THE HAJJ SEASON 1428
Hard work for our brothers loading and offloading the tons and tons of luggage that seems to be the ‘must have’ for the Hujjaj…..so every opportunity to rest is taken….
…the majority of hotels now use fork lift trucks, but the luggage still has to be lifted in and out of these crates….
…the home away from home kitchen, recessed into the side of the semi trailer of two Egyptian truckies, transporting dairy products across the Kingdom. They were proudly saying they cook many dishes as well as pointing to a recessed refrigerator to the right of their kitchen….
…Madinah is almost deserted now…the last of the buses preparing to leave for Makkah and Mina….
…opposite thousands of pigeons gather where they are fed by those purchasing wheat from children. There is a bird flu scare in and around Riyadh with the authorities saying that if it appears to spread to other parts of the Kingdom they will cull the infected pigeons only. When thousands gather in one small area like this one wonders how they would select the infected ones from the dense flock….(an article in Arabic on this topic)
….the progress on the underground carpark and courtyard extension to the east of Masjid Nabawi….
….the section closest to the Oberoi Hotel now has reached ground level. There was an unfortunate accident on the site yesterday….
an iron bridge that is part of a Prophet’s Mosque parking expansion project collapsed yesterday, killing two workers. Eleven other workers were injured in the accident, which occurred around 2 p.m.
Firefighters managed to rescue some of the injured workers who became pinned in the rubble when a 22-meter section of the bridge came down. No information was provided regarding the identities and nationalities of the workers. (Arab News. See several other Hajj related articles in this same issue) Insha’Allah please make Du’a for these workers…they all sacrifice so much for such a small wage on all of these construction sites. May Allah Ta’ala reward them with the best of His promises as they journey back to Him. And may their families be blessed with an abundance of Sabr, Ameen.
The recently completed Health Centre…directly opposite Bab Jebreel. The area it occupies, under the viewing corridor of Jannatul Baqi’, was previously many trinket shops converted to clinics for brothers to the right and for sisters to the left. It was almost empty this afternoon compared to the crowds lining up over the past few weeks…..
….as was the courtyard directly opposite…SubhanAllah, the changes in such a short space of time are amazing…and in another few days the crowds will return, Insha’Allah.
O Messenger of Allah! May salutations be upon you.
O Messenger of Allah! May salutations be upon you.
O the Most exalted by Allah! May salutations be upon you.
O the Best of all the creations of Allah! May salutations be upon you.
O the Beloved of Allah! May salutations be upon you.
O the Leader of all Messengers! May salutations be upon you.
O the Last of all the Messengers! May salutations be upon you.
O the Messenger of the Lord of All the worlds! May salutations be upon you.
O the Leader of the persons having enlightened faces and hands (on the Day of Judgement)! May salutations be upon you.
O the Harbinger of good tidings! May salutations be upon you.
O the Warner! May salutations be upon you.
O the Messenger , May salutations be upon you, and upon your chaste and pious family members.
O the Messenger, May salutations be upon you, and upon your chaste wives who are the mothers of the believers.
O the Messenger, May salutations be upon you and your Companions.
O the Messenger! May salutations be upon you and upon all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah; and upon all the righteous servants of Allah.
O Messenger of Allah! May Allah give you the best reward on your behalf, such reward which was never given to any messenger on behalf of his people. May Allah shower His Blessings upon you whenever people may talk about you and even when negligent people neglect your remembrance. May Allah shower His Blessings upon you among all the ancient people and among all the modern people; such choicest, perfect and pure blessings which never before were showered by Allah upon any of His servants. May Allah shower blessings upon you in the similar way as He guided us from the wrong path and removed our blindness because of your auspicious station.
I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and I bear witness that you are His servant and Messenger, trustworthy and the Best of all His creation. I bear witness that you have conveyed the message of Allah and discharged the duty of the trust; and advised the Ummah and struggled in the path of Allah with right endeavor.
O Allah! Bestow Thy choicest Blessings upon our Beloved Last Messenger beyond the expectations of those who ask of You.
O Allah! bless the Hujajj, the families of the Hujjaj, and the Ummah of Your Chosen Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.
It is related in Tawthiq ‘Ura al-Ayman, "It is known that someone who stays behind because of a valid excuse shares with those who go since the Prophet, SallAllahu alaihi wasallm, said when he returned from the expedition to Tabuk that there were people in Madinah who had not travelled at all nor crossed a desert, but they had been with them. A valid excuse had kept them behind. A poet said:
"O travellers to the Ancient House,
you have travelled in body while we have travelled in spirit!
We stayed behind with valid excuse while they travelled.
Whoever stays behind with a valid excuse has travelled."
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.
Salam Lovely Lady with beautiful blog
Thanks for this dear Nightingale x x x x
Really enjoyed the foto-essay. The first couple of images referencing the hard-working souls providing the assistance to the Hujjaj through their various duties are particularly thought-provoking and moving. May God Almighty bless them and their families and keep them in good spirit.
Sad to hear of the bridge collapse - Ina Lila Hi Wa Ina Ilai Hi Rajeun.
Make merry on these Days of Hajj my beloved Aunty x x x x x x
Much Love and Peace
Yours x x x x x x x x
Comment by your naughty niece — December 16, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
Assalamualaikum My Dear Sister,
Subhanallah what a change of scene from the last few Hajj posts… those chosen ones have gone forth towards being on the plains of Arafat. May Allah Ta’ala accept them all and through there efforts may we be uplifted as an ummah, ameen.
Ameen to all your duas, we are indeed indebted to the workers in and around the Haramain… May Allah Azawajal elevate them in rank for what they do, may He Subhanawatala Shower those who passed away and their families who have remained behind, with His Infinite Mercy, ameen.
JazakiAllah Khair once again dear sister.
Comment by ikramuddin — December 17, 2007 @ 12:29 am
A poet said:
“O travellers to the Ancient House,
you have travelled in body while we have travelled in spirit!
We stayed behind with valid excuse while they travelled.
Whoever stays behind with a valid excuse has travelled.”
We’ve travelled! What a comfort!
Comment by Farah — December 17, 2007 @ 1:16 am
As-salaamu Alaikum,
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoun. May Allah ta’ala grant them jannahtul firdous and their families sabr, amin. The news will be very sad for the families. Poor workers. They work so hard.
Sad news.
Comment by Farah — December 17, 2007 @ 1:20 am
assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
although we are unable to perform Hajj this year. we long to be there and are there in spirit, inshallah taking our share in the forgivness, mercies and blessings showering down on the hujjaj
it is sad to hear of the loss of the workers inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. May Allah envelope them in His Gentle Kindness and fill there graves with light and give ease to their families during this difficult time. MashaAllah they died during a mubarak time, in a mubarak place, please make dua that this faqir also has husn al khatima in Madina.
wasalam
always in need of your dua
faqir
Comment by faqir — December 17, 2007 @ 3:32 am
“MashaAllah they died during a mubarak time, in a mubarak place, please make dua that this faqir also has husn al khatima in Madina.”
Wise and true words Faqir. Amin to your dua. For us too, insha Allah.
Comment by Farah — December 17, 2007 @ 3:40 am
I need not say a word…. your post dear sister and comments made by every one express my feelings…yearnings..duas verbatim.jazakaallah to each one of you.wassalam
Comment by saimah — December 17, 2007 @ 11:17 am
Assalamu alaikum Ameen thumma Ameen to everyones heartfelt Adi’yah, and may those who were injured be blessed with a speedy recovery, Ameen.
‘Ya Naughty Niece’…or should we say ‘thou of the many guises’! May we all be mindful of the Hujjaj and also the opportunities for our Ibadah as we remain onlookers to their struggles.
Indeed Dear Brother Ikramuddin “uplifted as an Ummah”…may this Hajj be the turning moment, Insha’Allah.
Masha’Allah, three time commenter Dear Ukht Farah! Yes, may we too have travelled, and our sadness transformed for all suffering during these Mubarak days, and Ameen for husn al khatima in Madinah for us all. Ya Rabb, so easy for You.
And in need of your Du’a too dear Faqir. Loving thoughts and concerns for the Hujjaj invade my thinking as they assemble in Mina, preparing for the Day of Standing. I don’t think there would be a Muslim in the world who would not like to be there. May the Invitation be delivered to all so they may reply next time, Ameen.
I was especially thinking of you as I included that final paragraph Dear Sister Saimah.
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
Comment by almiskeenah — December 17, 2007 @ 5:53 pm