ALMISKEENAH

 

 

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.