Ibn `Abbâs relates that Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam asked a woman from Madinah: “What prevented you from embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage with us?”
She replied: “We had two camels. My husband and child took one and left the other for the rest of us to ride on.”
The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then told her: “When the month of Ramadan arrives, go for ‘Umrah, because `Umrah in Ramadan is like accompanying me on Hajj.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
Alhumdulillah this speck has been beckoned to accompany the Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallamon Hajj, SubhanAllah…along with the millions who have been in Makkah and who will be there in the second half of this Mubarak month…Insha’Allah performing Umrah as though we are with Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…the heart soars…the emotions are giddy…the praises never enough…
The above is a screen grab from part five of Expansion of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Madina. Such a contrast to the throng of faithful now…
…from the Makkah Live Stream…
…these are also from the same video clip…
…this was Sa’i…in the open…
…with markets running parallel to it…so not much has changed regarding the close proximity of markets to Haram…
Links to the other parts in the series…there is am emphasis on the engineering and technical aspects but all are fascinating…1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7.
Insha’Allah there will be more added to the expansion series covering the current King Abdullah project…it is said the King will be officially laying the foundations stone in the coming days.
This is how some will be spending their Ramadhan days: luxury hotels.
While the suffering across the world is heart wrenching…Brother/Doctor Ikramuddin has long been a follower of this space. Today I received this message from him:
I pray this reaches you all in the highest state of Iman and the best of health. By the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala I was able to travel into Mogadishu, Somalia to help provide medical aid at some of the IDP camps housing the nearly 1 million people who have poured into the city desperately seeking food and water.
I’ve witnessed things I’ve never before seen, the heartbreaking suffering of the children is beyond imagine… and thus this message to you all. I know that people are always asking for donations and financial aid, but when seeing 2 yr old children weighing 3kg (the weight of a newborn child) or children who haven’t even the strength to stand on their own two legs, the least I can do is remind people of the reality of the situation.
Please pray for these people and secondly please donate. I am volunteering with Islamic Relief and can vouch for the tremendous work being done.
If anybody is interested in the specific medical projects we are involved in, please feel free to ask.
So Insha’Allah, wherever we are, may a major part of our Du’a be for all facing severe hardships…may our individual efforts of self reformation and purification during the fast disappearing time of Ramadhan be transformational, so that Allah Ta’ala sees the change in our dead hearts and thus changes the conditions around us.
And be heedful of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s words: ‘The best charity is that given in Ramadhan’, (At-Tirmithi) so Insha’Allah, reach depths of generosity never tapped before.
We have been blessed with reaching half way…so whatever deeds we may have accumulated this far, may they be multiplied manifold times, as we turn our hearts, thoughts and our wealth to all who are facing dire circumstances, Ameen.
Raise your hands now, as this speck will be focusing on at BaituLlah
DU’A DU’A DU’A
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.
Mashallah this was another beautiful post from you! I learned quite a lot because I never knew that performing the umrah during Ramadan is like going to Hajj with Rasulallah (saws). Jazakallah Khair for mentioning the importance of helping our brothers and sisters in East Africa. May Allah reward you for performing Umrah during the hot days of this Ramadan and may He accept your duas!
Assalaamualaikum.w.w ! Hope you are well! Please remember me/family in ur Duas during these blessed days and when you are in Makkah also!!how I wish to be there too- Alhamdulillah,my sister has just reached Makkah today!! Keep Well-From a very Cold/Rainy/Snowy South Africa!
assalamualaikum..making dua that u r well. reading your post makes me soooooooo envious (in a good way
.. wishh i was there too.please make special duas for me that “my call” too is written,
soon.
was salaam
love and duas
walekumsalaam wa rahmatuallah ya miskeenah
barakallahu feeki ya ukhti
may Allah love you for doing umrah in Ramadaan.may Allah accept it and guide us all,always.ameen.
Assalaamu aleikum sis
Mabrook on the invitation, ma sha Allah. Please don’t forget me in your du’a's whilst you are there. More importantly, please make du’a for the people in E Africa (lots of fundraising going on here for Islamic Relief’s efforts) and for those facing other struggles and hardship in other places … so much going on right now, it’s overwhelming. May Allah help and guide the ummah.
The footage in the link you posted is amazing, especially the scenes of the Masaa! the market place doesn’t go away, but so much of the history of Makkah has to do with trade, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised…
There should be major redesigning in Makkah very soon. It’s getting very difficult to do Umrah/Hajj these days.
If only the king would listen to me……………..
bismillah
assalamu alaykum khala noor!
May Allah accept your umrah and make things easy for you! please keep us in your duas…hope to hear from you soon
wasalam
On this journey, may you be enveloped in His Care and Protection. May your efforts be rewarded with a Nearness Divine and may all that is Peace surround you, ya Khala. May all the whisperings of your heart be heard by He Who Hears and Grants. I hope my heart and I are among those whom you remember. You are in my prayers. With love and peace.
Salaam,
Such a beautiful, beautiful blog. a true treasure. May you be rewarded abundantly for your efforts.
Please pass my salaams onto the Prophet (salalahualayhe wassallam).
All the best for the rest of this blessed month, spent in the most blessed of places.
Assalaam Alaikum dear Sister,
Ameen. Sum Ameen!
Mabrouk!!! Alhamdulillah! How blessed is this opportunity for being able to perform Hajj with the Rasul(sallalaho alaihi wassalam)!!!
During this journey, may Allah(swt) lift the veils and draw you closer ever more. Ameen
Please do keep us in your duas.
JazaakAllah Khair
Wa ‘alaikumus Salam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,
Dear Yasmin, muslima min junoobi afreeqa, ummi muhammad, Tiha, Umm Mahmoud, Madni, faqira, Iffat, Londonien and Seema,
SubhanAllah, with all your loving and caring Adiyah, Umrah, despite the crowds, was sublime…may it now be accepted and be recorded as being with our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, Ameen. All names were read after Umrah and then in the Mataf early one morning when the Tawaf was surging to the extremities…
True, Brother Madni…one needs to be very rich compared to a few years back to stay in Makkah, and then to enter with an overflowing supply of Sabr…the conditions are a huge test…Allah Ta’ala’s tests throughout the history of Islam have encompassed so many variations…it seems the test for these current times are about Sabr and how to keep the heart firmly on Him and not the prevailing conditions. Allahu ‘Alum,
Wassalamu alaikum