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.
As-salaamu alaikum,
The city’s wall picture. So sad.
Comment by Farah — February 12, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
I don’t whether to laugh or cry. The city looks more and more like a tourist destination instead of a spiritual one. Yet you are right, dearest Sister,
“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.”
My love and prayers go out to you and your family!
Ya Haqq!
Comment by Irving — February 12, 2008 @ 11:46 pm
asalaam alaikum sister
jazakallah khairan for your blogs which i look forward to immensely. it is so wonderful to see the old photographs of Madinah - Subhallah i would have loved to have seen it when it was like that. it is sad to see what it has become but Alhamdullilah our hearts will always yearn for that most Blessed most Radiant of Cities no matter what.
Comment by Afshan — February 13, 2008 @ 1:07 am
Assalamualaikum dearest sister,
Subhanallah… even up until the mid-late eighties the ‘environment’ around that Radiant Masjid was totally different! I recall so many alleyways and homes just a stones throw away.
Khair, no matter what physically changes, may Allah Azawajal forever keep our hearts connected to the one for whom all that exists, exists, Salallahualaihiwasalam.
Comment by ikramuddin — February 13, 2008 @ 1:55 am
assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barkatuh
jazakAllahu khayr for the duas and conveying our salams. it is the only thing that keeps us going. please let us know if you smell the perfume of the Blessed Earth where Our Beloved Messenger (May the infinite peace and mercy of Allah be upon him and his family) is laid to rest.
please convet our salams and continue to remember us in your duas. no matter what they do to Madinatul Munawwara our souls will always be attached to it. please make dua that we are able to visit soon and that we live and die in Madina Shareef, although we are not worthy of it.
Comment by faqir — February 13, 2008 @ 2:09 am
Assalamu alaikum Dear ALL,
Ameen thumma Ameen to all Du’a and JazakumuLlahu khairan ‘being there’in this comment space. May we all continue to reinforce the true connection to what this City deeply means for us all, and not be distracted by whatever may be dazzling in front of us. The Ghaib is our reality.
Yes, Dear Faqir, there are many places where the sublime fragrance fills the air, heart and soul from places where our Beloved Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had been, SubhanAllah!
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
Comment by almiskeenah — February 13, 2008 @ 10:21 pm