Monthly Archives: July 2010

…endless gifts…

‘I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your annoyance, and I seek Your refuge from Yourself. I cannot praise You as fully as You deserve. You are exactly as You have defined Yourself.’

Staring blankly at the faint majestic moon suspended over the golden spire of an umbrella in the courtyard of Masjid Nabawi….

…changing every second. The tones of the soft powder blue sky gradually deepening and thus the moon shine gradually brightening. Sublime contrasts playing. Affecting everything the eye gazes upon. One glance registers the expectant moon as a shimmery organza, minutes later, molten silver, followed by the subtlest shades of blush. Moment upon moment upon precious moment a gift, a stream of endless gifts, SubhanAllah SubhanAllah SubhanAllah!

…almost upon us is the gift of Nisful Sha’ban, the annual time when Du’a is answered. The night Allah Ta’ala descends to the nearest heaven at the beginning of sunset, when the sky is painted with a palette from rubies and pearls and the moon is a burnished orb. Allah Ta’ala says: Is there no one asking forgiveness that I may forgive them? Is there no one asking sustenance that I may grant them sustenance? Is there no one under trial that I may relieve them? Is there not such-and-such, is there not such-and-such, and so forth until until dawn rises.

And everything is apportioned.

And so it was apportioned by Allah Ta’ala that just over one year ago He blessed a very precious soul, with her husband and daughter, to make Hijrah to this Radiant City, just as He apportioned to take her back to him a few days ago.

Inna liLlahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon.

The vision of her vibrant beauty, the eagerness her heart emitted in her ardent pursuit seeking Deeni knowledge, her devotion to her daughter with special needs, her undying love for the Path Allah Ta’ala had guided her to, all this and more keeps filling my inner gaze. The last time we were together was at a gathering where Shaykh Zulfiqar, may Allah Ta’ala continue to elevate his rank, was talking about the virtues of Madinatun Nabi and said, “to die in Madinah is akin to dying in Jannah”, meaning Insha’Allah that is where she is, Ameen. The family were returning from Makkah having just performed Umrah, so all sins had been cleansed, being taken as a Shaheedah, SubhanAllah.

Blankly staring at the moon as it glides on its set path in one more rotation before announcing the blessed night of Nisful Sha’ban envelopes the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s City, it appears as an illuminated circular piece of shroud that this sister is now adorned in. A stark reminder of how we all will be dressed in such a raiment. What deeds will be wrapped therein when it is our turn? What gifts will You hide between the folds? Ya Rabb, take Your loved ones as You have so mercifully taken this loved sister.

The eyes glance around…scanning a courtyard of thousands who have been invited to this most Sacred of Places, and I wonder who is ready for that final inevitable visit? What deeds will be concealed in our shrouds?

Tears well, as I know this needy speck is not ready. This sudden death delivers a sharp reminder, along with the promises Allah Ta’ala makes for us in the coming night. His Mercy is never ending, His endless gifts are in every breath, His love for us eternal…how much do we give in return? Are we prepared?

Maybe the young heavily pregnant Turkish girl in the hot pink dress and floral hijab is ready?

Maybe the wrinkled toothless Sudanese sister, with a smile that beams like the moon above is ready?

Maybe the mother pulling her small daughter up by the hair is ready?

Maybe the sister feeding her toddler a date is ready?

Maybe the patient ones having their bags searched in the crowded doorway are ready?

Maybe the one walking barefoot on the hot marble is ready?

Maybe the young girl pushing a wheelchair is ready?

Or maybe the elderly sister in the wheel chair is ready?

Maybe the friend from Karachi I am sitting with is ready?

Maybe the happy little one pretending to take photos with a yellow plastic camera is ready?

Maybe the sister on duty mopping around the water cooler is ready?

Maybe the beautiful recently engaged Egyptian sister beside me telling me she will marry after Ramadhan is ready?

Maybe….maybe…

Maybe you are ready?

Ya Rabb Ya Rabb Ya Rabb

May we be persistent with our begging this Nisful Sha’ban. May hearts be moved to gently mention this beautiful soul Allah Ta’ala has chosen to take back, along with all grieving over her sudden departure, Ameen.

May hearts be open to the endless gifts showering one and all, and may arms be wide open to receive the stream of gifts that Allah Ta’ala is so generously offering on Nisful Sha’ban, Ameen.

Is there no one asking forgiveness that I may forgive them? Is there no one asking forgiveness that I may forgive them? Is there no one asking sustenance that I may grant them sustenance? Is there no one under trial that I may relieve them? Is there not such-and-such, is there not such-and-such, and so forth until until dawn rises.

~*~

Insha’Allah this speck is about to travel to fulfill the Haqq family in Australia have on me. Internet will be sporadic, so posts will be on a when and if basis. The ‘list’ will be a constant companion, with Du’a for one and all being sung wherever the journey leads. Insha’Allah Du’a for a safe return is requested.

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.

…Makkah…the future?

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Allahu ‘Alum if this is what is emerging from the pits of the Makkan mountains (recent construction work at this site)

I was sent these images but without any explanation or source, except that this is a Saudi design, so maybe this is what to expect?? Allahu ‘Alum. And once again if any one reading this knows, Insha’Allah do tell!! Copy the plans and then enlarge if you are interested in the Arabic details.

…personally I prefer the Atkins design with its clear uncluttered lines maximizing the space without massive decorative pillars obstructing the space and flow and view.

…and this is a scanned image of the proposed mega road to Masjid Al-Haram, the current main thorough way, Ibrahim Al-Khalil Street winds to the left. The model shows the towering Abraj Al-Burg with the Jabal Omar complex snaking its way around it…and Haram lies submerged in the distance…

Source in Arabic

…and this is a scan of one of the Hajj trains! Insha’Allah it is planned that 39% of this will be operational this Hajj and fully functioning the following year. Eventually the entire project will cover twenty km linking Makkah Mina Arafat and Muzdalifah and Jamarat Bridge with twenty trains. Each location will have three stations, each platform being 300 meters long. Each train will comprise 12 carriages each with five doors. The passenger capacity will be 250 per carriage, with 80% standing and 20% sitting, eventually moving 20,000 pilgrims every hour as well as reducing the nightmare congestion on the roads.

…Allah is the Best of Planners. (3:54)

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

‘upon you is cupping’

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…thus said the Angels to our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as he journeyed to his Rabb, reported by Ibn Majar…SubhanAllah! What more evidence do we need to avail ourselves this Sunnah? While Tirmidhi narrates that Abdullah ibn Mas’ud RadhiAllahu anhu said the Angels said: O Muhammad, order your Ummah with cupping.

These photos are from a recent visit to the Dawdiyyah Clinic, a few minutes walk from Haram. The environment is clinically sterile with every effort to ensure a safe and hygienic treatment for those who are concerned about having Hijamah done in the home, as was previously posted.

Three of us went after Asr, the two I was accompanying were first timers. One was determined to get the maximum benefit from this Sunnah whilst in Madinah, the other was very skeptical, initially thinking she would merely come for the walk, or hesitantly try one cup! After discussion with the staff there she decided to have four cups, two on the nape of the neck and two on the upper spine. The other sister had 23 cups, some on the back, others on the front. This speck had four. The euphoria is almost instant once the nicks have been made with the room becoming a hushed silence after the nervous chatter in the beginning. The sister who was originally doubtful asked for six more cups after experiencing the benefit of the first four!

There are three different sizes of cups, depending on where they are to be placed, the larger ones on the back. Each cup is SR 30, but they also offer group discounts, but I am not sure of the details.

They use the vacuum method rather than the flame method to draw the blood to the specific area, and only use disposable cups and pumps.

Each time the practitioner moves from one patient to the next latex gloves were changed.

Kits are available for purchase for SR30 with each kit containing a pump and 13 cups.

This clinic has a special team for house/hotel calls as well as the clinic with two separate sections for males and females.

Telephone: 04 8666006 Fax: 04 8666008

~*~

Anas ibn Malik RadhiAllahu anhu reported that the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “Indeed the best of remedies you have is cupping…” Bukhari

Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu reported that the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “If there was something excellent to be used as a remedy then it is cupping.” Abu Dawud and ibn Majar

Abdullah ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu reported that the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “Healing is in three things: in the incision of the cupper, in drinking honey, and in cauterizing with fire, but I forbid my Ummah from cauterization.” Bukhari and ibn Majar

Jaabir ibn Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu reported that the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “Indeed in cupping there is a cure.” Sahih Muslim

Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu reported that the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “Whoever performs cupping on the 17th, 19th or 21st day (of the Islamic month) then it is a cure for every disease.” Abu Dawud.

…two wells and a garden…

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…a gentle but searing breeze rustles palm fronds that seem to whisper stories from the golden era of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his noble and honoured Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum…

…this very patch of earth witnessed Salman Farisi RadhiAllahu anhu toil for more than four years along with his early times of becoming a Muslim after a long and arduous journey seeking the Truth. SubhanAllah, how many tests Allah Ta’ala presented him with. It was while he was high up in one of the date palms on this very ground that he heard the cousin of his Jewish master relaying to the master, as he was relaxing in the shade of his grove, that the man people had been proclaiming to be a Prophet had just arrived in Quba. Salman Farisi RadhiAllahu Anhu almost fell from the tree as a mixture of hope and expectation rippled through him. He had spent years pursuing the tales he had heard that a Prophet would appear and now he could not believe that his search may almost be over…his master berated him and told him to get back to work…but later Salman Farisi slipped away to see with his own eyes if it truly was the Prophet who had just arrived…

…prior to him embracing Islam he was very curious about all that he heard regarding the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. But he still harboured doubts as to believing all that came to his notice. During his extensive travels he had heard from various priests and Rabbis that a new prophet would appear in the Hijaz, that he would have a mark between his shoulders, the symbol of the seal of Prophethood, and that he accepted gifts, but not charity. So this was the opportunity Salman al-Farisi RadhiAllahu anhu had to verify if Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was who so many were pledging allegiance to.

He went to Quba where the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was at the time and offered him some dates saying: “I have heard that you are a righteous man and that you have companions RadhiAllahu anhum with you who are strangers and are in need. Here is something from me as sadaqah. I see that you are more deserving of it than others.” The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam ordered his companions RadhiAllahu anhum to eat but he himself did not eat of them. Salman al-Farisi RadhiAllahu anhu gathered some more dates and when the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was leaving Quba for Madinah he went to him and said: “I noticed that you did not eat of the sadaqah I gave. This however is a gift for you.” Of this gift of dates, both the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his companions RadhiAllahu anhum ate. Salman al-Farisi RadhiAllahu anhu knew that only the true Prophet would act accordingly. But he still wanted the final proof, that of the seal of Prophethood…

…another opportunity to absent himself from the date grove came some time later when he hurriedly went to Baqi Gharqad after the burial of one of the Sahabah, knowing that the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam would be there. The Prophet knew what Salman desired, so he shifted his shawl to reveal the Seal of Prophecy, whereupon Salman kissed it and wept and immediately professed the Shahadah, SubhanAllah! But his destiny was to return to this grove as a slave for many years to come…

…Salman the Persian RadhiAllahu anhu came to the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to seek his counsel and his help. His master, a Jew of the Bani Quraysah, kept him so hard at work on his property south of Madinah that he had never been able to have a close contact with the Muslim community. It had been out of the question for him to be at Badr or Uhud or take part in any of the lesser forays which the Prophet had led or sent out during the last four years. Was there no way of escape from this present situation? He had asked his master what it would cost to set him free, but the price was far beyond his means. he would have to pay forty ounces of gold and plant three hundred date palms. The Prophet told him to write his master an agreement to pay the gold and plant the trees. Then he called on his Companions to help Salman with the palms, which they did, one contributing thirty palm-shoots, another twenty, and so on, until the full number had been reached. “Go dig the holes for them Salman,” said the Prophet, “and tell me when thou hast done, and mine is the hand that shall put them in.” The Companions helped Salman to prepare the ground, and the Prophet planted each of the three hundred shoots, which all took root and thrived.

As to the remainder of the price, a piece of gold the size of a hen’s egg had been given to the Prophet from one of the mines, and he gave it to Salman, telling him to buy himself free with it. “How far will this go towards what I have to pay?” said Salman, thinking that the price had been greatly underestimated. The Prophet took the gold from him and putting it in his mouth he rolled his tongue around it. Then he gave it back to Salman, saying: “Take it, and pay them the full price with it.” Salman weighed out to them forty ounces from it, and so he became a free man.

Source, pages 209-210

…the garden in relation to a fenced archeological site which encloses Al-’Ehn Well…

…Al-’Ehn or Al-Yasira Well where it is said our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam made Wudhu. It has been recorded that its diameter was 3.6 meters with a depth of 16.5 meters…

Al-Ghars Well, a few kilometers from the previous location.

Ibn Majar quoted Ali ibn Abu Talib RadhiAllahu anhu as saying: Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said when I die, wash me with seven waterskins from Al-Ghars Well. He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam also used to drink from this well.

…a wall has been erected around the well. This adjoins a Madrassah for girls, where the Asma ul Husna adorn the boundary walls…

…location of the Palm Grove and Al-’Ehn Well (yellow) to Al-Ghars Well (green) to Masjid Quba (light blue) to Jannatul Baqi (dark blue)

…the emotions run deep visiting these Mubarak places, Alhumdulillah for all we have been blessed with!

…blistering sun…

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…would love to stay and chat but the brain has melted after days of going out in temperatures nudging 50 degrees…so promenade around the courtyard, and convey your Salams as you comfortably sit looking at your screen…

SHA’BAN MUBARAK!

Israa-wa-Miraaj::1431

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“Musa was desirous to see Allah,
But Allah was desirous to see you.
How can Tur Sinai compare to Miraj?
How can earth compare to the heavens?
How can Yusuf’s beauty compare to yours?
He was the beloved of Zulaikha, you are the beloved of Allah.
Veiled in the secret of humanity is your flawless beauty”

Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi

from Love for the Messenger by

Shaykh Zulfiqar

~*~

15. The Speech of Musa and Muhammad

Junayd was asked about the saying of God (be He powerful and lofty), “You were not next to Mount Sinai when we called.” He said: “He called to Musa alaihi wasallam because he was behind the veil, and He whispered to Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam because he had torn through the veils. The one who is behind the veil is called to, and the one who crosses the veil is whispered to. As for the one who passes away from these stations, He shelters him and honours him above the realms of being. Do you not see how when Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was asked about the heavenly host debate*, when the lights of His description alighted upon him and He stripped him of of his description, he spoke about all places and reported about them?

*Referring to allah Ta’ala’s Divine Speech:

I had no knowledge of the heavenly host when they were debating (38:69)

~*~

20. Musa and Muhammad

One of then said: “The difference between His speaking to Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and His speaking to Musa Alaihis salam upon Mount Sinai is that Musa Alaihis Salam only saw thunderbolts because of his preoccupation. He did not obtain that power that would bear the indications of the essence. However Muhammad, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was strengthened by the vision of the heavens and the earths…after this he was capable of [bearing] each thing received by his secret-heart from the command of his Lord.

Source: The Subtleties of the Ascension Early Mystical Sayings on Muhammad’s Heavenly Journey.

~*~

Israa wa Miraaj archives: 1427, 1428, 1429, 1430:1, 1430:2 1430:3

Sallallahu ‘alaa Muhammad
Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallim
Yaa Nabi Salaam ‘alaika
Yaa Rasul Salaam ‘alaika
Yaa Habib Salaam ‘alaika
Salawatullah ‘alaika.

SubhanAllah I was blessed to be immersed in the Nur of an intimate and Mubarak gathering of Shaykh Abdul Aziz Ahmad Fredericks, may Allah Ta’ala sanctify his soul and increase him in knowledge, with a group from Scandinavia and the UK, where the Shaykh gave a most illuminating Dars on Israa wa Miraaj. Insha’Allah when time permits I will share the gems he sprinkled our hearts with. Commitments with so many these days prevent this humble speck from updating this space, or attending to emails…Insha’Allah Sabr surrounds us all.

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

…meeeeooowww…

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…mmeeeoooowwww puurrrrr purrrrr dear Squeakster!!!!!

…this would have to be the most lush piece of vegetation in all of Madinah! And barely two square metres at that! Seemed to be tenderly cared for by nearby resident tow truck drivers. Apart from the green hitting the heart, the presence of Raihan, the pungent sweet fragrance swirling under the niqab was heavenly…

…peek-a-boo…

…a pensive Squeakster look alike amidst the Raihan…

…the more common street kitty scene…

…hard to believe that this is a short walking distance from Masjid Nabawi where both our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu preferred to cut their garments rather than disturb a sleeping kitty! SubhanAllah!!!