ALMISKEENAH

 

“Shaban is my month” said our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, an excellent time for us to increase our Durood upon him as we prepare for “Ramadhan, the month of my Ummah”, as he SallAllahu alaihi wasallam continued in the Hadith, when Insha’Allah we reap all that we have previously sown.

As-salamu alayka ya habibi sayyidi,

As-salamu alayka ya nabi al-arabi

Ya Habibi Sayyidi

As-salamu alayka ya habibi sayyidi

As-salamu alayka ya nabi al-arabi

As-salamu alayka ya shafial-muznibin

As-salamu alayka rahamtallah lilaalamin.

And how it is that the lover excessively reciting Durood upon the light of lights SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would be in ecstatic raptures to be gifted the vision of the beloved, SubhanAllah

Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu narrates: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: "Whoever has seen me in a dream, has in fact seen me, for Shaytan does not appear in my form"

And Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu said, "Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to say, ‘Shaytan is unable to imitate my form, so whoever dreamt that they saw me, actually saw me’.

To see our beloved master, the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in a dream is certainly very virtuous and a blessing from Allah Most High upon the person who was fortunate to see him.

Yes, thoughts of the beloved came to me at night and kept me awake

And love transforms pleasure into pain.

Imam Busayri.

Read how Imam Busayri’s dream of our Blessed Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was the inspiration for his impassioned Burda.  

 

There is an extensive section, Receiving the Vision of the Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in “The Key to Arriving at the Door of the Messenger”  Masha’Allah, I have been given the permission to post selections from this. (If you would like to purchase copies then please leave a comment and I will pass your details to one of the suppliers, Insha’Allah.)

There was a man in the blessed city of Madinah Al-Munawwarah who saw the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in his dream. He had written a book on the blessed life of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. While he was composing this book, he saw the messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in his dream and he was delighted. He saw him with lights (anwar) but he had never seen lights of this kind before with the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. During the dream he was confused as to whether this was actually the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam or not. This thought had never even left him when the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam called out to him and said: ‘I am the Messenger of Allah  SallAllahu alaihi wasallam!’

May glad tidings be upon him with this manifest light, whom Allah, Exalted is He, sent as a mercy to mankind, who shines like the sun upon them. The more one’s insight becomes radiant, the more the light will increase.

The light of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam manifests to the believers when their hearts have been purified, their characters become virtuous and noble upon performing all of the obligatory acts. All of those who love Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam will see him, and when they become humble before Allah Ta’ala and respectful with the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, then Allah Ta’ala will reveal him to them whenever He pleases and wills.

A person should not get worried if they do not see the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in a dream. There are states that Allah, Exalted is He, has knowledge of, He only wishes well of His servant. It is enough merit and honour if Allah Ta’ala has given you the success and ability (tawfiq) to recite the Qur’an, to seek forgiveness (istighfar) and to send blessings and peace upon the chosen Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

The author of Mafatih al-Mafatih says: “If you are not fortunate with receiving the vision of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam despite doing all that is required, then do not worry, it is sufficient that you have received the great blessing of Allah Ta’ala by remembering Him, reciting His Book, sending blessings upon His Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and yearning to see him. You have taken all the means for the vision but you have not received the vision of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, such a person is higher in rank than one who does see him. He is the noble beloved, he does not disappoint those who yearn to see him.”

The final section on this topic includes forty four means to obtain the vision of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Insha’Allah I intend to post some of these in the next post.

An extract from Dreaming of the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam:

It is very fortunate to see the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam in a dream but two points should well be considered in this connection. The first, as written by Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi rahmatullahi alaihe in his book ‘Nish-rut-tib’, is as follows: It is really a source of great consolation and a great favour for a person who has not seen the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam live, to see him in a dream. However, it should be borne in mind that it cannot be acquired; rather it is granted by Allah. A Persian poet says:

"This felicity cannot be earned through strength but only when Allah grants and bestows."

Many people have devoted their whole lives in the hope of this fortune. One might have succeeded if he sends Durood upon the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam abundantly and follows his ways with love and eagerness. Nevertheless, if a person is not successful, he should not be worried because it may be due to some unknown Wisdom and the Mercy of Allah. A lover only wants the pleasure of his beloved whether it is because of union or due to separation. As a poet rightfully says:

"I want a meeting with him (the beloved) but he wants separation, and I leave my pleasure for his pleasure."

Shirazi, a Persian poet and Mystic says, "Meeting or separation have no value in comparison to the pleasure of the beloved; and to seek any other thing than his pleasure is an offence (in love)."

 

There are numerous stories from our learned predecessors recounting their experiences of dreams of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in Virtues of Salaat alan Nabi. (2)

Story number 27: Ibrahim Nasafi Rahmatullah alaihi relates: On one occasion I saw Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in a dream. It appeared as if he was displeased with me. I stretched forth my hands, took the hands of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in mine and kissed them. I asked in great anxiety, “O Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam I am indeed one of the servants of Hadith. I belong to the Ahlus Sunnah, those who follow your way, I am a traveler from afar. Have compassion on me. Have I displeased you?” Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam smiled and said: “Whenever you recite Salaat, why do you not recite salaam?” Thereafter it became a fixed habit of mine to recite ‘wasallam’ as well.

Story number 34: Abu Ali Hasan ibn Ali Attar Rahmatullah alaihi says: Abu Taahir Rahmatullah alaihi gave me a few scripts of Ahadith. I saw therein that whenever the name of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was mentioned salaat alan Nabi was written in these words:

Bestow mercy O Allah upon him (Muhammad) and (bestow) peace and Your pleasure abundantly, abundantly, abundantly.

I then asked Abu Taahir Rahmatullah alaihi: “Why do you write salaat on the Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam like that?” He replied: “In my youth I used to write Ahadith and I did not write salaat alan Nabi with the name of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. I then once saw Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in a dream and greeted him, but he turned his face away from me. Then I came to him from the other side and again greeted him, but once more he turned his face away from me. Once again for the third time I approached him from the front and inquired: ‘O Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam why do you turn your face away from me?’ He replied: ‘It is because that whenever you write my name in your book you do not offer salaat on me.’ Since that time it has become my habit that whenever I write the name of the Rasool SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, I also wrote:

Bestow mercy O Allah upon him (Muhammad) and (bestow) peace and Your pleasure abundantly, abundantly, abundantly.

 

And,  The Perfect Mirror - CD (Dreaming of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) Muahmmad al-Yaqoubi

In this fascinating talk, after some introductory comments about the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) and who he was, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi describes over ninety ways the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) appears in people’s dreams, giving the interpretation of each dream: If you see the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) with his hands open, you will perform Hajj. If you see him leaning, your worries and difficulties will be removed. If he hands you a book, you will become a teacher. If he gives you bread, you will attain wealth. If he offers you honey, you will memorize the Qur’an. If he appears beardless or having a short beard, it means you lack righteousness and should strive to improve. If you see him while you are pregnant, you will have a boy and thus should name him Muhammad. If you see him in the middle of the night, you will be a wali of Allah (friend of God) in your forties. These are just a few examples of the many dreams of the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) Shaykh Muhammad interprets during this amazing talk. In addition, he explains how anyone who tries to add to the praises of the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa salam) is attempting the impossible, because there are no praises beyond the praises of Allah.

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Oh beloved of the Lord, hear my greeting, hear my call

Bless this seeker of your love with the vision of you.

From Talib al Habibs “Songs of Innocence”.

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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.

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the last few moments of Rajab, the month of Allah Ta’ala fades into Shaban, the month of our Blessed Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, may we fill the heart with expressions that stir our love for our Rabb, Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, drawing closer to Him, Insha’Allah.

I have selected some of the sayings from the Necklace of Gems (1) of Sheikh ‘Abd al-Qadir, may Allah be well pleased with him, concerning tanzih [the affirmation of Allah’s freedom from all imperfection] to enhance our awareness of the One.

Our Lord, Allah (Exalted is He) is the Near in His sublimity,

the High-Exalted in His proximity.

[He is] the maker of the creation by His power,

and the Foreordainer of all matters by His Wisdom,

and the Wncircler of all things with His knowledge.

His word is complete and His mercy is universal.

There is no God but He.

Liars are they who attribute equal to Him,

as are they who claim that He has a peer,

or believe that He has a likeness or a namesake.

Glory be to Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He)

Glory be to Allah

[in proportion to]

the number of His creatures,

and the good pleasure of His Essence,

and the weight of His Throne,

and the content of His words,

and the extent of His knowledge,

and of all that He has willed

And created and fashioned and formed.

[He being] the Knower of the unseen and the visible,

The All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate,

The Sovereign Lord, the All-Holy, the Almighty, the All-Wise,

Single, One, Unique, Everlasting.

He does not beget and is not begotten,

And to Him there is no equal.  (112:3,4)

There is nothing like unto Him,

For He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing  (42:11)

He has no likeness and no counterpart,

and He has no aide and no assistant,

and He has no partner and no minister,

and He has no peer and no advisor.

He is not a physical body, that could be touched,

nor a material substance, that could be felt,

nor an accidental property, that could be discarded,

nor a compound structure, that could be dismantled,

nor a mechanical apparatus, that could be replicated,

nor a composition, that could be modified.

nor a figment of the imagination, that could be defined,

nor a natural phenomena, among other such phenomena,

nor a celestial body, among other celestial bodies,

nor a darkness, that could become transparent,

nor lamplight, that could shine.

[He is] Present to all things in respect of knowledge,

but without intermingling,

[and He is] a Witness to them in respect of observation,

but without physical touching.

[He is] Irresistible, Decisive, Unique,

Worthy of worship, One who will never pass away,

Sempiternal, One who will never die,

Governing, Just, Powerful,

Compassionate, Forgiving, Pardoning,

Creator, Maker,

Eternal Lord of the Realm of Sovereignty,

Everlasting Lord of the Realm of Dominion,

Self-Sustaining, One who never sleeps,

Almighty, One who can never be harmed,

Impregnable, One who can never be assailed.

His are the Most Beautiful Names,

and the loftiest attributes,

and the ideal paradigm,

and the most lasting glory.

Imaginations cannot picture Him,

and understandings cannot appraise Him,

and He is not subject to analogy,

and He cannot be compared to people,

and minds cannot describe Him,

and intellects cannot define Him.

He far transcends comparison

with that which he made,

or annexation to that which He has originated.

[He is] the Reckoner of breaths.

[He is] Holding every soul

Responsible for what it has earned  (13:33)

He has already counted them [His creatures]

and added them all up,

and all of them will come to Him

on the Day of Resurrection, one by one.

He feeds, but is not fed.

He nourishes, but is not nourished.

He protects, but does not need protection.

He created that which He originated,

not for the sake of procurement.

He provided benefit,

though not to ward off harm,

nor in response to someone who appealed to Him,

nor because of a thought that occurred by chance,

 but rather by an absolute Will,

independent of novel interpretations.

As He has said (Exalted is He):

[He is] Lord of the Throne, the All-Glorious.

Effective in doing whatever He wishes.  (85:15,16)

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The blog has been honoured to use the stunning art work of Bint-eh Adam, alias Butterfly of Brum for the header. An expressive ALLAH as if blossoming in a heart of pure love….with fronds reaching out to others for the love of Him. And below is her “Finding God” This, along with other of her visual Dhikrs, which seem to transport one to deep inner contempaltive, Muraqaba, recesses, are for sale, as well as commissions taken. You can read more about the evolution of her works, and make contact here, Insha’Allah. May Allah Ta’ala continue to grace her hands with His gift of creativity , Ameen.

 

Go sweep out the chamber of your heart. 
Make it ready to be the dwelling place of the Beloved. 
When you depart out, He will enter it. 
In you, void of yourself, will He display His beauties.

Mahmud Shabistari - ‘Rose Garden of Mystery’

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. 

 

 

 

Treasures are hidden under these streets….not the sort that gold diggers would be interested in. No, far greater than any earthly, worldly, or materialistic thing, is the knowing that these streets were blessed with the Mubarak feet of our Esteemed Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his illustrious guiding stars, the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhu. His most blessed sandals treading the earth, his noble self alighted on a camel, or a horse, traversing this land now occupied by buildings. The closer one is to Masjid Nabawi, the more likely it was that the earth folded for him, witnessing these sacred footsteps, while being perfumed with amber and musk. So is the bliss of walking these streets….one is transported with the knowledge that the richest of treasures are hidden in the earth, in the air…the gaze is held humbly down and each step seems to float upon this blessedness.

Behold the dancing dust,

still sparkling from the gentle steps

of the pinnacle of messengers,

igniting hearts, intoxicating souls,

emblazing galaxy-like bursts of love,

reaching far off realms divine,

spreading glistening beads of a fragrant elixir

all along the way.

 

And also hidden in the streets of Madinah, minutes from the sacred Haram are treasures of a different worldly kind. The dilapidated shop front opens to a festive array of colour and texture.

 

Enter the doorway to a blaze of delight!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beads, braids, trims, ribbons, sequins, boas, flowers, pearls, buttons, and more cram every inch of space. One can barely fit in the small isles overflowing with cascading lace, yarn, and fabric. An old man has sat almost trapped in the middle of these decorative and festive trims for the past four decades. (he proudly told me his story) He sits in this one place directing an assistant and sometimes offering advice….but always collecting the money. Customers come in droves seeking that special touch, bringing samples to match colours and design. A few years ago when I first discovered this shop I could barely remain inside whilst choosing ribbons I was wanting as there was no fan or AC in there. It was suffocating. Alhumdulillah, when going there this time an AC had been installed. An amazing little world minutes from home and minutes from Masjid Nabawi. How long some of these older establishments remain is only a matter of time, a short time, as more and more of these prime locations are sought for hotels and thus demolished.    

 

And sitting at regular intervals on the side walks of these streets of Madinah are ladies selling candy and roasted nuts, ‘treasures’ to appease the small children accomanying their mothers as they shop for all their party attire.

The streets of Madinah….treasures above and below….earthly and divine…..

Behold the dancing dust,

still sparkling from the gentle steps

of the pinnacle of messengers.

 

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. 

 

 

 

Time for a ramble….. on TIME.

I’ve been procrastinating!

PROCRASTINATING!!! The word itself seems to extend and stretch one into a mesmerized stupor…..PROCRASTINATING…..aaarrrggggggg……

Astaghfirullah…one of Shaytan’s magical ploys in his gigantic box of tricks. I have so many projects on the go, so many emails to answer, so many tasks I wish to complete….all unfinished, all floundering in this befuddled mind….the process of deciding which one to tackle swirls around as a murky maelstrom…. I am wasting time….a catastrophe.  

Take a few moments to click here….then allow the eyes relay to the heart what you see….try to comprehend the speed of life as it literally flies by and the events that accompany this disappearance…..the capital of our existence….seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years…..on and on…..quickly passing…..spiritual and material potentialities vanish, abilities fade into an oblivious well…..continual loss as each ordained breath diminishes another fragment of one’s life …..unless.

We have been gifted this potential investment, TIME, and how we invest it is entirely up to us. Wisely and we profit, heedlessly and we not only lose, but also attract and accumulate numerous sins. According to one Hadith of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasllam said: When a person wakes up in the morning, he invests his soul or life in a business enterprise: some of the investors free or save the capital from loss and others destroy it.

Woe to procrastination…..woe……it is not enough for the mind to understand that ‘time’ is like melting capital and thus taking every moment of this life as valuable, but the heart needs to be activated into ensuring the best capital return for the investment we have been entrusted with.   

It seems a universal condition….we have become so time poor, even though “technology” has produced an incredible explosion in time saving gizmos to supposedly free our time. We seem to be tangled in a web of busy-ness…so busy that we cannot recall what has even made us busy. Gadgets….technological whiz bang thingamajig inventions kidnap the brain…. millions of mouse clicks, recording devices and agile button pressing gobble our time as if it is the latest gourmet treat, spitting out a benumbed brain that then needs “timeout” before the next bout. Ya Allah, Ya Lateef.

The Mubarak streets of Al-Madinah Al-Munarrawah witnessed the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum reciting Surah al-Asr:

By the time. Verily man is in a state of loss. Except those who have faith and do righteous deeds and exhort one another to truth and one another to endurance. (103:1-3)

to each other before they departed company to remind themselves of the eternal loss if we squander ‘time’, and additionally, concisely outlining the complete way of human life: faith, righteous deeds, advising each other for Truth, and advising each other for patience.

A beautiful recipe for salvation in both Worlds……and such a profound sharing of love and concern for each other’s destiny. They understood that it was not ‘time’ to be cursed as we so often do, but our neglect towards it.

Allah Ta’ala said in Hadith Qudsi:

The son of Adam does me wrong when he curses the course of time. I am the course of time, for the affair is in My hands as I turn the day and night over one another.

Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasllam said: There are two blessings that most people are deluded by: health and available time.  And:  Value five before five: youth before old age; health before sickness; affluence before poverty; leisure before becoming too busy; and life before death.  SubhanAllah, ‘time’ to wake up from our delusionary slumber…..

Once our Noble Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was passing by a graveyard along with some of the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum, when he said to them: You often offer two Rak’ats of Nafl prayer hurriedly without realizing their value. However in the sight of the man lying buried in the grave, these two Rak’ats are more valuable than all the wealth of the world. The soul confined in the grave might be earnestly and regretfully wishing if he could find in his life two minutes more to offer two Rak’ats of Nafl prayer and add its reward to his Record of Deeds.

Jurjani Rahmatullah alaihi for forty years ate simple roasted barley flour….not bothering to make it in to bread as in the time it would take to chew one mouthful of the bread he could say SubhanAllah seventy times!

Is not time ripe for the believers to humble their hearts to the remembrance of Allah and the Truth that has been revealed? (57:16)

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Imam Al Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihi wrote this in his book: ‘The Beginning of Guidance’

"You should not neglect your time or use it haphazardly; on the contrary you should bring yourself to account, structure your litanies and other practices during each day and night, and assign to each period a fixed and specific function. This is how to bring out the spiritual blessing (baraka) in each period.

But if you leave yourself adrift, aimlessly wandering as cattle do, not knowing how to occupy yourself at every moment, your time will be lost. It is nothing other than your life, and your life is the capital that you make use of to reach perpetual felicity in the proximity of God the Exalted.

Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, since each of them is irreplaceable and, once gone, can never be retrieved. Do not be like deceived fools who are joyous because each day their wealth increases while their life shortens.

What good is an increase in wealth when life grows ever shorter? Therefore be joyous only for an increase in knowledge or in good works, for they are your two companions who will accompany you in your grave when your family, wealth, children and friends stay behind.”

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The following was from somewhere on the WIDE WIDE www…..from ages ago when I did not record the source…..so credit to whomever, and apologies……

Shaytan called a worldwide convention.
In his opening address to his evil Jinns, he said, "We can’t keep the Believers from going to Masjids. We can’t keep them from reading their Qur`an and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship with Allah".

Once they gain that connection with Allah, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their Masjids; let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can’t gain that relationship with Allah.

This is what I want you to do Jinns. Distract them from gaining hold of their Lord and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day! "How shall we do this?" shouted his Jinns. "Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon, their home will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive, to keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-Qur’anic recitation constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Allah."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes. Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines so their husbands will believe that external beauty is what’s important, and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives. That will fragment those families quickly!"

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted, and unprepared for the coming week. Don’t let them go out in nature to reflect on Allah’s wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, and busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. Go ahead, let them be involved in soul winning; but crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Allah."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! It will work!" It was quite a convention. The evil Jinns went eagerly to their assignments causing Believers everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there. I guess the question is; has the devil been successful at his scheme?

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The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: Every person goes forth in the morning trading in his own self. He either earns its freedom or consigns it to perdition.

O Allah, I seek divine guidance so that I remain steadfast in what is just.

I seek divine guidance in order to be firm in righteousness.

I seek divine guidance in the manner that I express my gratitude for Your favours and worship with devotion.

I seek from You a tongue that speaks the truth and a heart which is pure and clean.

I seek from You the ability to utilize the time You have entrusted me with for the best of purposes that will lead me to You.

O Allah, I beg you to grant me the good of this day and the good of what comes after it.

O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the evil of this day and the evil of what comes out of it.

O Allah, I beg you to grant me the good of this day, its victory, its assistance, its light, its blessing and its right guidance.

If Allah brings you to it,
He will bring you through it.
In Happy moments, praise Allah.
In Difficult moments, seek Allah.
In Quiet moments, worship Allah.
In Painful moments, trust Allah.
In Every moment, in every time, thank Allah.

And make Du’a for this humble speck and her battle with PROCRASTINATION….and all time wasting things, and, and, and, and forgive me if you are one of the many awaiting my communication…..and Insha’Allah I will do the same for you for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.

I conclude by sharing as our illustrious Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhu did as they departed in these very streets: 

By the time. Verily man is in a state of loss. Except those who have faith and do righteous deeds and exhort one another to truth and one another to endurance. (103:1-3)

 

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. 

An additional link, 

http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/feelnikon/discovery/universcale/index_f.htm

see brother Irving’s comment and link also. Amazing! 

 

 

The Miracluous Journey. 

Glory to Him who made His servant travel by night from the sacred place of worship to the furthest place of worship.  ( 17:1)

SubhanAllah! Our Beloved Nabi was instructed by Jibreel Alaihis Sallam to alight and pray in this most Radiant of Cities, a land filled with date palms, the first of several stops on this Blessed Night Journey to His Lord….. Jibreel Alaihis Sallam on the right, was holding the stirrup and Mika’il Alaihis Sallam on the left , holding the reins of Buraq on this sacred mission. Jibreel Alaihis Sallam then informed our Beloved praised servant of Allah Ta’ala SallAllahu alaihi wasallam that he had just prayed in a tayba, a land of pastures where his Hijrah would later take place. So long before Yathrib became At-Tayba the land was beautified by not only the presence of the Angelic Hosts, Buraq, the ever obedient lightning-mount who had also transported previous Prophets, but honoured and perfumed by the best of creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

Perpetual salutations on the Rider of the Lightning-Mount.

Perpetual salutations on the Holder of the Stunning Miracles.

Perpetual salutations on the Possessor of the Greatest Pre-Eminence.

Perpetual salutations on the Bringer of Deliverance.

Perpetual salutations on the Holder of the Exalted Station.

Perpetual salutations on the Fully Witnessed One.

Perpetual salutations on the Distinguished One in the Divine Presence.

The chosen one, the light of lights from the source of Light SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was divined to  ascend the ladders of perfection, where all the Divine secrets and signs were revealed to him SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. And then his noble station was venerated to the highest plateau, raised to reach the Lote-tree and the glowing Farthest Boundary, to the Intimate Presence, a nearness of two bows lengths, a pristine space never having been entered by Angel or Prophet, there where he heard the scratching of the Pen scribing all that was and is and will be. Allah Ta’ala shared all that He wished with His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and decreed that his Ummah be gifted with one of the brightest of gems from the thousands of gems that is the Crown of Islam…. Salat! The most celebrated of gifts our Lord has bestowed upon us as directly ordained from His Jannah, the key to our finally entering His Garden of Blissful Eternity.  

And His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam gave thanks:

Praise to Allah Who has sent me

As a mercy to the worlds sent to all without exception,

A bearer of glad tidings and a warner!

Who has caused to descend upon me the Qur’an

In which there is a perfect exposition of all things!

Who has made my Community the best Community

Ever brought out for the benefit of mankind!

Who has made my Community a median and middle!

Who has made my Community, in truth,

The first [in Paradise] and the last [in creation]

Of all Communities!

Who has expanded my breast

And relieved me of my burden!

Who has exalted my name,

And made me the Opener and the Sealer!

 

Al-Kareem, Subahahu wa Ta’ala, reduced the original request of fifty prayers to five prayers every day and night, and by His Munificence every prayer is counted as ten to make the original fifty prayers. SubhanAllah! How blessed we are! How blessed are we, how blessed we are!!  May we be grateful, Insha’Allah.

Later our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said:  

As-salatu Mi’raj-ul-Mumineen.  Salat is the Mi’raj of the Mu’mineen.

Through our concentration, devotion, and our absorption in Salat we become connected to Allah Ta’ala and ascend to the spiritual perfection and presence experienced by the holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Our striving for perfection in our Salat, Insha’Allah leads to the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, Who attracts Whom He wills, as well as it being a means of following the spiritual path of Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  

So let us eagerly ‘mount a Buraq’, as we step on the prayer mat in readiness for our own “miraculous journey” to our Lord, one that culminates in a Divine meeting with Him Subhanahu wa Ta’ala as He lifts the veils while we are in Sajdah.

The believers will succeed; those who pray humbly.   (23:1-2)

Abu Dhar RadhiAllahu anhu narrated that Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi Wasallam said: Allah continues to turn attentively towards His slave while he is engaged in Salat, as long as he does not turn his attention. When he turns his attention away, Allah turns away from him. (Nasai)

Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: The example of obligatory Salat is like a weighing scale. Whoever gives in full, receives in full. (Baihaqi)

May we reflect upon the miracle of this wondrous journey, bringing the significance of all that it encompasses into our own daily routine. May the efforts we strive to make towards our own Mi’raaj, through our Salat, bring us to the One, and raise our station, as we aspire to ascend to Him. Ameen.  

Perpetual salutations on the Rider of the Lightning-Mount.

Perpetual salutations on the Holder of the Stunning Miracles.

Perpetual salutations on the Possessor of the Greatest Pre-Eminence.

Perpetual salutations on the Bringer of Deliverance.

Perpetual salutations on the Holder of the Exalted Station.

Perpetual salutations on the Fully Witnessed One.

Perpetual salutations on the Distinguished One in the Divine Presence.

 

Last year’s entry for this Mubarak Journey, with several links:

http://almiskeenah.blogsome.com/category/israa-wa-miraaj/

Two excellent visual panoramas of Masjid Aqsa, one inside,

http://www.visualdhikr.com/extra/aqsa_pano.php

this one outside:

http://www.nylocations.com/panoramic-photography/jerusalem/source/22_dome-of-the-rock.htm

A collection of photographs of the Dome of the Rock at the following two sites:

http://haqaonline.lightuponlight.com/pg/thumbnails.php?album=19

http://www.islamicfinder.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=22

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Alawi al-Makka, may Allah Ta’ala have mercy on him, has written this succinct scholarly account, The Prophet’s Night Journey and Heavenly ascent.

http://www.aqsapublications.com/home.html

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. 

 

 

This is Your sanctuary.

This is Your city.

I am Your servant.

Peace is Yours.

You are salvation.

Grant us salvation.

And guide us

Through the gates of Paradise.

 

Ameen Ameen Ameen. For centuries millions from across the globe have travelled to this Holy Sanctuary, seeking a closeness, seeking forgiveness, seeking renewal, seeking unity, seeking salvation. The externals keep changing, but the heart’s internal yearning is the constant. May we all be guided through the gates of Paradise.

Ibn Jubayr, in 1183 writes of his impressions while in Mecca at the beginning of Rajab. " …..The people of Mecca regard this month as a solemn occasion for pilgrims to meet each other, it is the occasion of a great local festival, one they have observed without a break since the time of the Prophet Muhammad. People perform the Umra during this month in number nearly equivalent to the Arafat vigil during the month of Hajj. Pilgrims from neighbouring countries flock to Mecca for it….

The events on the night of the new moon and the day after are almost impossible to describe. That afternoon the streets and alleys of Mecca were thronged with camels bearing small dome shaped enclosures, or howdahs, roped onto their backs and covered with silk drapes and trappings of fine linen. The quality of the decorations varied according to the affluence of each owner, but everyone gave them all care and attention in their power. They set out in great numbers for Tan’im, the ritual starting point for those making Umra, so that the howdahs appeared to flow through the valleys and mountain tracks, the camels beneath them adorned with ornaments and moving toward the sacred places without drivers, in collars of silk and with beautiful trappings that sometimes dragged along the ground. There was no one in the city who did not perform the Umra that evening. Fires lined the roads on either side and lit torches preceded the howdahs of the Meccan women. When we had completed the rites, circled the Ka’ba seven times, and arrived at the concourse between Safa and Marwa hills, we found the road completely lit with fires and lanterns, and thronged with men, and women performing the rite on their camels…..This remarkable sight, the crowds of people dressed in pilrim robes, crying out “Here I am, Lord, at Your service. Here I am” and the mountains answering with echoes, made one imagine the gathering on the Day of Resurrection. People cried, tears flowed, hearts melted at this sight…..”

While our visit was more than 800 years later, and some weeks into Rajab, the atmosphere and the human celebration around Haram still reflects similar elation. Pilgrims were there in great numbers, people from across the Muslim world still flock to Makkah….and like Ibn Jubayr, the scenes are almost impossible to describe. It was unexpectedly crowded and every nationality seemed to be present. During one Salat I was squashed between Iraqi sisters on one side and Palestinian sisters on the other. I was given a handful of Iraqi sultanas….a gesture bringing tears as I tried to imagine how their daily lives are under such oppression, and yet Allah Ta’ala the Most Merciful was sending such sweet sultanas from such troubled lands.

Have we not established a secure sanctuary where every kind of produce is brought, as a provision from Us? (28:57)

Their faces were etched with stories of hardship, and yet the gratitude to have been able to offer Umrah shone from their hearts and smiles. They too were servants, joining thousands of others, invited for a time to the sanctuary of peace, seeking His Salvation.

And while fancy vehicles ornamented with chrome and metallic features replace decorative camels, and electric lights replace lanterns and fires, the roads and walkways and courtyards remain thronged with pilgrims.

I walked to the noble birth place of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, where the moon was hovering so majestically over the mountain behind the building marking this Mubarak place. Unfortunately the light to the right dominates….but nothing detracts one from the significance of this Mubarak place, nor from Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam being the Light of the Full Moon in its beauty, nor from reflecting on so many other aspects of our illustrious heritage vibrating in the air. By turning slightly to the tight is Jabal Abu Qubais where our Beloved SallAllahu alaihi wasallam split the very moon that was gliding past where he was born, SubhanAllah. Then walking towards Sa’i, where massive construction work on its extension is under way, is the Mubarak place of the house of our Lady Khadeejah RadhiAllahu anha, once more being subject to drilling and digging of an expansion project.   

 

Sa’i in the background. According to some Ulema, the position of where the bulldozer in the foreground is, is the place of the first house of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, the house where Sayyidatuna Khadeejah RadhiAllahu anha was the first to accept the call to Islam, the house where Jibreel came with the revelation of Al-Muddaththir, 

You wraped in your cloak, arise and give warning. Proclaim the greatness of your Lord. (74:1-3) 

And Allah the Almighty knows best. 

The work is continual day and night. The projected plan was to have this extension ready for the influx of pilrimgs during Ramadhan, but it is looking very doubtful seeing how the current progress is still at the excavation stage in places. 

 

A scene akin to some pageant of giants….all vying to reach the heavens….cranes, towers and minarets. The monstraous Zam Zam Tower is the one lit in the background. Meanwhile pilgrims completing their Umrah continue to run from Safa, to the left, to Marwa, to the right, enacting the great sacrifice of Hagar Alaihas Salam, all vying to reach the acceptance of Allah Ta’ala, hoping by His Grace they will reach His Heaven and all that He promises, Insha’Allah.

 

The courtyard that was between the Royal Palace on the left and Sa’i to the right. A huge section of it undergoing a massive transformation. 
  

 

A view taken further away, the Palace, constructed on what was Jabal Abu Qubais to the left, Masjid to the right and the Zam Zam Towers in the background. The remaining area of courtyard becomes a picnic ground for pilgrims, the evening breeze offering respite from the hot days. It was 42 degrees at about midnight when I was wandering around taking these photos. Sitting on a ledge just beside where I was standing for this photo was a group of about 10 young boys….looking about 7-9 years old….I intended to get a photo as they were all holding clusters of colourful balloons…visually creating a great scene…..suddenly I hear a squeal….and feel an added breeze flutter my abaya…and within seconds they had vanished…and in their place was a policeman and two vice squad "gentlemen" who quietly told me to stop taking photos…..it is "forbidden"!! I obliged and walked away.    

 

This was taken earlier….the teams of cleaners with their rubber squeegees diligently attending to the courtyard in front of the Intercontinental hotel, Haram behind me. They always seem to be having so much fun as they race in formation mopping up the incredible amount of rubbish. I can never comprehend why we as an Ummah, knowing that cleanliness if half of Iman, cannot place our rubbish in the hundreds of bins provided. May Allah Ta’ala truly guide us. Ameen.

This is Your sanctuary.

This is Your city.

I am Your servant.

Peace is Yours.

You are salvation.

Grant us salvation.

And guide us

Through the gates of Paradise.

Ameen Ameen Ameen. May He Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala accept the Lesser Pilgrimage from us all, Ameen Ameen 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. 

 

 

LEAVING………. 

We all began “leaving” the moment we were born….moving towards the final leaving of this world, then the leaving of the house of dirt …we are constantly leaving in so many ways …..leaving one second for the next, never to revisit the previous one, leaving one breath for the next , leaving one day for the night, one night for the day, leaving one Salat for the next, leaving one place in space to another as we constantly move, whether it is across oceans or across a room, constant leaving…leaving one encounter for another, one conversation for another, or leaving silence for sound, sound for silence, leaving one action merging into another, leaving one desire for another, leaving one task for another…..a constant leaving, departing, moving……Insha’Allah it is toward THE ONE, all our leaving is towards His presence, His Garden, His Delight, His Pleasure, His Treasures, His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasllam…….so what impressions are we leaving with all this leaving…..how is our every deed, movement, speech, thought, impulses , interactions recorded……?

Imam Zaid, may Allah Ta’ala continue to increase his knowledge and reward his sacrifices for the Deen, has just written a moving account of leaving Makkah, Insha’Allah the destination I am leaving for tomorrow for a few days, where visitors left for yesterday, and where we in turn will be also be leaving………

Wherever we are, may we be courageous with making effort on “leaving” all that is of no benefit to our Akhirah. Ameen.

I was reading “Early Sufi Women”, a gift that left one Mu’minah to another and found the following to be inspiring…..with a delectable recipe to savour whilst “leaving”

"Dhakkara  (The Invoker) was one of the enraptured worshippers of God (al-abidat al-walihat). Abu Hafs Umar ibn Masrur, the ascetic from Baghdad, reported from Ahmad ibn al-Husayn b. Muhammad b. Sahl al-Waiz (the Preacher) through Muhammad (i.e., ibn Jafar) through Ibrahim ibn al-Junayd through Muhammad ibn al-Husayn [al-Burjulani] that Abbas al-Iskaf (the Shoemaker) related: A madwoman (majnuna) called Dhakkara used to live among us. One holiday she saw me holding a piece of faludaj [a Pesian sweet made of starch, honey and water] in my hand. “What do you have?”  she asked. “Faludaj” I replied. She said: “I am embarrassed to be regarded disapprovingly by God Most High. Shall I explain to you how to make real Faludaj so that you may go home and make it is you are able to do so?” “Certainly,” I said.     

She said: “Take the sugar of the divine gift, the starch of purity, the water of modesty, the butter of self awareness, and the saffron of recompense, and strain them in the sieves of fear and hope. The place under the mixture a tripod of sorrow, hang the sauce-pots of grief, seal it with the lid of contemplation, light beneath it the fire of sighs, and spread it out over caution until it is touched by the fragrant breeze of the night-vigil. When you take a bite of it, you will become one of the wise and will be liberated from vain fantasies. It will bring you near to people’s hearts, the ploys of the clever will become distasteful to you, you will be protected from the ‘evil of the ‘Whisperer, who withdraws’ (Qur’an An-Nas 4) and the Houris will wait on you in Paradise with goblets of heavenly wine.” The she recited the following verse:

The lover’s aspirations wander in the angelic realm,

The outer heart complains but the inner heart is mute!"

Please keep this humble needy speck in your Du’a, as I will for all of you as I leave, and then leave again and again…..Insha’Allah. And enjoy the Faludaj!

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. 

 

 

 

 

The Mubarak Hujrah

O Allah ! Open for us the gates of Your mercy and forgiveness and sustenance, and send abundant blessings and peace upon the Best of Prophets and Messengers and upon all his Family and Companions Ameen. 

His light appeared on Adam’s forehead

So that the angels bowed their heads in prostration;

Noah, in the danger of the flood,

Found help from him in his seamanship;

The scent of his grace reached Abraham,

And his rose bloomed from Nimrod’s pyre.

Yusuf was for him, in the court of kindness

[Only] a slave, seventeen dirham’s worth.

His face lighted the fire of Moses,

And his lip taught Christ how to quicken the dead.

(Jami)

Insha’Allah, the more we invest eagerness in our seeking to learn about our Beloved Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasllam, and his noble resting place, may Allah Ta’ala make it a means to be closer to Him Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasllam.

 

According to historian Al-Samhoudi, the length of the Sacred Chamber measured from east to west is 8 meters and the width 5.5 meters with the inner wall being approxiamtely one meter thick. (Unfortunately with compressing the diagram the measurements and numbers are not very clear. Insha’Allah you can ’save image as’ and then use the zoom facility to view it more readily, I have added some coloured dots to assist with some of the details)

1.       Resting place of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

2.       Grave of Abu Bakr As-Saddiq RadhiAllahu anhu.

3.       Grave of Umar Al-Khattab RadhiAllahu anhu.

4.        Place reserved for Isa Alaihis Salam. There are two narrations regarding the position, hence the two places marked, however the stringer narration is that he will be beside Umar Al-Khattab RadhiAllahu anhu. And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

5.       House of our Lady Ayeshah RadhiAllahu anha. When the room contained our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and her noble father Abu Bakr as-Siddiq RadhiAllahu anhu our Lady Ayeshah RadhiAllahu anha would not wear the veil, but once Umar ibn Al-Khattab RadhiAllahu anhu joined them she covered and then arranged for the room to be divided. The zig zag line represents the wall built to divide the house into two parts, one for her residence and the other housing the three graves.

6.       Place where Jibreel Alaihis Salam often came with revelations.

7.       Walls of the room of our Lady Ayeshah RadhiAllahu anha that Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam assisted in building, and which still stands within the security walls.

8.       Pentagonal walls (solid black) built by Umar ibn Abdul Aziz Rahmatullah alaihi. Made of stone and having five sides so as not to have the shape of the Ka’abah. This barrier wall is 80cm wide.

9.       Wall built by Sultan Qaitabai Rahmatullah alaihi. (grey shaded) around the walls built by Umar ibn Abdul Aziz Rahmatullah alaihi.

10.   Columns (green dot) supporting the walls (of #9) which are covered by green curtains around the Sacred Hujrah.

11.   First window on the western side which originally was part of the Rowdha Shareef and included in the Maqsurah, restricted area, during the time of Sultan Al-Zahir Baibars, the ruler of Egypt in the year 668 A.H. (the first double set of circular motifs in the grill on the left in the above photo)

12.   Extension of Rowdha Shareef.

13.   Now part of the Masjid.

14.   (pink dot) House of Sayyidatuna Fatima RadhiAllahu anha.

15.   Mihrab inside the house of Sayyidatuna Fatima RadhiAllahu anha.

16.   blue dot, (no number) place of Tahajjud when Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam prayed alone, and Almighty Allah Ta’ala knows best.

17.   Place of Tahajjud behind the house of Sayyidatuna Fatima RadhiAllahu anha with Ahl Suffa. (and Allah Almighty knows best)

18.   Muwajahah.

19.   The circular motif indicating the position of the Mubarak face of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq RadhiAllahu anhu.

20.   The circular motif indicating the position of the Mubarak face of Umar ibn Al-Khattab RadhiAllahu anhu.

21.   Place of the rooms of Ummahatul Mu’mineen.  The home of Sayyidatuna Hafsa RadhiAllahu anha was so close to the home of our Lady Ayeshah RadhiAllahu anha (on the southern side) that they would exchange conversations while both were inside their homes.

22.   The column of the bed.

23.   The delegation column.

24.   The guard column.

25.   Door of Tawbah. 25B. Door of our Lady Ayeshah RadhiAllahu anha.

26.   Window opposite the Mubarak head of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

27.   Direction of Mubarak feet of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

28.   Doors that are within the Maqsurah.

29.   Circumference of the inner small dome (blue dot).

30.   Circumference of the blue inner dome.

31.   Circumference of the Green Dome.

32.   External walls of the Maqsurah.

This site offers a history of the Sacred Chamber, along with accounts of the attempts to steal the Mubarak body of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

Dr. Irfan Al Alawi, Executive Director Islamic Heritage Research Foundation has written the following to dispel many misconceptions about the graves in the Sacred Chamber:

“It will be pertinent to mention here that the companions never put bricks or other similar materials on these three graves. Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr {Ra} narrated as mentioned in Sunan Abu Dawud, ‘I visited Aaisha {Ra} and requested her to show me these three graves. I observed that the graves were neither very high above the ground nor totally in level with the ground. I saw these covered with reddish color earth.’

It is mentioned in Tabaqatul Kubraa by ibn Sa’ad as narrated by Qaasim, ‘I was only a child when I visited these graves which were covered with reddish colour earth.’

It is mentioned in Fath al-Baari as narrated by Abu Bakr Ajari {Ra}, ‘I saw these graves during the period of Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz {ra}. These were about four inches above the ground level.’ It is also mentioned in Fath al-Baari as narrated by Rija ibn Haiwah, ‘Waleed ibn Abdul-Malik wrote to Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz to purchase the hujrat of the wives of Prophet Muhammad {sallallaahu Alayhi wasallam} and include this area in the mosque as well. When the walls of the hujrats were removed, these graves became visible. The sandy soil on the graves had somewhat levelled off. Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz rebuilt the walls of Aaisha’s chamber during the expansion of the Prophet’s mosque.’

A renowned scholar, Samhoudi, mentioned in Wifa-ul-Wifaa that the walls of the sacred chamber were remodelled in 878H. He had the privilege and honour of entering the Sacred Chamber during these repairs. Samhoudi said, ‘As I entered the Sacred Chamber, I found very delicate fragrance there which I had never experienced in my life before. I offered salutation to the Prophet {Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam} and his both companions. Then I focussed my attention to condition of the graves so that I could describe it fully to others. All three graves were almost even to the ground level. At one place, there was a slight rise above the ground level. It was probably, Umar’s {Ra} grave. The graves were definitely covered by ordinary earth.’

After this occasion, nobody has been able to see these graves since all the four walls of the Sacred Chamber have been fully built up to the roof level and closed for any view.

I may add that some people are carrying pictures of these graves indicating that the graves are built of bricks or stones and are quite high from the ground level. It is total fabrication.”

O Allah send blessings upon this prophetic presence, which is guiding and guided, by Your complete blessings. May it be a blessing that encompasses every kind of knowledge, moreover, may it be a blessing that has no end in its limit, and neither will it sever in its extent.

And convey peace upon this Prophet in the same way. O our master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the purpose of existence. You are the master of every parent and every child; you are the precious orphan around whom all kinds of creation revolved. You are the light, the radiance of which fills the heavens and the earths. Your blessings cannot be encompassed, and your miracles are innumerable.

From salutations of Sayyid ash-Shaykh Muhammad Abu al-Mawahib ash-Shadhili, Rahmatullah alaihi.

 

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.