And You give wealth and sustenance to whom You will, without limit.
(3:27)
…and He is the Best of those who give sustenance.
(23:72)

And such a place, Madinatun Nabi to earn ones sustenance! SubhanAllah! Day and night, thousands offer skills and labour that benefits, especially those blessed to be working in and around Masjid Nabawi.

The ambitious courtyard umbrella project seems to employ hundreds, working throughout the night to avoid the searing day temperatures, as well as meeting deadlines for completion. (Readers in the past have asked for details of the umbrellas, and even though this site details the information about the 12 internal umbrellas, it provides fascinating design, mechanical and structural aspects of these amazingly engineered ‘parasols’ Click on the side panel to view diagrams and photos) Here a team of workers wheel a trolley of external flaps to be installed….

…from one of the temporary workshop, storage compounds.These are the gold trimmed protection flaps, that glint as the sun hits the tiny mosaic panels that cover the entire surface. From the same reference above:

Pin-connected protection flaps of especially lightweight carbon-fibre-reinforced resin laminate are fixed along the diagonal arms.
They are moved by a mechanism of struts and hinges installed in the arm and driven by the arm movement. They close around the membrane, when the parasols are closed. When the parasols are closed these protection flaps, together with the fixed sheet flashing in the upper part of the arms, form a stiff envelope for a light fabric membrane.

SubhanAllah for the knowledge, expertise and abilities Allah Ta’ala has bestowed upon man.

Teams constantly are employed polishing the many brass fixtures inside and out the Masjid complex….barriers, the decorative features around the light pillars and doors, the brass touches on the external fences and the many railings sectioning off the wheelchair access ramps.

The funnel-shaped membrane is made from white PTFE-fabric. Edges and ridges are reinforced by a webbing. The underside of the fabric is decorated with ornaments in blue colour. The fabric was developed specially for this project, its thread thickness and type of weave were modified repeatedly, until all structural and mechanical requirements on strength and durability were fulfilled. The material is resistant against UV-radiation, chemicals and fire, has a low surface friction and is therefore a near-ideal material for convertible sun roofs.

Brothers were dusting the enclave with a feather duster attached to a long extension while perched high up in the cherry picker, disturbing the pigeons and birds who feel this is their abode after sunset.

And regardless of the velvety midnight sky, the sidewalk vendors are still hopeful of sales to add to their rizq. However the police and Muttawa, also seeking their sustenance had other views and were attempting to move them away, with much yelling and abusing from both sides, as well as providing an amusing interlude for passers by.

It is crucial for us to understand that trusting in God’s provision for us should never prevent us from working to earn a living…

The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam implied this when he said, “So stay warily conscious of God and beautify the way you beseech and request.” he implied that it is acceptable to request material support and to seek to earn a living in the world. If relying on God negated the need to request, search and earn, then the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would never had declared it acceptable and admonished us to beautify the way we go about it. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam never said, “Don’t request,” but rather said, “Beautify the way you beseech and request.” It is as if he were telling us, “When you seek provision and request it, beautify the way that you seek it. Be polite, courteous and humble in presenting your needs, always turning over fianl say in every matter to God alone.”

There are many benefits to engaging the world through hard work. The True One knows the weakness of the human hearts, acknowledges our inability to clearly see what is apportioned to us, and compensates for our frailty by guaranteeing that we will receive our provision. In divine wisdom, God has allowed us the option of working and relying on intermediate means for earning, as a way of receiving this provision. Through divine benevolence, God has granted this to us as a support for our feeble hearts and repose for our forgetful souls. Source

Our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “If you rely on Allah Ta’ala for your provision, as you should, then Allah provides for you as He provides for the birds. They wake up hungry in the morning and rest well fed in the evening without a care.” He is teaching us that to work for a livelihood is the norm of our religious community. The birds are analogous to us in our work. We wake in the morning to earn and acquire; in the evening we return home to rest and enjoy what we earn.

But sometimes the day and night are reversed for man, and the disturbed Haram pigeons!

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.

SubhanAllah, the heart turns to Makkah, the City of Honouring during Allah Ta’ala’s month of Rajab. His House, symbolizing the focus of worship, is our earthly link to the One. A deeper affinity between our yearning heart and this majestic Cube, the world axis of the Islamic universe that connects Heaven and earth with our human domain, seems to strike a deeper level of adoration through photos of times gone by. Barakah appears to flow from them. The Absoluteness of Allah Ta’ala resonates through the simpler features, effusing a sense of being at the Centre, of realizing the journey’s end, SubhanAllah! The goal of terrestrial wayfaring seems to have been reached.

May hearts use this Mubarak month to establish stronger links to our Rabb, seeking His forgiveness as we turn our attention to Baitullah and all it represents. May these images inflame a renewed passion, Insha’Allah.

JazakiLlahu khairan to a dear sister who shared these photos, which can also be accessed at qadeem.com as imprinted on some of them.

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.

…to visit the revamped site of my ‘partner in crime’. Our ‘crime’ being that we wander the streets of Madinatun Nabi with CAMERAS! tut tut tut!

Click on the image to see how Sister Iman views our Sacred Places, read of her conversion and delve into her artwork. May Allah Ta’ala continue to bless her, Ameen.

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.

Our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam never ate refined bread. Course barley flour bread was all he ever ate if it was available, and even then in minute portions, always preferring to give to others in favour of himself and his noble family. Tirmidhi’s Shamaa’il includes various Ahadith concerning bread and our Blessed Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

Whereas now, as one walks the maze of streets and alleys defining the residential areas of Madinatul Nabi, volumes of excess bread scraps are a common sight. There are organized receptacles, like the one above…

or empty flour bags, brimming with dry old bread seen beside many of the bread shops, or plastic bags hang from makeshift hooks, or on left on ledges, windowsills ready to be collected by brothers who regularly walk the streets with wheelbarrows. Groups gather in the neighbourhoods crushing this discarded bread to be used for animal fodder.

Many brothers are involved with collecting fresher left over bread from hotels and restaurants which is then distributed to the poor and hungry at various designated places around Haram. Often tea and simple meals are also distributed with this bread.

Alhumdulillah for all devoting their time, some on a daily basis, collecting and then caring for and serving others. I have seen brothers carrying very heavy bags of bread from various food outlets in the main shopping malls around Haram. May their efforts be accruing mountains of rewards in their Akhirah, Ameen.

More ‘bread’ stories from this previous post.

~*~

Milk is another staple and nourishing food Allah Ta’ala has blessed His creation with.  Many stories are told of incidents involving milk and Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his Sahabah RadhiAllah; sheep whose supply had dried up suddenly flowing with milk, dates soaked in milk, miracles where a small amount sufficed many.

Narrated Urwa RadhiAllahu anhu: Aisha RadhiAllahu anha said to me, “O my nephew! We used to see the crescent, and then the crescent and then the crescent in this way we saw three crescents in two months and no fire for cooking used to be made in the houses of Allah’s Apostle. I said, “O my aunt! Then what use to sustain you?” ‘Aisha RadhiAllahu anha said, “The two black things: dates and water, and our neighbors from Ansar had some Manarh and they used to present Allah’s Apostle some of their milk and he used to make us drink.” SubhanAllah!

Around the corner is a shop that has fascinated me for years. Without fail it opens early every morning, until late in the evening. For decades the dedicated brother has been running this business. He patiently sits waiting for customers to buy dried milk. It has a rancid aroma that reminds me of my former ‘farming’ days.

He insisted on having his photo taken, making sure that I included the framed Ayat and the television with the constant fuzz and static of a Qura’n program that fills this tiny, rather grimy space, and the immediate area beyond the always open doorway.

‘…dried milk (laban) known as called “madheer”. Many eat it as a snack. The sister gave me some to try, it is sour and salty.  They boil the milk, drain any liquid, form patties, then  let it dry.  It can be dissolved and used in cooking. One other older sister some time ago sitting at another place selling her goods told me some add it to their kabsah, the famous Arab meat on rice dish.  I became the audience of a dramatic enactment by this dear sister showing me that it is extremely effective for preventing morning sickness during pregnancy.  Plus due to it being a non perishable foodstuff, able to withstand the heat and not requiring refrigeration, it would be a staple commodity with the Bedouins.’

The scales and weights look so ancient, seeming to sing refrains of gratitude for a life time of Halal Rizq. May the Scales weigh heavily for this brother and all who labour so hard, and yet so simply, in the desert clime of this Mubarak City of the Prophet, Ameen.

One narration by Abu Said al-Khudri RadhiAllahu anhu says, “We used to pay the zakat al-fitr with a sa of wheat, or a sa of barley, or a sa of dates, or a sa of dried sour milk, or a sa of raisins, using the sa of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.”

Scenes such as these seem to be from a time warp, and are such a contrast to what the majority of pilgrims see when visiting this Radiant City. They are humbling and connect the heart to those glorified days of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Reminders. Reminders. May hearts be forever reminded of such glorious times and never lose connecting back, and thus forward to the eternity of the Garden of Bliss, Insha’Allah.

The sisters tending to these ’stores’ sell madheer. Wandering these streets and seeing people engaged in such simple life styles, earning meagre wages is truly humbling.

I could not resist these Nasrudin ‘bread and milk’ tales. Apart from their deep spiritual teachings, the genre fits with these Madanian ‘bread and milk’ vignettes.

One day the Nasrudin went to a rich merchant’s house for a feast. As he was wearing laborers clothes he was shown to the servant’s entrance and given a few scraps. Next week he was invited to the same place and he dressed in his best attire looking as good as any prince. He was welcomed at the front door and given the place of the honor next to the host. He ate a morsel of bread and then started putting all the rich food offered him into his sleeves. His host asked him, “What are doing my good man?” “I’m feeding my clothes,” Nasrudin replied, “They deserve the good food since my worth was established last week.”

~*~

The king’s three scholars had accused Nasrudin of heresy, and so he was brought into the king’s court for trial. In his defense, Nasrudin asked the scholars, “Oh wise men, what is bread?” The first scholar said, “Bread is sustenance; a food.” The second scholar said, “Bread is a combination of flour and water exposed to the heat of a fire.” The third scholar said, “Bread is a gift from God.” Nasrudin spoke to the king, “Your Majesty, how can you trust these men? Is it not strange that they cannot agree on the nature of something they eat every day, yet are unanimous that I am a heretic?”

~*~

One day Nasrudin and his friend stopped at a little restaurant. They were both very thirsty and decided to share a glass of milk. When the milk came, the friend suggested that Nasrudin drink half first.”I have got a little sugar with me,” said the friend, “but it is just enough for me. So after you have drunk your half I will add the sugar to my half.”"Why don’t you add it now?” Nasrudin said. “I will only drink my half.” “No, no. This little bit of sugar cannot sweeten a full glass of milk,” said the man. So Nasrudin went and got some salt from the kitchen.”Well then,” he said. “You can sweeten your half later. But I will have my half after adding this salt to it.”

~*~

Mulla Nasrudin sends his son to get some milk. Just before the boy is on his way, he says to him: “Take care and don’t spell the milk!” And he closes the sentence with a hard slap in the boy’s face. “Are you out of your mind?” his wife shouts, “He hasn’t done anything at all and he did not spill the milk!” Very gently, our hero replies: “Woman! As usual you do not understand a thing. What good would it do to slap the boy after the milk is spilt?”

~*~

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.

O Allah, grant blessing and peace to our master Muhammad, the bringer of glad tidings and the conveyer, to those who labor of what Allah the Magnificent has said:

I do not waste the labor of any laborer among you, whether male or female (3:195).

Whoever does right, whether male or female. And is a believer, such will enter the Garden, where they will be nourished without stint (40:40).

This is one of the many stirring blessings upon our Beloved Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam from Basha’ir Khayrat, Glad Tidings of Good Things by ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani Rahmtaullahi alaihi. Insha’Allah read this series of sublime invocations, and be inspired by the inherent rewards for this recitation.

Living in this City of Radiance and Light has the most obvious of blessings, in that one is in close proximity to the Best of Creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, Masha’Allah. Also hidden throughout the Mubarak Sanctuary are many gifted residents chosen by Allah Ta’ala as neighbours to His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Alhumdulillah, that it has been written to meet many of these fellow Madanians, a special one being Sister Baraka.

Masha’Allah she has been blessed with various admirable qualities, one of which is her expressive and creative talents to artistically compose art work that reflects a deep love for the Divine Words, Hadith and Salawaat.

This is a detail of her visual interpretation of the Basha’ir Khayrat, along with the original hand written text in Arabic that she worked from whilst designing the composition. This alone has a beauty of its own, with tattered edges and folds so lovingly referred to as the work evolved.

Each Salawaat, and each accompanying Ayat is enclosed in a uniquely designed sphere, decorated with delicate floral motifs. Baraka mainly works with inks to achieve an enhanced vibrancy of colour, thus allowing her to produce intricate details that captivate the heart with her fine pen work.

Baraka has completed commissioned works by renowned people in the Kingdom, and continues to take individual orders, as well as having many of her pieces available as prints. Insha’Allah, her ‘Baraka Light’ enterprise is becoming recognized by many as they purchase her work to adorn special places and to gift to others. Plans to create card sets, calendars and a delightful book for children presenting Allah Ta’ala’s Creation through her drawings along with Ayat, Ahadith and Du’a are unfolding.

The following are samples of a small selection from her repertory.

May Allah Ta’ala continue to bless her talents, and Insha’Allah bring success to ‘Baraka Light’ ventures.May all her efforts be infused with the Mubarak Light of Madinatul Nabi, Ameen.

For the moment inquiries can be addressed through this site, but it is envisaged that ‘Baraka Light’ will soon be available for orders and purchase from its own space, Insha’Allah.

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.

A complete recitation of Al-Busairi’s magnificent spiritually uplifting Qasidah Burdah incorporating 63 different styles by Hafiz Muhammad Bilal Qadri. The first track is a brief introduction, in Urdu, by Hazrat Allama Muhammad Irfan Qadiri Ziaee from Noor Masjid, Karachi, Pakistan  with a Du’a made by Maulana Muhammad Basheer Farooqi concluding the recordings.

CD1:

http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD1/01%20Track%201.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD1/02%20Track%202.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD1/03%20Track%203.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD1/04%20Track%204.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD1/05%20Track%205.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD1/06%20Track%206.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD1/07%20Track%207.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD1/08%20Track%208.mp3

CD2:

http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD2/01%20Track%201.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD2/02%20Track%202.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD2/03%20Track%203.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD2/04%20Track%204.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD2/05%20Track%205.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD2/06%20Track%206.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD2/07%20Track%207.mp3
http://www.mtkarachi.net/QasidaBurda/CD2/08%20Track%208.mp3

Appreciative ‘JazakumuLlahu khairans’ to Brother Irfan for sharing this.

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.

Allah decrees that there are twelve months - ordained in Allah’s Book on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth - four months of which are sacred.. (9:36)

Rajab, Dhu’l Qa’da, Dhu’l Hijjah and Muharram

Our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Shabaan blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadhan.

and

Rajab is Allah’s month, Sha’ban is my month and Ramadan is the month of my Community.

While many Ulema say: Rajab is the month of repentance, and Sha’aban is the month of Salawaat upon the Prophet, and Ramadan is the month of Qur’an. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

O Majestic Moon

Shyly appearing in your silvery sequined Rajabi shawl.

Lingering in a sky silent to our earthly ears,

but resplendent in the symphony of orbs and Angels.

Constant in your numinous incantations of the Sovereign Lord.

SubhanAllah SubhanAllah SubhanAllah.

O Chanting Moon

Divulge the secret of this

Enduring glorification.

A misty gossamer veil

Conceals your delight of announcing this

Month of Almighty Allah.

The void is splintered

into a myriad of tiny sparks of light

by the clink of a key you drop

on mirror marble

of my heart.

Inviting.

Enticing me to unlock the accumulated sediment.

Repent, atone

prepare.

O Felicitous Moon,

By His permission

you exude the fragrance of Heaven.

An intoxicating mix of Sidr and Musk,

Seeping earthward.

Mingling with the perfumed pearls ascending from Al Habib Al Mustafa

SallAllahu alaihi wasallam

as his melodious response to your heralding this blessed month

is carried on a scented zephyr

to The Throne of Divinity.

“O Allah, bestow Your grace upon us in Rajab and Sha’ban, and allow us

to live into Ramadhan.”

O Dignified Moon,

Your delicate wispy crescent,

emitting a shimmering aura of

PEACE, HOPE, STABILITY,

beholds the expectation of pilgrims

amassing around the slender minarets.

Sentinels extending skyward,

as do the outstretched hands,

Cupped,

waiting

to catch

Allah’s unlimited bounties.

Ameen, Ameen, Ameen,

To every prayer recited every second every where.

Ameen, Ameen, Ameen.

O Compassionate Moon,

As I glance at you

wiping your countenance

with a passing cloud,

A splash of tear falls on my cheek.

Falling falling falling

From your sobbing

as a shooting star.

Mingling with the copious weeping

Of the bereft Ummah.

May our lamenting

Be answered

Cultivating golden bursts of

Unity.

O Virtuous Moon,

A suspended ship

Sailing the vast oceans of the sky,

smuggling our awe and wonder.

While captives in your graceful embrace

we ponder the Greatness of Our Creator.

Release your clasp as

I am ready to forsake my all.

Surrendering

To the Owner of your Rajab cycle.

Revisiting, and Insha’Allah do visit here, here, here and here for further resources and practices related to this auspicious month.

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.