The Makkah Mukarama
Ka’bahThe Ka’bah, also known as Baytullah (The House of Allah) is the first house built for humanity to worship Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). The small, cubed building may not rival other famous buildings in terms of size but its impact on history and human beings is unmatched. It functions as the Qibla, the direction to which all Muslims pray five times a day.
- Regarding the Ka’bah, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) mentions in the Quran in Surah Al-Ma’idah:“Allah has made the Ka’bah, the Sacred House, an asylum of security and benefits (e.g., Hajj and Umrah) for mankind.” [5:97]
- The Ka’bah has been built or adjusted on several occasions throughout history. The most famous builders are; the angels who originally constructed it; the first man and prophet, Adam (upon him be peace); Ebrahim (upon him be peace) with the help of his son Ismail (upon him be peace); by the Quraysh during the Jahiliyyah period (this was witnessed by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) when he was 25 years old) and by Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) in 65 AH who rebuilt it according to the wish of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
- Directly above the Ka’bah, at its zenith, there is a corresponding place in the heavens called the Baytul Ma’moor which holds the same status there as the Ka’bah does here on earth. Each day seventy thousand angels engage in worship there and none of them get a second opportunity to present themselves there again. The Baytul Ma’moor is such a sacred and honoured place that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) takes an oath on it in the Holy Quran in Surah Toor:“And I swear by the Baytul Ma’moor.” [4:52]
- Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“One hundred and twenty mercies descend upon the Ka’bah every day and night; sixty for those performing tawaf, forty for those engaged in salah and twenty for those who are merely looking at the Ka’bah.”[Bayhaqi]
- During the Night of Ascension (mi’raj) when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) reached the seventh level of heaven, he met the Prophet Ebrahim (upon him be peace) resting against the Baytul Ma’moor. Ebrahim (upon him be peace) returned the greeting of his descendant and testified that Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was the Prophet of Allah.
- The noblest shade on earth is that of the Holy Ka’bah. Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) reports, “We once approached the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) with a difficulty and found him sitting in the shade of the Ka’bah, leaning on his shawl.”
- During the era of Abdullah-bin-Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) the Ka’bah was damaged by catapult fire in 64 AH when the army of Yazeed-bin-Muawaiya laid siege to Makkah. One of Abdullah-bin-Zubair’s companions lit a fire, a spark flew off and set alight the kiswah (covering) of the Holy Ka’bah. The wooden portions of the Ka’bah were burned which necessitated its demolition and reconstruction. Abdullah-bin-Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) reconstructed it on the foundations of Ebrahim (upon him be peace), thus fulfilling what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had wished for, as the construction made by the Quraysh was about three meters short because they had run out of lawful earnings to finance the build.
- When Hajjaj-bin-Yusuf had the governership over Makkah he informed the Ummayad Khalifah Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan that Abdullah-bin-Zubair had changed the Ka’bah to something that was different to how it was in the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He gave permission to change it again and in 73 AH it was changed to its previous state. However, when Abdul Malik came to know the Hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) of how he had desired the Ka’bah to have been on the original foundations of Ebrahim (upon him be peace) he was full of remorse about what he had done.
- Muslims do not pray to the Qibla, it functions merely as a unifying direction point. During his time in Makkah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) used to pray towards Bait-al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), with the Ka’bah in front of him. When he migrated to Madinah, he prayed towards Jerusalem for 16 months, but he hoped it would be changed to the Ka’bah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) then revealed the following verse in the Holy Quran in Surah al-Baqarah:“Verily, We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad’s) face towards theheaven. Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you, so turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah). And wheresoever you people are, turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction.” [2:144 ]
- There are Ahadith that confirm that the Ka’bah will be destroyed towards the end of time. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“The Ka’bah will be destroyed by Dhus-Suwaiqatain (a man with thin legs) from Abyssinia (Ethiopia).” [Bukhari]
The Madinah Munawwara (المسجد النبوي)
Masjid-e-NabwiMasjid-e-Nabwi is the masjid (mosque) established by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) upon his migration to Madinah. It is the second most revered masjid in Islam and the second largest in the world, after Masjid al-Haram in Makkah.
- When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) migrated to Madinah (then called Yathrib), the chiefs of the city and his immediate followers rode around his camel in their best clothes and in glittering armour. Everyone was hoping he would stop by their house. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would answer everyone politely and kindly, “[This camel] is commanded by Allah; wherever it stops, that will be my home.” The camel moved on with slackened reins, reaching the site of the present masjid and knelt down. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) alighted and said, “This is the home” and inquired as to who owned the land. The land contained a few date trees, graves of polytheists, a resting spot for herds of cattle and was owned by two orphan brothers, Sahl and Suhail. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) purchased the land, had the trees cleared and the polytheists graves dug up and levelled.
- He then gave orders that his newly acquired courtyard should be made into a masjid (mosque) and work began immediately. Most of the building was done by bricks made of stones and kneaded clay but in the middle of the northern wall (which faced the original Qibla in Jerusalem) stones were put on either side of the prayer niche. The palms in the courtyard were cut down and their trunks were used as pillars to support the roof of palm branches, but the greater part of the courtyard was left open. Small stones were laid on the floor to prevent it from becoming too muddy. At the rear of the masjid, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) built a shaded area called as-Suffah in which the poor companions would spend the night. Two small huts were also constructed on the eastern side of the masjid to accommodate his two wives at the time, Aisha and Sauda (may Allah be pleased with them).
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) gave the Muslims of Madinah the title of Ansar which means Helpers, whereas the Muslims of Quraysh and other tribes who had left their homes and emigrated to the oasis he called Muhajirun, meaning Emigrants. All took part in the work, including the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) himself, and as they worked they chanted two verses which one of them had made up for the occasion:“O Allah, no good is but the good Hereafter, So help the Helpers and the Emigrants.” And sometimes they chanted: “No life there is but the life of the Hereafter. Mercy, O Allah, on Emigrants and Helpers.”
- The masjid was built twice during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The first time was shortly after he had made the Hijra to Madinah in 622 CE, with the size of the masjid being approximately 35 x 30 meters and the height 2.5 meters. It was rebuilt seven years later after the Fath (opening) of Khaibar. The increasing number of Muslims by then necessitated an increase in the area of the mosque to accommodate more worshippers. Usman (may Allah be pleased with him) paid for the land to accommodate the extension which made the masjid approximately 50 x 50 meters. The height was also increased to 3.5 meters.
- When the revelation came down to change the Qibla to Makkah in 624 CE, the whole masjid was re-orientated to the south.
- The masjid also served as a religious school, community center, court and also as a confinement for prisoners.
- Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“Whoever performs forty salat in my masjid, not missing one salat in the masjid, for him is granted exemption from the fire of Hell, and exemption from punishment and he shall remain free of hypocrisy.” [Ahmad]
- Abu Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“One salat offered in my masjid is superior to one thousand salats offered in other masjids except Masjid al-Haraam (Makkah al-Mukarramah).” [Bukhari]
The Quba Mosque (Quba' Masjid or Masjid al-Quba)(مسجد قباء)
The Quba Mosque (Quba' Masjid or Masjid al-Quba, Arabic: مسجد قباء), in the outlying environs of Medina in Saudi Arabia, is the oldestmosque in the world. Its first stones were positioned by the Islamic prophet Muhammad as soon as he arrived on his emigration from the city of Mecca to Medina[1] and the mosque was completed by his companions. Muhammad spent more than 20 nights in this mosque (after migrating) praying qasr (a short prayer) while waiting for Ali whose house was behind this mosque.[citation needed]
According to Islamic tradition, offering two rakaʿāt of nafl prayers in the Quba Mosque is equal to performing one Umrah.
Muhammad used to go there, riding or on foot, every Saturday and offer a two rak'ah prayer. He advised others to do the same, saying, "Whoever makes ablutions at home and then goes and prays in the Mosque of Quba, he will have a reward like that of an 'Umrah." Thishadith is reported by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Hakim al-Nishaburi.
References: Wikipedia
According to Islamic tradition, offering two rakaʿāt of nafl prayers in the Quba Mosque is equal to performing one Umrah.
Muhammad used to go there, riding or on foot, every Saturday and offer a two rak'ah prayer. He advised others to do the same, saying, "Whoever makes ablutions at home and then goes and prays in the Mosque of Quba, he will have a reward like that of an 'Umrah." Thishadith is reported by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Hakim al-Nishaburi.
References: Wikipedia
The Masque of Qiblatain (مسجد قبلتین)
The name of the mosque goes back to the beginning of Islam when the companions of Muhammad named it after an event that took place. Muhammad was leading the prayer when he received a revelation from Allah instructing him to take the Kaaba as the Qiblah. According to traditional accounts, Muhammad, who had been facing Jerusalem during the prayer, upon receiving this revelation, immediately turned around to face Mecca, and those praying behind him also did so. After this, the mosque in which this incident occurred came to be known as Masjid al-Qiblatain (i.e. 'Mosque of the Two Qiblas'). Many pilgrims who go to Mecca for hajj often visit Medina where some end up visiting the notable Qiblatain because of its historic significance.[1]The mair prayer hall adopts rigid orthogonal geometry and symmetry which is accentuated by the use of twin minarets and twin domes. Living accommodations for the Imam, the Muezzin and the caretaker are discreetly grouped in one block to the west of the main structure. The difference in level at the southeast corner of the site has been exploited to incorporate a sub-basement level which serves as the ablutions area for worshippers.
To the north, where the ground level is lower, the prayer hall is raised one-storey above ground level. Entry to the prayer hall is from the raised courtyard, also to the north, which can be reached by stairs and ramps from the main directions of approach. The prayer hall consists of a series of arches which support barrel-vaults running parallel to the qibla wall. These vaults are interrupted by two domes which establish an axis in the direction of Mecca.
The main dome to the south is raised on a drum of clerestory windows which allow light to filter into the interior directly above the mihrab. The second, false dome is linked to the first by a small cross-vault to symbolise the transition from one qibla to another. Below it, a replica of the mihrab found in the lower chamber of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem reminds onlookers of the oldest extant mihrab of Islam. Externally, the architectural vocabulary is inspired by traditional elements and motifs in a deliberate effort to offer an authentic image for an historic site.
The mosque is located on the north-west of the city of Medina, on Khalid bin al-Waleed road. The mosque was initially maintained by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattāb. By the rise of the Ottoman empire the mosque was maintained by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent who renovated and reconstructed it.
References: Wikipedia
To the north, where the ground level is lower, the prayer hall is raised one-storey above ground level. Entry to the prayer hall is from the raised courtyard, also to the north, which can be reached by stairs and ramps from the main directions of approach. The prayer hall consists of a series of arches which support barrel-vaults running parallel to the qibla wall. These vaults are interrupted by two domes which establish an axis in the direction of Mecca.
The main dome to the south is raised on a drum of clerestory windows which allow light to filter into the interior directly above the mihrab. The second, false dome is linked to the first by a small cross-vault to symbolise the transition from one qibla to another. Below it, a replica of the mihrab found in the lower chamber of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem reminds onlookers of the oldest extant mihrab of Islam. Externally, the architectural vocabulary is inspired by traditional elements and motifs in a deliberate effort to offer an authentic image for an historic site.
The mosque is located on the north-west of the city of Medina, on Khalid bin al-Waleed road. The mosque was initially maintained by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattāb. By the rise of the Ottoman empire the mosque was maintained by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent who renovated and reconstructed it.
References: Wikipedia
jannat ul Baqi (جنة البقيع)
Jannatul BaqiJannatul Baqi (Garden of Heaven) is the main cemetery of Madinah. Buried there are many members of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) close family, around ten thousand of his companions (Sahabah) and many prominent, pious personalities.
- Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported (that whenever it was her turn for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to spend the night with her) he would go out towards the end of the night to al-Baqi and say: “Peace be upon you, abode of a people who are believers. What you were promised would come to you tomorrow, you receiving it after some delay; and God willing we shall join you. O Allah, grant forgiveness to the inhabitants of Baqi al-Gharqad.” [Muslim]
- Baqi means the land in which the roots of different trees are embedded, Gharqad is the name of a thorny tree (Boxthorn) which were abundant in Baqi. Hence the cemetery also came to be known as Baqi al-Gharqad.
- The first person to be buried in al-Baqi was As’ad Bin Zararah (may Allah be pleased with him), an Ansari companion who died soon after the Prophet ‘s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) migration to Madinah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) chose the spot to be a cemetery. The first of the Muhajirun (Emigrants) to be buried there was Uthman bin Mazoun who died shortly after the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) returned from the battle of Badr.
- All the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), also known as the Mothers of the Believers including Aisha, Hafsa, Sawdah (may Allah be pleased with them) etc. except for Khadijah bint Khuwaylid who is buried in Makkah and Maymuna bint al-Harith who is buried in Sarif.
- The daughters of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), Fatima, Ruqayyah, Zainab and Umme Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with them)
- Ebrahim (may Allah be pleased with him), the infant son of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) by Maria al-Qibtiyya
- Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him), the grandson of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)
- Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), the uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)
- The aunts of the Prophet (s,a,w,), Safiyyah and Aatikah (may Allah be pleased with them)
- Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), the third Caliph and son-in-law of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)
- Halimah Saadia , the wet-nurse of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)
- Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him)
- Abdur-Rehman bin Auf (may Allah be pleased with him)
- Abdullah bin Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him)
- Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him)
- Imam Malik (may Allah be pleased with him)
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, “On the day of Qiyaamah my grave shall be opened first and I shall step forth. Then shall Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) step forth and then Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Then shall I proceed to Baqi and take all its inmates with me. Then shall we await the inmates of the graveyard of Makkah, who shall meet me halfway between Makkah and Madinah.”[Tirmidhi]
- During different times of history many domes and structures were built or rebuilt over many famous graves in Al-Baqi in order to identify the inhabitants. On April 21, 1925, mausoleums, domes and structures in Jannatul Baqi were demolished by the order of King Abdul Aziz Al Saud with the objective of complying with the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to not cover or build structures over any grave and to prevent people from seeking help from the dead.
- It is virtuous to visit Jannatul Baqi (preferably on a Friday) and supplicate to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) for all those buried in its noble earth.
Mount Uhud
Mount Uhud is a mountain in north of Medina. It is 1,077 m (3,533 ft) high. It was the site of the second battle between Muslim and Meccan forces. The Battle of Uhud was fought on 19 March, 625, between a force from the small Muslim community of Medina, in what is now north-western Arabia, and a force from Mecca.
Mount Uhud and site of battleThis is a section of Mount Uhud, in front of which the second battle in Islam (the Battle of Uhud) took place in 3 AH. Of this mountain the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) declared, “This mountain loves us and we love it.” [Muslim]
Mount Uhud and site of battleThis is a section of Mount Uhud, in front of which the second battle in Islam (the Battle of Uhud) took place in 3 AH. Of this mountain the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) declared, “This mountain loves us and we love it.” [Muslim]
- After the humiliating defeat in the Battle of Badr a year earlier, the Quraysh of Makkah made preparations to muster a great army to fight the Muslims again and take revenge. They assembled an army of 3000 soldiers with 300 camels, 200 horses and 700 coats of mail. Wives and daughters of slained chiefs in Badr accompanied the army to see with their own eyes the spectacle of the killers being killed. Hind, the daughter of Utbah was the leader of the womens section and her husband Abu Sufyan was the commander-in-chief of the Makkan army. Both were not Muslims at the time but bitter enemies of Islam. The left and right flanks were commanded by Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl and Khalid bin Waleed respectively. Amr ibn al-As was named the commander of cavalry and his task was to co-ordinate attack between the cavalry wings. (All three subsequently became Muslims and become great generals of Islam).
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) left Madinah for the valley of Mount Uhud with a Muslim army of only 700 and drew up his troops for battle. Zubair bin al-Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him) was the commander of the right wing and Mundhir bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) was given the left wing of the army. Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him), the uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was made the advance guard, Mus’ab bin Umair (may Allah be pleased with him) was chosen as the standard-bearer of Islam and Abu Dujanah (may Allah be pleased with him) was fortunate enough to receive the Prophet’s sword (which was known as Zulfikar).
- Before the battle, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had put 50 archers under Abdullah bin Jubair (may Allah be pleased with him) at a mountainside and ordered them strictly to stay there until further orders, whatever may be the condition. They were to obstruct the enemy if they attacked the Muslims from the rear.
- The two armies set upon each other and a fierce battle ensued. The Muslim soldiers concentrated their attack on the eleven standard bearers of the pagans until they were all wiped out. As the enemy standards sank to the ground, the Muslim soldiers hurled themselves against the enemy. Abu Dujanah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him), fought with great fearlessness, and their heroic feats on the battlefield were to become legendary in Muslim military history.
- Tragically, Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him), the Lion of Allah, was martyred in the same battle he had dominated. He was killed by the javelin of Wahshi bin Harb, an Abyssinian slave, who with that successful throw earned his freedom from his master, Jubayr bin Mutim.
- Despite the loss of Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him), the Muslims managed to overcome the unbelievers who, faced with yet another defeat, began to flee. The pagan women also scattered as some of the Muslim soldiers gave chase.
- It was at this point of perceived victory that events began unravelling. The archers who had been entrusted with the safety of their brothers in faith disobeyed the Prophet’s clear orders and deserted their stations, thinking that the battle was over. Forty of the rearguards descended the mountain and left the Muslims vulnerable to a counter attack by the enemy.
- Khalid bin Waleed saw the sudden vacuum created by the disappearance of the rearguard and his cavalrymen attacked the Muslims from behind, killing many in the process. When the Muslims saw themselves surrounded, they were overtaken by panic and disorder and failed to map out a cohesive plan.
- The enemy fought their way close to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who was hit with a rock and fell on his side. One of his lower right teeth was broken, his lower lip was cut, and his helmet was damaged. As an enemy soldier thrust his sword at the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), he caught his bone below the eye, and two rings from the Prophet’s helmet pierced his face. The blood ran down his face and he wiped it away, saying, “How can a people prosper who have stained their Prophet’s face with blood while he summoned them to their Lord!”
- Mus’ab bin Umair (may Allah be pleased with him), was targeted by the enemy as he was the Muslims standard-bearer and he was killed. Since Mus’ab (may Allah be pleased with him) resembled the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to a great extent, his killer, Abdullah bin Qam’a, thought he had slain the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and jubilantly shouted out that he had killed Muhammad.
- Rumours of the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) filtered through the Muslims, plummeting their morale. Grief stricken and lost, some of them simply abandoned the field, while others were infused with resolve and rallied saying,“Come, let us die for what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) gave his life.”
- The crisis receded only when Ka’b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) caught a glimpse of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), making his way to join the besieged Muslims. K’ab recognised the Prophet’s eyes although his face was covered with the helmet. He cried loudly, “O Muslims, rejoice! Here is the Prophet”.
- Ka’b’s words galvanised the remaining Muslims, and they streamed to the Prophet’s side. Within a short time thirty Companions assembled around him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) decided against further combat, wisely choosing to retreat. He made his way through the rows and successfully led his troops towards the mountain pass.
- By retreating, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) managed to save his army from further losses; losses that had come about from simple disobedience of his orders. Disobedience had changed the Muslim victory into catastrophe, but with Allah’s help the Muslims were pulled back from the edge of disaster.
Arafat
The above picture shows Jabal-ur-Rehmah (Mountain of Mercy) on the plain of Arafat. Standing at Arafat is the fundamental requirement of Hajj and pilgrims come here on the 9th Dhul Hijjah (second day of Hajj).
- The common meaning of the word Arafat is ‘to know’. After being taken out of Jannah and placed on Earth, it was here that Adam (upon him be peace) and Hawa (upon him be peace) met up.
- Standing on Arafat is an essential part of the Hajj; whoever misses the standing on Arafat has missed Hajj, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said: “Hajj is Arafat.” [al-Hakim]
- The day of Arafah has many virtues, as was narrated in many Ahadith. Aisha (r.a) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“There is no day in which Allah sets free more souls from the fire of hell than on the day of Arafat. And on that day Allah draws near to the earth and by way of exhibiting His Pride remarks to the angels, ‘What is the desire of these (servants of mine)?” [Muslim]
- In another Hadith the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr there is no day on which the Shaitan is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafat, and indeed all this is only because of beholding the abundance of descending mercy (on the day) and Allah’s forgiveness of the great sins of the servants.“ [Mishkat]
- A man from among the Jews came to Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and said:“O Amirul-Muminin, there is a verse in your Book which, if it had been revealed to us Jews, we would have taken that day as a festival.” Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, “Which verse?”to which the Jew replied,“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Maidah, 5:3]Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We know the day and the place in which that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him); it was when he was standing on Arafat, on a Friday.”
- There once existed a masjid on the right slope of Jabal-ur-Rehmah called Masid Sakhrah. It signified the spot where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), after leading the Zuhr and Asr salahs faced towards the Qibla and engaged in dua till sunset. It was at this spot where the above verse of the Quran was revealed. Note that it is stated in a Hadith that no further verses were revealed after this one with regards to halal and haram.
- One of the virtues of the day of Arafah is that fasting this day expiates for the sins of the past and coming year. It was reported from Abu Qatadah that a man said:“O Messenger of Allah, what do you think of fasting on the day of Arafat?” He said: “It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year” [Muslim]
- This (fasting) is mustahab (desirable) for those who are not on Hajj. In the case of the one who is on Hajj, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the Day of Arafat, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) did not fast on this day when he was in Arafat.
Jawatha Mosque
Jawatha Mosque (Arabic مسجد جواثا ) (also incorrectly spelled Al-Jawana) is located in the village of Al-Kilabiyah, about 12km northeast of Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. It was the earliest mosque built in east Arabia and most of the original structure is in ruins.[1] The site is still used for prayer.[2]
It was built the in seventh year of hijra (c. 629 AD) at the hands of the Bani Abdul Qais tribe which lived there before and early in the Islamic period. This mosque is believed to be the first mosque built in Eastern Province and is where the second Friday congregation prayer in Islam was offered, the first being held at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.[3]According to legend, when the Hajr Al Aswad, (Black Stone), was stolen from Mecca by the Qarmatians, it was kept in this mosque for nearly 22 years.[4]
Most of the mosque's original structure has been lost and it remains in danger of collapse. Only five small mud-brick arches remain. The visible ruins probably date from around the 9th century AD.References: Wikipedia
It was built the in seventh year of hijra (c. 629 AD) at the hands of the Bani Abdul Qais tribe which lived there before and early in the Islamic period. This mosque is believed to be the first mosque built in Eastern Province and is where the second Friday congregation prayer in Islam was offered, the first being held at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.[3]According to legend, when the Hajr Al Aswad, (Black Stone), was stolen from Mecca by the Qarmatians, it was kept in this mosque for nearly 22 years.[4]
Most of the mosque's original structure has been lost and it remains in danger of collapse. Only five small mud-brick arches remain. The visible ruins probably date from around the 9th century AD.References: Wikipedia
Hajar al-Aswad
The picture above shows the Hajar al-Aswad (The Black Stone), which is set in the eastern corner of the Ka’bah. Tawaf is started and ended by facing this sacred stone. Throughout the ages, innumerable people including many of the Prophets (upon him be peace), the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) himself, the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with him), pious personalities and millions of Muslims who have performed Hajj and Umrah have placed their blessed lips on it.
- The Hajar al-Aswad was brought from Jannah and presented to Ebrahim (upon him be peace) to be placed on the corner of the Ka’bah. Ibn ‘ Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“The Black Stone came down from Paradise and it was whiter than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam turned it black.” [Tirmidhi]
- Du’as are accepted at the Hajar al-Aswad and on the Day of Judgement it will testify in favour of all those who kissed it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“By Allah! On the Day of Qiyaamah, Allah will present the Hajar al-Aswad in such a manner that it will have two eyes and a tongue to testify to the Imaan (faith) of all those who kissed it.” [Tirmidhi]
- When the Quraysh demolished the Holy Ka’bah in order to reconstruct it, a dispute arose when the building reached the level of the Black Stone. They differed on the issue of who was eligible to restore the Black Stone to its original place. A civil war was about to break out. Banu Abdu’d-Dar brought a bowl full of blood and all of the tribes inserted their hands in it, which meant that they had made up their minds to fight one another. But Abu Umayya Ibn al-Mugheera , their elder, asked Quraysh to agree on the judgement of the first person to come through the Bani Shaibah gate and they all agreed on this suggestion. The first to come through this gate was the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). This was five years before his mission. He put the Black Stone in the middle of a piece of cloth, and asked a representative of each tribe to hold one of the edges of the cloth and raise it close to its place. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) picked it up with his own noble hands and restored it to its original place. This was how the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) prevented a war from breaking out among the Quraysh by a supreme demonstration of wisdom.
- Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), while leaning against the Ka’bah said:“The Hajr al-Aswad and al-Maqam (Ebrahim) are two jewels from the jewels of Paradise. Had Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) not concealed their radiance, they would illuminate everything between the East and the West.” [Tirmidhi]
- Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) once kissed the Hajar al-Aswad and said, “I know well that you are just a stone that can do neither good nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) kiss you, I would not have done so.” Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) made the statement because there were many people who were newly converted to Islam and he did not want them to get the impression that Muslims also revered stones as the Arabs revered and worshipped stone idols during the Period of Ignorance. Umar (r.a) made it clear that he was following the Sunnah practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and that although the stone is blessed, it can do neither harm nor good.
- The Hajar al-Aswad was stolen from the Ka’bah around 930 CE by Qarmatian warriors who were an Ismaeeli Shia sect. They sacked Makkah, desecrating the Well of Zamzam with Muslim corpses and carried the Black Stone away to their base in Ihsaa, in medieval Bahrain. According to the historian Al-Juwayni, the Stone was returned in around 952 CE and restored to its original location.
- The Hajar al-Aswad was originally a complete stone but due to various historical incidents now consists of eight pieces of varying sizes affixed to a large stone and encased in a silver frame. The silver frame was first made by Abdullah bin Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) and replaced by later Khalifas as the need arose.
- Six (additional) pieces are claimed to be in Istanbul, Turkey. One is displayed in the mihrab of the Blue Mosque, one above the entrance of the tomb of Sulaiman the Magnificent and four in the Sokullu Sehit Mehmet Pasa Camii masjid (one over the mihrab, one below the lower pulpit, another is above the upper pulpit and the last is over the entrance door). The authenticity of these additional pieces has been questioned, although the Turks did rule over what is now Saudi Arabia for many years and hold many historical Islamic relics. And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) knows best.
- Note that when kissing the Hajar al-Aswad, one should neither push people nor harm anyone because while kissing the Hajar al-Aswad is Sunnah, causing harm to people is a forbidden act (haram). When the area is crowded, it will suffice to merely point towards the Hajar al-Aswad with one’s hand or a stick while reciting the Takbeer and then to kiss the hand or stick. Although the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) kissed the Hajar al-Aswad directly, he also pointed towards it when the area was crowded, it is therefore clear that both kissing it and pointing towards it are Sunnah.
Jabal Thawr
Jabal Thawr is the mountain that contains the cave in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) sought refuge for three days and nights from the Quraysh, as they left Makkah and emigrated to Madinah.
- When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived at the cave on Mount Thawr, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) entered first to clear away anything that might injure the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He found a few holes and stuffed them with pieces of cloth. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) then entered and went to sleep on Abu Bakr(may Allah be pleased with him)’s lap. Suddenly , something stung Abu Bakr(may Allah be pleased with him)’s foot, but he did not twitch, fearing he would wake the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The pain was so intense that tears began to run down his cheeks and onto the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’s face. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) woke up and saw that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was in pain. He applied his spittle on the injury and the pain disappeared.
- For three consecutive nights the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) remained hidden in the cave. During this period, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)’s son, Abdullah, would pass his nights nearby. The young man would return to Makkah very early in the morning so that the Quraysh had no idea that he had slept elsewhere. Each day in Makkah he collected information about the activities of the Quraysh, and each night went back to Jabl Thawr to inform the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his father Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).
- Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)’s slave, Amir bin Fuhayra (may Allah be pleased with him), would graze Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)’s goats near the cave so that both men could drink fresh milk. Early the next morning Amir would drive the goats back to Makkah along the same route that Abu Bakr (r.a)’s son took, to obscure his footprints.
- When they were inside Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) sent a spider to spin a web from a bush across the entrance to the cave. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) also commanded two doves to fly down between the spider and the tree, make a nest and lay eggs. Meanwhile the Quraysh search party scoured the area south of Makkah where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) where hiding. They came upon the mouth of the cave, and had they looked down while standing at the edge of the cave, they would have surely found the men they were hunting.
- With the Quraysh so close to discovering their hiding place, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became very tense about the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’s safety. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) reassured him, “How can you be apprehensive about two with whom is a third, especially when the third one is Allah?”
- On seeing the spider’s web and dove nest, the Quraysh concluded that no one could have entered the cave and left. Describing this scene the Quran mentions in Surah Taubah:“If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter): for Allah did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion; they two were in the cave, and he said to his companion, “Have no fear, for Allah is with us”: then Allah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights: for Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.“ [9:40]
- After three days when they learnt that the search by the Quraysh had petered out left the cave and headed towards Yathrib (Madinah). Asma (may Allah be pleased with him), the daughter of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came to them bringing food for the journey. When they were about to start she could find nothing to tie it to their saddles with and so she undid her waistband, tore it in two, wore half and tied the food with the other half. This ready solution won her praise from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who also named her ‘She of the two waistband’. And ever after that the Muslims knew her by that name.
Jabal Hira
The main picture above shows Jabal Hira (the mountain of Hira), which lies about two miles from the Ka’bah. Near the top is a small cave, a little less than 4 meters in length and a little more than one and a half meters in width. It was here that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) received the first revelations of the Holy Quran during the month of Ramadhan in 610 CE. The mountain is also known as Jabal Noor (the mountain of light).
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) first began to have revelations in the form of good dreams which came true. Then he began to like solitude. He would go to the cave of Hira and meditate there in solitude for a number of days and nights. He would take provisions with him to stay for an extended period, and when he returned to Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with him), he would stock up again and go back to the cave. This was his practice until Truth was revealed to him by an angel while he was in the cave of Hira.
- During Tahajjud time one night, when he was alone in the cave, there came to him an angel in the form of a man. The angel said to him, “Recite!”. “I cannot read”, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied. The angel took hold of him a second time and pressed him until he could not endure it any longer. After letting him go, the angel again said, “Recite!”. Again the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied “I cannot read”. The angel further embraced him again until he had reached the limit of endurance and said “Recite!” for the third time the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said “I cannot read”. The angel released him and said:“Read in the name of your Lord, the Creator. He Who created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Bounteous. Who taught by the Pen, taught man what he knew not.” [96:1-5]
- This was the first day of his Prophethood and these were the first verses of the Quran revealed to him. He recited these words after the angel, who thereupon left him; and he said; “It was as though the words were written on my heart.” He was very alarmed by the experience and feared that he had become possessed.
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) fled from the cave, and when he was halfway down the slope of the mountain he heard a voice above him saying: “O Muhammad, thou art the Messenger of God, and I am Jibraeel (Gabriel)”. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) stood gazing at the angel; then he turned away from him, but whichever way he looked the angel was always there on the horizon, whether it was to the north, east , south or west. Finally the angel turned away. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was terrified and his heart was pounding hard. He returned home to Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) and said,“Cover me!” Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) covered him and helped him calm down.
- The Quran tells us that the first revelation descended in Ramadan on the ‘Night of Power’.“The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed.” [2:185]“We have indeed revealed this message during the Night of Power.” [97:1]
Masjid al-Jinn
Masjid Jinn, also known as Masjid Haras, is built on the place where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) drew a line for Abdullah bin Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) who had accompanied him after he had been commanded to recite the Qur’an to the Jinn.
- Abdullah bin Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates, “While in Makkah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) once said to the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with him), “Whoever wishes to see what the Jinn are all about should come along.” Besides myself no-one else came. When we reached the place in the Ma’la district of Makkah the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) used his foot to draw a circle on the ground. He then instructed me to sit inside the circle. After proceeding a little further, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) started reciting the Qur’an. It then happened that Jinn started to arrive in troops as they gathered there. So many came that I could not even see the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) nor hear him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) then continued talking with a group of them until Fajr, when he came back to me saying, “ I have given them bones and dung as their provisions so you people should ensure that you never use bones and dung to clean yourselves after relieving yourselves.”” [Tafseer ibn Kathir]
Jannatul Ma’la
The picture above shows Jannatul Ma’la, the principle historical graveyard in Makkah which is located in a valley east of the Masjid ul Haram. Several members of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’s family and many Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) are buried here.
The following personalities are buried in this graveyard:
References: Wikipedia
The following personalities are buried in this graveyard:
- Ummul Mu’mineen Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her), the first wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)
- Qasim, the eldest son of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) from his wife Khadija (may Allah be pleased with him); he died in infancy.
- Abdullah, the second son of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) from his wife Khadija (may Allah be pleased with him); he was also known as Tahir and Tayyab.
- Abu Talib – the uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)
- Abdul Muttalib – the grandfather of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)
References: Wikipedia
Mina
Mina, seven kilometres east of the Masjid Haram is where Hajj pilgrims sleep overnight on the 8th, 11th, 12th (and some even on the 13th) of Dhul Hijjah. It contains the Jamarat, the three stone pillars which are pelted by pilgrims as part of the rituals of Hajj.
- Mina is referenced in Surah Baqarah in the Quran:“Carry out the Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah during the limited days (10th, 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah). There shall be no sin on the person who chooses to hasten (to leave Mina) during the two days (by leaving Mina on the 12th Dhul Hijjah), nor will there be any sin on him who wishes to delay (by leaving Mina on the 13th).(Forgiveness shall be) for him who possesses Taqwa (throughout the Hajj journey).” [2:203]
- The word Mina means ‘to flow’ as it is here that the blood of sacrificial animals flow during the day of Eidul Adha. During the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat-ul-Wada) the Muslims had brought with them 100 camels to be sacrificed. On the 10th Dhul Hijjah the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) stoned the Jamarat and went back to his camp in Mina where he sacrificed 63 of the camels. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) slaughtered the remaining 37 camels and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) instructed that a part of each camel is cooked and served to him and his Companions.
- After the camels had been sacrificed, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) called for a barber to shave his head. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) remarked afterwards on the contrast between the Khalid bin Waleed before he embraced Islam (when he was a bitter enemy of the Muslims) and the Khalid who now said, “O Messenger of Allah, they forelock! Give it unto none but me, my father and my mother be thy ransom!” And when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) gave it to him he pressed it reverently against his eyes and lips. It is reported that Khalid bin Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him) used to keep this hair in his headgear.
- There lies a cave in Mina known as the ‘Cave of Mursalaat’ as this was where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was when Surah Mursalaat was revealed to him.
Jamarat
The Jamarat are three stone pillars which are pelted as a compulsory ritual of Hajj in emulation of the Prophet Ebrahim (upon him be peace). They represent the three locations where Ebrahim (upon him be peace) pelted the Shaitan (Satan) with stones when he tried to dissuade him from sacrificing his son Ismail (upon him be peace). The pillars are called ‘Jamarat-al-Ula’, ‘Jamarat-al-Wusta’ and ‘Jamarat-al-Aqaba’.
- One of the purposes of the Hajj is to recall, while in Mina, how a 94 year old father brought his 8 year old son here for sacrifice. Ebrahim (upon him be peace) had first left his wife and newborn son, Ismail (upon him be peace) in the desert upon Allah’s command. Then while returning after 8 years to them he saw a dream wherein a man told him that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) wanted him to sacrifice his son. He saw the same dream for three consecutive nights and as he was a Prophet, his dreams were a form of Wahy (Divine Instruction). He realised that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) wanted him to sacrifice his son for whom his heart was overfilled with love and emotions. He went to his wife and asked her to dress up Ismail (upon him be peace). Ismail (upon him be peace) was overjoyed that his father had come after such a long time and was now taking him out for a walk. When Hajra (upon him be peace) asked, “Where are you taking him?” He replied, “To meet a friend.”
- They then reached Mina. Here Ebrahim (upon him be peace) asked his son that your father has seen such a dream, what is your opinion about it? The reason for asking his opinion was not to ask his opinion in deciding whether to go ahead with the command or not. It was to assess whether his son will allow him to follow the command freely or will he have to forcibly carry out this order, in other words, he asked this to test the intensity of love for Allah in his son’s heart. The son replied, “My father, obey the command given by Allah. You will, Insha’Allah, find me steadfast. Give my shirt to my mother as it will be a source of comfort for her and wrap me in your own shirt. Put me face down so you can’t see my face, lest you hesitate in carrying out my slaughter.”
- The skies and the earth witnessed that Ebrahim (upon him be peace) tied his son and laid him down. Now this was very unacceptable to Shaitan so he first went to Hajra (upon him be peace) and asked her, “Do you know where Ebrahim has taken your son?”She replied,” To meet a friend.” He said, “By meet a friend he meant to meet Allah. He is going to sacrifice him!” She said, “How can a father sacrifice his son?” By mistake, Shaitan uttered, “It is Allah’s command.” On hearing this Hajra (upon him be peace) replied, “If this is Allah’s command, then even hundred Ismails can be sacrificed in this way.”
- Then he went to distract Ebrahim (upon him be peace). When he appeared to him at the first Jamarat, Jibraeel (upon him be peace) said to Ebrahim (upon him be peace): “Pelt him!” so Ebrahim (upon him be peace) threw seven stones at him and he disappeared from him. Then he appeared to him at the second Jamarat. Jibraeel (upon him be peace) said to him: “Pelt him!” so he pelted him with seven stones and he disappeared from him. Then he appeared to him at the third Jamarat. Jibraeel (upon him be peace) again instructed him: “Pelt him!” so he pelted him again with seven small stones and Shaitan withdrew from him. This action is imitated by all Hujjaj, symbolising one’s acknowledgement that Shaitan is one’s enemy and ought to be repulsed.
- Ebrahim (upon him be peace) then laid Ismail (upon him be peace) down and put his knee on his neck so that he may not move. Then he faced the sky and called to Almighty Allah that, “Oh Allah! If you did not like the presence of love for Ismail in my heart, I seek your forgiveness.” Then he proclaimed Allah’s name and placed the knife on Ismail’s (upon him be peace) throat. He would rub the knife but it wouldn’t cut, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) had taken the quality of cutting away from the knife.
- Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) was pleased with the sincerity of Ebrahim (upon him be peace) and sent a white, big-eyed sheep with horns in replacement of Ismail (upon him be peace) which Ebrahim (upon him be peace) sacrificed instead. This is the basis for the offering of sacrifice animals by the Hujjaj and by all other Muslims at the time of Eid-ul-Adha.
- Note that the views of the Jews and Christians greatly differ from Muslims with regards to who the sacrificial son was and where this incident took place. In order to enhance their prestige and honour they have attributed the sacrificial son to Ishaq (upon him be peace) who is the forefather of the Jews and Christians rather than Ismail (upon him be peace) who is the forefather of the Muslims. They have also placed the setting to be in Jerusalem rather than Mina. It is clear, by looking at scriptural evidence that the sacrificial son could only have been Ismail (upon him be peace). For example, in Genesis 22:2 Abraham is commanded to take his only son for sacrifice. As Ismail (upon him be peace) was 13 years older than Ishaq (upon him be peace) and both were alive at the time of their father’s death, logically Ishaq (upon him be peace) could never be his only son.
Masjid al-Khayf
This masjid is located at the foot of a mountain in the south of Mina, close to the smallest Jamarat. It was at this spot that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and numerous other Prophets before him performed salat.
- Masjid al-Khayf is a masjid whose virtues are proven in some Hadith. According to a traceable Hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said: “Seventy Prophets prayed in Masjid al-Khayf.”[Majma‘uz-Zawahid]
- Yazeed bin Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when he performed Hajj with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), it was at the Masjid Khayf that he performed the Fajr salat with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
- Abdur -Rahman bin Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) delivered a sermon in Mina, he instructed the Muhajireen to set up camp in front of the Masjid al-Khayf and the Ansar to set up camp behind it. The rest of the Muslims were to camp behind them. [Abu Dawood]
- Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that it was in Masjid al-Khayf that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) addressed them. After praising Allah as he said: “Allah will set right the affairs of the person whose prime concern is the Aakhirah (Hereafter), Allah will also grant him self-sufficiency and the world will humble itself before him. As for the person whose prime concern is this world, Allah will scatter his affairs, place poverty in front of him and all he will get of this world will be what has been predestined for him.“ [Tabraani]
Waadi Muhassar
Waadi Muhassar is a place between Mina and Muzdalifah; it is here that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) destroyed Abraha and his army of elephants. This incident in mentioned in Surah Feel. It is sunnah for Hujjaj (pilgrims) to walk briskly pass this area as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) did as it was a place of punishment from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
- Abraha al-Ashram was the viceroy of Negus, the King of Abyssinia. He was a Christian who ruled over the Yemen, building an imposing cathedral in San’a of marble and gold plated wood and naming it ‘al-Qulays’. He intended to divert the Arab pilgrimage to San’a. As a Christian, he was jealous that the Ka’bah should be the place where pilgrims gathered and he wanted this position for his church.
- In the meantime, a man from the Banu Kinana tribe entered the church and defecated in it. This threw Abraha into a towering rage and he made the fatal error of deciding to march with his army to the Ka’bah in order to demolish it.
- He set out for Makkah with a strong force that included elephants. When the army reached Waadi Muhassar, the largest of the elephants, whose name was Mehmud, sat down and refused to move further. The more it was pulled towards the Ka’bah, the more it moved backwards Strangely enough, when it was turned in any other direction (away from the Ka’bah), it ran in that direction. It was while they were here that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) sent little birds with pebbles in their beaks. As they flew over the army, the birds released their stones, which devastated the army, causing all they struck to fall down dead. Some of them collapsed just witnessing the sight and they then made off back to San’a. Abraha’s fate was much worse. As he proceeded back to Sa’na, his flesh started wasting away and rotting. By the time he reached San’a, his fingers had already fallen off and his body was no more than a skeleton. It was there that his heart eventually collapsed and he died. This incident took place shortly before the blessed birth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Referring to this episode, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says in Surah Feel:“Have you not seen how your Rabb dealt with the people of the elephants? Did He not lay their plans to waste and send against them flights of the birds who pelted them with clay pebbles, making them look (destroyed) like eaten fodder?” [105:1-5]
- After this miraculous incident , the fame of the Ka’bah spread gar and wide, and Arabs came from all parts of the peninsula to visit the Sacred House. It was the year 571 CE., it was of such importance to the Arabs that they called it ‘The Year of the Elephant’.
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was born 52-55 days after this event.
Masjid Aisha
Masjid Aisha, also known as Masjid at-Tan’eem marks the place where Ummul-Mu’mineen Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) went to enter into Ihram for Umrah when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) told her to do so during the farewell Hajj. The masjid lies 7.5 km south from Makkah on the road to Madinah and is the closest of all the boundary points.
- Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that because Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was experiencing menstrual cycle the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) intstructed her to perform all the various rites of Hajj except for the Tawaaf. She then performed the Tawaaf after her cycle had ended. She then said, “O Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)! While you have performed Hajj and Umrah, I have performed only Hajj.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) then instructed her brother Abdur-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) to take her to Tan’eem and it was from there that she performed her Umrah after her Hajj during the month of Dhul Hijjah.
Birthplace of the Prophet
Birthplace of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be on him)This library, in She’eb Banu Hashim in Makkah is sited on the place where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was born on Monday 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal (April 22, 571 CE), in the Year of the Elephant. His ancestry can be traced back to the Prophet Ebrahim (upon him be peace).
(peace and blessings of Allah be on him)This library, in She’eb Banu Hashim in Makkah is sited on the place where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was born on Monday 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal (April 22, 571 CE), in the Year of the Elephant. His ancestry can be traced back to the Prophet Ebrahim (upon him be peace).
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’s father Abdullah died about six months before his birth. He had gone on a trading expedition to Gaza and Syria in the north and on the way back he had lodged with his grandmother’s family in Yathrib (later to be known as Madinah). He became ill, died and was buried there. Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was born an orphan.
- While his mother Aminah was pregnant, she had a dream that a light was emitted from her lower body that illuminated the palaces of Syria. When she went into labour, Shifa bint Amr, the mother of Abdul Rahman bin Auf (may Allah be pleased with him) served as midwife. Abdul Muttalib received the news of his grandson’s birth with joy. He took the newborn to the Ka’bah and invoked Allah’s blessings and thanks. Believing his grandson would grow up to be highly praised, Abdul Muttalib named him Muhammad, which means “he who is praised.” In keeping with Arab tradition, he then shaved the baby’s head and circumcised him on the seventh day. Afterwards, he invited his fellow Makkans to a feast.
- According to the report of Abul-Fida, when the people asked Abdul Muttalib as to why he called his grandson Muhammad, preferring it to the names of his forefathers, he replied, “It is because I have a longing that my grandson should be praised and commended by one and all in the world.”
- Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was first nursed by his mother, and then by Umm Ayman, his father’s slave. An Abyssinian whose real name was Barakah, she embraced Islam and migrated to Madinah, where she died six months after the Prophet’s death. Barakah (may Allah be pleased with her) thus had the distinction of being the person who knew the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) for the longest period of time.
- Thuwaybah, the slave of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’s uncle Abu Lahab, also nursed the infant. At that time, Thuwaybah was also nursing her own child, Masrooh, as well as Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib and Abu Salamah bin Abdul Makhzoomi. Hence, these three men became foster brothers because they were nursed at the same breast. Thuwaybah suckled the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) for seven days and on the eighth day he was entrusted to Haleemah of the Banu Sa’d clan to bring him up in the desert.
- Certain miraculous events are reported to have occurred at the time the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was born. However, most of them are not authentically related and therefore cannot be relied upon as decisive proof. This includes the narration which relates that some of the galleries of Kisraa’s (the Persian King’s) palace broke-up and collapsed, that the sacred-fire of the Magians, which had been burning for 1000 years in the Temple of Fars died-out and that some of the churches on Lake Saawah (in Syria) collapsed and sank down.
- However, it is authentically related that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said. “I am a result of the supplication of my father Ebrahim (upon him be peace) and the glad-tidings brought by Isa (upon him be peace). And my mother – when she bore me – saw that a light shone out from her, which lit up the palaces in Syria.” [al-Haakim]
Martyrs of Uhud
The above enclosure, at the foot of Mount Uhud contains in the centre the graves of Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him), Abdullah bin Jasht (may Allah be pleased with him) and Mus’ab bin Umair (may Allah be pleased with him) who were all martyred in the Battle of Uhud. The rest of the martyrs of Uhud are buried behind this enclosure.
- Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib was one of the finest huntsmen and greatest warrior of the Arabs. In the battle of Badr, he had killed many of the Qurayshi nobles and now he cut his way through their ranks like a mighty wave sweeping all before it. One of the Qurayshi nobles had a black slave called Wahshi from Abyssinia (present Ethiopia) who could use the javelin with great skill. Hind, the wife of Abu Sufyan, promised Wahshi freedom and his master Jubayr bin Mut’im also promised him the same as Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him) had killed his uncle in Badr. Wahshi prowled amongst the fighters until he saw Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him). He says, “I held my spear and balanced it well, then I aimed it. It entered into his abdomen and went out the other side. I waited until he was dead, then I took my spear and went to wait in the camp. I had no quarrel with anyone. I killed him only to be set free.” Wahshi later on in life became a Muslim and killed Musailimah, the imposter who claimed Prophethood after the demise of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
- When the tide of war turned towards the Quraysh, the women of Quraysh, led by Hind, whose brother, uncle and loved ones had been killed in Badr began to mutilate the Muslim dead. She particularly vented her fury on the body of Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him), cutting off his nose and ears, making a slit in his chest, taking out his liver, chewing it but unable to swallow it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was greatly grieved when he came upon the body of his beloved uncle. Years later, when Makkah lay open at his feet, he gave all its inhabitants, including Hind a free pardon. Hind subsequently accepted Islam.
- Mus’ab (may Allah be pleased with him) held the flag of Islam. When the Muslims on meeting defeat were dispersing in confusion, he held the flag and stood at his post like a rock. An enemy came and cut his hand with a sword, so that the flag might fall and the defeat might be accomplished. He at once took the flag in the other hand. The enemy then cut the other hand also. He held the flag to his bosom with the help of his bleeding arms. The enemy at last pierced his body with an arrow. He fell dead and, with him fell the flag that he had not allowed to fall while he was alive. Another Muslim ran and took over the flag. At the time of his burial, he had only one sheet to cover his body. This sheet was too short for his size. When it was drawn to cover the head, the feet would be exposed, and when it was drawn to cover the feet, the head would become uncovered. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:“Cover his head with the sheet, and his feet with the ‘Azkhar’ leaves.”
- Around sixty-five Ansar and four Muhajirun were honoured with martyrdom while there were twenty-two fatalities among the polytheists.
- The Jews kept waiting the outcome of the battle in their safe dwellings. Mukhairiq, a person amongst the Jews told his people that they must lend support to Prophet Muhammad. “We can’t fight for this is Saturday,” they replied. He said, “This is the fighting between the Prophet and the disbelievers, so Saturday can’t stand in the way.”He took his sword and pronounced that in case he was killed, all of his property should be given to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and non should go against him. He joined the battle and was killed. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) came to know of this, he remarked, “He was the best of the Jews.”
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) instructed the martyrs to be buried still covered with blood, in the condition that they had fallen. Two or three of the martyrs were buried in a single grave. In some cases, he directed his Companions to shroud the martyrs in pairs. The martyr who had learned more of the Qur’an was lowered in the grave first. Paying tribute to their sacrifice in the cause of Allah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, “I shall be a witness unto them on the Day of Resurrection.”
- As they retrieved the bodies of their martyred brothers, the people came upon the body of Hanzlah bin Abu Amer (may Allah be pleased with him) above the earth with water dripping from it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) explained to his men, “The angels are bathing him.” Apparently, the newly married Hanzlah had just consummated his marriage when the call for Jihad was made. Without even stopping to bathe, he left his bride and rushed into the battlefield. Hanzlah fought heroically and was martyred, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) explained that the angels were bathing him to purify his body. Hanzlah was forever remembered as “Ghaseel Al-Malaaika” (one bathed by the angels).
- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) used to visit the graves of the martyrs of Uhud and thus it is sunnah to also visit them. However, care should be taken not to engage in any innovative or non-Muslim practices such as supplicating to the martyrs, throwing letters or money into the graveyard, the tying of threads or tawaf.
Cave of Uhud
This naturally formed cave, on the side of Mount Uhud facing Masjid-e-Nabwi is where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) took refuge after being wounded during the Battle of Uhud. He was carried there on the back of Talha (may Allah be pleased with him).
(more to follow)
References: Wikipedia
(more to follow)
References: Wikipedia
Al-Ghars well
Located approximately one kilometer north of Masjid Quba, the Al-Ghars well was a place from which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) drank and made a request that he be bathed with its water after his demise.
Ibn Majar quoted Ali ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) as saying, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:
“When I die, wash me with seven waterskins from Al-Ghars Well. He (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) also used to drink from this well.”
References: AlMiskeenah.com
Ibn Majar quoted Ali ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) as saying, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said:
“When I die, wash me with seven waterskins from Al-Ghars Well. He (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) also used to drink from this well.”
References: AlMiskeenah.com