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: Pre-Hajj Preparation Tips - 3

15 Days to Go

1. Ensure Ehraam is ready, sorted and washed.

2. Ensure Khums is Upto date. 

3. Start Shopping and Packing.

4. Visit relatives and friends (the Ma'sumeen have recommended that visit relatives and friends before leaving for Hajj and seek forgiveness from them, while you are back from Hajj the relatives should visit you).

How to Perform Hajj?

Get this book for free. Dial 022-23463237

Prayer Mats Light Up When Facing Makkah

There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, many of whom direct daily prayers toward the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. One designer from the U.K., Soner Ozenc, would like to bring some tech innovation into the prayer space, by creating a prayer mat that lights up when it faces Mecca.

The prayer mat is called EL Sajjadah — “EL” stands for Electro Luminescent and “Sajjadah” means prayer mat. EL Sajjadah is lightweight, flexible and has a built in digital compass, which lights up when facing Mecca.

“I was looking at designing flying carpets, but I came to a point where I needed to add a function to the project,” Ozenc told Mashable. “Then I came up with the prayer mat idea. You need to put mat on the floor and use a compass, but why not embed a digital compass?”

In the six years since Ozenc began working on EL Sajjadah, he says he has received no negative feedback about the blending of technology into traditional religious practices (the prayer mat is the only object necessary for Muslim prayer).

In addition to its function, EL Sajjadah is designed to be wall art you can hang in your home. Its black base represents the color of the Kaaba in Mecca and its designs are in green, the holy color of Islam. It was displayed in New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s exhibit “Talk to Me: Design and the Communication Between People and Objects” in 2011, and the museum has purchased a copy to be part of its permanent collection.

The Kickstarter has 35 backers so far, but has only raised a bit more than $6,000 of its $100,000 goal. If you would like to get you hands on one of the first releases of EL Sajjadah, you must contribute at least $500 to the project, which will expire August 14.

What do you think of this melding of technology into traditional religious practices? If you’re a practicing Muslim, would you buy EL Sajjadah? 

Story Source 

Hajj 2012 Forms from Hajj Committee

Hajj Committee of India has uploaded the forms for the Hajj season of 2012. 
Fill the Forms and form groups. The rates are reasonable.
Special category for Shia Ithna Asharis.
The accommodation in Makkah during Hajj season has TWO categories. 
1. Green and 2.Azizia
The approximate amount of Green Category will be Rs. 1,50,000/- (Hotel Distance to Haram is 1.5kms.)
The approximate amount of Azizia Category will be Rs. 1,15,000/- Suburbs of Makka with free Bus service.
For details download Hajj Guidelines.
For further guidance contact  9920276708 or 23461019.
Meet in person between 3.00 PM and 5.30 PM (except Sundays) at Zainabia Imambada, Bori Mohalla, near Bhindi Bazar, Mumbai-400003.

Hajj 2012 for Just Rs.1,25,000 Only

Are you ready for the Hajj this year?

Just for Rs. One Lac and Twenty Five Thousands Only!

Duration: 30 Days

Boarding Point:  Mumbai

Get ready with your Passport.

If your passport expires or you don't have one? 

Apply in Tatkal Scheme.

 For Detail Contact:
(For Thane & Mumbai believers only)

9920276708

Now the Tallest Clock Tower of the World in Makkah

MAKKAH – The tallest golden minaret in the world, which has been erected on top of the Makkah Clock Tower, will broadcast the call for prayer (Adhan) from the Grand Mosque in Makkah through special loudspeakers that will carry the sounds to people almost 7 kilometers away.
On special Islamic occasions, such as the beginning of the Hijri months and Eids, 16 special vertical lights will flash 10 kilometers into the sky.
During the Adhan, 21,000 lamps on the highest point on Makkah Clock send brilliant white and green lights to the sky; they can be seen from a distance of 30 kilometers. The lights indicate the beginning of time for prayer, especially for people with special needs such as those with weak hearing and those far away from the Grand Mosque.
The Makkah Clock Tower stands 601 meters. The height of the clock from its base to the highest point at the peak of the crescent is 251 meters.
The tower’s height makes it the world’s second-tallest building after the 828-meter Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The clock, which began showing time about 11 months ago, is part of the structure that cost some SR11 billion to construct, officials have said.
The front and rear of the four faces are 43 meters by 43 meters and the two side faces are 43 meters by 39 meters.
“Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest), in Arabic, can be seen on the top part of the clock.
The letter “Alif” in “Allah” is more than 23 meters tall and the crescent, with a 23-meter diameter, is the largest crescent ever made.
The two testimonies, “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet,” can be seen at the top of the two side faces of the clock, which has been designed in an Islamic style, according to the most precise Islamic criteria.
The clock, which weighs 36,000 tons, is more than six times larger in diameter than London’s famed Big Ben.
During the day its face is white and the indicators are black. At night, the face changes to green and the indicators change to white.
More than 90 million pieces of colored glass mosaic embellish the sides of the clock, which is visible from all corners of the city, SPA has said. Elevators will take visitors up to a huge viewing balcony just underneath the faces, a four-story astronomical observatory and an Islamic museum. The Clock Tower is the landmark feature of the seven-tower King Abdulaziz Endowment hotel complex. The project is part of efforts to develop the old city and make it more capable of catering to pilgrims.
The clock reflects a goal by some Muslims to replace the 127-year-old Universal Time standard – originally called Greenwich Mean Time – with Makkah Mean Time.
At a conference in Doha in 2008, Muslim clerics and scholars said Makkah time is the true global meridian. They said Makkah is the center of the world and that the Greenwich standard was imposed by the West in 1884.

Today, 15th Rabiul Awwal, First Masjid of Islam came into Existence

Masjid-e-Quba 

This was the first Masjid that the Prophet of Allah (SAW) built on his arrival from Makkah. Its foundations were laid by the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and he spent more than 20 nights here (after migrating) praying qasr while waiting for Imam Ali [a]. It is mentioned in the Qur'an as the mosque founded on piety and devoutness.

It is narrated that the Prophet of heard saying that if you say two Rak'ats Salaat in this Masjid you will get the sawaab of one Umrah.
May Allah give us opportunity to perform Umrah and Hajj and we pray in this historical Masjid.

Today, Day of Arafah, the Day of Repentance

The day of Arafah is the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah and is one of the most sacred days of the Islamic Calendar. On this day Allah invites his servants towards his worship and obedience, and spreads his bounties and blessings.

It is highly recommended to be on this day in Karbala, Iraq. The presence over there carries a great reward. After the downfall of the tyrant Saddam, the pilgrims gather in Karbala on this day and outnumber the Haajis in Arafat at Hajj. There are above 5 million visitors at Karbala pouring from all over the world, while in Makkah there are 2 to 3 millions.

There are different a'maal to be performed on this particular day. Dua of Imam Husain (a.s.) known as Dua Arafah and Dua of Imam Zainul Aabidin (a.s.) are the important Duas to be recited. The theme of these duas is the forgiveness of the sins from Allah. It is the day of repentance.

Imam Zaynul Aabidin (a.s.) says about this great day: "O God, this is the day of Arafah a day which you have made noble, given honor and magnified within it. You have spread your mercy, showed kindness through your pardon, made plentiful your giving and by it you have been gracious towards your servants." (Sahifa as-Sajjadiyyah, Du'a no. 47)

It is also narrated that once Imam saw a man begging from people on the day of Arafah. He said "Woe unto you that on a day like this you are asking from other than God. This is a day when the mercy and grace of Allah reaches (even) the fetus in the womb."
In Mumbai City the congregational A'maal is organised at various places. seeking forgiveness from All-Merciful Almighty Allah.

Click on this link for the A'maal of this day 

Hajj Guide Booklet

Good News for Hujjaj for this year. A pocket size booklet on Hajj performance with step by step guidance. The book is in Urdu language. Its starts with niyyat at Meeeqaat. The rulings on Hajj for women is also included. To get a free copy, email you full name and complete address and phone no.  on rizvisr@gmail.com or you can call or SMS on 9920276708, we will send it by post or arrange through hand delivery for Mumbai Haajis.

The title cover of the booklet

Live on Desktop: Makkah and Madinah

Live programs from Holy Makkah and Madina on your desktop.
Please do the following steps:
Come to the Desktop First
·       Right Click -> New -> Shortcut
New Window Will Appear
·       Type mms://38.96.148.74/Quran2
·       Then Click Next
·       Type Any name as  “Makkah”
·       Then Finish
Open The Short Cut. Now its playing Makkah Live Program.  just wait for a while for buffering.
Do the Same Procedure for Madina Live Program Using the url mms://38.96.148.74/Sunna2

Rejoice, its Imam Hasan (a.s) Birthday

Yes, rejoice, celebrate, enjoy, invite your family and friends for Iftar and dinner. Today, 15th of Ramadhan is the birthday of the second Imam, Imam Hasan Mujtaba (a.s.), the elder and beloved grandson of the holy prophet of Islam (pbuh). The elder brother of Imam Husain (a.s.). Imam Hasan (a.s.) was born in Madina and is buried in Madina (Jannatul Baqee).
Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (a.s.) are named by the holy prophet (pbuh) as the youths of the Paradise. On this happy occasion there are celebrations at numerous places in Mumbai. Do not forget to give greetings to the great grandson of Imam Hasan (a.s.), hadhrat Imam Mahdi (a.s.). Give charity to the poor, feed the destitute and help the helpless. One of the attributes of Imam Hasan (a.s.) was that he distributed his wealth among the needy and the destitutes. He performed Hajj 25 times on walk. One should know that from Madina to Makkah the distance is approx. 450 Kms. One has to wear Ehraam for Hajj outside the city of Madina, a place known as Masjide Shajrah which is the Meeqaat for Hajj. Wearing Ehraam from Masjide Shajrah to Masjidul Haraam in Makkah is not comfortable and that also walking! How many days it took to reach Makkah?
Twenty Five Hajj means he has been through all the seasons. Extreme heat and extreme cold!
Today's Haaji reaches Makkah by Air and complains about his journey. The Haaji travels by bus from Masjide Shajrah to his hotel in Makkah and feels uncomfortable. Just 450 kms by road in the bus!!!!

Today, 28 Rajab, Imam Husain (pbuh) leaves Madina for Makkah

In the month of Rajab; exactly four months remained for Hajj. During the time of Hajj, people from every corner of the country would come for pilgrimage to Makkah. He could then easily convey his message to the people, Imam Husain (pbuh) knew that if he were to start his Qiyam and struggle from Makkah, all the world of Islam would become aware of his objectives and then it would not be so easy for the regime to deceive the people about him and his aims. Read in Detail...

The Return of Abraha

Demolish Masjid Al-Haram, demands Saudi Sheikh

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: A Salfi Saudi cleric on Wednesday March 17 has called for demolishing the Grand Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram) in the holy city of Makkah and replacing it with a new one featuring "20 to 30" floors in pretext of preventing men and women from mingling during pilgrimages (sha’a’er ot-Tawaf was Sa`ee) which has been in Muslim practice since centuries, says a report in daily Akhbar Al Khaleej.

Sheikh Yousaf Al-Ahmed, an Islamic scholar and a teacher in Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, was speaking during a phone-in on a Saudi satellite television show.

A viewer posed video footage of the show on the YouTube website, dubbing the cleric "the new Ibraha" after the tyrant who wanted to demolish the Ka'aba 14 centuries ago.

The present Grand Mosque has three floors and is the largest mosque in the world. It is built around the Kaaba, the most sacred place in Islam.

Earlier, the Saudi government has razed a number of holy sites that belonged to the Prophet Muhammad (s), his holy progeny, wives and companions in the holy cities of Makkah and Medinah etc sending a wave of anger in the Muslim world. (www.abna.ir)

Slow Internet Connection & Hajj Expenses

Due to weak and a very slow network connection it is very difficult to post. One post takes at least 45 minutes and loading a picture irritates. This has caused interruptions. Suddenly the connection goes off. This has affected the regular blogging from Makkah. But, I have nice collection of the Hajj event which I will continue putting on this blog. InshaAllah.

There are not more than 10 Internet Cafe in this holy city. A minute telephone call to India costs Rs. 26.00. A local call is Rs.6.50 a minute.

The prices are 4 to 5 times high. Three litre petrol costs Rs. 13.00 only but the taxi fare is Rs.65.00 per person for 3-4 kms.

Normal flight from Mumbai to Jeddah and back costs Rs.18,000/- while in Hajj season the airlines charge above Rs.42,000/-

Hotels in Makkah charge Rs. 500-600, while for Hajj they charge upto Rs. 38,000/- per head.

A glass of tea is min Rs.13/- and goes to Rs. 26/- nearby Haram. A simple sandwich costs Rs. 26 t0 Rs. 39/-.

So, only the mustatee survives. Here the marketing golden phrase that the demand brings the cost down is totally reverse. Here the demand shoots the price upwards.

Its Raining in Makkah

At the moment while posting this news its raining heavily in Makkah with heavy clouds and thunderstorm. 80% Hajis at present are in Mina tents. Tonight, we will be going to Arafaat. But, our collegues are anxious as the tents might have been wet by now and might have collapsed due to water. How they will sit or lye down on the wet ground?

Anyway, it will be a double mercy for the Hajis. Here is the video clip of the rains from our hotel room.

Mehfil-e-Qur'an in Masjidul Haraam

In the Holy City of Makkah, on the second floor of Masjidul Haraam, opp. Hijre Ismail a programme was held on the recitation of holy Qur'an. Here the top and best Qaarees of Iran gathered and presented their art of recitation of the Book of Allah. Many had been brought to recite Qur'an in Haramayn Shareefayn. About 70 Qarees are given opportunities to perform Hajj every year and show their talent to the International Muslim Community.

This holy Qur'an recitation programme is conducted from 1st - 7th Zilhijjah. Once a Haji attended this programme he remained till the finish. The photo is of the same session.

Offices of Ayatullah Ezam

In Madina there are the offices of various Ayatullahs for their muqalledeens for their guidance to the Hajj rituals. The to be haajis visit these offices and seek the guidance from the representatives of the Ayatullahs for the upcoming Hajj masaels. These offices operate in Madina before hajj and shift to Makkah during the Hajj period. The photos show banners of the offices of Hazrat Ayatullahil Uzma Hazrat Makarim Shirazi and Hazrat Ayatullahil Uzma Hazrat Abdul Karim Musawi Ardbeli.

The photograph shows the interior of the office of Hazrat Ayatullahil Uzma Hazrat Makarim Shirazi. Here Hujjatul Islam Aqa-e-Farshad delivered a beautiful speech on "Hajj & Intezar", putting good points on Imam Zaman (a.s.).

I had a lengthy discussion on a mas'alah from Ayatullah Makarim about the Najasat of mushrikeen. It is being propogated that Ayatullah Makarim has permitted to intake najis food through them. The representative denied this and said there are conditions for this. He also said that we will discuss this in detail in Makkah. I will post the detail after Hajj. InshaAllah.

On the way to Hajj

I have this opportunity to perform Hajj. Inshallah I will try to share the news from the Holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Pray for success.

You can see the green dome of the Rawdha of the Holy Prophet during night time. Beside it on the left is the white or silver dome under which was the house of second Imam, Imam Hasan (a.s.)