ALMISKEENAH

 

….bringing them from darkness out into light, by His will, and guiding them to a straight path. (5:16)

Picture; a priceless emerald, the deepest, richest green, activating the colour waves that instantly vibrate the spiritual recesses of the heart to sing the praise and glory of Allah Ta’ala and His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, the blessed resident of this verdant jewel-topped Abode.

This is how the Green Dome, enamoured by all from the best of nations, appeared from the inner courtyard in the mild evening breeze. A glowing emerald set in a sky seemingly woven from the most delicate and silkiest thread directly from the Tooba Tree in Jannah, while diamond-like glints of light danced from the ornate minarets, and the golden glistening from the myriad of chandeliers, adding more and more layers to the ethereal impact.

This was the scene in the open courtyard behind the original Masjid Nabawi, the elegant umbrellas closed as slender sentinels guarding the Sacred Paradise between our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s house and his minbar.

Crowds of sisters having just arrived in this City of Radiance stood in awe before stepping on the green carpet designating the Garden of Jannah. Audible sobs of pleading, praising, and gratitude filled the decorative Ottoman domes as foreheads prostrated in adulation and adoration, hands raised, imploring, seeking, revering.

By a new decree from the King, sisters now have the opportunity of visiting a fenced off section of the Rowdha Shareef three times during the day. Previously the times were after Fajr and after Zuhur Salat. The new arrangements have added an evening session from approximately 9pm to midnight. The time between the completion of Salat and the doors to be opened for the sisters to cross the brother’s section to the delineated area for visits can be an hour or so, giving the brother’s time to vacate that part of the Masjid and for the workers to erect the various barriers.

During this waiting time the Masjid ‘duty sisters’ attempt to collect the various nationalities into groups by holding up signs with the names of the main countries for them to congregate around. This previous post details the procedure, while the focus of this entry is on the ‘indoctrination’ that happens while the various nationalities wait to enter the visiting area. The Masjid ‘authorities’ in their organizational plans have employed ‘duty sisters’ capable of conversing in all the main languages, Alhumdilillah, and have obviously trained them to deliver the lecture emphasizing the Adab of going to the Rowdha from a sisters perspective. The duration of the lecture can be at least one hour inside the sisters section…and continuing once the group has moved to the next holding area. Some groups may have to wait longer than others before they are permitted to move to the actual Rowdha area.

The following is gleaned from the talk given in English last night, my comments will follow later.

Sisters need to ask themselves what is their intention in coming from their home country to Masjid Nabawi. If it is to visit the grave of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, then you will be amongst the cursed, as Allah Ta’ala has forbidden women to visit graves. (Supporting Ahadith in Arabic accompanied each point made)

We must obey Allah Ta’ala and the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and not visit graves, as he SallAllahu alaihi wasallam mentioned in the Hadith, so if we love him then we do not come to visit his grave, but to pray in the Masjid. The proof of our love is in how we follow him and his Sunnah. If we go against the Sunnah then we are following our whims and desires and this is very dangerous. Women have been created with a tender heart, men do not have this. Due to the woman having a tender heart she may faint while visiting a grave and some of her body may become exposed. We do not visit graves, this is for the men only.

Women must dress in a humble fashion, loose, thick, non-transparent, covering the body and no perfume to be applied.  

We have been told in the Qur’an that we can travel to three places only: Makkah, Madinah and Masjid Aqsa in Al-Quds….the prayer in Makkah is worth 100,000 prayers, while in Masjid Nabawi it is multiplied by 1000.

Some narrations ay that the Rowdha will be lifted and become part of Jannah on the Day of Judgement, others explain that by offering Salat in this piece of Paradise on earth is that it will lead us to Jannah, BUT some commit violations of the creed in the Rowdha and this is very dangerous. Asking for things from Rowdha is very dangerous. Supplication is the right of Allah Ta’ala alone. You are in the Hellfire FOREVER if you do not abide by this as you are commiting SHIRK, and this, unlike other forms of sine will never be forgiven. Another grave sin is wiping, kissing, touching the pillars. Do not seek Barakah from things, nor from the dead, especially the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. The story of the Hawd was narrated, one drink from this and one will never know thirst ever again….but how on the Day of Judgement the angels will tell the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam not to offer a drink from his fountain to certain people as they were involved in innovation, bida, after his time.

Do not raise your voice anywhere in the Masjid, it is sinful, regardless of whether Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam is alive or dead.

Salam will reach the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam form anywhere in the world, it is not necessary to say Salam from the Rowdha. We say our Salam as we enter the Masjid, we give our Salam in Tashahud. And DO NOT CONVEY on behalf of any one to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. We are NOT angels…only Allah Ta’ala and His Angels can give Salam. And women do not offer Salam to Abu Bakr As-Siddiq or Umar Al-Khattab RadhiAllahu anhumaa, this is only for the men.

Islam is clean, it is easy, no complications.

It is not recommended to repeatedly go to Rowdha over and over. This time is enough, stay away so others can have their turn, it is not a Fardh on you, it is not even a Sunnah.

Do not bring Du’a books from your home country, there are too many mistakes and wrong information in them. They do not explain the differences between men and women and their time in the Masjid. Only follow the books you find in the shops around Haram and in the Masjid library.   

Do not take your homes as graves, and do not take the grave of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as an Eid, or festival time. It is not a place to be celebrating the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

Do not sit in group Dhikr, this is not Sunnah, the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum never did such an act.

One question was asked at the end….they were not permitted during the lecture. One newly arrived sister asked when the times for Ziyarah were…the reply came that the Rowdha times wer such ans such….a clear indication that we do not use the term Ziyarah, or visiting, as in visiting our Blessed Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

I could spend hours commenting on this sad experience, and to a certain extent I have to be ‘careful’. I realize that some of you may have no hesitation in taking all the above as being ‘normal’, along with the desecration of our sacred sites. But basically what I find offensive is that the Masjid of our Noble Nabi, the City of our Prophet, is under the edicts of one aspect, one narrow interpretation of our multi-faceted ways of practicing Islam. Pilgrims come from every corner of the globe, representing all schools of thought, which all deserve to be respected and allowed the freedom to openly apply the different opinions and not to be indoctrinated, coerced, shamed, brainwashed in this manner.

I was speaking to some sisters after all this who were totally confused. They had come with lists of names from their family and friends to offer Salam as an Amanat, they softly said they participated in Dhikr circles….they quickly shoved Du’a books in their bags, they wondered if they should not come again. Ya Allah Ya Wadud, Ya Lateef. May You guide us all to the Siratul-Mustaqim. Ameen.

For all those reading this and who may be coming for Hajj, my suggestion is that you do not join the designated groups according to nationality….that after the Salat of the time you may intent to offer ZIYARAH, you wait some time towards the back of the main sisters section, allowing all the raised voices on mega phones to complete their ‘indoctrination’ and wait even longer until most of the groups have gone through the doors….and then enter without having to listen to that lecture. Depending on the crowds, and to be realistic they are swelling by the minute even now, you may be held in the next holding area, but you would have escaped the talk. On the other hand if your preference is for this way of practicing your Islam, by all means join the lecture…understanding that respect is due to all the diverse paths.  

 

Picture; a priceless emerald, the deepest, richest green, activating the colour waves that instantly vibrate the spiritual recesses of the heart to sing the praise and glory of Allah Ta’ala and His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, the blessed resident of this verdant jewel-topped Abode.

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.

 

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.