The blessing of being in the presence of ones Shaykh whilst contemplating Allah Ta’ala’s House flow in abundance, so how are they when one follows their Shaykh in performing Tawaf, and is in attendance when he raises his hands in Du’a at one of the Mubarak locations where Du’a is accepted and is close by during Muraqabah and to share this other with other mureeds? And if this is not blessings enough, then for the bounties to flow even more by receiving a memorable lesson in the middle of the night in the courtyard of Masjid Al-Haram with an accompanying diagram explaining where Du’a is accepted around Ka’abah. Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah! May Allah Ta’ala protect him, increase him in knowledge and continue to raise his rank higher and higher

Ijaza was given for the diagram to be shared here, Masha’Allah!

• Al-Hajarul Al-Aswad, any place along the line radiating out from the Black Stone (bottom left hand corner of the above diagram, then proceeding anti-clockwise)
• Multazam, the area between Al-Hajarul Al-Aswad and the Ka’abah Door.
• Place where the original Zamzam Well is located.
• The Ka’abah Door, Babur Rahmah.
• Maqam Ibrahim.
• Within the boundaries of the Hateem, under the Meezab.
• Inside Ka’abah, for brothers who may be invited during one of the ceremonies for washing the inside. The place where our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was known to have offered Salat at the time of the conquest of Makkah corresponds with that section where the former door is sealed over. Originally there were two doors to the House.
• Moving slightly towards Rukn Yemeni marked the place that was the Qiblah that Adam Alaihis Salam faced.
• Rukn Yemeni
• At the half way mark along the south eastern wall, where we recite: Rabbanaa aatinaa fiddunyaa Hasanatan wa fil aakhirati Hasanatan waqinaa A’dhabannaar. It was explained that our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam prayed here when Qiblah was at Baitul Maqdis and if one was to draw a line from this point Madinatun Nabi and Al-Aqsa would be on this very line, SubhanAllah!
• Safa
• Marwa
• and Al-Meilain Al-Akhdarain, the two sections were men run between Safa
  and Marwa.

And those who strive in Us- We will certainly guide them to Our paths.

(29:69)

The one, who tries to reach Me, knows Me.

The one, who knows Me, wants Me.

The one, who wants Me, seeks Me.

The one, who seeks Me, finds Me

The one, who finds Me, serves Me.

The one, who serves Me, remembers Me.

The one, who remembers Me,

I remember him with My Mercy.

Be alone for My prayers.

Purify your deeds from showing off

Then I will make you wear the clothes of My love.

Turn towards Me and be ready for My remembrance,

I will remember you in front of My angels.

So says Allah Ta’ala in His Hadith Qudsi. Such expressions of deep and profound love our Rabb Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has for us. So it becomes incumbent on us to strive with our utmost towards Him, seeking His favours, following His Commands and making earnest supplications to Him, Insha’Allah.

Read about the various changes to the Ka’abah throughout the ages here where this older photo is from. The first mountain Allah Ta’ala ever created, Abu Qubays visible in the background, before it became the foundation for the royal palace, as seen in the following photo. Also note the changes to the masonry work. The older rendering around the massive blue stone bricks is irregular with thicker mortar work.

On the Day of Arafat when the new Kiswah adorns the Ka’abah, the edges are folded up revealing the evidence of the sealed door on the south west side of BaituLlah. Comparisons between the different style of the Kiswahs is interesting too.

An inspiring account of one Walis Du’a while at the Ka’abah:

Zun Noon Misri Rahmatullah alaihi, says: “Once I was performing Tawaf around the Ka’aba. Everybody’s eyes were fixed on the Ka’aba when suddenly a man approached the Ka’aba and said: ‘O my Lord, I am Your poor servant who is astray from Your court and who has run away from Your door; I beg of You that thing which is nearest to You and I beg of You that I be allowed such worship of You which You love most; O Allah, I beg of You through those saintly ones and Your Nabis that You grant me to drink the wine of Your love; O Lord remove from me the ignorance that prevents me from reaching knowledge (Ma’firat) of You that I may eagerly reach unto You, and converse with You silently in my desire.’

Thereafter having said this prayer, he cried bitterly for a long while.

He cried so much that his tears flowed to the ground. Then suddenly he started laughing and went away.”
Zun Noon Misri Rahmatullah alaihi says: “I followed him and thought within myself that this man must be either be a perfect sufi or a mad man. He went out of the mosque towards the outskirts of town. He became aware of me and said: ‘What do you want? Why do you follow me, please leave me alone.’

I said:  ‘May Allah have mercy on you, what is your name?’

He replied: ‘Abdullah’ (servant of Allah)

I asked: ‘What is your father’s name?’

He replied: ‘Abdullah’ (servant of Allah)

I asked: ‘Every one is a servant of Allah. But what is your real name?’

He replied: ‘My father named me Sa’doon.’

I asked: ‘Are you then not he who is known as Sa’doon, the mad one?’

He replied: ‘yes, I am he.’

I asked: ‘Who are those saintly ones through whom you prayed to Allah?’

He replied: ‘They are the ones who walk towards Allah in a similar manner as he who walks that has made the attaining of Allah’s love their aim in life. And they have separated themselves from this world in the same manner as him whose heart has been snatched away.’
Then he continued: ‘O Zun Noon, I have heard you say that you would like to know the Asbaabe Ma’rifat.’

I replied: ‘Yes, for I want to benefit from your knowledge.’

Then he recited two couplets in Arabic:

‘The hearts of the Aarifeen are sunk in the remembrance of the Lord at all times.
And so does the heart become so involved that near Him it makes its home.
And I have with such sincerity fallen in love with Him. That nothing can now remove from my heart the love I bear for Him.’”

Then I will make you wear the clothes of My love.

AMEEN AMEEN 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.

After Adhan.

The Imam is already in position for Salat, facing Maqam Ibrahim, with the last few waiting for Iqama to join the Saff. Police stand at various places throughout the Salat.

Immediately Salam is recited brothers rush towards Hajaratul Aswad, Multazam and the Babul Rahmah…

…while the Imam (on the red prayermat) sits facing away from Ka’aba waiting to offer Salatul Janazah and Tawaf resumes.

There were approximately five to six bodies after each of the five prayers during this Makkan trip. They are placed on the marble within the Mataf when it is Fajr, Maghrib and Esha, but are placed under the Ottoman arches during the heat of the day of Zuhur and Asr times, then carried to the edge of the Mataf for the Salatul Janazah, with the Imam reciting the prayer from there also. Once the mayyit is placed on the ground they seem to be left alone, which puzzled me, but then I realized that once the brothers had laid them down they went to perform Tawaf and or Nafl Salat, reassembling around their loved ones for the Janazah.

This is the area of Mu’alla reserved for our esteemed and noble ancestors. Refer to a previous post on Mu’alla for details. After renewing the bravery and dedication of Asma bint Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anha with the Ghar Thawr episode, the love for her gallantry stirs even more knowing that she also rests here, SubhanAllah!

Rekindle your love for our Lady Khadija RadhiAllahu anha who rests behind the green door, by listening to this eight part series by Sheikh Ninowy, may Allah Ta’ala preserve, protect and increase him in knowledge, Ameen.

This is the area, to the right of the above photos, where those whose Janazah in Masjid Al-Haram are rested. There is also an additional extension area across the road. Brothers are seem here saying their final farewells as the deceased are being welcomed by all residents, including our Lady Khadija RadhiAllahu anha, SubhanAllah!

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 on the Day of Rising with our Beloved Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and all the inhabitants of Jannatul Baqi and give them an eternal abode in His Garden. Ameen.

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

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.

The summit of Jabal Thawr, unlike the landscape of the ascent, is lunar in its formations. Weathered craters and crevices embellish the curvilinear surfaces. Sculptured boulders decorate the peak, with the most impressive one being the huge boulder Allah Ta’ala has designed and precariously placed, resting on a few pivotal points, over a series of rounded, cushion-like rocks to form the protective space that offered safety for the two blessed fugitives. SubhanAllah!

…and He shows you His signs so that you may understand.
(2:73)
…most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.
(13:3)
…most surely there are signs in this for a people who ponder;
(16:12)
…most surely there are signs in this for a people who believe.
(16:79)

…and surely the precious time spent cradled within this Mubarak cave the body seemed to melt into the security of the rocks, just as our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu must have done, while the deeper recesses of the heart pondered, reflected, renewed the Yaqin in Allah Ta’ala and meditated on the notion of understanding all the signs Allah Ta’ala presented to His two chosen companions as they embarked on a journey from the place of their birth, the place of their tribe, the place where they were gifted with Islam, the place Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam loved:

“Of all Allah’s earth, you are the dearest place to me, and the dearest to Allah, and had not my people driven me out I would not have left you.”

scorpion, spider, dove, tree…apprehension transformed into trust, fear transformed into hope, anxiety turned into submission, companionship cemented between Prophet and friend, reliance on the One Subanahu wa Ta’ala affirmed…TAWAKKAL…trust…trust…

Whoever trusts in Allah, He suffices for him. (65:3)

ALLAHU AKBAR! ALLAHU AKBAR! ALLAHU AKBAR!

Grieve not, for verily Allah is with us. (9:40)

Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu whispered to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam: “What, if they were to look through the crevice and detect us?” The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam calmly said: “Hush Abu Bakr! What do you think of those two with whom the Third is Allah.” (Bukhari)

…and Allah sent His tranquility down to him, strengthened him with forces you did not see, and rendered the word of the disbelievers low. And the word of Allah is the highest. And Allah is Mighty, Wise. (9:40)

Many tafseers say these ‘forces’ were Angels, and SubhanAllah this was the presence felt as one huddled inside this comforting space offering Salat and Salawaat on he SallAllahu alaihi wasallam who has also huddled in this very same sanctuary.

Allah Ta’ala, His Angels Alaihummas Salam, His HabibuLlah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, his closest Sahabah with his son and daughter and his feed slave, RadhiAllahu anhu were all felt! SubhanAllah! A chamber of the pure essence of love!

Allah humma Salli ‘Ala

Sayyidina Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam

The white sea in the distance are the tents of Mina.

Outdoor ‘cafes’ adjoin the Cave, where water, juice, tea, biscuits and the usual selection of trinkets and tasbihs, can be purchased. An apology was offered, saying the juice was not cold!

The welcome breeze felt whilst sitting in this cantilevered space helped to invigorated the body for the exertion needed for the descent.

Unlike the grey pigeons, three turtle doves appeared on this boulder!

One of the minarets of Masjid Al-Haram is just visible through the haze…to the right of the lowest darker partly constructed tower. Kaba’ah would be visible on a clear day if the towers were not there.

Looking across to the rock forming the roof of the Cave through this man made structure, steps leading to the main entrance in the shaded area.

A closer view showing the small entrance, which has since been excavated, with steps added for ease of entering. Doves were everywhere, SubhanAllah! Whilst inside the Cave, apart from the pounding DhikruLlah beat of the heart, their cooing was all one could hear! The sensation was what one could imagine being in the womb may feel like…a comforting darkness, the absence of struggle or wondering about survival, an enveloping tranquility and the heady heavenly fragrance of all that embodies the Mercy to Mankind SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. The notion of leaving didn’t seem an option, but reality soon startled one back into action.

Leaving was delayed as long as possible. Alhumdulillah for the huge blessing of not only completing this climb, but for the cherished time to have been alone in this treasured sanctum and for the enduring flood of lessons to be pondered over and over from this glorious chapter in the life of our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and all who loved and adored him and who were involved in his protection, SubhanAllah!

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.

Words do not come easy to describe the gift of being able to climb Jabal Thawr and spend uninterrupted quality time in Ghar Thawr. Cliches whiz through the mind, but barely reveal the extent of how the heart and soul felt, and still feel.

O Lord! What kind of fountain is the Fountain of Your Love

Of which I tasted but a drop and wept a river.*

The blessing of being in this profound confined space where our Beloved HabibuLlah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, his faithful companion Abu Bakr As-Saddiq, his son ‘AbduLlah, his daughter Asma and his freed slave ‘Amir bin Fuhairah RadhiAllahu anhumma spent days and nights in their flight from the Quraish can never be fully gratified. A dream come true for this speck. Every laboured breath on the ascent repeatedly marvelled at the details of the escape and the intricate Plans Allah Ta’ala had for their safety. One can never tire of the miracles of this story when read over and over but to actually be present on this Mubarak mountain and in this Mubarak cave opened deeper realms of appreciation for the Seerah, exploding a spiritual awakening that will forever resonate in the heart.

The beginning….the usual ‘warning’…unheeded in the determination to physically be present in this cave, fulfilling the desire to be blessed to be in the three caves (previously Jabal Nur and Jabal Uhud) that our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam spent time in…

…I had been told it was an ‘easier and gentler’ climb than Jabal Nur by sisters who had been here, but when I looked up at the task ahead I almost reneged! Alhumdulillah ALLAHU AKBAR became an invisible ‘engine’ and even though the going was slow with many stops to sit, take in the scenery, reflect on how it must have been for RasuluLlah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and all associated with his flight and catch the breath, we reached the top in about two hours. There was a small group of young lads ahead of us, but apart from that there was nobody else, except a couple of brothers who operated a small shop at the summit. Then as we were almost down, another group of brothers were beginning the ascent.

Names were left along the entire trail. It was enough for me to realize that the earth was my witness.

Various wild plants were in abundance, so beautiful in their struggle amongst hardened granite…a poignant reminder!

Allah Ta’ala’s signs displayed everywhere!

Most of the track has been sculpted with convenient ’steps’ either shaped into the surface..

…or rocks laid making the way easier.

Examining some of the more prominent signatures and the country of origin of the scribe, it seemed that every Muslim country was accounted for….

….while Allah Ta’ala’s natural ‘calligraphy’ with the expressive veins of quartz and the seepage of mineral patterns affected the Iman in a much more powerful way…

…but not so much the practice of ‘tying knots’ on the trees…I am not sure why this is done??

There are a few ’shops’ along the way, but due to it still being off season they were not attended to…the structure on the rise in the distance was one of the rest places.

Looking down the valley with the winding track…

…one of the few flat stretches…

…with Burj Al-Bait towering over Makkah in the distance…

…and the sad reality that too many of Ummah are very neglectful of the Hadith that cleanliness if half of Iman…even, or if not more so, on these Mubarak sites..

…Jabal Nur, SubhanAllah! One can hardly conjure how our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam traversed these awesome mountains…such rugged terrain…

…the Burj, beside the Haram, visibly indicates the distance and the harsh conditions they covered when escaping the Quraish…it is said that Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu anhu’s shoes became worn out, and that he tipped toes for most of the way so as not to leave actual footprints! And his son AbduLlah RadhiAllahu anhu made this journey each night, in pitch darkness, and Asma RadhiAllahu anha brought them food, and ‘Amir RadhiAllahu anhu drove his flock to disguise any signs of their movements. Can you imagine making this journey from Makkah to here now??

We were so blessed for the hazy day that Allah Ta’ala gifted us with for this climb…the clouds did not lift until after we were down, SubhanAllah, making the task less gruelling, Alhudulillah!

Immerse yourself in this recent clip of Habib Umar, may Allah Ta’ala sanctify his soul, protect his secrets and increase his rank, and his students as they fill this hallowed place with Salawaat and Du’a, SubhanAllah!

Note the linked photos are images from my dear companion who, Insha’Allah will be updating her site soon with more of her pictures from this Makkan time.

I decided to post this ‘expedition’ in two parts after realizing that 40+ photos were far too many to include in one post. So Insha’Allah more next time, and then still more to follow in documenting this Makkan interlude.

* I have quoted this some time before, but cannot find the source, apologies, and if you know, do tell, 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.

SubhanAllah, another of the highlights from the Nur of highlights of the Makkan sojourn was visiting and collecting the Mubarak water from the well in ‘Usfan that our Beloved Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam spat in when on his way to Makkah with the intention of performing Umrah in 6th AH, which was subsequently aborted, leading to the Treaty of Hudaybiyah.

This is also where the revelation of the Ayat for Salatul Khawf was sent down:

When you [Prophet] are with believers, leading them in prayer, let a group of them stand in prayer with you, taking their weapons with them, and when they have finished their prostration, let them take up their positions at the back. Then let the other group, who have not yet prayed, pray with you, also on their guard and armed with their weapons: the disbelievers would dearly love you to be heedless of your weapons and baggage, in order for them to take you in a single assault. (4:102)

Narrated AbuAyyash az-Zuraqi RadhiAllahu anhu: We accompanied the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam at ‘Usfan, when Khalid ibn al-Walid was the chief of unbelievers. We offered the noon prayer. Thereupon, the unbelievers said: We suffered from negligence; we became careless. We should have attacked them while they were praying. Thereupon the verse was revealed, relating to the shortening of the prayer (in time of danger) between the noon and afternoon (prayer). When the time of the afternoon prayer came, the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam stood facing the qiblah. The people stood in a row behind the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and there was another row behind this row. The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam bowed and all of them bowed. He then prostrated and also the row near him prostrated. The other people in the second row remained standing and stood guard over them. When they performed two prostrations and stood up, those who were behind them prostrated. The people in the front row near him then stepped backward taking the place of the people in the second row and the second row took the place of the first row. The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then bowed and all of them bowed together. Then he and the row near him prostrated themselves. The other people in the second row remained standing and stood guard over them. When the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and the row near him (i.e. the front row) were seated, the people in the second row behind them prostrated themselves. Then all of them were seated. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then uttered the salutation upon all of them. He prayed in his manner at ‘Usfan as well as at the territory of Banu Sulaym.  (Abu Dawud)

An informative clip on Salatul Khawf on islamictube.

Various other Ahadith mention incidents related to ‘Usfan:

Narrated Tawus: Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu said, “Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam travelled in the month of Ramadan and he fasted till he reached a place called ‘Usfan, then he asked for a tumbler of water and drank it by the daytime so that the people might see him. He broke his fast till he reached Mecca.” Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu used to say, “Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam fasted and sometimes did not fast while traveling, so one may fast or may not (on journeys)”  (Sahih Muslim)

Narrated Anas bin Malik RadhiAllahu anhu: We were in the company of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam while returning from ‘Usfan, and Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was riding his she-camel keeping Safiya bint Huyay RadhiAllahu anha riding behind him. His she-camel slipped and both of them fell down. Abu Talha RadhiAllahu anhu jumped from his camel and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! May Allah sacrifice me for you.” The Prophet said, “Take care of the lady.” So, Abu Talha covered his face with a garment and went to Safiya and covered her with it, and then he set right the condition of their she-camel so that both of them rode, and we were encircling Allah’s Apostle like a cover. When we approached Medina, the Prophet said, “We are returning with repentance and worshipping and praising our Lord.” He kept on saying this till he entered Medina. (Sahih Muslim)

Narrated Saburah: Ar-Rabi’ ibn Saburah said on the authority of his father Saburah RadhiAllahu anhu: We went out along with the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam till we reached ‘Usfan, Suraqah ibn Malik al-Mudlaji said to him: Apostle of Allah, explain to us like the people as if they were born today. He said: Allah, the Exalted, has included this umrah in your hajj. When you come to Mecca, and he who goes round the House, the Ka’bah, and runs between as-Safa and al-Marwah, is allowed to take off ihram except he who has brought the sacrificial animals with him. ( Abu Dawud)

‘Amir b. Wathila reported that Nafi’ ibn ‘Abd al-Harith met ‘Umar RadhiAllahu anhu at ‘Usfan as ‘Umar had employed him as collector in Mecca. ‘Umar said to Nafi’: Whom have you appointed as collector over the people of the valley? He said: Ibn Abza. ‘Umar said: Who is Ibn Abza? Nafi’ said: He is one of our freed slaves. ‘Umar said: So you have appointed a freed slave over them. Nafi’ said: He is well versed In the Book of Allah, the Exalted and Great, and he is well versed In the commandments and injunctions of the Shari’ah. ‘Umar said: The Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: By this Book, Allah would exalt some peoples and degrade others. (Sahih Muslim)

This is the sisters section of the Masjid in ‘Usfan where we prayed Asr, Allahu ‘Alum if it marks where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam offered Salatul Khawf, but in its stark and dusty simplicity one felt enveloped in a cloak of blissful Barakah, SubhanAllah!

As desolate as the surroundings of ‘Usfan are, the sense of the noble presence of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum filled the air and was felt in the billowing dust and is certainly tasted in the cherished water that returned with us and is being shared around Madinatun Nabi.

Yaa Seen. By the wise Qur’an, you [Muhammad] are truly one of the messengers sent on a straight path, with a revelation from the Almighty, the Lord of Mercy…(36:1-6)

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.

And your Lord inspired the bee, saying, ‘Build yourselves houses in the mountains and trees and what people construct.’ (16:68)

One of the numerous highlights from this blessed Makkan journey was visiting two apiaries in desert areas north of Makkah.

Having kept bees ‘way back when’ rekindled the great memories associated with working with hives. While watching these tiny insects up close once again, sent the Iman soaring! The intricate and fascinating details of their society is awesome, not to mention the miraculous healing properties of the honey, the elixir of life, SubhanAllah! SubhanAllah! SubhanAllah!

From the road one merely sees what looks like tattered covers, over table like structures, flapping in the brisk wind. This area is obviously a conducive place for bee farms as there were many along what was the old road to Madinah, between Jamoun and ‘Usfan. The little vegetation seen was sparse, so where the bees actually go seems a mystery. Allahu Akbar, such is His Greatness!

The first farm we drove into was very basic with dilapidated hive boxes and no sign that the apiarist lived on the sight. He did not have any honey for us to try saying his bees were just beginning to form their hives, but he was very welcoming and eager to show us his simple farm and inviting us to drink tea on a sandy carpet spread beside his ‘flock’.

Older style boxes, some with thick wads of foam wedged into the door as insulation during the cooler months, with tarpaulins protecting the stacks.

A discarded circular barrel shaped container for the hive. The desolate, arid landscape just visible in the background.

‘Then feed on all kinds of fruit and follow the ways made easy for you by your Lord.’ From their bellies comes a drink of different colours in which there is healing for people. (16:69)

With this method the bees are free to ‘design’ their own comb shapes. The precision and engineering makes man made structures seem flimsy and awkward.

The comb is composed of hexagonal cells, which are paper thin walls but support 25 times their own weight. Experts say that any shape other than hexagonal would not support the heavy honey, SubhanAllah! To produce half a kilo of wax, the bees have to digest five kilograms of honey!

In about another month, Insha’Allah, the box will be full of comb dripping with honey and almost ready for extraction.

The Yemeni apiarist was delighted to show us his ‘farm’, and have his photo taken! explaining that his hives were not producing honey yet due to the winter season, all action was on building the waxy comb.

Sometimes mud is used to seal the doors.

These were rectangular boxes in the second farm we stopped at. This method is more geared to commercial production, but this farm also had the smaller frame-less boxes, as seen below.

These removable frames are fitted with ready-made comb foundations, that are wax sheets with imprints of honey cells on them. In this way, the colony expands faster and produces more honey.

Rows and rows ready for more hives.

Ali, the apiarist lived beside his bees in a humble one room tent structure which was his basic kitchen, bedroom, living room and storage space for several 20 gallon containers. This was his water ‘tank’, a flattened balloon! The conditions were harsh as the wind blew sand everywhere.

He had three varieties of honey which we sampled, including the local Sedr, the best of honeys for healing, produced from the flowers of ilb (Ziziphus spina Christi and here)
All were exceptionally delicious, with the Sedr being SR300 for a kilo, which is a good price compared to what one pays in retail outlets.

Busy busy bees!!! The workers never stop. A bee strokes its wings 11,400 times per minute! They have a lifespan between 28 and 35 days in summer, but longer in winter when they do not work themselves to death. They communicate by dancing (pdf file details, and more) and releasing pheromones (more here and here) The female worker produces only one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime. A worker will visit between fifty and 100 flowers in a day and return with over half her weight in pollen and nectar. To make 500grams of honey, workers in a hive collectively fly more than 34,000 kilometres and tap more than two million flowers. The yellow seen on the above frame are the wax-capped cells of honey, indicating that the honey in that cell is ripe, meaning that the workers have fanned the nectar deposited in the cells creating a draft that is necessary for evaporating the moisture from the nectar. A colony can have from 60,000 to 200,000 workers!

The male drones do not do any work in the hive, they are designed for procreation purposes only.

Ali looking for the queen bee after smoking the hive ( He simply lit the frayed end of a rolled up piece of hessian bag, dredging it in the sand when he finished ) and wearing this protective head piece. He follows his father and grandfather in this profession.

Finally she was spotted, the central one with the longer golden abdomen.She was surrounded by her guards, but Ali gently put her on his finger to isolate her so we could see how she differs from the workers and the fat stubby drones. The queen lays up to 200,000 eggs in a year.

~*~

Our Esteemed Lady Aishah RadhiAllahu anha narrated: Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to love sweet edible things and honey.

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “Healing is in three things: cupping, a gulp of honey or cauterization, (branding with fire) but I forbid my followers to use cauterization “

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu anhu: A man came to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallamand said, “My brother has some abdominal trouble.” The Prophet said to him “Let him drink honey.” The man came for the second time and the Prophet said to him, ‘Let him drink honey.” He came for the third time and the Prophet said, “Let him drink honey.” He returned again and said, “I have done that ‘ The Prophet then said, “Allah has said the truth, but your brother’s abdomen has told a lie. Let him drink honey.” So he made him drink honey and he was cured.

Narrated Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu: I used to accompany Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to fill my stomach; and that was when I did not eat baked bread, nor wear silk. Neither a male nor a female slave used to serve me, and I used to bind stones over my belly and ask somebody to recite a Quranic Verse for me though I knew it, so that he might take me to his house and feed me. Ja’far bin Abi Talib RadhiAllahu anhu was very kind to the poor, and he used to take us and feed us with what ever was available in his house, (and if nothing was available), he used to give us the empty (honey or butter) skin which we would tear and lick whatever was in it.

There truly is a sign in this for those who think. (16:69)

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.

Ginormous, humongous. Such emotive words barely describe the scope of this hubristic project that supposedly will be completed within a year.

An entire city growing from the bowels of what once was a majestic mountain. How many mountains that adorned one of the holiest places on earth have been sacrificed, will be sacrificed? What sobbing will echo across the plains on the Day of Judgement? If rocks and stones weep because they have been removed from Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Madinah Al-Munawwarah, what will be heard from these massive outcrops? These very monoliths that were so esteemed by Allah Ta’ala:

Had We sent down this Qur’an to a mountain, you would have seen it humbled, burst apart out of awe for Allah. (59:21)

Some scholars, according to the tafseer in Ma’ariful Qur’an, have stated that reason and revelation both bear testimony to the fact that everything in nature has sense, perception and intelligence, be it mountain or a tree. Therefore this verse is not merely a hypothetical example but a stark reality! There are so many examples of so-called inanimate things bearing witness to our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. (An example to follow, Insha’Allah in a subsequent post related to this time just spent in Makkah.)

Now we see the mountains, and not just any ordinary mountains, bursting apart at the hand of man. I am not against development, and agreeing to the need of accommodation for pilgrims, but at this expense? Surely far more humble alternative solutions could have intelligently been designed without this mass destruction. And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud RadhiAllahu anhu reported that a Jewish scholar came to Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and said, ‘Muhammad, or Abu al-Qasim, verify, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious would carry the Heavens on the Day of Judgment upon one finger and earths upon one finger and the mountains and trees upon one finger and the ocean and moist earth upon one finger-in fact the whole of the creation upon one finger, and then He would stir them and say: ‘I am your Lord, I am your Lord.’ Thereupon Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam smiled testifying what that scholar had said. He then recited this verse:

And they honour not Allah with the honour due to Him; and the whole earth will be in His grip on the Day of Resurrection and the heavens are folded up in His right hand. Glory be to Him! He is far above the partners they ascribe to Him! (39:67)

And they honour not Allah with the honour due to Him

Do you too search for the justification for such destruction? These huge drilling pillars seem to rape and abuse what Allah Ta’ala honoured this sacred land with, jamming deep into the very ‘pegs’ that clench the Earth’s crust together:

Have we no made the earth as a bed and the mountains as its pegs? (78:6-7)

We placed firmly embedded mountains on the earth, so it would not move under them…(21:31)

Desecration above and incisive excavations below.

Compare the progress with this post on the Jabal Omar project from October 2007.

Wandering past these gigantic chasms the enormity of the following Salawaat from the Dala’il Al-Khayrat took on a powerfully new dimension:

And bless our master Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and the family of our master Muhammad RadhiAllahu anhum as much as the weight of all mountains and all rocks!

The sun sets over the current silhouette of Jabal Omar, which will soon be a vista of numerous tall buildings.

Turning away from the Jabal Omar project towards the north-west side of Masjid Al-Haram is the just as humongous devouring of another mountain for the Shamia project, preparing for the next expansion of the Haram.

Nafi’ reported that Abdullah ibn ‘Umar RadhiAllahu anhu informed him that Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam turned his face to the two hillocks which intervened between him and the long mountain by the side of the Ka’ba, and the mosque which had been built there was thus on the left of the hillock. Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s place of prayer was lower than the black hillock, at a distance of ten cubits or near it. He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would then observe prayer facing these two hillocks of the long mountain that is intervening between you and the Ka’ba. (Muslim)

Allahu ‘Alum if this was the mountain referred to in this narration.

With the flattening and laying of stones on the bed of this excavation it appears they have reached the depth required for beginning foundations.

Apart from the obvious mountains being attacked, there are dozens more within the established residential areas also being razed.

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O Allah bless our master Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and the family of our master Muhammad RadhiAllahu anhum as much as the dust particles that have swirled, that swirl and will swirl in the sacred precincts of Haramain till the end of time, and as much as the wind that carries them, and as much as every eye that has ever looked upon them, and as much as every footprint that has ever settled on them and multiply this number a thousand times again.

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.