almiskeenah

Nearing the City of Honouring, from the City of Light, having incessantly chanted

O my Lord, here I am at Your service, here I am.
There is no partner with You,
here I am.
Truly the praise
and the provisions are Yours,
and so is the dominion and sovereignty.
There is no partner with You

for hours along the way, two final encounters prepare the heart even more for the hope of Union with the One Without Partner; Allah Ta’ala, the Sovereign, the One listening to the thousands crying Labbaik as they draw closer to the House, to His Outstretched Hand. The One Who blessed the travels of His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum along the desert and rocky terrain that defines this Mubarak land.

The One Who in the seventh year after Hijrah willed that Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam along with approximately two thousand pilgrims could finally perform Umrah al-Qada, after almost a year when they had been refused entry to Makkah. One can barely imagine the elation. The joy experienced as they made Tawaf around the Sacred Ka’abah. The delirious ecstasy of hearing Bilal RadhiAllah anhu calling the Adhan from the roof of Baitul Ateeq for the first time. Allowing the imagination to soar with this image, and the triumph finally given to the glory of Islam, stirs an emotional and passionate reaction deep in the heart.

For three days the spirit of a consummate Iman swirled around the Holy House, accompanied by the jubilation of the news that the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was to marry Barrah, the sister of the wife of ‘Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu. Naturally it was hoped to celebrate the occasion while they were in the Ka’abah, but the Quraish demanded they leave as had been promised after the third day. So the marriage was performed at Sarif, approximately twenty kilometers out of Makkah towards Madinah. Our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam gave his new wife the new name of Maymunah, meaning blessed, in honour of the blessed gift they had been given with the completion of Umrah.

And it is said that Allah Ta’ala further blessed the union with the following revelation:

Also any believing woman who dedicates her soul to the Prophet if the Prophet wishes to wed her, this only applies to you, and not the rest of the believers. (33:50)

Ummuhatul Mu’mineen Maymunah, RadhiAllahu anhu was known for her kindness towards liberating slaves, her piety and humility. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam called her a symbol of goodness. She was fond of advising women, exhorting them to be good and virtuous, as well as relaying the correct jurisprudent ruling on matters specifically related to women.

In 51 AH, after she had performed Hajj, our Lady Maymunah became ill on her way back to Madinah, where she was called back to her Lord, when she was reputed to be approximately eighty years old. it was always her desire to be buried at the very same place where her marriage to our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was consummated. Alhumdulillah, Allah Ta’ala granted her this wish. Such are the rewards for those with Ikhlas, Masha’Allah.

Ibn ‘Abbas led her Janazah Salat, after he ensured those carrying her bier did so gently and respectfully, reminding them they had been entrusted with the wife of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

This is the austere walled area enclosing the blessed ground where our Noble Lady Maymunah RadhiAllahu anha was married and laid to rest. The section of road to the right is the main highway from Madinah. Unfortunate that there was a lack of foresight in the placement of such a busy road given the blessedness of the events that took place here. It being one of the places where we exactly know that presence of our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had graced the earth.

Alhumdulillah the gates have been made with an opened section for viewing the grave site. But even if this were not so, the fragrance filling the air continues to bear witness to the honour this earth has been granted, SubhanAllah! The effect upon visiting this precious place remains deeply etched in that space of the heart that forever rejoices with praise and salutations upon our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and leaves the soul feeling it has just returned from being among those who celebrated this Mubarak union.

A short distance further towards Masjid al-Haram is Taneem, or Masjid Aishah, where our Lady Aishah RadhiAllahu anha was instructed by our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to enter into Ihram during the Farewell Hajj in the eleventh year after Hijrah. When she realized she was unable to perform Tawaf around the Ka’abah she became emotional, but was soon consoled by the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam when he explained that she could offer the missed Tawaf later, which she did after Ghusl at this place. Her brother Abdur Rahman accompanied her for this Tawaf. Thousands now enter into Ihram from this blessed location, pausing to reflect on the fine attributes of our Illustrious Mother RadhiAllahu anha, who had been presented to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in dreams wrapped in silk.

As I looked at the changes in the sky from gathering grey clouds before Maghrib, to the intense blue adorned by the expanding moon, the soft quality of the silk the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasllam saw his wife to be shrouded in, seemed to caress all in sight, as a gentle delicate breeze whispered her praises, and penetrated hearts with loving admiration,  SubhanAllah!

O Allah, bless our Master Muhammad whose light preceded creation and whose appearance was a mercy for the worlds, blessings equal to the number of Your created beings who have passed and who remain, who are fortunate and who are wretched, blessings that use up all the numbers and encompass all borders, blessings with no limits nor bounds, no term nor end, blessings that last as long as You last, and the like of it upon his family and Companions. And for this may Allah Ta’ala be praised. 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.