“For you are the light of guidance in everything that exists
And you are the secret of munificence and the best reliance.”
(Sultan ‘Abd al-Hamid Khan’s poem in praise of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam that was engraved on the walls of the Sacred Hujrah)
Heading to the Light saturated in the most Divine of Lights, commemorating the worldly manifestation of His Light.
Light; it was the most portentous of effects illuminating this already Luminous City bathing all in and around Masjid Nabawi on the afternoon of the eve celebrating the blessed birth of HabibuLlahu SallAllahi alaihi wasallam. The majestic moon already a resplendent misty silk suspended in the brilliant azure of this realm of Heaven, gradually becoming a polished silvery perfection hovering above the open domes and the Green Dome of Felicity, cavorting with the pigeons and sparrows competing in songs of praise and greetings.
Jabal Uhud was aglow, so much so that it seemed any moment it would rise to greet the one SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who loved it so much. The extraordinary dazzle was enough to render all the construction work to be transparent, allowing this Mubarak Bab al-Jannah to preside over the city as it once did long ago with dignity and grace. While the whispering of the gentle breeze joined the universal choir; praising, saluting, blessing, greeting, rejoicing, a chorus of joy and jubilation, and gratitude for the greatest gift bestowed upon mankind.
O Allah, grant him divine favour, divine grace, divine honour, the closest access, the lofty rank and the high standing.
About an hour passes after Esha for the sisters to wait for the area they can access for Ziyarah is prepared with the maze of barriers. Patiently assembling behind the wooden Mashrabiyah that separates the ladies prayer area from the men, sisters nudge closer and closer as they anticipate the opening of the wide doors. There are three possible openings that lead to the Rowdha Shareef and one never knows which one will be opened first. The majority wait at the closest one. But on this night when the crowd was quite dense, it was the furthest door that was opened first, sending the majority of the masses running to the other end of the sisters section. Such is the zeal to be among the first to be in Rowdha Shareef it seems that in the rush Adab is left at the unopened door along with a few sisters who realize that this door too will eventually be opened.
By the time I arrive inside the cordoned off area, the actual Rowdha Shareef, the area opposite the noble house of our Lady Fatimah RadhiAllahu anha and the narrow section at the feet of our Beloved Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his two faithful companions RadhiAllahu anhumaa all were a very squashed standing room only. I establish myself at my favourite place when times are crowded, engaging in Salawaat and Ibadah until the crowds dwindle a little.
The photos in this post are from Panoramio, the pictorial additions on Google Earth. This particular brothers postings offer brilliant images from our Sacred Places. Insha’Allah take the time to be transported for a virtual tour. This is taken from inside the open courtyard behind what was the old Masjid area. Sitting here one has a magnificent view of the Felicitous Green Dome along with the northern side of the house of our Lady Fatimah RadhiAllahu anha, which includes the Mubarak place of Tahajjud of our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. (plan from previous post)
O Allah, grant our master Muhammad the closest access and send him what he hopes for and make him the first intercessor and the first whose intercession is accepted!
The peace that reigns at night defies description. The umbrellas are down; the velvety void above offers an apparition where one is drawn to be part of the celestial realm, whereby the energy to be in continuous Ibadah is all consuming. The air is no longer an earthly breeze but is the motion from the fluttering of the thousands of Angel’s wings, while the sounds one senses seem to be divinely orchestrated choirs hymning perpetual praises. The majestic moon’s presence adds to the evening’s glory, shining upon the Dome as it becomes the deepest of emeralds. A perfume so sublime that the intoxication is hightened. One is drowned in pure ecstasy.
O Allah send him to the most praised station, thereby advancing his nearness, comforting his eyes, and making him the envy of those who came first and those who came last!
Time has no meaning here, but I realized that I needed to advance to the area by the feet of our Blessed Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as Dear Sister Z has requested, and I could not rely on the usual scenario of the crowds becoming less towards the end of Ziyarah time for the sisters. So I joined the fray, bodies hugging each other as the two way throng in this small space shuffled slowly in and out. The hearts of most visitors in this confined space are smitten with such a passion that the patience required to simply go with the flow is innate, Alhumdulillah. Eventually I reached the destination, conveying YOUR salam and offering Du’a as tears upon tears upon tears were shed by all.
O Allah, of all the bodies in existence, bless his body! Of all the souls in existence, bless his soul! Of all the places in existence, bless his place! Of all the tombs in existence, bless his tomb, and bless his memory whenever he is remembered blessings from us on our Prophet!
Such a favour to be in this most intimate of nearness, a worthiness that I feel is granted only so this humble speck can deliver YOUR salam and YOUR Du’a. May Allah Ta’ala bring you all to this presence where the impact of such a gift strips you of all senses, leaving your heart to speak the deepest words of love to our Beloved SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who deserves our entire love. Ameen.
O Allah, bless our master Muhammad, the light of lights, the secret of secrets, the master of the pious, the adornment of the messengers, the chosen one, the most noble one the night has ever cloaked and the day has ever bathed in light, in every drop of rain which has fallen from the beginning of this world until its end, and in every plant and in every tree which have grown from the beginning of this world to its end, blessings which are eternal, lasting as long as the Dominion of Allah, the One, the Powerful!
A section of the white with blue arches barrier that is erected for the sister’s three times of Ziyarah, as seen from the men’s side.
By the time I found my way out from the Baqi side of the Hujra Shareef the sisters in the actual Rowdha Shareef, distinguished by the greenish carpet had lessened so I found a place where I remained until we were instructed to leave, which Alhumdulillah was nigh on midnight. Once in this Meadow of Tranquility all disintegrates that is not of benefit, leaving only the feeling that one is truly in the Garden. What more can I say, describe, explain, tell, share? I was blessed to be immersed in this for more than an hour, SubhanAllah. My ‘list’ was recited once again. SubhanAllah!
O Allah, resurrect us in his company, establish us on his way, cause us to die following his tradition, acquaint us with his face and make us among his company and party!
Alhumdulillah for these relatively new opening hours for sisters…the evening Ziyarah time along with one section remaining open 24/7. So once we are vacated from the Ziyarah section we can spend the night in the eastern ladies area. There is much activity throughout the night with barriers being erected here and there sectioning off parts where brothers come for the extra cleaning, attending to the massive job of replacing all the water coolers, and the usual continuous maintenance. Many brothers were on extended ladders polishing the brass around the light fittings. Once a particular area is finished the barrier is moved and sisters moved so that the next section is dealt with. An incredible operation considering all this can be done freely in the men’s areas. Whilst I was in one section, and by this time the majority has left, coming for the hours of Ziyarah only, I was aware of a sister nearby sobbing as she was making Du’a. She then came and asked if I had a tissue and subsequently got talking. She was a Saudi who lived in Jeddah and part of her distress she shared was that she had not made the effort to drive the approximate four hours to visit Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam for five years!!! She was determined never to allow such a time to lapse in the future. Her remark about how if the invitation is not there, and the call does not come from our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then one will not be in the position to respond. It reminded me of the sad story of one family I know who have been living in Jeddah for more than 20 years with a family and have only ventured to visit the best of creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam once!!
O Allah, I beg You for forgiveness and well-being in my religion, in this life and in the next!
During the night I needed to attend to my wudhu and go to one of the nearby shops that was still open, wanting to purchase something for only one riyal, but discovering I only had a one hundred riyal note left in my purse. I had left home with so much change as I usually like to hand out here and there. The brother in the shop was not impressed, while another said pay later, but I did not feel comfortable with that, it looking like this was a trick on my part to get a free drink, so I turned ready to leave, when a sister beside me offered to pay. And once again we got talking. She was also a Saudi from Jeddah who whispered to me that she had come for Mawlid!!!!!!! I almost fell down! She asked if I knew what this was, and she was just as astonished as I was with her whispered revelation when I produced my Dalail and a Mawlid program from my bag. We hugged each other and giggled as we shared how we both would discreetly hide our books if one of the duty sisters came by whilst we were reading from them in the Masjid. She explained that more and more Saudis are coming to accept the issue of Mawlid and we departed company with in the hope that one day it will be an open practice inside Masjid Nabawi. Ameen.
Allah and His Angels bless the Prophet, so, you who believe, bless him too and give him greetings of peace. (33:56) And for the sake of the fact You made it obligatory for the servants to ask for blessings upon their Prophet making it an obligation and making it binding on them, I ask You for the sake of the majesty of Your Face and the light of Your Greatness, and for the sake of that which You have made binding on You in respect of the virtuous, the You and Your angels bless our master Muhammad, Your servant, Your Messenger, Your Prophet, Your pure one and Your treasure from Your creation, the best blessing ever bestowed upon any one of Your Creation, for You are the Praiseworthy, the Mighty!
‘Allah placed the name of the Prophet next to His Name. As the Muadhdhin says five times a day: "I witness there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger.” And He derived a name from His Name to honour him; Praised is the Lord of the Throne and ‘praised’ is the meaning of Muhammad. ‘
Hasan ibn Thabit RadhiAllahu anhu
O Allah, of all the Prophets make our master Muhammad have the greatest number of followers, increase them in strength, and give them the most perfect nobility and light! And raise their ranks! And widen their abodes in the Garden!
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.
Beautiful…
That was the most amazingly eloquent and vivid narration I’ve read in a long time. You express your feelings so simply, and so easy to read. And when, even before this, I felt as if I was with you, after reading your account I really felt I was with you throughout
You are blessed beyond words…and your blessing is a gift I’ll always cherish, that’s how happy I am for you.
Thank you for sharing your intimate thoughts, and reliving your journey with us. Your beautifully expressed experiences reminded me of my time there, and made me feel the need to go back again (Makkah tul Mukarramah was so congested but Madinah tul Munawwarah I’ll always call home as long as I live, pray that we’re blessed to die there Ya beloved of the Beloved)…but I have this sense of apprehension now that I can’t explain. Khayr, may we both end up there together one day, InshaAllah.
Sacrifices we make for love to grow, yet heartbreak, defeat: Does it have to be so. Adversity…a blessing that comes from a near, even though it is channeled sometimes by those that are dear.
Our yearning to return is the reason we cry, perhaps before our tears are completely dry, we may receive the inevitable reply.
Words can never give voice to what lies in my heart. Maybe, one day, the pearls and the coral will flow from me…if only He would smile and forever restore me.
Much love.
Umm Fatima
Comment by Umm Fatimah — March 22, 2008 @ 6:02 pm
Asalaam Alaikum Dear sister Almiskeenah! SubhanAllah what a beautiful post, JazakAllahukhair for sharing with us, what beautiful night it was, I was thinking of you all the time, even though there is much time difference I was keeping up with your blog, it brought back the beautiful memories as I read your post of when I was there on Hajj, same situation occurred with me by the wooden Mashrabiyah as you mentioned once I reached Riyaz-ul-Jannah I was squashed between Sudani sister’s Allhumdulillah My lips became so dry by gasping air, I couldn’t reach my water bottle in my backpack, couldn’t move my arms, I thought I was counting my last breadth feeling dizzy, I managed to move towards right and the crowd just spit me out of the Riyaz-ul-Jannah, I reached to my backpack quickly gulped water, as I got hold of my soul, I looked back at the crowd and regret it, regret it so much that I could have achieved the beautiful death under the feet of Rasool Allah SallAllahi alaihi wasallam, but Rabbil-Alameen re-routed me to come back to my beautiful children and to fulfill the purpose of life, and to give them right tarbiyah Inshallah.. Subhanallah.. Jazakallahu khair for making dua’s for us and sending our salaam, May Rabbil-Alameen give you abundance barakah to your household and family, Ameen.
Comment by Umm-e-Shiraaz — March 22, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
As-salaamu Alaikum,
Jazak Allah Khair as always for sharing so much. The photograph is of the Green Dome from
the inner courtyard is captivating, masha Allah. Yes, the account does make one feel present
there.
wasalaam,
Comment by Farah — March 23, 2008 @ 12:27 am
Salaams
Simply beautiful, i felt as if i was there with your account of this night. I remember so clearly the waiting…trying to work out which gate would open to let the ladies in for ziyaarah….and rarely guessing correctly
Your blog and the photos will put a loving smile and a longing to be there on every heart that reads and views them, Subhanallah.
Love and duas
Wa’salaam
Comment by Farhanah — March 23, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
Assalamu alaikum Dear Umm Fatimah, Insha’Allah all ardent Du’as see you, and so many others called to be present in this City of Light and Radiance, Ameen. JazakiLlahu khairan for your kind and generous words and for sharing your intimate thoughts. May we all continue with our Du’a for each other, Ameen.
Your account Dear Umm-e-Shiraaz will resonate with so many. I am not sure what the answer is for sisters to visit the Sacred Sanctuary. May a noble solution be reached soon.
Love and Salam to Dear Ukhtis Farah and Farhanah! I am sure so many are present in spirit…I feel do feel this..with so many offering Salawaat from around the globe, and it being presented then this does make sense. The interconnectedness of the Ummah is stated in Hadith, so understandable. And Allah the Almighty knows best. Even so…keep making Du’a and reaffirming your intentions…
Wassalam alaikum,
almiskeenah
look at this strange blogsome…even if I tried I could never had managed the comments to be green!! It truly has a will of its own…a strong one!
Comment by almiskeenah — March 23, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Dear Sister Al-Miskeenah,
My name is Nurai’sha but many friends just call me Aisha. I introduce myself today as a Muslimah from Singapore who has been silently reading your blog posts in the last few weeks.
I ‘chanced’ upon your site whilst researching for pictures of the grand mosques in order to submit a presentation due the next day. In the wee hours of that dead night, I read your posts..eyes glued, brimming with tears.
I asked, “Who is this lady who speaks, writes and thinks so effortless, in English, in matters of my deen and more curiously, residing in a largely Arabic speaking community?”.
Only one answer remains, “Impossible is nothing by the will of Allah.”.
So, Al-Miskeenah, I applaud you and I give thanks to Allah that He has led me to proof, that like-minded, God-conscious Muslimahs are present on this vast Earth, notwithstanding geological, political, cultural and socio-economical boundaries.
I am honoured to meet you.
I am a mother of two, Atiqah, girl, 7 and Adi, boy, 3. I run and teach at a tuition centre where I reside here, in the small island of Singapore. I am rekindling my ‘niat’ to visit the holy land again. I am seeking to increase my love and understanding of my deen. I sometimes hold my breath when I feel the weight of all my responsibilities as Allah’s servant, wife, mother, teacher, daughter, friend and business-owner.
I found the weight lifted a little today, as tears fall when I read this post.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to pen those ideas, feelings and acute observations.
Yours truly,
Aisha
Comment by Aisha — March 28, 2008 @ 4:49 am
Assalamu alaikum Dear Sister Aisha, such a beautiful sharing you have posted. May Allah Ta’ala continue to lift all weights from the responsibilities He has blessed you with. The gratitude is for you and your visiting, JazakiLlahu khairan. Since embarking in this land of blog Allah Ta’ala has constantly comforted me with the most wonderful God-conscious souls I could ever hope to meet. Dear Aisha He will continue to bless us if we turn to Him and His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, seeking thier love whilst keeping company with the righteous, Insha’Allah. May the best from the treasures of Allah Ta’ala’s unlimited collection be showered upon you and yours, especially dear little Atiqah and Adi, Ameen
Wassalamu alaikum
Comment by almiskeenah — March 28, 2008 @ 7:41 pm