Monthly Archives: May 2010

Who is at my door?

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He said, “Who is at my door?”
I said, “Your humble servant.”
He said, “What business do you have?”
I said, “To greet you, 0 Lord.”

He said, “How long will you journey on?”
I said, “Until you stop me.”
He said, “How long will you boil in the fire?”
I said, “Until I am pure.”

“This is my oath of love.
For the sake of love
I gave up wealth and position.”

He said, “You have pleaded your
case but you have no witness.”
I said, “My tears are my witness;
the pallor of my face is my proof.’

He said, “Your witness has no credibility;
your eyes are too wet to see.”
I said, “By the splendor of Your justice
my eyes are clear and faultless.”

He said, “What do you seek?”

I said, “To have you as my constant friend.”

He said, “What do you want from me?”
I said, “Your abundant grace.”

He said, “Who was your companion on the journey?

I said, “The thought of you, 0 King.”
He said, “What called you here?”

I said, “The fragrance of Your wine.”

He said, “What brings you the most fulfillment?”
I said, “The company of the Emperor.”
He said, “What do you find there?”
I said, “A hundred miracles.”
He said, “Why is the palace deserted?”
I said, “They all fear the thief.”
He said, “Who is the thief?”
I said, “The one who keeps me from You.”

He said, “Where is there safety?”

I said, “In service and renunciation.”

He said, “What is there to renounce?”
I said, “The hope of salvation.”

He said, “Where is there calamity?”

I said, “In the presence of your love.”

He said, “How do you benefit from this life?”

I said, “By keeping true to myself.”

Now it is time for silence.

If I told you about His true essence

You would fly from your self and be gone,

and neither door nor roof could hold you back!

Rumi In the Arms of the Beloved

~*~

Hu is at my door,

He is always at my door

but my sins slam it shut.

Ya Rabb

may Your abundant grace

catch the nefarious thief

that persistently steals me from You.

~*~

Nightscapes from Madinatun Nabi and Jeddah.

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.

“Fih hayah?”

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This recent dazzling array of flora seen up close in the scorching desert heat, evokes a benedictory hymn from deep within. SubhanAllah!

What marvel it is to be blessed with perceptive senses, which when sparked with the simple wonders of creation, elicits responses of gratitude and reflection:

He has made of benefit to you the many-coloured things He has multiplied on the earth. There are truly signs in this for those who take heed. (16:13)

Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu said that the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “The example of the believer is like a fresh tender plant; from which ever dorection the wind blows, it bends the plant. But when the wind dies down, it straightens up again. Similarly a believer is tested by afflictions to strengthen his faith and heart, and he remains patient and firm. And a non believer is like a pine tree which remains hard and stiff until Allah breaks it whenever He wills.”

Plants form the first link in the desert ecosystem and food chain. Seeds of the annuals germinate after spring rains, producing an ephemeral greening of the desert. Seed germination is often triggered after several showers rather than just one, increasing the chances of successful growth, although a single soaking rain can have the same result. This vegetation, including unusual plants like the parasitic desert hyacinth, or desert candle, nurtures and shelters insects. These, in turn, provide sustenance for other creatures, such as birds.

Source

Even in the desert, plants are the first, lovely link in the chain of life…
A Bedouin asking a fellow tribesman about grazing conditions in other parts of the country says simply “Fih hayah?”, literally, “Is there life?”.

Source

Narrated Abu Musa RadhiAllahu anhu: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. And another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. And a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation, then that land gave no benefits. The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah’s religion and gets benefit from the knowledge which Allah has revealed through me, the Prophets and learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allah’s guidance revealed through me. He is like that barren land.” Bukhari

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: When you travel through a land where there is plenty of vegetation, you should go slow and give the camels a chance to enjoy the benefit of the earth. When you travel through a land where there is scarcity of vegetation, you should hasten with them so that you may be able to cross that land while your animals ore still in a good condition of health. When you make a halt for the night, avoid doing so on the road, for the tracks are the pathways of wild beasts or the abode of noxious little animals. Muslim

…with the slightest amount of moisture the earth erupts with growth…

Have they not seen how We drive water to the dry land that has no vegetation, and therewith bring forth crops providing food for their cattle and themselves? Will they not then see?
(32:27)

And among His Signs (in this), that you see the earth barren; but when We send down water to it, it is stirred to life and growth. Verily, He Who gives it life, surely, is Able to give life to the dead (on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed He is Able to do all things.
(41:39)

…and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein.
(31:10)

And put forward to them the example of the life of this world: it is like the water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green. But later it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter. And Allah is Able to do everything.
(18:45)

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu anhu: Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam ascended the pulpit and said, “Nothing worries me as to what will happen to you after me, except the temptation of worldly blessings which will be conferred on you.” Then he mentioned the worldly pleasures. He started with the one (i.e. the blessings) and took up the other (i.e. the pleasures). A man got up saying, “O Allah’s Apostle! Can the good bring about evil?” The Prophet remained silent and we thought that he was being inspired divinely, so all the people kept silent with awe. Then the Prophet wiped the sweat off his face and asked, “Where is the present questioner?” “Do you think wealth is good?” he repeated thrice, adding, “No doubt, good produces nothing but good. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a stream which either kills or nearly kills the grazing animals because of gluttony except the vegetation-eating animal which eats till both its flanks are full (i.e. till it gets satisfied) and then stands in the sun and defecates and urinates and again starts grazing. This worldly property is sweet vegetation. How excellent the wealth of the Muslim is, if it is collected through legal means and is spent in Allah’s Cause and on orphans, poor people and travelers. But he who does not take it legally is like an eater who is never satisfied and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection.”  Bukhari

Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. (It is) as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers – evil-doers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers – good-doers). And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.
(57:20)

And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.

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.

…hi…koo…

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sun blares through haze

Madinah Rose intoxicates

granny whizzed in wheelchair

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.

…midnight installation art…

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…a pictorial capture of the art, and engineering brilliance, of the umbrella installation project…every night, to avoid the heat, dozens of teams emerge to work on the dozens of umbrellas nearing completion across the courtyard…

…this is one of the four projects where stairs have been made from the basement to ground level and then extending to an upper level through what was a window…

…the bliss of the courtyard approaching Babus Salam in the middle of the night…

Most Prasieworthy! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, pursuer of the right course.

Originator! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, teacher of the Qur’an.

Restorer! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet who renounces falsehood.

Self-Subsistent! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet most divinely aided.

From the section on Ninety-Nine Invocations of Blessings and Peace with the Beautiful Names of Allah and Prophetic Attributes in Salat and Salam, In Praise of Allah’s Most Beloved.

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.

…swimmingly heavenly…

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…as temperatures nudge 45C/113F in our illustrious Madintun Nabi a small group of sisters and their children,  comprising a heady mix of more than ten nationalities gathered at this istirahah for the day…

…a more elaborate set up compared to this previous one…

…the pool is filled for each new group to hire the premises…our departure time was 6pm, so about half an hour before that the plug was pulled and this great volume of water released to irrigate the adjoining palm grove and quench the thirst of the farm animals…

…the slightly  salty water is from aquifers from around the foot of our loved Jabal Uhud…

…the outdoor area, a roof of dried palm branches…generating conversations of how the origianl Masjid Nabawi was partially roofed as such, as well as the Hujarat of our Beloved Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his families and Companions RadhiAllahu anhum…

…a hammock was strung to maximize the shade and induce a meditative relaxation…bliss…

…the pastoral view from over the fence…

…the pool complex was elevated and designed for total security for those desiring segregation, while below other recreational areas were available geared for the boys and men…

…catering for different age groups and a variety of activities…

…the view to the right from the raised outdoor area…

…looking down on the pools with the kitchen area in the background…

…a fenced shallow area for the tiny ones with chairs for the ‘older’ ones to chill out in…

…facilities include a huge lounge area, well equipped kitchen, clean and numerous bathrooms, bar b q…

…each family contributes to the rental cost and brings food to share…a banquet representing various cuisines was shared by all…

…with the added visual delights that nature provided…fronds laden with dates…

…with Jabal Uhud so close…SubhanAllah!

a belated JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

EDITED INFORMATION:

This pool is available every day of the week, depending on other bookings.

Weekdays it is SR350 from after Fajr until near Maghrib. Thursdays it is SR500, and for a 24 hour period it is SR1,000. It is called Mazara’ Almutaqa.

Brother Abdoo is the Haris in charge.

His Mobile # is

0565422252.

To arrange a booking one needs to actually go to the site and sign a contract, but Alhumdulillah it is only a few minutes out of Madinah.

The pool does not have a ‘deep end’ …it is all deep, maybe 7-8 feet.

Segregation would be possible with a bit of ‘juggling around’ while arranging times for a swap of genders in the pool. Insha’Allah visiting the place you could ascertain if it fits your needs.

Apparently the other Istirahah mentioned in the previous post is no longer for hire, but there are others scattered in and around Madinah.

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.

…unless you are weeping…

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Do not enter the dwellings of those who were punished unless you are weeping, and if you do not weep then make yourself weep out of fear that perhaps what struck them may also strike you. Sahih Bukhari and Ibn Kathir Tafseer

These are the words our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to his Companions RadhiAllahu anhum as they passed by Madain Saleh on their way to Tabuk. After that he covered his face with his sheet cloth while he was on the camel-saddle.

Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar RadhiAllahu anhu and quoted in Bukhari, under the Book of the Prophets, “The people landed at the land of Thamud called Al-Hijr along with Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and they took water from its well for drinking and kneading the dough with it as well. When Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam heard about it he ordered them to pour out the water they had taken from its wells and feed the camels with the dough, and ordered them to take water from the well whence the she-camel of Prophet Salih Alaihis Salam used to drink.”

Allah sent Saleh bin Ubaid bin Maseh bin Ubaid bin Thamud bin Athir bin Iram bin Noah as His messenger. He called the people of Thamud to worship one God and not to associate any partner with God and to shun all their idols and their false worship.

Will you not be righteous! I am sent to you as a trusty Messenger.(26:142-144)

These idolaters are referred to several times by Allah Ta’ala in His Divine Speech. Grave and solemn warnings, even to this present day, for us and our wayward leanings:
Al-A’raf 7:73-79, Hud 11:61-68, Al-Hijr 15:80-84, Al-Isra 17:59, Ash-Shu’ara 26:141-159, An-Naml – 27:45-53, Fussilat 41:17-18, Al-Qamar 54:23-32, As-Shams 91:11-15, Ibrahim 14:8-9.

There are 131 tombs spread over an area of approximately 13 square kms, almost impossible to visit all of them in one day.

The Nabataeans were nomadic having built rather flimsy adobe homes compared to these monumental rock cut tombs. There is an enclosed section within the middle of the complex where archeologists continue excavating the residential areas.

This is a section of what has been named Al-Khuraymat, consisting of 20 tombs…

…many tombs have numerous niches for the corpses…

…the size distinguishing adults from children, and tiny shelves for babies. Some shelves exist outside the chambers, apparently for those who died before the completion of the tomb.

The textured walls give some indication as to the tools and manner of working to carve these massive edifices…

…experts have interpreted the various designs, one explanation for the central rose-like design is that it symbolized plates on which blood fell during animal sacrifice. Allahu ‘Alum.

Do not enter the dwellings of those who were punished unless you are weeping

This is what is known as the Diwan, the meeting room, which is one of the few examples of nonfunerary architecture within the site. A huge open room with benches carved into then rock on three sides with an elevated ‘throne’ on the far side.

The Diwan is at the entrance to this narrow passageway…

…which has a series of niches which probably contained deities…

…and/or statues made as offerings by pilgrims…

…this narrow passage is known as the Siq…

…this opens onto a huge natural amphitheatre with weird and contorted formations…

…more niches, steps and hollows…

…and two isolated chambers…

…this area is the highest point within the site and was part of the rich agricultural system the Nabataens had with the water flowing down from here to a series of massive wells…

…one of the water channels…

…evidence of ancient script, some references say it is Aramaic, remains on some of the rock faces…

…as well as primitive carvings of human figures, camels and more writing…

This Qasr Farid, the largest tomb, stand alone and quite a distance from all others. Carved from a single free standing monolith of rock. Bench seats remain on either side of the entrance…

…where the craggy mountains defining this unique reminder are seen close by…

Do not enter the dwellings of those who were punished unless you are weeping…unless you are weeping…

A permit is required to enter this site. I can post details if there is any interest.

An additional excellent photo gallery and a descriptive account of the tombs and the decorative features in this Saudi Aramco article from a 1907 expedition to the site.

Online searching reveals a myriad of sites and extensive information for those inclined to delve deeper into this arrogant, doomed civilization.

…remember Allah’s blessings and do not spread corruption in the land…(7:74)

…so ask forgiveness from Him, and turn back to Him: my Lord is near and ready to answer. (11:61)

We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Qu’ran: will anyone take heed? (54:40)

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.

…Al Ula…

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…eerily haunting…hauntingly eerie…regardless of words, this open-air gallery to ancient civilizations in a fertile valley, hemmed in by gigantic surreal cliffs, is Allah Ta’ala’s Grandeur at its awesome best! SubhanAllah! The majesty seems to squeaze a continual flurry of gasps and oohhhs and ahhhhs from the deepest recesses of the heart. Allahu Akbar!

This comprehensive history of Al Ula chronicles events associated with the area from as early as 4500BC! Incredibly fascinating!

While we can discover the salient geographical, climatic and agricultural facts from the same site.

Scroll down further for a wealth of informative topics that enrich ones understanding…

…especially the role the area played in our Islamic history:

After the emergence of Islam and the migration of the Prophet (PBUH) to Madinah in 626 AD where he started to establish the first Islamic State, he sent His Companion Amr ibn Al-Aas in 620 AD to the tribes of
Beli and Adrah. When he reached a place called Dat Asalasil, he felt
afraid and sent to the Prophet (PBUH) to supply him with a group of the
first Mohajerin (Companions of Prophet Mohammed, PBUH) who migrated before or after Him from Makkah to Madinah, including Abu Bakr, Omar ibn Al-Khattab and Abu Obeida (May Allah Bless them all). Those battles known as “Dat Asalasil”. Many of Beli Tribe people embraced Islam, thus the new religion started to hurt by the bribes inhabiting the areas around Al-Ula and in Al-Qura Valley.
It was narrated that Abu Bakr Al-Saddiq (May Allah Bless him) once said to Amr ibn Al-Aas “I appointed you as a ruler over whomever you pass by from Beli and Adrah tribes, all of Kaidah and call on the Arabs who go there for Jihad and urge them to do so. He who follows you, carry him and make each tribe separate.” In 631 AD, delegations of Beli, Beni Adrah, Juhaina and other tribes residing around pledged allegiance to the Prophet and embraced Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) welcomed them. The Companion Ruwefa ibn Thabet hosted Bela people. In the summer of the same year, Prophet (PBUH) prepared the army to invade Tabuk and Al-Ula where at that time were not known as Al-Ula when He learned that the Roman prepared to fight Him.
The Prophet (PBUH) and His Companions reached Al-Ula while they were on their way to Tabuk. The Prophet (PBUH) laid the foundations of a mosque in Al-Ula using bones and stones that now called Al-Ezam or Bones Mosque. It is the main mosque in Old Town where the Friday congregational prayers being held. In the era of the Caliph Abu Bakr
Al-Saddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), the Muslim armies passed by the area while they were on the way to fight the Romans in north.

Locally known as Al-Deerah or “the old town”, it exhibits the distinctive patterns of Islamic cities in the past. This village was built in the 7th century, Hijri or 13th A.D.. The houses of the village were made of old stones taken from the nearby Al-Khureabah ruins. This is why many inscriptions, writings and ornamentations are found in the stones of these buildings.

The Heritage Village in Al-Ula is a complete residential city from one connected urban mass that is sorted in a systematic way. It has more than 870 houses in two-story buildings linked together throughout a number of narrow semi-covered alleys or “Azigah”. The village displays paved streets surrounded by a wall with no less than fourteen gates; and every gate was locked at night to defend it from intruders and foreign attacks. The buildings have many fascinating archaeological features. For example, they have no openings on the ground floor level for entrance into the streets. Openings were made only in the upper floors; and the roofs were made of palm tree trunks and reeds which were covered with layers of mud, afterward.

Source

This imposing fortress rising from what was the centre of the old town is Qala’at Musa Abdul Nasser.

According to legends, it is the oldest building at the site and is a remnant from the kingdoms and smaller states which existed in this fertile valley. It is said that the famous Arab leader, Musa Abdul Nasser (alternative spelling: Musa bin Nusair) lived and died here.

This is Wadi Al-Qura, the valley where Sayyidna Salman al Farisi RadhiAllahu was betrayed by the Arabs of the Kalb tribe on his momentous journey to Truth. They took what money he had with the agreement that they would take him with them to Al Madinah, but they sold him to a Jew as a slave.(here is a full version of his story)

Note the old stone and mud minaret. Allahu ‘alum this marks the place where our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam laid the foundations for what is referred to as the Al-Ezam Masjid.

This part of the old village is on the opposite side to where the restoration work is in progress and reveals a greater extent of deterioration.

There was a visitors information centre situated at the entrance to this Heritage Village, but like most museums throughout the Kingdom they do not open during the weekends, so trying to gather explicit information was difficult.

Insha’Allah more to follow from this ‘expedition’ when time permits. Allah Ta’ala continues to present totally unplanned twists and turns into my days! SubhanAllah, He is the Best of Planners and is fully aware of how much we can bear. Meanwhile posts have been relegated way down the list of ‘things to do’ amidst busy days.

Ironic that so much effort is invested in this project, with additional plans for future tourist attractions, see these two articles 1,2, and yet demolitions, as in the last post continue.

La hawla wa la quwatta illa biLlah

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.