Category Archives: Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah

…’the list’ and a list…

30 Replies

thuluth-intro-copy

the list madinah

…here you see ‘the list’ in the hands of this humble speck…eight years have passed with this space…EIGHT YEARS!!! SubhanAllah…(the first post)…what changes…both inner and outer…physical and spiritual…seen and unseen…intentional and unintentional…gigantic and minute…you too can reflect on your past eight years…scary…as to the time wasted and how to answer for this?

…so ‘the list’…it began eight years ago with ones I knew…then soon was added to by many of you through comments…the majority on this list I have never met…some Alhumdulillah have subsequently come for Hajj and Umrah and we have met…some I will never meet…many have no idea they are on the list…Shuyukh who are no longer but whose lessons have made huge ripples in hearts…current Shuyukh who continue to inspire…many from various Tariqas and different views…but all part of the whole…

…SubhanAllah the feeling whilst reading this list is as a sombre prayer…threads seems to grow from this concertina page as silk from the worms, out to the names…connecting…weaving a massive tapestry of love with all these supposedly unrelated people behind the names…the immense feeling of serenity is like floating in a sweet syrup…I come upon a name that maybe has asked for a particular thing…a marriage opportunity…a request for a baby…so many seeking health…or mercy for the departed…for study and work issues…to be called to these sacred lands…for doors to open to obtain a more intimate nearness…for Jannah…for success in Both Worlds…for Salih children…for making decisions…for safe travel…for a loving marriage…for Hidayah for family or friends and the Ummah…for security in times and places of unrest…for the ease of hardships…many to convey their love and yearning to be in this exact place in the photo…and so much more…

…I then may hear that so an so has had not one but three children…that so and so is married…that so and so passed away…that so and so got the position they wanted…that so and so were successful with adopting children…that so and so has started to pray…that so and so recited Shahada a few days before Allah Ta’ala called them back…and for all the news I hear about certain ones on the list there are countless others whom I have no idea of any outcomes or no idea of their state or no idea if they are even alive…but this is the richness of the fabric of our connection…the bond of being the one Ummah…when the heart opens widely love floods in…and this is the feeling when reading through this list…Insha’Allah we value and respect the enormity of this union…we care and make Du’a for the entire Ummah to enter Jannah…for hardships to be recognized as doors of mercy being flung opened…and this humble speck asks for your Du’a…that I am blessed with being a resident of Jannatul Baqi…residing here is a huge gift but cannot be taken for granted and with the current climate in the Kingdom one never knows if the time of being a neighbour has been written to end…my desire is to remain in the dust of this Radiant City…Insha’Allah a few of your words for this would be greatly appreciated…

…and the following is a list of links to current articles covering various topics relevant to us all…because the rhythms of creation are underlying all forms of life…creation is singing…vibrating as one…if only we all deeply realized that we are one body…the ripple in a pond in Tajikistan…the snow flake falling in Tibet…the wind roaring in the Sahara…all reflecting on the one…my dear old mother picking a flower in southern Australia…all from the One…every molecule dancing to a predetermined beat…listen to your heart pump…to the gurgles in your belly…the laughter…the sighs…the wonder of each breath and every word from a wayward tongue…the flap of bird wings…the passionate and spontaneous roaring of oceans…all one magnificent melody…all reflecting and shrouding the secrets of the cosmos…so all the following is part of us…really…seriously…

The Haj Ministry has decided to limit the validity of Umrah visas to only 14 days because of the ongoing work to expand the mataf – the cicumambulation area.

continued here

Hotels, Umrah operators and aviation firms will incur SR 5 billion in losses due to the Haj Ministry’s recent decision to limit the validity of Umrah visas to 14 days, according to the estimates of the National Committee for Haj and Umrah (NCHU).

continued here

The Haj Ministry is currently planning to considerably reduce the number of foreign and domestic Haj pilgrims this season, a reliable source has said.
“Directives have been issued to cut down the number of foreign and domestic pilgrims by 20 and 50 percent respectively,” a local daily reported quoting an informed source.

continued here

People with hearing disabilities will have special places for them in all mosques in city centers and governorates.

continued here

Over 110,000 potential pilgrims from Egypt are unable to come to the Kingdom for Umrah due to new age restrictions placed by the Egyptian authorities.

Naser Turk, deputy chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Chamber, said a recent decision to limit people below the age of 25 years from coming to Umrah has deprived more than 110,000 applicants from securing Umrah visas.

continued here

A state-of-the-art pilgrim city will be established in Madinah on an area of 1.6 million square meters along Hijrah Road with modern facilities and public transport systems to house 200,000 faithful who come for Haj and Umrah.

continued here

…may we all welcome this auspicious month of Sha’ban…

This is the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s month, as he said…it is the month of asking for forgiveness of sins, giving alms and charity and fasting…

…Imam Zaynul-Aabideen Rahmatullahi alaihi has said, “Whosoever, in love of the Prophet, wishes to seek nearness to Allah and receive His bounties, favours and rewards in this world and in the hereafter, must connect Sha’ban with Ramadhan in the matter of fasting and special  prayers”.

…may we all utilize these precious moments preparing for the arrival of the our most eagerly awaited guest…Ramadhan…and be mindful of Nisful Sha’ban…arranging for extra Ibadah on the eve of the 15th Insha’Allah…

…JazakiLLahu khaira to Sister Iman for taking the above photo…

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.

…bless them all…

10 Replies

madinah haia1

…for their diligence…

SAM_0607

…for their patience…

SAM_0596

…for their persistence…

madinah haia2

…for their locations…

madinah haia3

…for their ‘bid’ah’ mantra…

madinah haia4

…for their various transports…

madinah haia5

…for their diverse language abilities…

…and bless them all who initiated the banning of Viber...in the Kingdom…bless them all who think raiding homes is the way to deal with illegals...bless them all who make profits from selling Umrah visas…bless them all who push humans to the edge…bless them all who deem an unrealistic deadline for proving ones status…the links that could be posted related to suffering due to new regulations are far too many…go online and read the English dailies from Saudi for updates and details…

…life is becoming extremely tough for millions of expats over the past year or so…Saudization must, and should happen…Saudis need to know how and be willing to work…to implement work ethics…but the drastic measures being taken recently to lessen the reliance on expats are exactly that…drastic…people rounded up in trucks…offices raided…accounts of people standing in the scorching sun for hours in front of one department to be told no, you need to first go to another department, to be told no, you need to be in another place…or arriving at the airport with paper work finalized according to one department to be told no, you cannot fly out you must return to such and such a department to get such and such a stamp…a catch 22 of thousands wanting to exit the country but in order to do so they need a temporary residency permit…which they have no way of obtaining…so resorting to being smuggled…

…may Allah Ta’ala bless ALL…the ones suffering…the ones carrying out rules and regulations…the ones making the rules and regulations…all those in limbo regarding their residency status and employment stability…all those waiting for unpaid wage disputes to be rectified…

Our Lord, do not punish us if we have forgotten or erred.

Our Lord, do not charge us with a burden like that You laid upon those before us,

our Lord, and do not impose upon us what we cannot bear.

And pardon us. And forgive us. And have mercy on us.

You are our protector, so help us against the disbelievers. (2:286)

…or may the Sufi path be trod…

…Brother, stand the pain. Escape the poison of your impulses. The sky will bow to your beauty if you do….that way a thorn expands to a rose. A particular glows with the universal…Shams-i Tabrizi to Rumi…

…your Du’a is needed 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.

…Prince of Hijaz…

5 Replies

thuluth-intro-copy

Madinah night of Israa wa miraj 1343b (1)

The caravan leader for us is the Prince of Hijaz,

Madinah night of Israa wa miraj 1343b (2)

By his name our soul acquires peace!

Sallallahu ‘alaa Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallim Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Rasul Salaam ‘alaika Yaa Habib Salaam ‘alaika Salawatullah ‘alaika.

Sallallahu ‘alaa Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallim Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Rasul Salaam ‘alaika Yaa Habib Salaam ‘alaika Salawatullah ‘alaika.

Sallallahu ‘alaa Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallim Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Rasul Salaam ‘alaika Yaa Habib Salaam ‘alaika Salawatullah ‘alaika.

Sallallahu ‘alaa Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallim Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Rasul Salaam ‘alaika Yaa Habib Salaam ‘alaika Salawatullah ‘alaika.

Sallallahu ‘alaa Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallim Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘alaika

Yaa Rasul Salaam ‘alaika Yaa Habib Salaam ‘alaika Salawatullah ‘alaika.

 

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

…Iqbal sentiments…photos while sitting pondering al Israa’ wal Miraj 1434…

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.

…maxims…

5 Replies

thuluth-intro-copy

Madinah miscellaneous1

…He who is illuminated at the beginning is illuminated at the end…            Madinah miscellaneous3

…Your being on the lookout for the vices (al-uyub) hidden within you is better than you being on the lookout for the invisible realities (al-ghuyub) veiled from you…

Madinah miscellaneous4

…Appeal to no one but Him to relieve you of a pressing need that He Himself has brought upon you. For how can someone else remove what He has imposed? And how can he who is unable to free himself of a pressing need free anyone else of one?…

Madinah miscellaneous5

…A sign of the heart’s death is the absence of sadness over the acts of obedience that you have neglected and the abandonment of regret over the mistakes that you have made…

Madinah miscellaneous6

…Let not obedience make you joyous because it comes from you, but rather be joyous over it because it comes from Allah Ta’ala to you.

Say: In the grace of Allah and in His mercy, in that they should rejoice. It is better than that which they hoard. (10:58)

Madinah miscellaneous7

…The best that you can seek from Him is that which He seeks from you…

Madinah miscellaneous8

…If you want to know your standing with Him, look at where He has made you abide now…

Madinah miscellaneous9

…Whoever finds the fruit of his deeds (thamarat ‘amalihi) coming quickly (‘ajil) has proof of the existence of acceptance (al-qabul)…

Madinah miscellaneous10

…When He gives you obedience (at-ta’a) making you unaware of it because of Him, then know that He has showered you liberally with His graces both inwardly and outwardly…

Madinah miscellaneous11

…One of the signs of delusion is sadness over the loss of obedience coupled with the absence of resolve to bring it back to life…

Madinah miscellaneous2

…Sometime He gives while depriving you, and sometimes He deprives you in giving…

Madinah miscellaneous12

…When He loosens your tongue with a request, then know that He wants to give you something…

SAM_0769

…Among the signs of success at the end is turning to Allah Ta’ala at the beginning…

Source: Sufi Aphorisms, Kitab al Hikam, ibn ‘ata’illah Rahmatullahi alaihi.

…Ya Rabb, may these gems of wisdom truly pierce hearts…

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.

…Saqeefa revisited::again::again…

6 Replies

thuluth-intro-copy

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013a

…this fence has been erected just to the left of the entrance to the tranquil Saqeefa garden…the place where the Banu Sa’edah tribe lived during the golden years of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…SubhanAllah…so much to acquaint yourself with related to this beautiful plot of land… Madinah Saqeefa May 2013b

…is this the beginning of the end for this only garden within miles of Masjid Nabawi?…if, according to all the designs and plans for the gigantic expansion of the Masjid then this retreat will become part of the new extension…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013c

…a drilling monster works away digging deep into the earth, Allahu ‘alum maybe testing the composition of the ground for its potential for load capacity…

 Madinah Saqeefa May 2013d

…really…no words can describe the hearts pain thinking that this may one day be more shiny marble…consumed by the next expansion…wiping out yet more of our glorious past…destroying this secluded sanctuary…not many know of its existence even today…or of its significance…is more of our illustrious history to be buried and long forgotten even more?

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013e

…if plans progress then this hotel and all in line with it will be the first row on the western side of the new Mosque…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013f

…the King Abdul Aziz Library is in the same row so will be spared…and Allah Ta’ala knows best…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013g

…this building is destined to go…it was announced years ago that the courtyard would be expanded to encompass this never completed shell…but now the decree is for a structure to be built…and Allah Ta’ala knows best…this building as it was five years ago…and Allah Ta’ala knows best, but the rumours are that it is taking all this time for the authorities to come to fair agreements regarding compensation for the investors and the dozens who pre-rented shop spaces…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013h

…if all goes to plan you will be inside Masjid Nabawi where these vendors are selling…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013i

…to give some sort of perspective of the sheer size of just this western section…peer through the walkway…in the distance you see the current facade of the Masjid…all that you see will be the interior of Masjid Nabawi…as well as behind this photo…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013j

…the variety and quality of plants is not exactly lush as so many know in other climes of Allah Ta’ala’s grand creation…but for the harsh arid conditions of Madinatun Nabi this feels like a heavenly oasis…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013k

…strange cabbage-like brassicas pop up as pom poms pushing through the cracked soil…wonder why they do not mulch?? 

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013l

…each individual head displays Allah Ta’ala’s artistry…SubhanAllah!!! these simple humble plants combine as a feast for eyes used to bleached desert dust and landscapes devoid of colour…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013m

…petunias sparkle as stars in a dark sky…bravely resisting an alien climate in their struggle to adapt to this scorched land…the symbolism should not go unnoticed…reflect upon Allah Ta’ala’s wisdom of sending all Prophets to barren lands…and look how they all bravely shone…and still do till this day…delivering messages of guidance and hope…divine mercy manifested…in what may be considered a wasteland is in fact a vast ocean of spirituality…reminders are to be found in every single thing…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013n

          …in textures…and the life cycle of growth and decay…Madinah Saqeefa May 2013o

…patterns speak like ancient hieroglyphics…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013p

…the new ready to replace the composting old…how much are we ready to let go of that which has run its course? thoughts…attitudes…worries…misconceptions…useless time wasting habits…take lessons from the garden…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013q

…open the heart and soul to all that gains favours…spread arms wide to reach the love and mercy of our Rabb…stretch further and further..and then see how He stretches even more to you…embrace the light and compassion of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013r

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013s

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013t

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013v

Madinah Saqeefa May 2013u

…if happiness were to be measured by the chirping of birds singing in this garden then the ultimate pinnacle would be registered here…SubhanAllah…a most welcomed deafness of sugary sweetness…

…Ya Rabb…save this sanctuary for the Ummah…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.

 

 

 

 

 

…when a servant knows his Lord…

8 Replies

thuluth-intro-copy

Madinah May 2013a

…today after Asr…the crowds exiting from Masjid Nabawi become a congested mass in the narrow walk ways between the hotels…pilgrims are present in large numbers Alhumdulillah, but the vendors spreading their mats and wheeling trolleys add to the crush…it is impossible to escape the markets and lure of Shaytan the minute one leaves the courtyard…this is disturbing…we as humans are already weak and come with so much ;baggage’ without this distraction immediately after Salat…maintaining a clear focus to Allah Ta’ala seems to dissolve…how does this impact on us as an Ummah?

Madinah May 2013b

…but I digress…looking at this diverse collection from the Ummah the wonder is: who from these thousands is free of problems or not carrying issues whether they be psychological, behavioural, emotional, financial, or some ‘disorder’ that seems to be rife in our troubled times…or various combinations of all of these plus more? Probably not one. And this would be the same all over the world…we all are running programs, some more deep and disturbing than others, that inhibit our true potential and block our way to Allah Ta’ala and His Nusrah and the way to being more intimate with our Blessed Propeht SallAllahu alaihi wasallam……

…books fill our home space…a rustic array of wooden boxes and cantilevered pieces of recycled wood and old drawers standing on the side constitute the shelving…arranged in a very haphazard way…bits added as this bibliophile’s addiction acquires more books…but I digress again…

…some one I love very dearly is facing a big life hurdle…as is often the reaction to hearing details a ‘stroll’ around the higgely piggley library ensures with no intention to find any particular book…but asking for guidance to words that may assist…going to Haram today the mind was occupied with wondering about the amazing states we as humans can be in…then upon returning and vaguely glazing over the library the following book not only jumped out, but the page flipped open to this wonderful advice…such beautiful, calming spiritual instruction to bring peace and solace to whatever trouble may be testing us…

…may we all benefit from reading this and then Insha’Allah try to implement the essence of these golden words…so we as servants may come to know our Lord…Ameen…

When the servant knows his Lord, all creatures acknowledge him and all things obey him. But God knows more.

The illustrious Shaykh our Master (may God be well pleased with him) used to say: “When your heart is emptied of beings it becomes filled with Being and from that moment love is born between you and other beings. If you act purely towards your Creator, all creatures will manifest goodwill toward you.” Nd we will add: when you are sincere in contemplation of your Lord, He will try you by manifesting Himself to you in all His aspects and if you continue to recognize Him and do not ignore Him, then the universe and all it contains will recognize you; it will love you and behave toward you with veneration and generosity; it will rally to your side, obey you and want you; it will rejoice in remembering you, show concern for you, be glorified in you, flock toward you, call you; all this you will see with your own eyes. But if you fail to know God when He manifests Himself to you, you also will be unrecognized by all things, denied by all things, humiliated, despised, diminished, made more despicable, worse, heavier, more remote; everything will insult you, shun you, be against you and overwhelm you.

You who are “poor”, if you wish that your wind may prevail over all winds and all adversaries, then be constant in contemplating your Lord while He is trying you, for He will change your ignorance into knowledge, your weakness into strength, your helplessness into power, your poverty into wealth, your lowliness into glory, your loneliness into intimacy, your remoteness into nearness—or, in a word, God be He exalted, will cover over your qualities with His qualities, for He is generous and bestows immeasurable graces.

Source: Letters of a Sufi Master The Shaykh ad-Darqawi.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…one hundred yards of madness…

8 Replies

thuluth-intro-copy

Exif_JPEG_PICTURE

…five years ago…and yet today this humble tailor shop looks exactly the same…three precarious steps lead to a single room full of decades of paraphernalia…the machine whirs as his white beard fuses with the white cloth he sews…and time stands still as it zooms…as threads of lustrous silk  weave mundane scenes with a deep and soulful ethereal intuition of purpose…of submission…of not being afraid to carry one hundred yards of madness to be fashioned by Geometer of the Heart…

madinah tailor1

…his space is not part of a shopping area but an isolated business among an older suburb of rickety dilapidated buildings very close to Masjid Nabawi…around the corner from us…his clientele are regulars who appreciate his skilled work, humble setting, very reasonable prices and the quirky surroundings rather than the glitzy fashionable modern establishments…

madinah tailor2

…there seems to be dozens of clocks…most set at the same time…filling the confined area with a soothing symphony of tick tick tick…all adding a different tone…and most days one may pass, a recording of our Divine Book imprints a glow in the heart…and recalling some Rumi eloquence…

madinah tailor3

The Lover’s Tailor’s Shop: tomorrow I’ll go there

wrapped in my long cloak, with a hundred yards of madness.

madinah tailor4

The Tailor snips you from Jones and stitches you to Smith,

pairing you with one, separating you from the other,

sew your heart to one of them for a lifetime –

such silken thread! wonderful stitches!

miraculous hand!

madinah tailor5

Then, when your heart is fixed, he rips out the seam,

snick! snick! With the scissors of “Get ye down from it!”*

madinah tailor6

All this sewing together and tearing apart

bewilders me,

my mind reels at the variegations of

affirmation and obliteration.

madinah tailor7

The heart is a dust-board, He the geometer of the heart:

what a marvel of figures, numbers, realities,

and names He inscribes!

madinah tailor8

When He multiplies you, like a number,

by somebody else,

what a sum He manifests with his arithmetic!

madinah tailor9

You’ve seen multiplication — now study division:

how He parcels up one drop into an Ocean!

madinah tailor10

By the algebra of Fate He balances all equations:

madinah tailor11

Silence! for thought itself breaks down at such wonders.

*Quran 11:38. Allah Ta’ala’s command to Adam and Huwwa.

madinah tailor12

…may thought itself break down at such wonders as we ponder the grand stitching and snipping of Allah Ta’ala’s Miraculous Hand in the fabric of our days…

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.