Virtual Tour One
Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: "For the believer, Madinah is the best place. If only they could understand its virtue fully, they would never leave it, and whoever departs from Madinah, having become disenchanted with it, Allah will send someone better to replace him. And whoever bears patiently the ordeals of Madinah, for him shall I be an intercessor on the Day of Qiyamah."
Insha’Allah by a series of "virtual tours" my intention is to visit each of the places marked on the image, relaying information about the significance of the location from the time of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum. These are all within a manageable walking distance from Haram. May this series refresh the hearts of those who have been to Madinah, inspire those yet to visit, (may Allah Ta’ala answer the Du’a of all with this desire and hope and bring you here soon, Ameen.) and be a constant reminder for those who live here.
May we all continue to deepen our connection and love for this Mubarak City of Light, seeking and searching for more knowledge and understanding of the blessed events that shaped the history of this Glorious Deen so generously bestowed upon us.
Small dots:
blue: Thaniyyatul Wadaa (north)
red: Masjid Sabaq
violet: Cave of Banu Haram
purple: Masjid Banu Haram
bright pink: Masjid Banu Saida, Saqeefa
aqua: Masjid Ali ibn Abu Talib
green: Masjid Abu Bakr As-Siddiq
lime: Masjid Al-Musalla (Al-Ghamamah)
yellow: Masjid Umar ibn Al-Khattab
light pink: Banu Zuraiq
orange: Date Market
black: Masjid Uthman
Large Dots:
red: Banu Zafar
lilac: Masjid Ejabah (Banu Muawiyah Aws)
blue: Masjid Abu Dhar
lime: Masjid Rayah on Jabal Dhubab
yellow: Ottoman Railway Station
bright pink: Masjid Bani Dinar, or Masjid Maghsalah
light blue, dark blue centre: Masjid Anbariyah
aqua, red centre: place where Abu Talha’s RadhiAllahu anhu garden was see previous entry.
purple: Sab’ah Masaajid includes the following seven Masaajid
Masjid Al-Fath ( also known as Al-Ahzab and Al-Ala, )
Masjid Salman Al-Farsi
Masjid Ali ibn Abu Talib
Masjid Umar ibn Al-Khattab
Masjid Sa’d
Masjid Abu Bakr As-Siddiq
Masjid Fatimah
Where the map compass is: Masjid Al-Suqya and place of Suqya Well.
Medium olive green: Zamzam filling station.
Navy line: waterfall, see previous entry
Northern Thaniyyatul Wadaa and place of Masjid Sabaq.
During the time of Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam any expedition either leaving from or arriving to Madinah from the north would be farewelled or welcomed from this place. It is on slightly higher ground from the Haram, originally being a narrow mountain pass, this is the meaning of ‘thaniyyah’, and ‘wadaa’ meaning farewell. This was also the finishing line for the racing of the horses in preparation for Jihad from a place approximately 9 km from Haram to the west of Mount Uhud, called Hafya’.
Aishah RadhiAllahu anha narrated "Allah’s Apostle arranged a horse race amongst the
horses that had been made lean, letting them start from Al-Hafya’ and their limit (distance of running) was up to Thaniyat-al-Wada’. I asked Musa, ‘What was the distance between the two places?’ Musa replied, ‘Six or seven miles. He arranged a race of the horses which had not been made lean sending them from Thaniyat-al-Wada’, and their limit was up to the mosque of Bani Zuraiq.’ (see small light pink dot) I asked, ‘What was the distance between those two places?’ He replied ‘One mile or so.’ Ibn ‘Umar was amongst those who participated in that horse race."
The place of Masid Sabaq, just to the south of Thaniyyatul Wadaa was the training area for the horses. I have also heard that this is where the Sahabah would play games of throwing watermelon rinds to each other and where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi and Aishah RadhiAllahu anha would sometimes race with each other. Allahu ‘Alum. We can read the hadith narrating that such racing did occur, but Allah Ta’ala knows best as to whether it was this place or not. Alhumdulillah, it is heart warming knowing they enjoyed such moments, and that this happened some where in this Radiant City.
The southern Thaniyyatul Wadaa, is not on this map, it is near Masjid Juma’ah, and was the sending, receiving place for those traveling to and from Makkah. This is reported to have been the place that the children of Banu Najjar sang ‘Tala’al-Badru ‘alayna’ to welcome the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to Madinah after his arduous journey. He had previously spent some days at Quba. Some narrations say that he entered Madinah from the northern Thaniyyatul Wadaa, through the narrow pass between Mount Sal’ and its branch al-Qurayn. This narration says that the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam chose this unusual entry from the north rather than the direst route from Quba to Madinah from the south due to showing courtesy to the Ansari tribes that resided on the northern and western fringes of Madinah, displaying a respect and strengthening mutual ties of friendship and trust. Allahu ‘Alum.
There are many variations of this moving song, still heard by the children walking around the alley ways here! Masha’Allah, so sweet to hear them playing and then to break out in their innocent versions of a song that has become so loved by us all. The air around Haram is also filled with recorded sounds played by the many shops selling recordings. This is the link to the google page offering many versions, you can then decide which ones you like.
Tala’al-Badru ‘alayna,
min thaniyyatil-Wada’
wajaba al-shukru ‘alayna,
ma da’a lillahi da’
O the White Moon rose over us
From the Valley of Wada’
And we owe it to show gratefulness
Where the call is to Allah
Ayyuha al-mab’uthu fina
ji’ta bi-al-amri al-muta’
Ji’ta sharrafta al-Madinah
marhaban ya khayra da’
O you who were raised amongst us
coming with a work to be obeyed
You have brought to this city nobleness
Welcome! best call to God’s way
Tala’al-Badru ‘alayna,
min thaniyyatil-Wada’
wajaba al-shukru ‘alayna,
ma da’a lillahi da’
Insha’Allah we will resume our next ‘tour’ in the area where Banu Haram was.
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. Ameen.
