ALMISKEENAH

And he did see him [Jibreel] on the clear horizon.   (81:23)

Jibreel Alaihis Salam usually appeared to our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in the form of a man, but on two occasions he was seen in his real form; the time of the first revelation and then during the Mi’raj.

Six hundred wings filled the horizon, the distance between each wing being that between the east and the west, with multi-coloured pearls and rubies falling from the wings. And if we could gather all the oceans as fabric it would not be enough to make his cap. SubhanAllah! This was the vision of Jibreel Alaihis Salam as seen my our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as he ran down Jabal Nur from his retreat in Ghar Hira, that miraculous Night of Power in 610.

‘O Muhammad, you are the Messenger of Allah, and I am Jibreel.’

The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would gaze at Jibreel Alaihis Salam, and turn away in awe, but whichever way he looked he was there, filling the horizon.

The following is a record of finally fulfilling the desire to climb to Ghar Hira. Leaving Haram immeadiately after Fajr Salat a short taxi ride brings you part way up the foothill of Jabal Nur. Shanty type houses   and makeshift stores line the steep pathway. Alhumdulillah as it was the very beginning of the Umrah season it was almost deserted. Some men were working on adding to a brick wall while three were climbing ahead of us. A strong wind billowed abayas and persistently ruffled niqabs, as a silvery haze was all that filled the horizon. It was enough knowing that all those centuries ago Jibreel Alaihis Salam was astride these grandiose mountains delivering the first verses of revelation to the best of creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. This was the motivation for the feet to take one step at a time to reach the summit so the eyes could gaze upon this chosen cave, this was the incentive for the feet to tread where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had been seeking seclusion. Climb with me now!

The monkeys were initially intimidating, with some apprehension that they may attack… 

…but Alhumdulillah they merely seemed curious…and playful. 

The looming towers of Abraj al-Bait…so Masjid al-Haram at the base of these…. 

…the rubbish was disgusting. I have been dreaming of some huge vacuum cleaner ever since…or a campaign to clear this mountain of such debris…

…peering down on inhabited shacks built onto the side of the mountain with an ad hoc collection of recycled materials… hard to imagine how people live like this in the intense summer or freezing winter  and no facilities…

…the vista from the summit… 

…zooming into the the Makkan valley, the obvious towers with the minarets of Haram to the right barely visible in the haze….  

Ghar Hira…so small and protected, SubhanAllah!

Read! In the name of your Lord who created:

He created man from a clinging form.

Read! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One who taught by the pen,

who taught man what he did not know.   (96:1-5) 

 Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam repeated these words after Jibreel Alaihis Salam saying: "It was as though the words were written on my heart."

Looking directly down on the sprawling suburbs of Makkah, the cave down to the right… 

…there were several cats happily living on the summit…I filled this bottle top with Zamzam for this very friendly one who kept lapping up more and more. It seems some men live on the mountain, some offering basic drinks and snacks, while others seem to be positioned along the track in the hope of Sadaqah from those passing by.  

The descent was far easier…looking back on where we had been, the cave to the left of the summit on the other side. 

Home… 

….two children who had just been on an errand to a small shop… 

….the area below Jabal Nur is very dilapidated…the Towers in the distance contrasting the lavish new with the basic necessities….

…with satellite dishes being a basic necessity… 

*

 Hayya ‘ibad Allah

(Come O servants of Allah)

Ahibba Allah

(O you who love Allah)

Sallu ‘ala an-Nabi

(Send salutations to the Prophet)

On a clear and moonlit night

In the dark cave of Hira

A man began to cry

Oh Allah show me the light

Tell me why I was created

Where will I go after I die?

What’s the purpose of this life

Where people murder and lie?

How can I stop their corruption?

Oh Allah You’re my only Guide.

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

(O my beloved O Chosen One)

Ya Rasula Allah ya Habiba Allah ya Safiyya Allah

(O Messenger of Allah, O Beloved of Allah,

O Intimate of Allah)

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Anta gharami, dhikruk kalami, kulla ayyami

(You are the object of my love,

your remembrance are the only words I speak throughout my days)

On that clear and blessed night

Jibra’il came to Hira

He hugged Prophet Muhammad

Until he thought he would die

Read O Muhammad read

In the name of your Lord

By Allah you’ve been chosen

Over the whole of mankind

You’ve been elevated high

Like the moon up in the sky

Chorus

Ya Yasin Ya Khalil Allah

Ya Amin Ya Najiyya Allah

Ya Makin Ya Shahid Allah

Ya Mukhtar Ya Hafiyya Allah

Ya Taha Ya Habiba Allah

[All names of the Prophet (pbuh) ]

Chorus

He’s a mercy for mankind

His speech was gentle and kind

He summoned people to Allah

And led them on his path

Mankind lived in the darkness

Everyone alive was just blind

His message brought the light

To the hearts that had no sight

In mercy he’s the ocean

While others are drops of rain.

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Ya Rasula Allah ya habiba Allah ya Safiyya Allah

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Anta gharami, dhikruk kalami, kulla ayyami

Forever we’ll be indebted

To him for this Islam

Our life for him we’ll give

His message with us will live

Our love for him knows no bounds

It is loftier than the clouds

Whenever his name is mentioned

Our tears begin to flow

Oh Allah send your blessings

On al Mustafa

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Anta gharami, dhikruk kalami, kulla ayyami

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Ya Rasula Allah ya Habiba Allah ya Safiyya Allah

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Ya Nabiyya Allah, ya Waliyya Allah, ya Khalil Allah

 Sami Yusuf

 *

He stepped inside his home, and he overwhelmed with fear
An angel came with words from God, things were still unclear
Saying read - read, but he couldn’t read, then amazing words he heard
A trembling deep inside his heart, confused by what had occurred

There was only one who could comfort him
And help him see the light
To ease his fears, to reassure
It was Khadijah, his wife…

Chorus
He said Zamilooni, Zamilooni, Dathirooni, Dathirooni, (Envelop me, Embrace me)
A mighty task has come before me…
I need you here with me…
By my side…

She was a woman of nobility, successful in all her trade
Many wealthy men had asked for her, she had turned them all away
But when she saw Muhammad, a shining moon, may peace be on his soul
He was a light for her — so right for her — her life will now be whole

But she had never seen him so distressed, as he was there that day
She would comfort him, and hold him tight, and chase his doubts away

Chorus

We look for stories of love, in places dark and cold
When we have a guiding light, for the whole world to behold
But were so selfish in our ways, and to the ones we hold so close
Our own pleasure and happiness is what we value most

But she sacrificed all her wealth and everything she had
And he honored her, and gave her faith,
when the times were bad, when times were bad…

Now years have passed, times had changed, since Khadijah breathed her last.
Message of the one true God, was spreading far and vast
But then he came across a jewellery, that Khajidah once had worn
His eyes began to swell with tears, his heart again began to mourn

Cause she was there for him, when times were rough, and his enemies were cruel
Was the first believer, so keen and eager, to comfort al-Rasool

Chorus

Mawlaya salli wa sallim da’iman abada
‘Ala habibika khayril khalqi kullihimi
(O my Leader, send your salutations and blessings forever
Upon Your Beloved, the best of the whole of creation)

 Zamilooni, Dathirooni

 *

May it be that the words of revelation be written on our hearts and thus inspire our actions, 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. 

The first House to be established for mankind was the one at Bakkah. It is a blessed place; a source of guidance for all people; there are clear signs in it; it is the place where Ibrahim stood; whoever enters it is safe.   (3:96-97)

Some say Bakkah refers to the Ka’abah and the immediate area around it, while the rest of the city is referred to as Makkah. Bakkah means to annihilate or completely crush, specifically pride and arrogance.

While Makkah means to eradicate, either sins or the eradication or destruction of the oppressor who may be within its locality, as was the case with Abraha and his army in the Year of the Elephant. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Allah Ta’ala assigns various names to His Baitul Ateeq, the earliest and ancient, the liberating; His Honourable House; the symbolic heart of the Ummah. The circling of the faithful never ceases, even when all are assembled in row upon row for the five Fardh Salat, the beat of the flowing Tawaf is momentarily transformed into a total unity of hearts, souls, minds and bodies bowing and prostrating as one; a constant rhythmic ripple of adoring, praising, seeking, imploring, and repenting. A concentric prayer that radiates out across the globe, while simultaneously absorbing the worship of every Mu’min as they turn to this blessed place, the source of guidance.

The faithful vie for a place as close as possible to Baitul Allah. Prayer mats and other assorted items are used to reserve places in the first Saff for each Salat, while the moment the second Salam is given brothers run to the Hajar Aswad and the Multazam and the Tawaf is resumed. SubhanAllah!

It was not my intention to take the camera into Haram, I did not want the distraction of trying to sneak shots, even though I would loved to have been able to share some of the time with you. However I did manage this photo one afternoon before Maghrib from the second floor. During this time there are many Halaqahs of Qur’an for boys, ranging in ages from five to early adults. Unlike Masjid Nabawi, where facilities are also available for girls, Haram in Makkah only accommodates boys. The entire space is filled with a gentle buzz as if in the middle of a bee hive…and the sensation is as sweet as one could imagine being dipped in a hive bursting with honey! Such a delight sitting in the gentle breeze watching and listening to the boys concentrating on the Divine Words as they strived to commit them to their hearts. While the morning, from Fajr right through to Iqama for Zuhur huge expanses of the Masjid are occupied by the Ulema seated on large wooden throne-like chairs conducting classes for the young adult males. Each Halaqah seemed to have up to forty to fifty students, and there are dozens scattered all around the Masjid. The teaching method retains the simplicity of traditional learning circles. The boys carry a few books, some choose to strap them together, others wrap them in their prayer mat. All seat on the floor, while the teacher remains seated the entire time. I noticed that some use a white board getting one student to scribe whatever is needed.  Some use microphones, and even though these Halaqahs are so close together it obviously is not a porblem. The Adab was impeccable considering these lads sit attentively for more than five hours! May Allah Ta’ala guide and reward all who devote seeking His Knowledge, Ameen.  

It has been some time since I subjected you to some of my coloured dots and squiggles! By using the same photo I will explain a few things to those of you who may not have been to the Honoured House. The balcony from where this was taken is the track reserved for wheelchairs for Tawaf. It follows the circumference of the Mataf, meaning it covers a much longer distance than doing it at ground level, and depending on the crowds sometimes there is no option but to use this track, or the roof during the peak seasons. This can become very congested, especially when the one pushing the wheelchair is slow, or the electric chairs create a traffic jam. There has been a suggestion that a suspended track above the Mataf be made for wheelchairs, but I have not seen or read of any further official plan for this.

You will notice the arches behind the Ka’abah, both the ground and second floor levels now have a solid cream wall behind them. This is the old Masaa area, so the walls have been constructed forming a barrier between the Masjid area and the ongoing work. Small passage ways have been left to be able to reach the new Masaa area beyond these temporary walls. The new Masaa is seen appearing higher than the existing roof of the Haram.

The pink dot to the left indicates the small fenced area reserved for sisters, which is actually on the Mataf. Given the proportionate numbers of sisters to the brothers this is so small. There have been several complaints but nothing has changed to increase the size. What they have changed is the height of the front fence. Previously it was the same height as the two side walls, but now it is lower so that sisters can at least see the Ka’abah when they are enclosed in this space.

The two pink lines indicate sisters areas that are positioned just above the steps leading from the Mataf. These steps are a popular place for sisters to sit when it is not Salat time. Come half an hour before every Salat all ’staff’ are engaged in whatever means possible to get all sisters out of the Mataf area and off the steps into the designated prayer areas. This becomes a source of amusement…or frustration depending on the perspective one is coming from. For the ’staff’, brothers who act as guides, the sisters on duty and the police, when things get heavy, it is a constant battle as the majority of sisters do not want to be shoved far away. There are large areas towards the main entry/ exits to the Masjid for sisters but one cannot see Ka’abah from these places. Some say it is not important to actually see the Ka’abah, which is so, but the elation of watching the Tawaf or the formation of the Saff, or the magnificence of simlpy gazing upon Baitul Allah cannot be described in words…and the magnetic pull being in such close proximity is beyond hypnotic. First the physical gaze becomes mesmerized which captivates the inner gaze until all is obliterated. One does not experince the same sensations when the eye is devoid of this connection.

The green dot is in direct line with the Black Stone, and indicates the beginning and end of each Shawt, or circuit for Tawaf. This being in the sisters area became my favourite position during my visit, and because it was a very quiet week I was able to sit there for hours and offer many Salat and have Iftar there. The ’staff’ did not move sisters who were on the marble above the steps as this was regarded as an acceptable area for sisters to pray, even though the official carpet section was behind  the marble walk way.

The dark blue line is where the Mayyit are placed waiting for the Janazah Salat. I was surpirsed that the bodies on the stretchers would be placed on the ground there but left alone. One time I walked past four bodies in a row but nobody sitting near them. All the deceased in Madinah are covered with a green cloth, but in Makkah it was a dark blue, a dark brown, once it was a tribal striped cloth, while the tiny babies are left in the white shroud and instead of being placed on a stretcher they are lifted up, by the father I suppose. There were three tiny bundles taken back to Allah Ta’ala in the one day. Inna liLlahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon. May Allah Ta’ala illumine their Qabr with His Nur and give the familes Sabr for all the Janazahs in Haramain, Ameen.

The light blue line is where they are covering the step area with a permanent walk way. The workmen were welding the steel supports earlier in the week and by the time I was to leave it had already been surfaced with marble and a railing constructed beside the new area, thus increasing the space for prayers. Just to the right of this is a wall of Zamzam taps, the ones facing Ka’abah for brothers, while going behind this wall is the place for sisters. This is one of the many places where it is easy to fill bottles rather than having to sit at the usual drinking containers filling the bottle the slow way cup by cup.

The lime dot on the Kiswa is Rukn Yemani, or the Yemini corner. it is Sunnah to touch this corner if possible as Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam did so. Plus this corner is standing on the original foundation that Ibrahim Alaihis Salam built. And like Du’a made at Hajar Aswad, they are also accepted from this corner. Abdullah ibn Umar RadhiAllahu anhu reports that he heard Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam say that touching the Black Stone and the Yemani corner atones for sins. Allahu Akbar. Due to the few in numbers up until last Thursday I was able to kiss the Black Stone, touch the Yemani Corner, offer Salat in the Hatim and gaze upon the footsteps of Ibrahim Alaihis Salam. Insha’Allah if you ever have the opportunity to come at the beginning of Safar try to do so.

The purple dot is Rukn Gharbi, which points to the west, the direction of Eritrea, Kenya, and the orange dot is Rukn Shaami, the direction of north towards Syria, Georgia.

I find this diagram fascinating as it gives the approximate location of a hundred countries in relation to the Ka’abah. Sometimes as I walked past the different sides of Ka’abah I would be thinking of you all across the world in your respective countries, and would make Du’a!

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. 

 All that dwells upon the earth is doomed to die. But the Face of Your Lord, majestic and splendid will abide forever.  (55:27)

Live in the world as a stranger or a traveler.

These were the ‘anchors’ that assisted my focus as I wandered in what seemed a sci-fi movie of surreal proportions to where the previous Masaa was being relegated to history. 

Deafening sound effects of gorging monster machines swirled dust as they crumbled and spat the sacred land that long ago witnessed the pounding feet of a mother desperate for the life of her thirsty baby. How far removed from the harsh arid land our blessed Hajar Alaihas Salam and beloved son Ismail Alaihis Salam were left by Ibrahim Alaihis Salam.

 Looking into a roofless Masaa from the second level at the Marwa end.

 The exterior facade of the new Masaa taking shape.

The Royal Palace sits on Abu Qubais to the left with the Abraj al Bait Towers looming in the background to the right, while the noble house of our Lady Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha and our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam (an excavated view below, before it was finally covered over) lies under the jumble of equipment in the foreground of the above photo.

 One of the decorative medallions inscribed with Muhammadur RasuluLlah about to be demolished.

 A few days later when only mountains of rubble remain of the old Masaa.

 The length of new three storey plus basement Masaa emerging.

 All of this area, plus the land made available by the demolition of hundreds of the older adjacent buildings will eventually be incorporated into an extended prayer space.

 A model showing the new extension which is the segment to the top of the existing shape of Haram.

While solace comes from:

All that dwells upon the earth is doomed to die. But the Face of Your Lord, majestic and splendid will abide forever.  (55:27)

Live in the world as a stranger or a traveler.

Insha’Allah, more to follow in the next few posts from this time in Makkah.  

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…. 

…from the place of the last breath… 

 ….to the place of the first breath…

….of he, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who breathed his every breath for his Ummah…

"Exalted be Allah. All praise is due to Allah. Allah is the Most Great. There is no strength or might other than what is given by Allah": May this declaration match the number of what Allah has created and the number of what Allah creates; the weight of what Allah has created and the weight of what Allah creates; the fullness of what Allah created and the fullness of what Allah creates; the fullness of His heavens and the fullness of His earth; the totality of all the afore-said and the multiples thereof; the number of His creatures, the weight if His Throne, the infinite limits of His Mercy and the ink of His words. May this declaration be such as to befit the extent of Allah’s pleasure, and may it continue to be echoed until Allah is pleased; and may it be such as to befit the continuity of Allah’s pleasure and match the number of instances in which Allah’s creatures have remembered Him throughout the entire times past ,and the number of instances in which His creatures shall remember Him throughout the entire times coming; year after year, month after month, week after week, day after day, hour after hour, breath after breath; from time immemorial to the infinite end of time; from the beginning of the world to the unending limits of the Hereafter; from the Beginning that has no beginning to the End that has no end.

 
Insha’Allah may we be try to be ever watchful with each and every breath.

Insha’Allah keep this needy speck in your Du’a as I do you and yours at the House of Allah.  

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. 

And the Hour is coming without any doubt…(22:7) 

….construction….progress….change…. time…. 

…less than one year ago….

….three months ago….

….this morning…

….how long before this last vestige of green will no longer calm the soul and heart?

Alhumdulillah, he that this Green symbolizes will endure….SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…. 

….the past few days the work of lifting the marble in preparation for the installation of the umbrellas has now encroached upon the area directly opposite the Dome of Felicity….a narrow pathway has been left between the wall and the construction fence….jackhammers pound this sacred ground. It was shared with me, that in the past whenever the earth needed to be dug for extensions near the resting place of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam the air would be perfumed from the exposed Mubarak earth, and bricks or mortar that required breaking would be carried to the outskirts of Madinah! SubhanAllah!   

There are still many of the older generation residing in this City of Light who recall when houses hugged the immediate precinct of Masjid Nabawi… 

…when date plantations completely surrounded the city, and Bedouins were fearless with attacking any one wandering outside the city walls in the dark of the night…of winding alleys framed by crenellated stone walls that muffled sounds….could in time become this….

…a proposed model by one of the leading construction companies currently at the forefront of all the major projects in the country presented this design to the King for consideration. The buildings within the inner ring road appear to maintain the current height restriction for hotels, while the outer circles present a totally different dimension. One wonders what considerations would be made for the transport system if such plans were approved….

…how would such a plan impact on the Ummah?…the Heart of the City will never change, regardless of the dramatic changes in the spiritual awareness of Islam, regardless of the transformations bricks and mortar are molded into, the outer shapes and forms will never daunt the unbounded, the everlasting love and devotion we have for the Mercy to All the Worlds SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who IS this City of Hope, this City of Enlightenment, this City of Radiance…no matter what structures may surround the Abode of Peace, its inhabitant, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam outshines any external manifestation, if only we allow the heart and soul to embrace his Sunnah.

For the believer, how should the visit to the Prophet’s tomb not be a heavenly journey?

The dust of this Rowdha, replete with light, is the highest Paradise!  (Siddiqi and Asi)

 
And the Hour is coming without any doubt…

….what have we prepared? Tall buildings or a vibrant Iman?  

JazakumuLlahu khairan for those dear readers who have contibuted photos and information to be shared with you all. May Allah Ta’ala reward them by sharing the best from His Treasuries, 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. 

Details of various curtains that once graced the Hujrah, the Honoured Room of the most honoured of creation, Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  

Almutawaj belkarama
The one crowned with miracles

Almuzallal belghamama

The one shaded by clouds  

Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Prophet and his family.

 This was the gold medallion shaped embroidered motif that used to cover the Muwajaha, exquisite!

Qur’anic verses and Salawaat adorn one of the curtains that used to surround the Abode of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  

The first cover sent from Istanbul to Madinah, woven during the reign of Sultan Ahmad 1. Old covers would be sent back to Istanbul by the current Amir at the time and taken to the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari RadhiAllahu anhu where they would be displayed for some time before being sent to the Apartments of the Holy Mantle in the Topkapi Palace Museum.

Some narrations say it was the mother of Haroon Rashid, the Abbasid Caliph (786-809 CE)  who donated the first curtain for the Hujrah, others say it was the wife. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

After that it was the Prime Minister of Egypt who ordered a white curtain decorated and embellished with Surah Yasin. Two years later the Caliph sent violet curtains with his name being the main motif! The next one recorded was black, which accompanied his mother when she came for Hajj, and then another sent to be placed over these two, forming three layers.

 Kiswa al-Saadat, the Curtain of Bliss

Detail of the above,bearing inscriptions and greetings of peace and praise for The Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

These designs are stunning, not only for their artisitic merit, which is superlative, but for the fact that they all once veiled our Blessed Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam! Allahu Akbar!

All of these examples are in the Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, and if unable to visit Turkey then vicariously travel to see these Mubarak relics in the magnificent volume, The Sacred Trusts.


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. 

 
I have been TAGGED by Sister Suhaa another Madanian neighbour of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam!

Rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)

2. Open the book to page 123

3. Find the 5th Sentence.

4. Post the next 3 sentences

5. Tag 5 people

Memories of childhood ‘tag’ began to play on my inner screen, except we used to call it ‘tiggy’. Red brick Victorian school buildings, huge scented peppercorn trees, secret hiding places behind bike sheds with squeals, laughter and of course squabbles, poured from the massive cob-webbed filing cabinet. Amazing how small triggers unlock such treasures; rolling waves of scenes upon images of friends, family, events, chanting haunting refrains from long ago.

Now we have a cyber tag version…minus the conviviality of human interaction as we sit glued to a buzzing box controlling and luring us into a mesmerizing hypnotism! And thus the definition of fun is metamorphosed.   

Anyway…I have digressed…the dilemma before even beginning was with rule #1!

I was in my cosy little book nook where I feel hugged by so many volumes along with the ever expanding cyber library glowing in the space in front of me wondering which book qualifies as being the nearest to me? Thinking, do I manipulate the rules to make this exercise more interesting? Because if we look at the bare instructions the results would be minimal. I assume part of the sphere of this tag is what additions are added to elaborate and give substance to the limited three sentence quote?

I had been searching for a particular Durood from The Key to Arriving at the Door of the Messenger, so I accepted that this was the closest book at the time…with the following text appearing as the requested 3 sentences:

“When the faqih, Ba Jubayr returned from India, he found that the Imam was established in all the sciences, and that his knowledge was immeasurable. Hence he felt no shame in seeking knowledge from a man who was once his student. Not only faqih Ba Jubayr, but also many shuyukh sought knowledge with the great Imam.”

The Imam referred to here is Imam ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Alawi ibn Muhammad al-Haddad Rahmatullah alaihi, the Sufi Sage of Arabia, whose lineage is traced back to our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Imam al-Hadad was born (1044AH/1632CE-1132AH/1720CE) raised and spent most of his life in Tarim, in the Hadramaut valley.

His literary works are distinctive by their conciseness and brevity, conveying the essence of the inward and the outward teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Such is this succinct excerpt from ‘The Gift of Imam al Haddad’ from the Chapter: Tenets of Faith.

Do the Obligatory [Fardhu],

Improve on it with the Supererogatory [Sunnat].

Add Reflection [Wird],

And Remembrance [Zikr],

To improve on it.

While his Love for the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam impassions the heart….."the obligation due to him is the greatest after that of Allah; and the adab with him the most emphasised of the adab and obediences. For whosoever loves him and immensely esteems him, he has indeed loved Allah and whosoever obeys him has indeed obeyed Allah."

Every aspect of the Imam’s life was an invitation to Allah Ta’ala, he would invite with his speech, his books, his teachings, his character, his actions, his worship and his exertion in helping people. He would often utter the words of his grandfather, our Esteemed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in reference to the times of duress at the hands of people towards him: "The believer who interacts with people and forebears when they cause him harm is better than he who does not interact with the people and is not patient when they harm him."

All of his actions were in complete emulation of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam; his standing throughout the night, his worship, devotions, determination and characteristics. He was described as extremely fearful of Allah Ta’ala, always in reference and awe of Him, and readily inclined to tears.

He would say, "In all our affairs we rely on Allah, His Generosity and His Bounties. By the praise of Allah, we spend from the treasuries of His Generosity and spending from it does not worry us, rather keeping it does." 

"The Eulogy by Mawlana al-Haddad Engraved Inside The Blessed Room Of The Prophet" has 41 verses all of which rhyme in the letter "Ba", praising the Holy Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam. Each verse contains the teachings of one or more verses of the Holy Qur’an Karem or the blessed Hadith Shareef. The following, from here, are the last 14 verses containing salawaat and salaams which many recite when they visit our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

Allah’s blessings be on you O the best one to have recited
The shining Book which came with the obligatory and the voluntary

Allah’s blessings be on you O the best of the rightly guided
Guiding with the Light of Allah in the east and the west

Allah’s blessings be on you O the best inviter to Allah with kindness
Then, (against those in battle) with spears and swords

Allah’s blessings be on you O master who travelled by night
To Allah until he passed the seven heavens and all the veils

And your position of (a distance of two bow lengths) "or even less"
Is enough exaltation and a gallery so high as to vie with the stars

Allah’s salutations be on you as long as a sincere person
Says to you: "Allah and Mustafa are sufficient for me"

Allah’s salutations be on you as long as dawn breaks
And you quicken the souls of loving disciples with nearness

Allah’s salutations be on you as long as lightening flashes
And birds chirp on branches of trees

Allah’s salutations be on you as long as camel drivers
Move hearts (of people in their caravan) to your wealth with yearning and love

Allah’s salutations be on you as many times as the number of plants
And grains of sand and the number of rain drops in a downpour

Allah’s salutations be on you; you are our only helper
In prosperity and poverty, in ease and difficulty

Allah’s salutations be on you, you are our beloved
And our master, our treasure, O the best of the Prophets

Allah’s salutations be on you, you are our leader
And our master, and treasure and helper in problems

And blessings on you from Allah for ever and ever
And salutations O chosen one, and on your family and companions.

And a wealth of more on Imam al-Haddad Rahmatullah alaihi here.

* 

And to the most difficult part,#5; whose screen to intrude upon in this cyber game of ‘tiggy’? I chose the following from the very limited blogs I visit, so…..

Dear Irving Darvish for the incredible uncanny eyes wide open surprises he posts that launch me way back in time when my search for TRUTH led me across wild and wonderful terrain, like the Tao.

Southern Muslimah for her friendly and vibrant ‘welcome mat’ one seems to step on when entering her space.

Dear Sister Maliha for her ‘bibliophilic’ lightness, painting lyrical canvases with melodious words.

Dear Qalballah with her inspiring diversity of talents, the major one being her love of her lap being the the chosen Madrassah for her two boys.

And Sketched Soul, Sister Farhana, who devotes time and energy looking after the needs of those less fortunate, as well as engaging sharing projects that enhance the love between sisters across the globe.

Insha’Allah forgive me one and all for ‘tigging’ you! May we all be ‘tagged’ on THAT DAY by Allah Ta’ala to be selected amongst those to enter His Subhanahu wa Ta’ala Garden, Ameen.

* 

Report on our collective Durood effort: JazakumuLlahu khairan to those who contributed. Alhumdulillah we did not quite make the 10,000, but crossed the more than half way mark. Insha’Allah our intentions are accepted and may we be that much further removed from the Fire, that much more forgiveness bestowed upon us and that much more Iman written for us at the time of our death, according to the narration we were following. Ameen Ameen Ameen. Maybe we will work towards a different goal next time. This made me feel so humble to those great Awliyah who reach thousands of Durood each day, SubhanAllah.

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 Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said:  My life is a great good for you, you will relate about me and it will be related to you, and my death is a great good for you, your actions will be exhibited to me, and if I see goodness I will praise Allah, and if I see evil I will ask forgiveness of Him for you.

Inspired by the precious lovers of HabibuLlahu SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s comments expressing an intention to recite Durood ibn Kasir, I have posted it again in the hope that those who wish to devote some time on the eve of this Juma’ah, (based on your local time) will do so. You can either intend to complete a certain number, or depending on commitments, leave it open and see how many can be reached. Given that Yaumul Juma’ah in many countries is a working day it is understandable that there may be difficulties in achieving great numbers. May we have the hope that Allah Ta’ala sees the desire in the heart and accepts this, Ameen. Insha’Allah this is a collective effort, and Insha’Allah the rewards are written for each of us equivalent to the final total. If we reach the ten thousand collectively, may it be written that we all receive the benefits as stated below, Ameen. I realize that some may not wish to publically post the total they recite, nor want names to be known, so you can email me almiskeenah@gmail.com with your individual total.  Insha’Allah every little counts, even if only one read with Ikhlas. I will post the collective total during next week, Insha’Allah, and maybe think about the idea of doing this on a regular basis, maybe once a month. Insha’Allah you make Da’wah on the countless blessings received when invoking peace and greetings on our Beloved Nabi SallAllahu alaihiwasallam, and encourage children to establish the habit of participating. Alhumdulillah interest has been expressed from dear readers from four of the five continents! Masha’Allah. May we have each continent participating as a link across this tiny globe. Ameen.

Durood ibn Kasir Rahmatullah alaihi.

I also share two other Durood Sharif from the same book for your information.
Durood-e Barakat Katheera

This Durood Sharif is the bearer of superb abundance and favours. Many saints have stated: Whosoever recites this Durood Sharif in their daily practices with a true heart, then on the Day of Judgement he will be reckoned among the Righteous and the Martyrs. The virtues of this Durood Sharif is so vast that thousands and thousands of virtues are recorded on the utterance of a single letter. By the putity of this scared Durood Sharif, all the (minor) sins of the reader will be forgiven. If one recites this Durood Sharif in the state of sickness, then Allah Ta’ala will grant him recovery. This Durood Sharif is alos very effective for questions that are asked in the grave by the Angels Munkar and Nakir.

Durood-e Awwal

Allah, Exalted is He has made this Durood Sharif the most virtuous of all. The reader will not be deprived. Allah, Exalted is He will deliver him from all types of ailments and illnesses. HE will remove difficulties and will grant both worldly and religious success to the reader. The most special benefit of reciting this Durood Sharif excessively is that by the Will of Allah Ta’ala he will shun all his evil habits and experience pleasure in worship and become righteous.

If one wishes to reach his goal or achieve his objectives quickly then he should recite this Durood Sharif abundantly. This is a majestic Name and is readily accepted. Special slaves of Allah Ta’ala recite this Durood Sharif and they are reckoned in the  ‘Foremost Ranks’ of those who have sacrificed themselves for the most beloved Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. This is why this Durood Sharif is entitled the Foremost Holy Benediction.

These Durood Sharif from: The Treasury of the Holy Benedictions by Sahibzadah Riaz Ahmad Naqshbandi, available from:

Zia ul Kutub Ltd
608 Huddersfield Road
Ravensthrope
Dewsbury
WF13 3HL
United Kingdom
Telephone 01924 – 450700
(The suppliers do not have a web site, so it would be necessary to consult via mail or telephone regarding stock and cost/postage)

May this humble effort bring a shine to the heart of the Ummah, 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. 

….a ramble…to stroll about freely with no particular direction, or to follow a winding course; meander….

is there meant to be a destination? When it comes to the sending of letters or items in the mail….yes… 

…but here in the Kingdom, a ramble is an apt description of the postal service. Outgoing, incoming…so many meandering items, journeying here and there, or maybe entombed in the pen and ink dead letter maqbarah! Many items have never been delivered and others never received. Rambling around this tiny sphere we all cling to, competing with undersea cables of optic fibres and the high in the sky satellites that provide us with super connectivity with an array of click click gadgets! This instant magical technology is also potentially fickle, as during this past week two different undersea cables supplying many of the Gulf Countries with their net ‘lifeline’ were severed, with repair work still ongoing.

"The lines that tie the globe together by carrying phone calls and Internet traffic are just two-thirds of an inch (1.68 cm) thick where they lie on the ocean floor.

The foundation for a connected world seems quite fragile, an impression reinforced this week when a break in two cables in the Mediterranean Sea disrupted communications across the Middle East and into India and neighboring countries."

So temporarily we are hobbling along with the net, but unfortunately the postal system seems a permanent test. A home delivery service is non-existent. A shock to many, especially expats who are from countries where an efficient mail service operates. Over the past few years the authorities have made attempts to provide home delivery, but like so many things here it has been thwarted, with  millions of vandalized letter boxes hanging as ugly reminders of dysfunctional mentality.  It has become a joke, made even more laughable when these boxes have been attached to the wall of a graveyard!

At least they remain intact!  

From todays Al Watan…the old man asking the worker as he attaches a letter box to the wall of the maqbarah…is this so the residents of the graveyard can pay their bills?  

So it is always with joy and elation when communication arrives via a post office box address, even if it was a month coming from Europe. And it becomes a celebratory occasion when I receive word that something sent has made it. One month ago something was sent to Jordan…which is ‘just up there’ and still no sign of it arriving. Khair, Alhumdulillah.

Proof of a successful ramble, one that reached its destination, and bearing the stamp: ‘Kingdom of Humanity’!

This message jolted my inner ramblings to the letters written and sent at the time of our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. All correspondence was sealed with his Mubarak seal. The seal synonymous with the true qualities of humanity: kindness and mercy. The heart trembles in awe by merely glancing upon this image and all it represents.

While I was in the Rowdha Shareef this morning I spent time near the Delegation Pillar, on the platform indicating where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam received dignitaries, sat for what seemed an eternity where it is said the outside door from our Lady Ayesha RadhiAllahu anha’s house led to the alley way on Jannatul Baqi side. All the while imagining who may have been in these very places while discussing the contents of letters and treaties, and deciding who would be the best to deliver them. SubhanAllah! The rich and glittery Ottoman decorations lost their luster as I was taken back to mud walls, palm ceilings, dim oil lamps and the gentle calm that must have saturated and illuminated the entire City when our Master Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was there, fashioning all the noble qualities that constitute this glorious Deen.

In order that the message of Islam should reach all the countries, nations, tribes and peoples, our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam personally travelled to various places in Arabia as well as sending messengers to many lands. His letters were in the form of treaties, agreements, pacts and deeds, composed by consulting with various groups within Arabia, and letters inviting emperors, kings, rulers, vicegerents and governors to Islam.

These missives were not only to safeguard the Muslims from troubles and disputes, but to establish an atmosphere of universal peace and tranquility. Non-Muslims were given their fundamental rights.  

    “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. This letter is from Muhammad the slave of Allah and his Apostle to Heraclius, the ruler of the Byzantines. Peace be upon him who follows the right path. Furthermore, I invite you to Islam and if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward, and if you reject this invitation of Islam you will be committing a sin by misguiding your subjects. And I recite to you Allah’s statement:

“O People of the Scriptures! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship none but Allah and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us shall take others as Lords beside Allah. Then if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who have surrendered to Allah). (Qur’an: Surah 3, Ayah 64).”

 From the letter to Harqal (Heracles) the Emperor of the Byzantines, Eastern Roman Europe.

“May peace be upon you. I praise Allah who is One and there is no associate of His. I invite you to believe in Allah, the One. Obey Allah and enter the fold of Islam. This is the best way for you, and security is for him who follows the straight course.” From the letter to the Chief of Bahrain.

“Truly I call upon you to obey God’s command and convert to Islam. I am God’s Messenger to all the people so that living hearts will be awakened and illuminated and so that infidels will have no excuses. Submit to Islam so you will be safe and immune.”  From the letter to Khusrow, the King of Persia, Iran.

 “Greetings to the one who follows the path of salvation and the instructions of the divine guides. You, the ruler of Yamamah, note that my faith will advance to the farthest place where man can go, so submit to Islam to be immune.” From letter to the Ruler of Yamamah.

"This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.
No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries." From the ‘Charter of Privileges’ to the monks of St. Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai. The full letter here along with accounts of other events and incidents related to letters.

The contents of the main letters, and the stories enumerating how they were received with replies are in this small edition of Letters of the Holy Prophet:

"A miraculous quality of the letters is that even after a passage of 14 centuries they still retain their freshness, brilliance and beauty, which cannot fail to appeal direct to the human mind. They are simple, yet forceful. The sentences are short and pithy. It seems as if a galaxy of glittering jewels has been infused in them."  The major Seerah books descibe details related to this aspect of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam and the fikr he had for spreading Islam for the sake of his Ummah.

The following sites (1,2,3,) have various images of some of the letters that have survived to this day, while here has a chart of some of the messengers and where they were sent. Alhumdulillah.

Such a rich, noble and just legacy from the true Kingdom of Humanity, where our Liege Lord, Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam so meticulously sowed the seeds of peace, freedom, equality and justice. The foundations of universal brotherhood, amity and unity.

Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Rasul Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Habib Salaam ‘alaika

Salawaatu’llah ‘alaika

Salutations on you, O Prophet

Salutations on you, O Messenger of Allah

Salutations on you, O Beloved

Blessings of Allah be upon you.

 *

…so why grumble when the heart can embrace our past and the tongue be wet with Salawaat…?  

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. 

It is the Lord of Mercy Who taught the Qur’an.   (55:1-2)

We have sent down the Qur’an Ourself, and We Ourself will guard it.  (15:9)

The Divine Speech of Allah Ta’ala is the heart and soul of Islam, the Book of Wisdom which guides every aspect of human existence. I stumbled upon the following whilst working on another topic and  thought to share it even though it appears online in many places and has been around for some time. A fascinatring collection from a different perspective on the Qur’an Majeed, that Insha’Allah is of interest.

1. How many Suras are in Holy Qur’an?    114.
2. How many verses are in Holy Qur’an?    6236.
3. How many dots are in Holy Qur’an?    1015030.
4. How many fatha are in Holy Qur’an?    93243
5. How many kasra are in Holy Qur’an?   39586
6. How many Raque are in Holy Qur’an?   1000.
7. How many stops, Waqf  are in Holy Qur’an?   5098.
8. How many Thashdeed are in Holy Qur’an?  19253.
9. How many letters are in Holy Qur’an?  323671
10. How many damma are in Holy Qur’an?   4808.
11. How many Madd are in Holy Qur’an?   1771
12. How many words are in Holy Qur’an?  77701, some say 77437, Allahu ‘Alum
13. How many parts of Holy Qur’an?   30.
14. How many times is Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem is repeated?   114.
15. How many Sura start with Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem?   113.
16. How many times is the word ‘Qur’an’ repeated in Holy Qur’an?   70.
17. Which is the longest Sura of Holy Qur’an?   Al-Baqarah.
18. Which is the best drink mentioned in Holy Qur’an?   Milk.
19. The best eatable thing mentioned in Holy Quran is?  Honey.
20. Which is the shortest Sura of Holy Qur’an?   Kausar.
21. The longest verse of Holy Quran is in which Sura?  Al-Baqarah verse 282
22. The most disliked thing by Allah Ta’ala though Halal is?  Divorce
23. Which letter is used for the most time in Holy Quran?  Alif
24. Which letter is used the least in the Holy Qur’an?   Zaa.
25. Which is the best night mentioned in Holy Qur’an?   Night of Qadar.
26. Which is the best month mentioned in Holy Qur’an?   Ramadhan
27. Which is the biggest animal mentioned in Holy Qur’an?   Elephant.
28. Which is the smallest animal mentioned in Holy Qur’an?  Mosquito
29. How many words are in the longest Sura of Holy Qur’an?  25500.
30. How many words are in the smallest Sura of Holy Qur’an?  42
31. Which Sura of Holy Quran is called the mother of Qur’an?  Sura Fatihah
32. How many Sura start with Al-Hamdulillah?  Five; Fatihah, Inaam, Kahf, Saba & Fatir.
33. Which Sura has the same number of verses as the number of Sura of Holy Qur’an?  Takwir, 114 verses.
34. How many Sura’s name is only one letter?   Three; Qaf, Sad & Noon.
35. How many Sura start with word ‘Inna ‘?   Four; Sura  Fatha, Nuh,Qadr, Kausar.
36. Which verse has the longest continuous string of related letters?  15:22 fa-asqaynaakumoohu
37. Which Sura are called Musabbahat?  Isra, Hadeed, Hashr, Juma, Taghabun & Aala.
38. How many Sura are Makkahi and how many are Madni?  Makki 86, Madni 28.
39. Which Sura is from the name of tribe of Holy Prophet?  Quresh
40. Which Sura is called the heart of Holy Qur’an?  Yaseen.
41. In which Sura is the name of Allah repeated five times?  Sura al-Haj.
42. Which Suras are named Azaiam?  Sajdah, Fussilat, Najum & Alaq.
43. Which Sura is the name of one Holy war?  Sura Ahzaab.
44. Which Sura is the name of one metal?  Sura Hadeed
45. Which Sura does not starts with Bismillah?  Sura Tauba.
46. Which Sura is called ‘Aroos-ul-Qur’an’, the Bride of the Qur’an?  Sura Rahman.
47. Which Sura is considered as 1/3 of holy Qur’an?  Al-Ikhlas.
48. The name of how many Sura are without dot?  Fatihah, Raad, Tur, Rum, Masad.
49. In which Sura does Bismillah appear twice?  Sura Naml.
50. How many Sura start with the Initials ( Mukette’at )  29
51. Which Sura was revealed twice?  Sura Fatihah.
52. In which Sura is the backbiter condemned?  Sura Humaza.
53. In which Sura is the name of Allah repeated in every verse?  Sura Mujadala.
54. In which Sura does the letter ‘Fa’ did not appear? Fatihah.
55. Which Sura are called Muzetain?   Falaq & Nas.
56. Which are those Sura if their names are reversed remain the same?  Lael & Tabbat.
57. Which is that Sura if its first letter is remove becomes the name of one of the cities of Saudi Arab?  Sajdah
58. Which Suras starts with word ‘ Tabara Kallazi’   Mulk & Furqan
59. Makkan Suras were revealed in how many years?   13 years
60. Madani Sura were revealed in how many years?  10 years.
61. Which Suras start with word Qad?   Mujadala & Momenoon.
62. Which Sura is related to Hazrat Ali?  Sura Adiyat.
63. How many Sura are in 30th Chapter?   37.
64. Which Sura has every verse ending with letter ‘Dal ‘?  Ikhlas.
65. Which Sura is revealed in respect of Ahle Bayt?  Sura Dahr/Insan
66. Which Sura every verse ends with letter ‘Ra ‘   Kauser.
67. In which Sura is the creation of human beings mentioned?  Sura Hijr verse 26.
68. In which Sura are the regulations for prisoners of war mentioned?   Sura Nisa
69. Which Sura deals with the laws of marriage?  Sura Nisa.
70. Which Sura if its name is reversed becomes the name of one bird?   Sura Rum.
71. In which Sura is the story of the worship of cow of Bani Israeel mentioned?   Sura Taha.
72. In which Sura is the law of inheritance mentioned?  Sura Nisa.
73. In which Sura is the Hijra of the Holy Prophet mentioned?   Sura Anfal.
74. In which Sura are the 27 Attributes of Allah mentioned?   Sura Hadeed.

May the Light from the Qur’an Majeed fill our hearts with such brilliance that only the Haqq is illuminated for us to strive towards in all we do, 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.