station up to the Day of Resurrection; or 2) should it be the opposite, and we too seek refuge in Allah’s mercy from such culmination, then my grave will tighten down to be smaller than the bushing of a spearhead, and then a doorway to the Hell-Fire will open to reveal my chains, shackles, and the like concatenations reserved for fellows who dwell in Jahannam, and I will immediately know the way to my seat of punishment therein better than I know the road to my house today; and moreover, I will smell the baneful stench of its poisons, and experience the intensity and fieriness of its blazes up to the Day of Resurrection.”

Red dot, a precarious pathway leading back to Masjid Nabawi. Work has begun with the tearing up of what was a shady avenue of trees, and the demolishing of the road as part of the eastern extension. The street vendors, in large numbers as you come closer to the Masjid do cause congestion. This side of Jannatul Baqi is mostly crowded with Iranian sisters, the men being allowed inside, who stand in large groups of hundreds, and do some shopping at the same time; these vibrant scarves always seem popular.

Purple dot. Glowing! 

Yellow dot, inside one of the recessed alcove entrances.

The pigeons love all these intircate nesting places, making so much work for the cleaners. 

Green dot. Many of the initial areas of preparing the courtyard for the umbrellas have been completed, with new areas now being dug up. This view is towards Bab Salam, below is the opposite direction, looking across to Masjid Ali and all the construction on the northern side. 

Orange dot.

"Invocation of the Crown"

O Allah, send blessings and Peace upon our Master and Patron Muhammad,

The Owner of the Crown and the Ascent and the Buraq and the Standard,

The Repeller of Affliction and Disease and Drought and Illness and Pain.

His name is written on high, served and engraved in the Tablet and the Pen,

The Leader of All, Arabs and non-Arabs,

Whose body is sanctified, fragrant, and pure,

Illumined in the House and the Haram,

The Sun of Brightness, the Full Moon in Darkness,

The Foremost One in the Highest Fields, the Light of Guidance,

The Cave of Refuge for Mortals, the Lamp That Dispels the Night,

The Best-Natured One, The Intercessor of Nations,

The Owner of Munificence and Generosity.

Allah is his Protector, Gabriel is his servant.

The Buraq is his mount, the Ascent is his voyage,

The Lote-Tree of the Furthermost Boundary is his station,

Two Bow-Lengths or Nearer is his desire,

His desire is his goal, and he has found his goal,

The Master of the Messengers, the Seal of the Prophets,

The intercessor of sinners, the friend of the strangers,

The Mercy for the Worlds,

The rest of those who burn with love, the goal of those who yearn,

The sun of knowers, the lamp of travellers,

The light of Those Brought Near,

The friend of the poor and destitute,

The master of Humans and Jinn,

The Prophet of the Two Sanctuaries,

The Imam of the Two Qiblas,

Our Means in the Two Abodes,

The Owner of Qaba Qawsayn,

The Beloved of the Lord of the Two Easts and the Two Wests,

The grandfather of al-Hasan and al-Husayn,

Our patron and the patron of Humans and Jinn:

Abu al-Qasim MUHAMMAD Son of `Abd Allah,

A light from the light of Allah.

O you who yearn for the light of his beauty,

Send blessings and utmost greetings of peace

Upon him and upon his Family.

* 

This photo of Jannatul Baqi in the early 1900’s shows Bab Al-Baqi, also known as Bab Al-Jumaa’ on the right, which was positioned on the inner wall around Masjid Nabawi. The large dome on the left is that of Ahl al-Bayt, RadhiAllahu anhum, with the smaller ones belonging to the daughters of our Beloved Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his wives, the Blessed Mothers of the Believers, may Allah Ta’ala be pleased with them all. Quite a contrast to what we see 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. 

SABR…..patience; a beautiful fluid, flowing quality, a honeyed marvelment, floating in a sea of syrupy sweetness awaiting to be contained in the heart. May we seek its capture, anchoring it in the heart by its empyreal solitary dot, in the hope of being the recipients of all the favours Allah the Almighty promises….

And convey glad tidings to those who are patient (2:155)

O you who believe, endure with patience, outdo all others in patient endurance, be ready, and observe your duty to Allah, in order that you might succeed. (3:200)

Our Lord! pour out on us patience, and cause us to die as Muslims.  (7:126)

Verily! I have rewarded them this Day for their patience, they are indeed the ones that are successful.  (23:111)

Those will be rewarded with the highest place (in Paradise) because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.  (25:75)

So be patient (O Muhammad), with a good patience.  (70:5)

Truly! Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient ones)   (2:153)

And Allah loves As-Sabirin  (3:146)

Sabr, one of the highest and noblest of qualities endowed on our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam by Allah Ta’ala. May Allah Ta’ala bless him infinitely.  Ameen.

Narrated Anas RadhiAllahu anhu and Ayesha RadhiAllahu anha: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, "The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity."  And another narration: “And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience.”

Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib RadhiAllahu anhu narrated that Allah Ta’ala’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Allah Almighty has selected and elite among His servants. He reserved for them the highest heavens, for they are the wisest people.” Al-Bara’ added: “We asked: O Messenger of Allah, in what way are they the wisest?” He replied: “They mainly endeavour to please their Lord, and they renounce curiosity, aspiration for leadership, and comfort in this world, hence, the trials of the world are light ans easy on their eyes, knowing that their exercise of patience in this world for a short while will help them attain permanent peace in their permanent life thereafter.”

* 

“Allah is the Most Patient One.

In everything He is in perfect measure and in perfect time.

He is patient, and He loves….

…is with the patient ones (8:46)

In His creation as in His actions, in His dealings with His creation, nothing is either bigger or smaller, better or worse, earlier or later than it is determined for it to be. He does not delay things beyond their appointed times or fail to finish them as a lazy one might do, nor does He hasten and imperfectly finish things as an impatient one might do. Rather He does everything in its proper time and in just the manner that it ought to be done.

Patience is in Allah’s divine disposition; therefore, patient men reflect this honoured disposition.

Patience is a very high state for the believer, because the affairs both of this world and the Hereafter are resolved by it. No success, no perfection, can be achieved easily and without pain. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam says that: ‘Paradise is surrounded by things that the flesh does not want.’ Allah promises infinite rewards for those who can be patient with the turbulence of the desires of the flesh and of their egos. There are even greater rewards for patience in supporting misfortunes, poverty, accidents, and sickness, which are unavoidable and come from Allah. If people shoe patience, they receive rewards that far surpass the pain.

The meaning of Islam is submission: to forego one’s appetites, desires and will in favour of the will of Allah. To be able to submit, one has to be patient.

* 

Patience is a mirror of certainty, and needed to at­tain every high aim. Our sheikh distinguishes three types, saying: “The masters have conveyed to us that three hundred spiritual de­grees may be reached by patience in performing acts of obedience, six hundred degrees by patience in refraining from disobedience, and nine hundred degrees by patience with others.” It transmutes the imper­fection of the circumstances one is patient with into the perfection of being with Allah, who says in Surat al-Baqara, “Verily Allah is with the patient” (Koran 2:152).

* 

“Conventionally sabr, patience stands for a striving of the heart because to restrain the self from jaza, expressing unrest and disorder is called patience. Some Ulema have said that jaza is that intention of man whereby he tries to get out of some trouble into which he has fallen, whereas sabr, patience means giving up of jaza.

A man should imagine the critical times of distress and calamities and think that his impatience and restlessness in such a situation will bring neither relief or aggravation in his suffering nor cause any shifting of the time backward or forward. It is therefore useless to give way to restlessness and bewailing. This behavior may prove to be harmful rather than beneficial. The best way of attaining patience is to remember the promises made by Exalted Allah to reward His servants who practice patience and perseverance.”

* 

It is reported that a man once said: “O Messenger of Allah, my property has gone and my body has become sick.” So the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam told him: “There is no good in a servant of the Lord whose property does not depart, and whose body does not get sick. Whenever Allah, Exalted is He, loves a servant of His, He is sure to put him to the test, and when He puts him to the test, He admonishes him to be patient.”

A man once came to see what he could learn from Ash-Shibli, may Allah the exalted bestow His mercy upon him, so he said to him: “What kind of patience is hardest on those who are patient?”

“Patience in relation to Allah.”

“No.”

“Patience for the sake of Allah.”

“No.”

“Patience in bearing with Allah.”

“No.”

“Well then, what is it?”

“Patience in enduring separation from Allah.” At this point ash-Shibli gave vent to such a plaintive cry that his spirit was almost destroyed.

The basic noun sabr, patience means that no distinction is made between the state of grace, ni’ma and the ordeal of tribulation, mihna, and that both are experienced with equanimity. The derived form tasabbur, trying to be patient means calmness in coping with misfortune, although the feelings are affected by the burdens of the ordeal.” (1,2)

 *

The Station of Patience

Their souls patiently enduring all that is disdainful;

Desirous of what it entails of divine benevolence.

Patient perseverance (sabr) is restraining the soul from what it finds disdainful, when doing so entails the pleasure of the Most Merciful. (note: Ibn al-Qayyim: Al-Junayd said: ‘The journey from this world to the Hereafter is smooth and easy for the believer, but leaving ordinary life for the sake of Allah is difficult. The journey from the ego (nafs) to Allah is extremely difficult, and patience (sabr) in Allah is even more difficult.’ He was asked about patience, so he replied: ‘It is to swallow bitterness without frowning.’ Dhu’l-Nun al-Misri said: ‘Patience is to distance yourself from opposing [the truth], to remain calm when engulfed with calamities and to display sufficiency when poverty occupies your daily life.’ It has been said: ‘Patience is to face affliction with the best conduct.’ It has been said: ‘It is to absorb affliction without displaying complaint.’ It is said: ‘it is accustoming the soul to the onslaught of adversity.’ It is said: ‘It is to settle down with adversities in good companionship, in the same manner as one settles down with well-being.’ And ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman said; ‘It is standing firm with Allah and meeting tribulation with magnanimity and welcome.’)

Patient perseverance is of three types: patiently persevering in the obedience of Allah. So that it may be fulfilled; patiently persevering against disobedience, so that it may be abandoned; and patiently persevering with regards to the hardships that Allah decrees, not showing any impertinence towards it. When the soul feels lazy about obeying Allah, one exhorts and enjoins it to do so, as well as encouraging it by reminders of the rewards [entailed]. When the soul is strong in inviting towards disobedience to Allah, one restrains and warns it from doing so, and reminds it about the punishment for disobedience. Patient perseverance is needed in all these affairs. (note: as for complaining in times of adversity, Imam ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said in al-Fawaid pp.130-131,

“The ignorant one complains about Allah to the people! This is the height of ignorance in complaining and in whom the complaint is about. For if a person were to truly know his Lord, he would never complain of Him? If he truly knew people, he would never complain to them?….The gnostic complains only to Allah, and the most knowledgeable of the gnostics are those who complain to Allah about themselves, not about others….So there are three levels: The mosy contemptible of them is to complain to people about Allah; the loftiest of them is to complain to Allah about oneself; the middle level is to complain to Allah about others.”

* 

In Bukhari Shareef this is also mentioned in a Hadith and Maulana discussed the wisdom in that:
"So that through grazing sheep and goats,
The Prophet’s patience and dignity may be exposed.
The reason they are made to rear goats is,
To teach them patience and gentleness amidst adversity. "

Read complete story here, and listen to an audio series here. 

Three Maulana Rumi Rahamtullah alaihi gems:

Lovers are Made Aware.

You make a hundred resolutions

to journey somewhere,

He draws you somewhere else,

He turns the horse’s bridle in every direction

So that the untrained horse may know there is a rider

The clever horse is well paced

because it knows a rider is mounted upon it.

He fixed your heart on a hundred passionate desires,

disappointed you, and then broke your heart.

Since He broke the wings of your first intention,

how do you doubt the existence of the Wing-Breaker?

Since His ordainment snapped the cord

of your contrivance,

how can you remain blind to His Command?

Your resolutions and aims now and then are fulfilled

so that through hope your heart

might form another intention

which He might once again destroy.

For if He were to keep you completely from success,

you would despair:

how would the seed of expectation be sown?

If your heart did not sow that seed,

and then encounter barrenness,

how would it recognize its submission to Divine will?

by their failures lovers are made aware of their Lord.

Lack of success is the guide to Paradise:

Pay attention to the tradition,

"Paradise is encompassed with pain"

*

Lovers share a sacred decree –

to seek the Beloved.

They roll head over heels,

rushing toward the Beautiful One

like a torrent of water.

In truth, everyone is a shadow of the Beloved –

Our seeking is His seeking,

Our words are His words.

At times we flow toward the Beloved

like a dancing stream.

At times we are still water

held in His pitcher.

At times we boil in a pot

turning to vapor –

that is the job of the Beloved.

He breathes into my ear

until my soul

takes on His fragrance.

He is the soul of my soul –

How can I escape?

But why would any soul in this world

want to escape from the Beloved?

He will melt your pride

making you thin as a strand of hair,

Yet do not trade, even for both worlds,

One strand of His hair.

We search for Him here and there

while looking right at Him.

Sitting by His side we ask,

"O Beloved, where is the Beloved?"

Enough with such questions! –

Let silence take you to the core of life.

All your talk is worthless

When compared to one whisper

of the Beloved.

*

Petals

Even when you tear its petals off one after another,

the rose keeps laughing and doesn’t bend in pain.

"Why should I be afflicted because of a thorn?

It is the thorn which taught me how to laugh."

Whatever you lost through fate,

be certain that it saved you from pain.

A Sheikh was asked: "What is Sufism?"

He said: "To feel joy in the heart when sorrow appears."

*

May we seek its capture, anchoring it in the heart by its empyreal solitary dot, in the hope of being the recipients of all the favours Allah the Almighty promises….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. 

After posting this entry I saw this moving chapter (page 19) on Patience from The Attributes of the Believer  http://www.yursil.com/Sifat-Part1.pdf posted by brother Yursil,  http://www.yursil.com/blog/ JazakumuLlah khairan.

I’ve been "cranespotting", which is not hard to do in the CBD around our Sacred Haram. So many hotel projects at various stages of progress, displaying a vast array of styles and architectural features. Take a few moments to visit this site and keep scrolling over two pages of finished renderings of many of the buildings, some completed, some already under construction, and others awaiting in line. All facets of construction; surveying, engineering, architecture, contracting, represent the biggest industry within the city, with rigorous competition between rival consultants and companies vying for that unique "look". The result being such designs that seemingly grab from every culture, every age and every colour, when really all that is required are simple, affortably priced accommodation for Muslims to come and perform their Ibadah. The individual designs may have some artistic appeal if they were free standing with landscaped surroundings. But they are as conglomerate of blocks so close together that all distinguishing features tend to melt into one blurry vista.  Walking through the densely placed buildings is akin to being blown through a tunnel, the wind being trapped in the small roadways between the massive concrete edifices.

This will be one of the prime locations once it is complete, being opposite the north eastern corner of Masjid Nabawi, the main entrances for the ladies to access Rowdha As-Shareef for Ziarah of our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. And this building is on the perimeter of the new eastern courtyard (the expansion work being between the building and Masjid Nabawi), making it’s position even more appealing. At the moment it is only one of a few buildings on this eastern side, with large sections of vacant land in the process of being surveyed and divided into lucrative real estate investment lots.

This vacant land proves to be an invaluable parking lot for the hundreds of buses transporting pilgrims to and from this City of Light. The minaret in the middle background if of Masjid Ejabah.
 

To the north of Haram just on the other side of the First Ring Road. This area was demolished more than a year ago, but many buidlings have been left like this. Maybe the focus is to concentrate on the main inner CBD area, where the demand is higer due to its proximity to Masjid Nabawi. The stell barrier on the left is typical of how sites are fenced as work progresses. That is the western corner of Jabal Uhud peeking through the space on the left!  

What spectacular views these crane drivers must have…..and nerves of steel!

No crane in sight, as it is behind me…this caught my eye as I was taking a picture of a crane opposite ….thinking that I could be in any of the major capitals of the world with such universal brands, which have become common in Makkah and Madinah.

Men who are not distracted, either by commerce or profit, from remembering Allah, keeping up the prayer, and paying the prescribed alms, fearing a day when hearts and eyes will turn over…(24:37)

May we train our hearts to be spiritually connected and immersed in the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala regardless of what distractions may be placed before us.  

Every which way one turns is a crane! And lately buses lining the streets loading and unloading pilgrims. This group were on their way for Umrah. 

Left. Looking towards the northern side of Masjid Nabawi, and right a crane operating in the narrow space between existing buildings.

Looking towards Jabal Uhud from the central Tareeq Malikul Fahd, beside the clock tower.

A street parallel to the above. 

This is on the southern side of Masjid Nabawi, which after the Shariah Court is to the right of this photo. Madinah Movenpick, with the most popular City Plaza shopping complex to the left, not to be confused with the other Anwar Movenpick hotel on the northern side.

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. 

HOW WILL THE BALANCE TIP? 

We will set up the Balances of justice for the Day of Resurrection so that no one can be wronged in the least, and if there should be even the weight of a mustard seed, We shall bring it out, We take excellent account (21:47)

He has set the Balance so that you may not exceed in the balance, weigh with justice, and do not fall short in the balance. (55:7-9)

Bukhari and Muslim narrated that the Prophet SallAllahu alahih wasllam said: “Two words which are light on the tongue but will weigh heavily in the Balance, and they are beloved to the Most Merciful: ‘SubhanAllah wa bi Hamdi, SubhanAllah il-Azeem’ (Glory and praise be to Allah, Glory be to Allah the Almighty)

And “Purity is half of faith, and saying ‘Alhumdulillah ‘(Praise be to Allah) fills the scale, and saying ‘SubhanAllah wa’l-hamduLillah ‘(Glory be to Allah and praise be to Allah) fills what is between heaven and earth.”

And “Whoever keeps a horse for the sake of Allah, out of faith in Allah and believing in His promise, its eating and drinking, its defecation and urination, will all be hasanat in his Balance on the Day of Resurrection.”

From Tirmidhi, from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas RadhiAllahu anhu who said he heard the Prophet say:  “Allah will select a man from my Ummah before all creation on the Day of Resurrection, and will spread out for him ninety-nine books of records of his deeds, each one extending as far as the eye can see. Then He will say, “Do you deny any part of this? Have My recording scribes been unjust towards you?” The man will say, “No O Lord.” Allah will say, “Yes indeed, you have Hasanat stored with Us, and there will be no injustice this Day.” And He will bring forth a piece of paper on which is written Asshadu an laa ilah ill-Allah wa asshadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah. He will say, “Weigh this.” The man will say, “O Lord, what is this piece of paper compared to all these records?” Allah will say, “You will not be wronged.” Then the records will be placed in one pan of the Balance and the piece of paper in the other; the pan with the piece of paper will weigh heavily, and nothing will outweigh the name of Allah.”

And another narration in Muslim: “The Qur’an will come forth on the Day of resurrection with its people who used to act in accordance with it. Surah al-Baqarah and Surah Aal’Imran will come forth like two clouds, or two patches of shade with light in between, or like two flocks of birds spreading their wings, defending their companions.”

Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi narrate a Hadith from Abu Darda RadhiAllahu anhu in which the Prophet SallAllahu alahih wasllam said: “Nothing will be placed in the Balance on the Day of Resurrection which will weigh more heavily than good manner and attitude.”

And it is narrated concerning Abdullah ibn Mas’ud RadhiAllahu anhu, who was a slim man with thin calves, who when it was windy he would be buffeted about causing people to laugh at him. The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasllam asked: “What are they laughing at?” They said: “O Prophet of Allah, they are laughing at his thin calves.” He said: “by the One in Whose hand is my soul, they will weigh more heavily than Uhud in the Balance.”

How Will the Balance Tip?

Will good deeds pour as raging floods of shimmering diamonds drenching the Heavens, perfuming the already heady fragrance of Angel’s wings?

Will deliriously coated efforts of yearning for the ultimate favour of the One become hunks of lead buckling the Pan of the Scale?

Will tears, scorching eye sockets for the suffering, mutilation and horror of mankind accumulate; bursting in one huge catatonic gush, cleansing all remnants of atrocity?

Will letters that majestically multiply upon recitation, exquisitely scrolled and dotted by the Ruby Pen, pile so high they spontaneously combust, vaporous scents floating towards the Arsh?

Will the selfless serving of others match Umar’s carrying sacks of flour to the needy in the Madian dark secret of nights?

Will the slavish obedience to The Commands be so illumed they ignite, eclipsing all gloom with glitter?

Will movements of the tongue drunk with praise and adoration for the Prince of Peace shiver tremulously obliterating all but Him and His Habib?

Will cries of repentance be so copious and sincere creating rivers to snuff Jahannam?

Will gratitude for belonging to the Al-Mustafa’s Ummah crash and tumble, thundering and vibrating the remains of existence?

Will lust for the bliss of Jannah ecstatically bubble ephemerally wafting across the Seven Heavens?

Will diligence, determination and steadfastness spill over filling the harmonic spaces between prostrating Creations of Light?

Will sincerity be weighed as a golden opalescent glow obliterating galactic matter?

Will the heart be rejoicing in the knowledge that it belonged to a kind person the Noble Prophet will be yearning to meet on Yaum ul Qiyamah, more than the yearning to meet him SallAllahu alaihi wasallam?

How will the Balance tip if it were this Juma’ah?

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

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. 

Beware of immodesty! Here where Allah’s Beloved is!
To where the Divine look is directed; Maqam al-Mustafa this is!

Only if you resolve to act modestly, Nabi, go in this shrine,
There where angels go round, and whereat prophets always kiss!

The poet Nabi from here

* 

"Burhan ad-din Ibrahim al-Maliki (rahimah-Allahu ta’ala) from here, who passed away in 799 A.H. (1397), told about a very poor man who went to the Hujrat as-Saada and said, ‘Oh Rasul-Allah! I am hungry.’ After a while, someone came and took him to his house and served him food. When the poor man said that his prayer had been accepted, the host said, ‘My Brother! You left your family at home and had a long, strenuous journey to visit Rasulullah; is it appropriate to enter Rasulullah’s audience for a morsel of food? You should have asked for Paradise and endless favors in that high, noble audience. Allahu ta’ala does not refuse requests there.’ Those who attain the honor of visiting Rasulullah should pray for him to intercede for them on the Day of Judgement. More here

*

Rasulullah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “My shafa’at (intercession on the Day of Qiyamah) is Waajib (on me) for the one who visit my grave.”

More on Ziyarat of our Nabi Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa from Talim-ul-Haq

 *

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Rasul Allah

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Nabiyy Allah

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Habib Allah

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Khayra Khaliqillah

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Ahmed

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Muhammad

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Muzzamil

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Mudath’thir

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Hashir

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Mahi

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Aaqib

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Khayra Khaliqillah

As-Salatu was Salamu alayka ya Sayyidi ya Afdal al-Khalq

 Habib Ali Jifri from here

 *

When final entrance to Madina is imminent together with Salawaat (Durood) this duaa should be recited:
"O Allah, verily this is the bounty of Thy Nabi Sal’am. Let it b e for me a means of refuge from the fire of hell, a refuge from punishment and a refuge against the trials of the reckoning."
Pray then for the attainment of the blessings of the Holy City, and for the guidance to uphold the sanctity of Madina, while also praying for help to avoid any undesirable acts.

Hazrat Ibn Ameerul Haaj Rah writes in his book ‘Madkhal’: "With utmost respect and humility more than can ever be written here should one stand in this auspicious spot because there one stands before the only intercessor whose intercession is sure to be accepted by Allah. Whoever intended visiting his home, reaches his desires, aims and whoever had presented himself to the door of his house will not return from there disappointed. Whoever prayed to Allah through his waseelah, has his prayer answered. Whoever asks, receives. These things are proved by the experience of man. For this reason the more respectful and humble one appears in his presence, the better it is for oneself. Indeed one should have the idea in mind that: "Here I stand in his presence as if he is still alive, because as for the knowledge of the position and condition of his Ummat and their intentions are concerned, Rasulullah Sal’am knows of it now in death as he knew about the Ummat in his lifetime." (Madkhal vol.1)

More here

* 

After typing up yesterdays post I discovered this site today with all the 40 stories relating episodes from our illustrious predecessors…. I include the following which was mentioned in a talk given by a visiting Maulana recently, bringing the gathering to tears.

Story No. 13: (Episode)
Hazrat Sayyed Ahmad Rifa’ee Rah is very well known as one of the foremost saints and mystics of Islaam. In the year 555 A.H. he went for Haj. Thereafter he visited Madina and standing in front of the grave of Rasulullah Sal’am he recited the following couplets:
"From far off the thee did I send my soul,
On my behalf to greet you in your resting place,
Here now O Rasulullah Sal’am is my body to greet you,
Stretch forth your hand that my lips may kiss you."
Indeed was the hand of Rasulullah Sal’am stretched from the grave and in the presence of an estimated 90 thousand visitors did Sayyed Ahmad kiss it. (See Al Haawee by Suyuti)

They had the good fortune of seeing our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu laihi wasallam’s hand. Among those present was the great saint Hazrat Qutbi Rabbani Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Rahmatullah alaihi (Al Bayan Al Mushayyad)

* 

When the blessed sanctuary comes into vision, it is better to be on foot. Cry, bow your head, lower your gaze and if possible, walk bare footed.

When you see the lightsome dome, increase salutations uponhim sallAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam.

When you reach the blessed city, become encapsulated in the remembrance of the beauty of the beloved sallAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam. From here.

* 

Two pages of the main salutations offered at the Abode of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

* 

Visiting The Messeger Of Allah, Shaykh Muhammad Al Yaqoubi

This Historic class was taught in Madina Munawwara during the Rihla program. Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi delivers an amazing talk about how to visit the Messenger of Allah. The proper way of entering Masjid an Nabawi, the proper way of giving salaams, the Adab of inward and outward, the Adab in the city of Madina, and much, much more. This 2 CD Set is a must not only for anyone who is planning to make the pilgrimage of Hajj or Umrah, but for anyone who wants to get closer to the Messenger of Allah.

Tracks (CD 1)

1. Al-Hammami Nasheed
2. Neighbors of the Messenger of Allah
3. Guests of the Messenger of Allah
4. Description of His Beauty
5. The Perfect Human
6. His Inner Beauty: His Knowledge
7. His Favors to Us
8. Our Prayers upon Him
9. Why We Don’t See Him in Our Dreams

Track (CD 2)

1. The Adab of the Outward: Taking a Shower
2. Greeting Him (pbuh): Giving Salaam
3. Asking Him for Intercession
4. Making Du’a in Front of the Holy Shrine
5. The Room of Sayyida ‘Aisha & the Holy Grave
6. Visiting Sayyiduna Abu Bakr & Sayyiduna Omar
7. Describing al-Rawdah al-Sharifah
8. The Adab in al-Madinah
9. Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi’s Biography.

Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Rahmatullahi ‘alaih composed yet one more salaam in Urdu with 45 verses, also given in Hadaaiqi Bakhshish (Gardens of Gifts) whose chorus is the universally familiar Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘Alaika. Its opening couplet is:

Mustafa Khairul Waraa Ho
Sarware har Dosaraa Ho
Apne Ach-chon ka Tasadduq
Ham Bhadon ko bhi Nibhaho

Mustafa you are the best of creation
You are the leader of both the worlds
For the sake of your good followers
Take in your fold us sinners as well.

* 

Complaint and prayer at Rawdha

Allama Iqbal

Peace and Blessings be upon the Holy Prophet

Round you the universe rotates,

From you I beg a kindly glance.

My knowledge, thought meditation are you,

My boat, ocean and storm are you.

The shrine of your street is my refuge, hopefully have I run unto you.

Ah! The agony of my body and soul,

A glance of yours is the sovereign remedy.

Like Busiri I beg deliverance from you,

That the day that was may never return again.

Your mercy on the sinners is greater,

In forgiveness it is like mother’s love.

*

"If you desire my life, I will sacrifice it. If you desire my wealth I will give it. But, there is one thing that I will never sacrifice, and that is, the love and reverence for the beloved Sayyiduna Rasulullah Salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa ‘aalihi wa Sallam." From here.

* 

And even though the folowing is not directly about Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, I have included it as the majority of the Ummah who travel here are blessed with being at the Ka’abah, and this collection is so moving, SubahAllah. 
Hazrat Ibn Abbas R.A. reports that the Messenger of Allah said: "One hundred and twenty mercies descend upon the Ka’ba every day and night; sixty for those performing tawaaf, forty for those performing salaah and twenty for those merely looking at Ka’ba".

* 

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.