…Saqeefa revisited::again::again…

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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…

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…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…

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…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?

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…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…

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

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…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…

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

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…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…

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…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…

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

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…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…

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…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…

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

…patterns speak like ancient hieroglyphics…

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…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…

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…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…

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…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.

 

 

 

 

 

…Prayer Sutrah…

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…a nifty little gadget… small Prayer Sutrah…a Sutrah being an object used as a barrier between the person praying and anyone passing…our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was know to use his sword stuck in the ground…there are other narrations whereby different methods were also used…including his camel…including the saddle of his camel…

Narrated By Abu Juhaifa RadhiAllahu anhu: I saw Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in a red leather tent and I saw Bilal taking the remaining water with which the Prophet had performed ablution. I saw the people taking the utilized water impatiently and whoever got some of it rubbed it on his body and those who could not get any took the moisture from the others’ hands. Then I saw Bilal RadhiAllahu anhu carrying an ‘Anza (a spear-headed stick) which he planted in the ground. The Prophet came out tucking up his red cloak, and led the people in prayer and offered two Rakat (facing the Ka’ba) taking ‘Anza as a SUTRA for his prayer. I saw the people and animals passing in front of him beyond the ‘Anza.

Narrated Nafi RadhiAllahu anhu: “The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to make his she-camel sit across and he would pray facing it (as a Sutra).” I asked, “What would the Prophet do if the she-camel was provoked and moved?” He said, “He would take its camel-saddle and put it in front of him and pray facing its back part (as a Sutra). And Ibn ‘Umar used to do the same.

…Sahih Bukhari has a chapter on the Virtues of the Musalla…including several Ahadith on Sutrah…it is not the intention here to state Fiqh matters as there are variations from the main authentic scholars so be advised to consult the best ruling that suits your leanings…

…this little Prayer Sutrah is made in the Kingdom and available in most bookshops around Haram…SR10-SR20, depending on the shop and depending on how many you may purchase…an ideal little addition to your pocket or bag especially while in Haramain…but also  excellent in the home where families may have a Musalla…and an ideal gift to take back from your pilgrimage…

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…the central gold shaft lifts up to be at right angles to the base (gold base style also available) …

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…this shaft then extends out like a telescope to the height of approximately 24cms which is the minimum height for a Prayer Sutrah…with the thickness being approximately of a finger…

…there is also a small accurate compass on the base…

…Alhumdulillah for our complete and glorious Deen…Alhumdulillah for the gift of Islam…

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…

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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?

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…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…

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…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…

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…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…

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…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…

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

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

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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!

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

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

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All this sewing together and tearing apart

bewilders me,

my mind reels at the variegations of

affirmation and obliteration.

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

what a marvel of figures, numbers, realities,

and names He inscribes!

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When He multiplies you, like a number,

by somebody else,

what a sum He manifests with his arithmetic!

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You’ve seen multiplication — now study division:

how He parcels up one drop into an Ocean!

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By the algebra of Fate He balances all equations:

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Silence! for thought itself breaks down at such wonders.

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

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…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.

…all in a days walk…

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…summer has definitely arrived after a rather prolonged few months of bearable temperatures…but now the 40′s have begun…and so have the supplies of melons…trucks weighted down line the popular roads…but this is a hazard as the usual habit for people here is to suddenly stop to buy form the street vendors without caring that they may be triple parking and holding up traffic or causing car behind them to swerve dangerously…all adding to the colour and charm of being in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah…how the days of camels would have been safer and a different level of chaos…

…it stirs the soul to see that pigeons are cared for…containers of fresh water are filled throughout the day…they seemed to take it in turns to splash about…

…hard manual labour in the searing sun…the law requires all outdoor work to cease during the intense midday hours…Insha’Allah employees abide by this and also remember the Hadith about paying their workers before the sweat dries from their brow…surely Madinatun Nabi is the place where this is respected…

…a soft early morning light caresses the minarets while highlighting the new street lighting…

…the last remains of green framing the new Qiblah hotel…this garden has been reduced to a few trees…the bird song reduced…preparing for another hotel excavation I presume and for the vast changes this southern side will see as the new fly over is constructed and the old one demolished opening the land for development…

…one of the main facades of the huge Qiblah complex…the largest hotel in the city…it is ten years since it was started…Insha’Allah it will be functioning for the crowds in Ramadhan…

…a unique coach…wonder if it travels at the speed of the magnificent leopard?

…the diversity of groups with their distinct creative ‘uniforms’ adds the to visual spectacle while stirring the soul knowing that Allah Ta’ala brings pilgrims from every nation to our two sacred places, SubhanAllah!

…’self portrait’…he he he…to prove this humble speck has been blessed with some mobility…Alhumdulillah Alf ShukriLlahu!!!

…the constant round the clock cleaning of the umbrellas…

…trying to conjure how much water is used in and around the Masjid is boggling…these trumpet shaped nozzles deliver a high pressure flow to deal with the dust…

…they are filling in all the gaps…ghasp…soon there will be no place to see the developments unless one has access from higher floors in the nearby hotels…why prohibit people from seeing the progress??

…previous visit was about ten days ago…crash::bang::rumble::dust…the stripped buildings are still standing as the focus is on clearing the area of the mangled steel and flattening the site…hence dozens of earth moving trucks are lined up to be filled with the excess earth…what blessed secrets may this earth be holding??

…the green area is where they are currently working…as can be seen it is a fraction of the whole design…the pink is the area of the current Masjid Nabawi…maybe the three inner open courtyard areas of the new plan will mean that these parts corresponding to the northern courtyard will remain as the foundation of these three sections…Allahu ‘Alum…

…the heat and dust bleach the scene…

…if one is seeking a quiet calm while visiting our Radiant city then Insha’Allah it forever resides in the heart and no clanging or crashing of machinery can affect this…

…the only door into the site from the Baqi side…there may come a time when courage is found to ask if a quick step inside is OK to snap some quick shots…guess one will only hear mamnou’…Alhumdulillah…

…leaving…

…entering…bags to be checked…

…arriving…a 24/7 choreography at the eastern sisters section…Alhumdulillah…

…brothers sit at all the main gateways to the Masjid selling the Mushaf…many donate copies to the Masjid as well as purchase for gifts to take back to their home lands…

…this was a row of about ten brothers outside the King Fahd gate mid morning…the early bird getting the shade…

…while others used cardboard and prayer mats to cover their head from the intense heat…

…the mist fans operate during the hottest part of the day…considerably lowering the temperatures underneath the umbrellas…

…bringing relief to those lining up to fill containers with Zamzam which is transported from Makkah on a daily basis and available at this filling station at the north west corner of the courtyard…

…Insha’Allah Du’a flows during this auspicious month where Allah Ta’ala’s promised forgiveness for our repentance is most high…Insha’Allah be steadfast for Hidayah to pierce hearts and for the Deen to flourish in the Haramain as it was during the times of our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, 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.

…A*L*H*U*M*D*U*L*I*L*L*A*H…

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…ALHUMDULILLAH Allah Ta’ala for the moment will save Abu Qubais from further destruction…and protect the Zamzam stream…

The reports of Saudi Geological Survey proved that the mountain contains the headwaters of Zamzam water, and if it was destroyed springs will be damaged.

…Abu Qubais has such an important role in our history. It was the first mountain created by Allah Ta’ala, the Black Stone was protected in it when Allah Ta’ala sent the flood upon Nuh Alaihis Salaam, Darul Arqam, where the early Muslims would secretly meet with the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was situated on it. Also it is where the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam stood when he split the moon and it is where Hajjaj fired the catapult into the Ka’aba, which resulted in the killing of Abdullah ibn Zubair RadhiAllahu anhu, and it is the place where Ibrahim and Ishmael Alaihumaas Salam carried rocks for constructing the first BaituLlah, SubhanAllah!…

…image above of Abu Qubais when homes were perched on it with the least intrusion…not sure of the date or the source of the photo as it was shared via an email…

…from the archives mentioning Abu Qubais…amazing to see the changes over the years…1, 2,see photos of how the royal palace abuts to al-Safa where the plan was to dig…and 3…ALHUMDULILLAH this idea has been aborted due to the insight of specialists…

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.

…Rajab 1434…

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…the new marble courtyard in front of Babul Baqi…a shiny mirrored lake…shimmering reflections with a most intimate closeness portrayed in the touching father and sons huddle…affected by the intensity of love radiating from our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…brothers pondering the reality of being so near…hearts united in the calm and serenity…contemplating the blessing of being drawn so close…embraced and caressed with the softest of touches and the most fragrant of perfumes…

…a little further away the same awe is felt as sisters sit and stare blankly…who needs to see when one can feel…all but longing and yearning is left in the heart as it finds stillness in the moment…every thought, other than of Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, dissolved into a blank void…a nothingness of no meaning, no significance…a veritable bliss piercing ones whole being…

…here we all are…planted on this earthly orb by the gift of gravity…protected as we swirl around and around…our rizq has been decided…our destiny scribed long long ago…so why worry…why fill hearts with anything but the love and adoration of our Rabb and His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…be daring…submit even more during the month of Rajab…be open and ready and WILLING to receive Allah Ta’ala’s Mercy…this is His month of pouring His Mercy on the penitent…daily diligent pleas of

Rabb ighfir li w’ arhamni wa tub ‘alayya

Oh Allah forgive me, have mercy upon me, and grant me repentance.

seventy times after Fajr and after Asr…Insha’Allah so little in exchange for mountains and mountains of forgiveness…SubhanAllah…(other recommended acts in the third link below)

JUMA’AH MUBARAK!

 …may your profits be enormous during this Mubarak month of Rajab, Ameen…

…return to Allah Ta’ala in repentance…

…previous Rajab posts…here with the date loaf recipe…celebrate…here with a gallery of nostalgic Makkah…and here for spiritual ways of preparing the body, mind and soul for Ramadhan, SubhanAllah…

 

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.