ALMISKEENAH

 

 

 

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.