City of Makkah

Makkat Al Mukarramah

Makkat al-Mukarramah or Makkah, is a city in the Makkah province of Saudi Arabia. Islamic tradition attributes the beginning of Mecca to Ishmael's descendants. Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in Islam. Every year more than 13 million Muslims visit Mecca annually, including several million who perform the Hajj (pilgrimage).  As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the Muslim world. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city. Mecca and Medina are the only two places where the Quran was revealed.

Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage to Mecca attracts millions of Muslims from all over the world. There are two pilgrimages: the Hajj, and the Umrah.

The Hajj, the 'greater' pilgrimage is performed annually. Once a year, the Hajj, the greater pilgrimage, takes place in Mecca and nearby sites. During the Hajj, several million people of varying nationalities worship in unison. Every adult, healthy, sane Muslim who has the financial and physical capacity to travel to Mecca and can make arrangements for the care of his/her dependents during the trip, must perform the Hajj once in a lifetime.

Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, is not obligatory, but is recommended in the Qur'an. Often, they perform the Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, while visiting the Masjid al-Haram.

About HAJJ – Pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Mecca

Hajj

1. Introduction

Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj was made obligatory in the 9th year of Hijra. The Holy Prophet sent off 300 Muslims under the leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him) to Mecca so that they could perform Hajj. That was the year when it was banned for the Mushrikeen (those who associate partners with Allah) to enter Ka’ba. It was also made unlawful to perform Tawaaf (circling of Ka’ba) with naked body.

The following year, 10th Hijra, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) announced a head of time he himself would perform Hajj that year. He led tens of thousands of Muslims to Hajj that year and demonstrated to Muslims how to perform all the rites and rituals of the Hajj. This Hajj is known in history as Hajjatul Wida’ or Farewell Pilgrimage because this proved to be the last Hajj the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) performed. At the end of this farewell pilgrimage, the divine revelation that had started some 22 years ago came to an end with the following verse of Surah Al-Maidah:

“This day have I completed My commandments for you, and have brought to its fullness the favor that I have bestowed upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion”

.Hajj is an act of worship just like Salat (five daily prayers) and Sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan). Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca in the last month of Muslim calendar and worship Allah. Hajj is a special worship that lasts for several days. This is an occasion that brings Muslims of all countries, colors, and races to one place – the Ka’ba. This is a unique opportunity of worshipping Allah collectively in a large gathering at one place.c

Raining at Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah

…its been raining in the City of Light…

as well as raining with new Hujjaj…

with hearts flowing with gratitude…

senses with awe…

intentions focused…

steps with direction…

souls with hope…

and aspirations…

to be cleansed…

faults rectified…

Iman strengthened..

deeds accepted…

worship deepened…

faith renewed…

glory restored…

peace to descend…in abundance equal to every drop of rain commanded to sustain and nourish…

and salutations upon our Beloved al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…

equal to the number of drops that have fallen from the beginning of time, multiplied by the number yet to fall, multiplied by the number just fallen these past days over his Mubarak Dome of Felicity, multiplied by the number that has ever showered his Radiant City multiplied by the number of breaths of the total number of Hujjaj to grace the Sacred Places this year.

Iman ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Alawi al-Haddad Rahmatullah alaihi, (may we recall the anniversary of his demise being on the 8^th Dhul Qa’ada with prayers for him and his lineage) complemented the Imam Busayri’s famous poem the Mudariyya (transliteration, translation) by adding additional verses. With every two couplets of the original Imam al-Haddad added an additional three, thus multiplying the blessings upon the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Hence it is known as the Quintet or Takhmis. It is assumed that this poem was penned in 1079 the year Imam al-Haddad performed Hajj.

I include a selection from this Quintet. (from the Key to Arriving at the Door of the Messenger)

May the fragrance be guided to his presence in a sequence,

By the numbers of people that fill the streets,

Whenever the eyes blink,

May it be multiplied by the number of leaves that the trees hold,

And by every letter ever to be uttered, read and scribed.

And by the number of everything that Allah has bestowed or taken,

And by the number of portions of sustenance that have always been distributed,

And by the number of souls in the creation that seek sustenance,

And by the weight of the mountains

Followed by the drops of water and rain.

And by all the hours that have passed by in the universe from eternity,

And by every creature that has walked on foot, on the face of the earth,

And by the number of all the nations that Allah has created,

And by the number of birds, beast, fish,

Followed by the jinn, angels and human.

May the blessing be coupled with endless peace,

May its fragrance rise among the people,

By the number of plants on the earth that have been consumed,

By the number of atoms, ants and all the grains,

And also by the number of hairs, wool, feathers and fur.

And by the number of all things in existence, of every kind,

And by the number of all the things that are in Allah’s knowledge,

And by the amount of all sustenance that Allah has distributed,

And by the amount of knowledge that Allah encompasses,

And by what the Pen of decree and destiny has written.

And by the number of all the wonders on the earth,

And by the number of people who travel its highlands,

And by the number of things that rise to the highest level,

And by the number of all the blessings that Allah has bestowed

Upon the creation from the time of their creation to the time of their resurrection.

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.

mu’alla [Makkah al-Mukarramah]

"What an excellent place this graveyard is." said our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

Mu’alla, the Makkan Maqbarah in the only valley, east of Masjid al-Haram, that precisley faces Qibla, is the resting place ofUmmul Mu’mineen Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha as well as many Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum, Tabi’een, Awliya Rahmatullah alaihum and distinguished scholars. Also known as Al-Hujun, where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would frequently visit.

An historic photo of how Mu’alla was before the demolition of the tombs. The main central tomb was of Ummul Mu’mineen Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha. Others known to be resting here include Abd Manaf, the great, great-grandfather, Hashim the great-grandfather, Abdul Muttalib the grandfather and Qasim the son of the our Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

Another closer view of the tomb of Ummul Mu’mineen Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha.

Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha died on the 10th of Ramadan of the 10th year of the Proclamation of Islam. Also named the Year of Sorrow as our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam also buried his loved uncle and guardian Abu Talib one month later. Some narrations say Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam dug her Mubarak grave, others say he entered it while placing her body therein and after smoothing earth over it. Allahu ‘Alum.

The Prophet SallAllahu alahi wasallam was later to remark of his beloved Khadijah that "she believed in me when all others disbelieved; she held me truthful when others called me a liar; she sheltered me when others abandoned me; she comforted me when others shunned me; and Allah Ta’ala granted me children by her while depriving me of children by other women."

Peace on you, O the mother of the pure Imams

Peace be on you, O the mother of the believing men

Peace be on you, O the first of the believing women

Peace be on you, O the sincere lady among the devoted ones

Peace be on you, O the chief lady of the sacrosanct (haram)

And the queen of Mecca

Peace be on you, O the first one to believe in the Apostle of Allah from among the women

Peace be on you, O the one who observed servitude as it ought to be observed,

submitted herself and discharged her wealth in the service of the chief of the Prophets.

Peace be on you, O the companion of the beloved of the Lord of the Heaven.

The spouse of the epitome of the chosen ones.

O the daughter of Ibraheem, the friend (of Allah)

Peace be on you, O the one to whom Jibraeel used to salute and used to convey to her the salutations from Allah, the Majestic.

Peace be on you, O the protector of the religion of Allah.

Peace be on you, O the helper of the Apostle of Allah.

Peace be on you, O the one whose burial was arranged by the Apostle of Allah and he entrusted her to the Mercy of Allah.

I bear witness that you are esteemed near Allah and the chosen one among His nation and that Allah has placed you in His Mercy in a place built of ruby and in the highest grades of Paradise

May Allah send salutations upon you and His Mercy and Blessings

Source

The mountain and valley in the 50’s…

…and now.

The graves of our notable predecessors are behind the green gate and grills….

….while others are placed in walled areas as such…

…quite different from Jannatul Baqi.

Asma bint Abi Bakr RadhiAllahu anha.

Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu, the eldest son of Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu.

Abd Allah ibn Zubayr RadhiAllahu anhu, was the Grandson of Abu Bakr, nephew of our Lady Aishah, son of Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam, one of the ten guaranteed Jannah and Asma (known as the one with the two waist belts). His fellow Sahaabah said three thingsof him: his bravery, eloquence and worship. He was the first child to be born in Medinah. May Allah be pleased with them all.

Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib, the loved Uncle of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and the father of Ali RadhiAllahu anhu. He was the head of the Banu Hashim clan and married to Fatima bint Asad RadhiAllahu anha, who rests in Jannatul Baqi.

May Allah Ta’ala perfume all these homes of dust with a fragrant breeze from Jannah and fill them with Nur and Sakeenah, forgive all the inhabitants and unite them all in His Garden. Ameen.

[The first four and the last photos from a google search, and the three individual graves a sharing from an ‘Ashiq, Alhumdulillah and JazakumuLlahu khairan, the others from our visit last week]

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.

Makkah al-Mukarramah

The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka; full of blessing and of guidance for all beings. (3:96)

May this blessing and guidance reach to the far corners of the Universe and the deepest recesses of every heart. The spiritual Barakah emanating from Baitul Allah is felt as a soothing balm erasing every trace of anxiety, remorse and all that does not resonate with the beauty and bliss of being in such a close proximity to our Rabb Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.

The Hadith related by Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu states that our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihiwasallam said that sins are expiated from the performance of one ‘Umrah to the next. How exquisite is the sensation of being a fragment of the Ummah participating in the ritual whereby accumulated sins are eradicated, but more so when the intention is for the sake of Allah Ta’ala, as He Himself has said with His Divine Speech:

And accomplish the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allah. (2:196)

The following photos are a sample selected over three days and nights from the copious ones taken whilst present in this City of Honouring, ‘visiting a populated place’, as is the translation of the word ‘Umrah. Though as some of the images show, during this time between the season of Ramadhan and Hajj, the attendees were very few compared to a mere few weeks ago. We were exceptionally blessed by the plans of the Best of Planners Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, to once more be gifted this opportunity and this view! Alf Alf Alf as-ShukriLlah!

The tower on the right is the Hajar Tower where fire engulfed the top ten storeys. The damage could be seen from the opposite side facing the street.

Overlooking the new Masaa, the Safa end with a new minaret under construction. Immediately behind the Tower on the right is a corner of the Palace complex. While the across the temporary extension of the courtyard the Mubarak birthplace of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam can be seen.

From the Mubarak birthplace on the far upper right, to the Muabrak place where the house of our Lady Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha was…a duplicate image below, with the green dot indicating where Allah Ta’ala chose for the Best of Creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to become manifest on earth, and the blue dot indicating the approximate position where he SallAllahu alaihi wasallam spent his married life, and where his six children were born. SubhanAllah…..

….all so close to the Sacred House. How prodigious the time must have been then. It was emotional enough to keep meditating from this height on our glorious past, let alone trying to allow the heart’s imagination to be back more than 1400 years.

The Abraj al-Bayt complex of towers is adjacent to the Adjyad Hospital from where the bodies of the deceased arrive to Masjid al-Haram for the Janazah. They are bourne aloft a narrow stretcher carried by loved ones the short distance across a road and then the courtyard. The small cluster in the above photo, are brothers about to enter Haram, carrying a mayyit about half an hour before Salatul Asr. Once inside, the stretcher is initially placed on the floor of the corridor next to the area where the Imam leads Salat. Once Salat is over, it is moved to the Mataf for the prayers to be read, and then journey continues back across the courtyard to be transported to the graveyard. Some days there were multiple souls returning to their Rabb, Inna LiLlahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon. Unlike in Madinah where all are draped in green, various colours are used in Makkah; I saw brown, blue, black, fawn and sometimes a traditional tribal patterned shawl.

Insha’Allah, the next few posts will share various aspects of Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

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.