And he did see him [Jibreel] on the clear horizon.   (81:23)

Jibreel Alaihis Salam usually appeared to our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in the form of a man, but on two occasions he was seen in his real form; the time of the first revelation and then during the Mi’raj.

Six hundred wings filled the horizon, the distance between each wing being that between the east and the west, with multi-coloured pearls and rubies falling from the wings. And if we could gather all the oceans as fabric it would not be enough to make his cap. SubhanAllah! This was the vision of Jibreel Alaihis Salam as seen my our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as he ran down Jabal Nur from his retreat in Ghar Hira, that miraculous Night of Power in 610.

‘O Muhammad, you are the Messenger of Allah, and I am Jibreel.’

The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would gaze at Jibreel Alaihis Salam, and turn away in awe, but whichever way he looked he was there, filling the horizon.

The following is a record of finally fulfilling the desire to climb to Ghar Hira. Leaving Haram immeadiately after Fajr Salat a short taxi ride brings you part way up the foothill of Jabal Nur. Shanty type houses   and makeshift stores line the steep pathway. Alhumdulillah as it was the very beginning of the Umrah season it was almost deserted. Some men were working on adding to a brick wall while three were climbing ahead of us. A strong wind billowed abayas and persistently ruffled niqabs, as a silvery haze was all that filled the horizon. It was enough knowing that all those centuries ago Jibreel Alaihis Salam was astride these grandiose mountains delivering the first verses of revelation to the best of creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. This was the motivation for the feet to take one step at a time to reach the summit so the eyes could gaze upon this chosen cave, this was the incentive for the feet to tread where Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had been seeking seclusion. Climb with me now!

 

 

 

The monkeys were initially intimidating, with some apprehension that they may attack… 

 

…but Alhumdulillah they merely seemed curious…and playful. 

 

 

The looming towers of Abraj al-Bait…so Masjid al-Haram at the base of these…. 

 

…the rubbish was disgusting. I have been dreaming of some huge vacuum cleaner ever since…or a campaign to clear this mountain of such debris…

 

…peering down on inhabited shacks built onto the side of the mountain with an ad hoc collection of recycled materials… hard to imagine how people live like this in the intense summer or freezing winter  and no facilities…

 

…the vista from the summit… 

 

…zooming into the the Makkan valley, the obvious towers with the minarets of Haram to the right barely visible in the haze….  

 

Ghar Hira…so small and protected, SubhanAllah!

Read! In the name of your Lord who created:

He created man from a clinging form.

Read! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One who taught by the pen,

who taught man what he did not know.   (96:1-5) 

 Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam repeated these words after Jibreel Alaihis Salam saying: "It was as though the words were written on my heart."

 

Looking directly down on the sprawling suburbs of Makkah, the cave down to the right… 

 

…there were several cats happily living on the summit…I filled this bottle top with Zamzam for this very friendly one who kept lapping up more and more. It seems some men live on the mountain, some offering basic drinks and snacks, while others seem to be positioned along the track in the hope of Sadaqah from those passing by.  

 

The descent was far easier…looking back on where we had been, the cave to the left of the summit on the other side. 

 

Home… 

 

….two children who had just been on an errand to a small shop… 

 

….the area below Jabal Nur is very dilapidated…the Towers in the distance contrasting the lavish new with the basic necessities….

 

…with satellite dishes being a basic necessity… 

*

 Hayya ‘ibad Allah

(Come O servants of Allah)

Ahibba Allah

(O you who love Allah)

Sallu ‘ala an-Nabi

(Send salutations to the Prophet)

On a clear and moonlit night

In the dark cave of Hira

A man began to cry

Oh Allah show me the light

Tell me why I was created

Where will I go after I die?

What’s the purpose of this life

Where people murder and lie?

How can I stop their corruption?

Oh Allah You’re my only Guide.

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

(O my beloved O Chosen One)

Ya Rasula Allah ya Habiba Allah ya Safiyya Allah

(O Messenger of Allah, O Beloved of Allah,

O Intimate of Allah)

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Anta gharami, dhikruk kalami, kulla ayyami

(You are the object of my love,

your remembrance are the only words I speak throughout my days)

On that clear and blessed night

Jibra’il came to Hira

He hugged Prophet Muhammad

Until he thought he would die

Read O Muhammad read

In the name of your Lord

By Allah you’ve been chosen

Over the whole of mankind

You’ve been elevated high

Like the moon up in the sky

 

Chorus

Ya Yasin Ya Khalil Allah

Ya Amin Ya Najiyya Allah

Ya Makin Ya Shahid Allah

Ya Mukhtar Ya Hafiyya Allah

Ya Taha Ya Habiba Allah

[All names of the Prophet (pbuh) ]

 

Chorus

He’s a mercy for mankind

His speech was gentle and kind

He summoned people to Allah

And led them on his path

Mankind lived in the darkness

Everyone alive was just blind

His message brought the light

To the hearts that had no sight

In mercy he’s the ocean

While others are drops of rain.

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Ya Rasula Allah ya habiba Allah ya Safiyya Allah

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Anta gharami, dhikruk kalami, kulla ayyami

Forever we’ll be indebted

To him for this Islam

Our life for him we’ll give

His message with us will live

Our love for him knows no bounds

It is loftier than the clouds

Whenever his name is mentioned

Our tears begin to flow

Oh Allah send your blessings

On al Mustafa

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Anta gharami, dhikruk kalami, kulla ayyami

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Ya Rasula Allah ya Habiba Allah ya Safiyya Allah

Ya Habibi ya Mustafa

Ya Nabiyya Allah, ya Waliyya Allah, ya Khalil Allah

 Sami Yusuf

 *

He stepped inside his home, and he overwhelmed with fear
An angel came with words from God, things were still unclear
Saying read – read, but he couldn’t read, then amazing words he heard
A trembling deep inside his heart, confused by what had occurred

There was only one who could comfort him
And help him see the light
To ease his fears, to reassure
It was Khadijah, his wife…

Chorus
He said Zamilooni, Zamilooni, Dathirooni, Dathirooni, (Envelop me, Embrace me)
A mighty task has come before me…
I need you here with me…
By my side…

She was a woman of nobility, successful in all her trade
Many wealthy men had asked for her, she had turned them all away
But when she saw Muhammad, a shining moon, may peace be on his soul
He was a light for her — so right for her — her life will now be whole

But she had never seen him so distressed, as he was there that day
She would comfort him, and hold him tight, and chase his doubts away

Chorus

We look for stories of love, in places dark and cold
When we have a guiding light, for the whole world to behold
But were so selfish in our ways, and to the ones we hold so close
Our own pleasure and happiness is what we value most

But she sacrificed all her wealth and everything she had
And he honored her, and gave her faith,
when the times were bad, when times were bad…

Now years have passed, times had changed, since Khadijah breathed her last.
Message of the one true God, was spreading far and vast
But then he came across a jewellery, that Khajidah once had worn
His eyes began to swell with tears, his heart again began to mourn

Cause she was there for him, when times were rough, and his enemies were cruel
Was the first believer, so keen and eager, to comfort al-Rasool

Chorus

Mawlaya salli wa sallim da’iman abada
‘Ala habibika khayril khalqi kullihimi
(O my Leader, send your salutations and blessings forever
Upon Your Beloved, the best of the whole of creation)

 Zamilooni, Dathirooni

 *

May it be that the words of revelation be written on our hearts and thus inspire our actions, 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. 

 

 

 

The first House to be established for mankind was the one at Bakkah. It is a blessed place; a source of guidance for all people; there are clear signs in it; it is the place where Ibrahim stood; whoever enters it is safe.   (3:96-97)

 

Some say Bakkah refers to the Ka’abah and the immediate area around it, while the rest of the city is referred to as Makkah. Bakkah means to annihilate or completely crush, specifically pride and arrogance.

While Makkah means to eradicate, either sins or the eradication or destruction of the oppressor who may be within its locality, as was the case with Abraha and his army in the Year of the Elephant. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Allah Ta’ala assigns various names to His Baitul Ateeq, the earliest and ancient, the liberating; His Honourable House; the symbolic heart of the Ummah. The circling of the faithful never ceases, even when all are assembled in row upon row for the five Fardh Salat, the beat of the flowing Tawaf is momentarily transformed into a total unity of hearts, souls, minds and bodies bowing and prostrating as one; a constant rhythmic ripple of adoring, praising, seeking, imploring, and repenting. A concentric prayer that radiates out across the globe, while simultaneously absorbing the worship of every Mu’min as they turn to this blessed place, the source of guidance.

The faithful vie for a place as close as possible to Baitul Allah. Prayer mats and other assorted items are used to reserve places in the first Saff for each Salat, while the moment the second Salam is given brothers run to the Hajar Aswad and the Multazam and the Tawaf is resumed. SubhanAllah!

 

It was not my intention to take the camera into Haram, I did not want the distraction of trying to sneak shots, even though I would loved to have been able to share some of the time with you. However I did manage this photo one afternoon before Maghrib from the second floor. During this time there are many Halaqahs of Qur’an for boys, ranging in ages from five to early adults. Unlike Masjid Nabawi, where facilities are also available for girls, Haram in Makkah only accommodates boys. The entire space is filled with a gentle buzz as if in the middle of a bee hive…and the sensation is as sweet as one could imagine being dipped in a hive bursting with honey! Such a delight sitting in the gentle breeze watching and listening to the boys concentrating on the Divine Words as they strived to commit them to their hearts. While the morning, from Fajr right through to Iqama for Zuhur huge expanses of the Masjid are occupied by the Ulema seated on large wooden throne-like chairs conducting classes for the young adult males. Each Halaqah seemed to have up to forty to fifty students, and there are dozens scattered all around the Masjid. The teaching method retains the simplicity of traditional learning circles. The boys carry a few books, some choose to strap them together, others wrap them in their prayer mat. All seat on the floor, while the teacher remains seated the entire time. I noticed that some use a white board getting one student to scribe whatever is needed.  Some use microphones, and even though these Halaqahs are so close together it obviously is not a porblem. The Adab was impeccable considering these lads sit attentively for more than five hours! May Allah Ta’ala guide and reward all who devote seeking His Knowledge, Ameen.  

 

 

It has been some time since I subjected you to some of my coloured dots and squiggles! By using the same photo I will explain a few things to those of you who may not have been to the Honoured House. The balcony from where this was taken is the track reserved for wheelchairs for Tawaf. It follows the circumference of the Mataf, meaning it covers a much longer distance than doing it at ground level, and depending on the crowds sometimes there is no option but to use this track, or the roof during the peak seasons. This can become very congested, especially when the one pushing the wheelchair is slow, or the electric chairs create a traffic jam. There has been a suggestion that a suspended track above the Mataf be made for wheelchairs, but I have not seen or read of any further official plan for this.

You will notice the arches behind the Ka’abah, both the ground and second floor levels now have a solid cream wall behind them. This is the old Masaa area, so the walls have been constructed forming a barrier between the Masjid area and the ongoing work. Small passage ways have been left to be able to reach the new Masaa area beyond these temporary walls. The new Masaa is seen appearing higher than the existing roof of the Haram.

The pink dot to the left indicates the small fenced area reserved for sisters, which is actually on the Mataf. Given the proportionate numbers of sisters to the brothers this is so small. There have been several complaints but nothing has changed to increase the size. What they have changed is the height of the front fence. Previously it was the same height as the two side walls, but now it is lower so that sisters can at least see the Ka’abah when they are enclosed in this space.

The two pink lines indicate sisters areas that are positioned just above the steps leading from the Mataf. These steps are a popular place for sisters to sit when it is not Salat time. Come half an hour before every Salat all ’staff’ are engaged in whatever means possible to get all sisters out of the Mataf area and off the steps into the designated prayer areas. This becomes a source of amusement…or frustration depending on the perspective one is coming from. For the ’staff’, brothers who act as guides, the sisters on duty and the police, when things get heavy, it is a constant battle as the majority of sisters do not want to be shoved far away. There are large areas towards the main entry/ exits to the Masjid for sisters but one cannot see Ka’abah from these places. Some say it is not important to actually see the Ka’abah, which is so, but the elation of watching the Tawaf or the formation of the Saff, or the magnificence of simlpy gazing upon Baitul Allah cannot be described in words…and the magnetic pull being in such close proximity is beyond hypnotic. First the physical gaze becomes mesmerized which captivates the inner gaze until all is obliterated. One does not experince the same sensations when the eye is devoid of this connection.

The green dot is in direct line with the Black Stone, and indicates the beginning and end of each Shawt, or circuit for Tawaf. This being in the sisters area became my favourite position during my visit, and because it was a very quiet week I was able to sit there for hours and offer many Salat and have Iftar there. The ’staff’ did not move sisters who were on the marble above the steps as this was regarded as an acceptable area for sisters to pray, even though the official carpet section was behind  the marble walk way.

The dark blue line is where the Mayyit are placed waiting for the Janazah Salat. I was surpirsed that the bodies on the stretchers would be placed on the ground there but left alone. One time I walked past four bodies in a row but nobody sitting near them. All the deceased in Madinah are covered with a green cloth, but in Makkah it was a dark blue, a dark brown, once it was a tribal striped cloth, while the tiny babies are left in the white shroud and instead of being placed on a stretcher they are lifted up, by the father I suppose. There were three tiny bundles taken back to Allah Ta’ala in the one day. Inna liLlahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon. May Allah Ta’ala illumine their Qabr with His Nur and give the familes Sabr for all the Janazahs in Haramain, Ameen.

The light blue line is where they are covering the step area with a permanent walk way. The workmen were welding the steel supports earlier in the week and by the time I was to leave it had already been surfaced with marble and a railing constructed beside the new area, thus increasing the space for prayers. Just to the right of this is a wall of Zamzam taps, the ones facing Ka’abah for brothers, while going behind this wall is the place for sisters. This is one of the many places where it is easy to fill bottles rather than having to sit at the usual drinking containers filling the bottle the slow way cup by cup.

The lime dot on the Kiswa is Rukn Yemani, or the Yemini corner. it is Sunnah to touch this corner if possible as Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam did so. Plus this corner is standing on the original foundation that Ibrahim Alaihis Salam built. And like Du’a made at Hajar Aswad, they are also accepted from this corner. Abdullah ibn Umar RadhiAllahu anhu reports that he heard Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam say that touching the Black Stone and the Yemani corner atones for sins. Allahu Akbar. Due to the few in numbers up until last Thursday I was able to kiss the Black Stone, touch the Yemani Corner, offer Salat in the Hatim and gaze upon the footsteps of Ibrahim Alaihis Salam. Insha’Allah if you ever have the opportunity to come at the beginning of Safar try to do so.

The purple dot is Rukn Gharbi, which points to the west, the direction of Eritrea, Kenya, and the orange dot is Rukn Shaami, the direction of north towards Syria, Georgia.

I find this diagram fascinating as it gives the approximate location of a hundred countries in relation to the Ka’abah. Sometimes as I walked past the different sides of Ka’abah I would be thinking of you all across the world in your respective countries, and would make 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. 

 

 

 All that dwells upon the earth is doomed to die. But the Face of Your Lord, majestic and splendid will abide forever.  (55:27)

Live in the world as a stranger or a traveler.

 

These were the ‘anchors’ that assisted my focus as I wandered in what seemed a sci-fi movie of surreal proportions to where the previous Masaa was being relegated to history. 

 

 

 

 

 

Deafening sound effects of gorging monster machines swirled dust as they crumbled and spat the sacred land that long ago witnessed the pounding feet of a mother desperate for the life of her thirsty baby. How far removed from the harsh arid land our blessed Hajar Alaihas Salam and beloved son Ismail Alaihis Salam were left by Ibrahim Alaihis Salam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Looking into a roofless Masaa from the second level at the Marwa end.

 

 The exterior facade of the new Masaa taking shape.

 

The Royal Palace sits on Abu Qubais to the left with the Abraj al Bait Towers looming in the background to the right, while the noble house of our Lady Khadijah RadhiAllahu anha and our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam (an excavated view below, before it was finally covered over) lies under the jumble of equipment in the foreground of the above photo.

 

 

 One of the decorative medallions inscribed with Muhammadur RasuluLlah about to be demolished.

 

 A few days later when only mountains of rubble remain of the old Masaa.

 

 The length of new three storey plus basement Masaa emerging.

 

 All of this area, plus the land made available by the demolition of hundreds of the older adjacent buildings will eventually be incorporated into an extended prayer space.

 

 

 A model showing the new extension which is the segment to the top of the existing shape of Haram.

While solace comes from:

All that dwells upon the earth is doomed to die. But the Face of Your Lord, majestic and splendid will abide forever.  (55:27)

Live in the world as a stranger or a traveler.

 

Insha’Allah, more to follow in the next few posts from this time in Makkah.  

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.