Important Historical Landmarks in Makkah

Rahma Mountain

1. Jabalur Rahma (mountain of peace)

It is makrooh to climb the mountain during the wuqoof in Arafa,
Situated in Arafa it is where prophet Aadam (a.s.) landed when he came to earth.
It is here that prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) had his dream of sacrificing his son Ismaeel (a.s.).
Pray 2 rak'at salaat and ask for forgiveness for it is here that hadhrat Aadam (a.s.)'s Dua of tawba was accepted.

Masjid Nimrah in Arafat

2. Masjidun Nimrah

It is an extensively developed masjid. Tha ahlul Kisa (a.s.) whilst performing Hajj prayed here and it is in this masjid that Dua-e-Arafa was recited by Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.). It is situated in Arafa.

Masjid Khaif in Mina

3. Masjidul Khaif

Al Khaif Mosque is situated in Mina where pilgrims offer their prayers during their stay at Mina. It is 25,000 square meters in area and can accommodate 25,000 pilgrims.

Masjid Umrah

4. Masjidul Umrah or Tan'eem

It is a meeqaat for performing Umraah Mufrida for the Haajis.

Abu Qubais Mountain

5. Kohe Abu Qubais

This mountain range which was the first mountain to be created by Allah is all but destroyed now with palaces and tunnels.
However, a slight glimpse of what may have been a mountain may be visible. It is here that the Ark of prophet Nooh (a.s.) passed and paused.
In this mountain, prophet Aadam (a.s.) is buried and it was here that the Prophet (s.a.) split the moon in two with Allah's permission. (refer holy Qur'an 54:1,2).

Jannatul Mualla

6. Jannatul Mualla

To mention a few those who are buried here are:
Hadhrat Haashim,
Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib,
Hadhrat Abu Taalib,
Bibi Khadija,
Qaasim (the Prophet (s.a.)'s infant son) and many more
Jannatul Mualla was desecrated too by Wahhabi rulers in 1925.

Mountain of Noor

7. Jabalun Noor

There are no steps cut into the mountain as there are on Jabalur Rahma.
It takes quite a while  to climb to the cave.
Exhausted, think of Janab Sayyida Khadija (a.s.) who used to bring food to the Prophet (s.a.) everyday. There is hardly any space in the cave. A 'hole' (window) faces the Ka'bah. It is a breathtaking sight where the key word is 'Peace'.

Hijab Wins

When Amra Babic walks down the streets of the central Bosnian town of Visoko wearing her Muslim headscarf, men sitting in outdoor cafes instantly rise from their chairs, fix their clothes and put out their cigarettes.

The respect is only natural: Babic is their new mayor.

The 43 year-old economist has blazed a trail in this war-scarred Balkan nation by becoming its first hijab-wearing mayor, and possibly the only one in Europe. Her victory comes as governments elsewhere in Europe debate laws to ban the Muslim veil, and Turkey, another predominantly Islamic country seeking EU membership, maintains a strict policy of keeping religious symbols out of public life.

For Babic, the electoral triumph is proof that observance of Muslim tradition is compatible with Western democratic values.

"It's a victory of tolerance," the wartime widow says. "We have sent a message out from Visoko. A message of tolerance, democracy and equality."

She sees no contradiction in the influences that define her life.

"I am the East and I am the West," she declares. "I am proud to be a Muslim and to be a European. I come from a country where religions and cultures live next to each other. All that together is my identity." Read Full

Hajj Guide: Stay in Arafaat

The Period of the Halt in Arafaat
There is consensus among the legal schools that the day of the halt in 'Arafaat is the 9th of Dhu al‑Hijjah, but they disagree as to the hour of its beginning and end on that day. According to the Hanafi, the Shafi'i, and the Maliki schools, it begins at midday on the 9th and lasts until the daybreak (fajr) on the tenth. According to the Hanbali school, from the daybreak on the 9th until daybreak on the tenth. According to the Imamiyyah, from midday on the 9th until sunset on the same day, for one who is free to plan; and in case of one in an exigency, until the following daybreak.
It is mustahabb to take a bath for the wuquf in 'Arafaat, to be performed like the Friday bath. There is no rite to be performed in 'Arafaat except one's presence there: one may sleep or keep awake, sit, stand, walk around or ride a mount.

The Limits of ‘Arafaat
The limits of 'Arafaat are `Arnah, Thawbah, and from Nimrah to Dhu al‑Majaz, which are names of places around 'Arafaat. One may not make the halt in any of those places, neither in Taht al‑'Arak, because they are outside 'Arafaat. If one were to make the halt in any of those places, his Hajj is invalid by consensus of all the schools, with the exception of the Maliki, according to which one may halt at `Arnah though he will have to make a sacrifice.
The entire area of 'Arafaat is mawqif (permissible for the wuqaf) and one may make the halt at any spot within it by consensus of all schools. Al‑'Imam al‑Sadiq (`a) relates that when the Prophet (s) made the halt at 'Arafaat, the people crowded around him, rushing along on the hoof‑prints of his camel. Whenever the camel moved, they moved along with it. (When he saw this), the Prophet said, "O people, the mawqif isnot confined to where my camel stands, rather this entire 'Arafaat is mawqif," and pointed to the plains of 'Arafaat. "If the mawqif were limited to where my camel stands, the place would be too little for the people." (al‑Tadhkirah)
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Jashne Ghadeer: Zainabia Mumbai on 3rd November 2012

Outstation Poets:

1- Jarrar Akbarabadi  2. Agha Sarosh  3. Zameer Allahabadi  4. Anzaar Sitapuri  5. Nafees Hallauri
6. Kaleem Bijnauri  7. Aazam Sultaanpuri  8. Anwer Sambhali  9. Aamir Faizabadi  10. Nadeem Akbar.

Mumbai Poets:
1. Mahdi Aazmi  2. Sho'oor Aazmi  3. Saadiq Rizvi  4. Qaider Aqeel  5. Ameer Hamza  6. Kausar Zaidi  7. Khursheed Hallauri  8. Mohsin Zaidi  9. Hamdard Allahabadi

Hajj Guide: Hajj a Duty of a Muslim

"It is the duty of all mankind to come to the House, a pilgrim if he able to make his way there." (Sura, Aale Imraan 3:97)

Hajj consists of two parts;
1- Umrah e Tamatto (for entering Makkah)
2- Hajj e Tamatto

Umrah e Tamatto
(Anytime from 1st Shawwal to 8th Zulhijjah)

1. Ehraam (Niyya, wearing the clothes of Ehraam and recitation of Talbiyyah)
2. Tawaaf.
3. Namaaz of Tawaaf (2 units of Salaah near Maqaam e Ibraheem).
4. Sa'ee (walking 7x between the mountains of Safa and Marwah)
5. Taqseer (cutting some hair or nails).

Hajj e Tamatto (9th to 12th Zulhijjah)

Ehraam in Makka
1. Wuquf (stay) in Arafaat (Noon till Sunset on 9th Zulhijjah)
2. Wuquf in Muzdalifa (Mash'arul Haraam -collecting pebbles for hitting Shaitaan) Dawn till Sunrise of 10th of Zulhijjah.
3. Stoning of Jamaraat in Mina (hitting 7 pebbles only to Big Shaitaan) on 10th Zulhijjah and sacrificing animal.
4. Baitoota (staying) in Mina for 11th and 12th Nights of Zulhijjah. Hitting Shaitaan with pebbles to all 3 of them, 7 to each one. Between sunrise and sunset.
5. Tawaaf of Hajj e Tamatto followed by Namaaz of Tawaaf.
6. Sa'ee between Safa and Marwah.
7. Tawaafun Nisa and its Namaaz.

Hajj Guide: House of the holy Prophet (s.a.)

Door of the house of Sayyida Faatima Zahra (s.a.)

The Zareeh of the holy Prophet (s.a.) is divided into three. The  first third (near Baab-e-Jibraeel) is the house of Sayyida Faatima Zahra (a.s.). It is reported that she is buried there with her son Mohsin.

This is the house for which suratud Dahr was revealed, the house where her unborn son Muhsin died and the house where Imam Hasan & Husain (pbut) were born.

In the middle portion it is said that there is the space for one grave- for Prophet Isa (a.s.) beside the prophet Mohammad (s.a.)

Directly beyond Sayyida Faatema Zahra's (a.s.) house is a platform where a group of Prophet's followers called 'Ahlul Suffa' used to stay. They were homeless. The Prophet used to sit and talk to them after Salatul Tahajjud. Follow his sunna by reciting Qur'an after salaah.

House of the holy Prophet (s.a.)

 

Hajj Guide: Visit Masjidun Nabawi and Prophet's Grave

Baab-e-Jibraeel, one of the entrance to Masjidun Nabawi

Baab-e-Jibraeel is the best door to enter Masjidun Nabawi, It is located to the North-West side of the Masjid, the side of Jannatul Baqee.
Seek permission (Izne Dokhool) to enter the Masjid for the ziyarat of the Messenger of Allah.
Translation of it is:
"O Allah! I am standing at the door of one of the houses of Your prophet and the family of Your prophet peace be upon him and his family.
May I enter, O Prophet of Allah?
May I enter, O Proof of Allah?
May I enter, O angels of Allah?"

As soon you cross the threshold (with your right foot), enter with humility reciting:
"In the name of Allah and by Allah and on the religion of the Prophet of Allah peace be upon him and his family.
O Allah! forgive me and have mercy on me and turn repentant towards me for You are most forgiving and merciful."

Then recite takbeer 100 times as you walk in.
Recite 2 rak'at salaah (namaaz) with the niyyat of Tahiyyate Masjid (a prayer of greetings to the Masjid).

Walking through the door you will  see a structure ahead and to the left. It is the 'Zareeh.' The nearest end is the house of Bibi Faatemah (phuh) whilst further to the left are the graves of the Prophet (pbuh), Abu Bakr and Umar.

Greet the Prophet (pbuh) whilst standing as near as possible, standing in his presence as though he were still alive in the physical world. He knows you are there, and that you have come to visit him. All your salaams reach him, for Allah sends angels to greet anyone from his Ummah who greets him.

Recite ziyaraah of the Prophet (pbuh).
After reciting ziyaraah perform 2 rak'at of salaah of ziyaraah.
Standing there raise your hands in dua and ask Allah for your needs standing in the presence of the holy Prophet (pbuh).

Grand Seminar in Mumbai

Madina, the City of Messenger of Allah

Said to be Abu Ayyub Ansari's house in Madina

Yathrib was populated by the Jews who travelled there knowing about the coming of the last Prophet (s.a.).
Following the Hijra (migration) from the Makka to Madina, each resident wanted Messenger of Allah (s.a.) to stay with them. He said, he will stay wherever Kiswa (his camel) sits. Kiswa sits outside the house of Abu Ayyub Ansari (he was from the progeny of Tubba).
The place where Kiswa sat was designated as masjid and was bought from two orphans. This is the site of Masjidun Nabi (the 2nd masjid to be built. 1st was built in Quba on the way to Madina).

As soon as you see the city, remember that it the city of the Prophet (s.a.). You will be walking upon the very places where the prophet (s.a.) walked. You are in the city where Islam was established, the city where he still lives. Try to make no delay in going directly to the masjid.
Remember, that although you cannot visualise him in the physical world, it is he to whom you sent salaams to in every salaat (namaaz), he to who you owe your ne'ma (bounty)-ISLAM.
Raise your hopes in anticipation of meeting him. The city is called Madinatur Rasool.

Haji Landing in Madinah

"My son! If someone visits me whilst I am alive or dead, or visits your father, your brother or yourself, it becomes wajib on me to visit him/her on the day of Qiyama and rescue him/her from his/her sins.

                                                    --Prophet Mohammad (sawaws) to Imam Husain (a.s.)

Hajj Guide: Pre-Hajj Preparation Tips - 5

On the Day of Departure

1. Pack your Bag.
2. Take out Sadaqah.
3. Write instructions for those left behind, esp Kids, Family members.
4. Be in touch with Tour Operator.
5. Update list of Marhumeen
6. Ensure all affairs are in order.
7. Ensure you have Credit/Debit cards, Passport, Tickets etc. 4 copies of pp size photos. Mobile phone, Camera. 

Hajj Guide: Pre-Hajj Preparation Tips - 4

1- Photocopy the Passport, file a copy at home and carry another with the luggage.

2- Practice Talbiyya. 

لبيك اللهم لبيك .. لبيك لا شريك لك لبيك

ان الحمد والنعمة لك والملك .. لا شريك لك لبيك 

"Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners. 

Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners here I am."

Audio-Video

3- Go over Hajj Masael. Read books on Haj and Umrah.