almiskeenah

…the previous virtual tour east of Haram ended at the site of the proposed railway station…journeying a little further east, as seen on the above google image, one is soon in the haunting volcanic landscape of al-Harra al-Sharqiya…the huge black ink-like splotched area…

After the evening prayer, according to one account quoted by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, “a fire burst out in the direction of al-Hijaz; it resembled a vast city with a turreted and battlemented fort, in which men appeared drawing the flame about, as it were, whilst it roared, burned and melted like a sea everything that came in its way. Presently a red and bluish stream, bursting from it, ran close to al-Madinah, and at the same time the city was fanned by a cooling zephyr from the same direction.”

The eruption lasted for 52 days. At its fiery zenith those further afield also witnessed strange sights, with reports of the light of the eruption visible in Makkah and Tayma’, six days’ journey from Madinah. Historians relate that the depth of the lava flow was a long spear’s length, around three meters (10′), and that it flowed like a red-blue boiling river, carrying in its way gravels, stones and trees, with thundering noises. Al-Qastalani asserts that the fire was so fierce that no one could approach within two arrow flights, and that at night “the brilliant light of the volcano made the face of the country as bright as day; and the interior of the haram was as if the sun shone upon it.” The governor and citizens prayed for the safety of the city, and as the lava inexorably approached, many, including women and children, wept and prayed around the Prophet’s tomb. Then, the lava current turned north, and the city was spared.

Source

…the formations are weird and wonderful…one is awed by Allah Ta’ala’s Qudrat in up heaving the earth, revealing such a variety of forms and eerie twisted shapes…

Travel across the harraat, “more often a vast bed and banks of rusty and basaltic bluish blocks,” was a formidable task: “Because of this cumber of stones and sharp cutting lavas, the Harra country is hard to pass, out of the paths, for any other than Harra-bred camels. The heavy poised stones sliding and toppling to the tread, the herdsmen’s feet are oftentimes sorely bruised; of which, and because the stones are as glowing coals in the summer sun, the Beduin hinds in the Harra commonly sit all day upon the croups of their browsing camels.”

Charles M. Doughty TRAVELS IN ARABIA DESERTA also quoted from the same edition of Saudi Aramco World as above, which is a must read for fascinating details about the volcanic history and activity across the Kingdom…

The Harrat Rahat between Madinah and Makkah is twice as large as the nation of Lebanon, and the combined area of the haraat of Saudi Arabia is larger than the US state of Missouri.

The Madinah volcano erupted in 654 AH (1258 G) Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had said that the Day of Judgement would not not take place until a huge fire appeared in the Hijaz whose light would illuminate the necks of the camels. The volcano erupted violently with some historians saying it was preceded by an earthquake followed by several tremors with such force that the ceiling of Masjid Nabawi creaked making a grating sound.

The Prophet SallaAllahu alaihi Wasallam had a dream where Allah Ta’ala told him to tell Umar Radhiallahu anhu, that there will be a volcano during his Khalifat and when it happens he is to find a Sahaba called Tamim Ad Dar and tell him to go to the source of this volcano and put his hands up and tell it to stop. And true enough, during the Khalifat of Umar Radhiallahu anhu when the volcano was erupting Umar Radhiallahu anhu found this Sahaba and told him what to do….of course he was taken aback and said he had no such powers, but due to his Tawakkal and Yaqeen on Allah Ta’ala, went and did as instructed….and hence the miracle that Madinah was spared. Subhanallah. A truly incredible sign from the Signs of the Almighty Ta’ala. This place is very nearby and amazing to visit…as of course are all the places around in around Madinah.

From a 2006 archive.

…there are a few ’settlements’ within the lava field…usually of illegal overstayers eking out a very harsh existence with a few goats and camels…

…these camels were at the edge of the Haraa…the white in the far distance being the closest sign of a suburb…

…the remains of a ‘home’…

…as is clearly seen on the google image the lava flow miraculously solidified in an almost straight line. Non-Muslim vulcanologists have said that this must have been an ‘act of God’ as no volcano ever ends so abruptly…

Additional information, stories,photos and Ahadith here.

…the above and the following photos are from the older lava flow to the south east of Haram…it is not as thick, nor as dense as the Sharqiya tract…Jabal Eyre, the Bab of Jahannam is in the distance…

…the marker delineating the border of the Sacred Boundary of Haram sits in the middle of this area that is being developed as a sub division for residential housing…

…where many grand villas have already been constructed…

…this area is relatively hilly and higher than Haram…

…where interesting views of surrounding landmarks can be seen…this is the water tower as it is appears strung with lights each Eid…

…the four shorter minarets of Masjid Quba are to the left, with the distinct Masjid Nabawi minarets to the right, as seen from Harra Rahat…

No kind of calamity can occur, except by the leave of Allah, and if anyone believes in Allah, He guides hearts aright, for Allah knows all things. (64:11)

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.

Tags: lava, Madinah, scoria, Tamim ad Dar, Volcano

…the final month of the Islamic calendar…Dhul Hijjah…containing the blessed ten days when righteous actions are more beloved to Allah than any other days…

It has been narrated that fasting one of these days is equal to the reward of fasting for a whole year and standing in one of these nights in prayer is equal to standing on Laylat al-Qadr. Also the reward for actions in these days is multiplied seven hundred times.

…this is also the month to reflect upon the greatness of two of our Shining Stars, Sayyidna ‘Umar and Sayyidna ‘Uthman RadhiAllahu anhumaa:

Both their hearts were pierced with Hidayah, stepping from darkness into light during the month of Dhul Hijjah, both were from noble and influential tribes but both denounced the glitter of this Dunya, both are from the Ashurah Mubasharah, two of the ten promised Jannah. With our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam they both stood on Jabal Uhud when it trembled, fought in battles alongside him, sat in palm groves, drank from wells, dined in his company, devotedly studied at his feet, both heard the pebbles hymning Shahadah, both shared the highest degrees of humility, modesty, asceticism, piety, forbearance generosity, knowledge and justice. Both were from the rightly guided Caliphs, both had verses of the Qur’an Majeed revealed relating to them, both initiated extensions to Masjid Nabawi, both met their martyrdom during the month of Dhul Hijjah. Volumes have been penned on these luminous and faithful residents of Paradise. Stars that will continue to shine till the last heart beats in this temporary existence. May we be guided by the noble examples of ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab, Abu Hafs and ‘Uthman ibn Affan, Dhul Noorayn RadhiAllahu anhuma.

Insha’Allah return to the Shining Stars archive for Ahadith, stories and sayings of these two noble predecessors RadhiAllahu anhumaa…accounts that inspire hearts to emulate their wisdom and adopt their ways, especially during these blessed ten days when righteous actions are more beloved to Allah than any other days…and when rewards for actions in these days are multiplied seven hundred times…SubhanAllah!

Allah give us the ability to fill these days with acts of goodness that bring us closer to Him. Allah help us to follow in the footsteps of His Chosen One in all that we do inwardly and outwardly, may Allah bless him and his family, Companions and all those that follow him until the end of time.

O Allah send blessings upon our Master Muhammad as much as the eyes see, as much as the earth becomes verdant after rainfall, the number of people making Hajj and Umra, making the talbiya, shaving their heads, making tawaf around the Ancient House and kissing the Stone and upon his family and companions in every instant for ever the number of Your creation, to Your satisfaction, the weight of Your throne and the amount of ink of Your words.

Quotes plus an illuminating collection of adhkar to be read during the blessed ten days from Shaykh Abdul Karim Yahya’s site.

Photos from inside Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey, from google images.

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.

Tags: blessed ten days, Dhul Hijjah, Hagia Sophia, Hajj 1432, martyrs, sahabah, Umar, Uthman

…a comical, apt clip…substitute the word ’stuff’ with ‘blog’ and that’s this speck these days…woe woe woe!!…the intention is to prepare a post…but Shaytan, the guess is it’s Shaytan…as surely he is the one who directs the show called ‘procrastination’, runs amok…Astaghfirullah…Astaghfirullah…Astaghfirullah…

…this morning I got up early ready to get the blog done…but thought I had best start some laundry first, to get it out of the way, so went to the machine but saw that there was very little soap left…so went to write that on the shopping list…when I saw that the frig door was grubby so began cleaning that when it was noticed that dishes had not been cleared from the rack…as I was putting the cutlery in the container it was realized that the fruit basket needed filling from another frig so headed to the spare room, but on the way the CD’s I had promised to copy caught my eye, so thought it best to do that before I got the blog done…then glancing at the computer screen it was noticed that an email had arrived…so opened that and thought I had best attend to it there and then…but the name of the sender had a strange association reminding me that I had not filled the water bottles so hastened to do that before getting the blog done…while in the room where the containers of Zamzam are, a pile of coloured scraps of paper were in disarray…so I tidied these thinking they would distract my attention to getting the blog done…but while doing this, pangs of hunger made me realize that I had not had breakfast…so went to the kitchen to prepare porridge…but noticed the honey jar was almost empty and needed to be turned upside down in a bowl to drain the remainder…when sitting beside the jar was a bag of lentils I had not put into the container…so I looked for the lentil container but saw that a piece of paper a recipe was scribbled on was lying there…so thought it best to type it out so as not to lose it before getting the blog done …so went back to the computer but on the way decided to light some incense to make the house smell nice for getting the blog done…on reaching for the incense I found a book I had misplaced ages ago, with an important quote bookmarked, was on the shelf…thinking this would be great for adding to the blog I sat to read this…which in turn reminded me of another related topic…so I searched for that book…but found the bookcase had not been dusted…so went for the cloth to do that before getting the blog done…realizing that beside the bag of dusting cloths was some sewing I had forgotten about…so grabbed it and then went in search of a needle and thread…when I remembered that…….

…slight exaggerations…but how much time is wasted in our day??

…so before procrastination prevents you, go here to vote for the 8th Brass Crescent Award …’almiskeenah’ is in the Best Regional Blog Category…five excellent blogs have been nominated from four different countries, which is a slight change from previous years when it was a selection of Middle East blogs only…ahhh…no procrastination with this blatant lobbying..cajoling…tut tut tut…

~*~

Ali Ibn Abi Talib RadhiAllahu anhu said:

Everyone who is taken by death asks for more time, while everyone who still has time makes excuses for procrastination.

Insha’Allah, by the grace of Allah Ta’ala we have a firm conviction to combat procrastination and laziness and value the time we have been gifted with before it is taken away…may we strive to fight the temptations of Shaytan to distract us from all that benefits our Akhirah and may Allah Ta’ala bestow upon us the ability to work at increasing the sincerity of our intention in all we do throughout every precious day He has decreed for us, Ameen.

And those who shall strive for Our Sake, We shall surely guide them unto Our ways. Allah is with those who do good. (29:69)

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.

Tags: 8th brass crescent awards, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Astaghfirullah, cajoling, lobbying, procrastination, Qur'anic guidance, time wasting

…snap…snap…on the run…joyously magnificent…magnificently joyous…actually the atmosphere defies words…so pictures only…

…how many nationalities can you recognize?

SubhanAllah Alhamdulillah Laa ilaha illAllah Allahu Akbar

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.

…five years ago the plans for the Knowledge Economic City were announced…to occupy a huge area of land east of Masjid Nabawi, on the periphery of the massive lava field…an outing to see the developments revealed a dust bowl of dumped earth…mounds scattered amongst the brittle volcanic scoria with scant evidence of any construction work that may indicate the elaborate designs for this futuristic city…

…and then a few metres further east, just outside the Sacred Boundary of Madinah is the site for the Madinah Station…the end of the line for the new Haramain Railway linking Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah…part of the expansion of railway links across the Kingdom…

…the only sign of this project is a series of boards showing artist impressions of what is to come…and a few pieces of construction equipment…

…the overall concept looks impressive…

…heading back towards Haram, Jabal Uhud on the right of the proposed Knowledge City site…

…with the construction of villas forming new residential suburbs…a ribbon-like embellishment around our Beloved Jabal Uhud…

…existing apartments and commercial traders form densely populated enclaves on the Haram side of the second ring road immediately opposite the development site…

…two Haram minarets can be seen in the far distance through the haze that has been lingering these past few days…

…King Abdul Aziz Street leads directly to Jannatul Baqi and Masjid Nabawi…

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.

Tags: Haramain Railway, Knowledge Economic City Madinah, Lava Tract, Madinah, Madinah railway station, Saudi Railway, Volcanic tract

…less than two months have passed since our cherished guest, Ramadhan, left us…if we were emulating the illustrious Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum, another four months would pass in worry and concern for the results of our fasting…how much worry and concern have we felt these past few weeks?

O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was for those before you, so that you may attain Taqwa. (2:183)

…’that you may attain Taqwa‘…so what is Taqwa so that we may nurture, and work to accomplish it?

Anas RadhiAllahu anhu asked our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, ‘Prophet of Allah, who are the Family of Muhammad?’ He said, ‘Everyone who is God-wary, for in the fear of God is gathered all good.’

…During Shaykh Abdul Aziz’s recent Umrah visit his lessons focused on his translation of Imam al-Haddad’s Taqwa and Knowledge From Al-Nasaih Al-Diniyyah…the following is quoted from the introduction:

Those who have translated ‘taqwa‘ have used a variety of words including ‘fear of  God’, ‘awareness of God’, ‘piety’, ‘righteousness’, ‘obedience’ and ‘devotion’. Each of these translations touches on part of the meaning but does not encompass it fully….

By tracing a word to its root and examining how the form is extracted, the true meaning can be found. The origin of the word taqwa is from the Arabic letters ‘qaf‘, ‘waw‘ and ‘ya‘ and its root means ‘to guard against’, ‘to shield’ and ‘to place a barrier between oneself and danger’. The word waqaya, shield and waqin, ‘guardian or protector’ or ‘means of protection’ such as a rain coat (mi’taf waqin) or gas mask (qana waqin) are all derived from the same origin. Imam al-Haddad explains that taqwa is ‘fulfilling the commandments of Allah and avoiding His prohibitions both inwardly and outwardly while feeling adoration and reverence for Allah as well as awe, fear and dread.’ Fulfilling His commands puts a ’shield’ between oneself and His wrath and the Fire. It is a ‘means of protection’ and, according to the Imam’s definition, could perhaps be translated as the ‘devotion’, ‘righteousness’, or ‘piety’ that ‘protects one from the displeasure of the Lord of retribution’. This devotion is the consequence of ‘reverence’ and ‘awe’. In this sense it might be translated as ‘the awe-ness of God’, ‘fear of God’, or ‘awe’ that leads to the devotion.

Al-Kattani said, ‘The share of this world is trouble. The share connected to the next world is God-wariness (Taqwa).’ Al-Jurayri said, ‘No one who fails to institute fear and inner attention as the principles of his relations with God will arrive at the disclosure of secrets and the contemplation of Him.’

A Sufi said, ‘When someone makes God-wariness a reality, God makes avoidance of this world easy on his heart.’ Dhu-l-Nun al-Misri said, ‘The one who is God-wary is the one who does not stain his exterior with acts of resistance nor his interior with delusions and who stands in a position of agreement and conformity with God.’

It is said that a person is judged to possess God-wariness on the basis if three things: the beauty of his trust in God for what has not been granted; the beauty of his satisfaction with what has been granted; the beauty of his patience toward what has passed him by.’

It is told that Abu Yazid al-Bistami washed his robe in the desert. he had a companion with him. The man said, ‘Let’s hang up your robe to dry on the wall of this vineyard.’ he answered, ‘No, don’t drive a peg into somebody’s wall.’ His companion said, ‘Then we’ll hang it on a tree.’ ‘No,’ he returned, ‘it may break the branches.’We’ll spread ot out on the grass,’ ‘No, the animals eat it. We will not block it off for them.’ So he turned his back to the sun, with his robe on his back, until one side of it dried. Then he turned until the other side dried.’

Ali RadhiAllahu anhu said, ‘The most noble of humanity in this world are the generous, and the most noble in the next world are the God-wary.’

Excerpts from The Risalah, Principles of Sufism.

…and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf says, ‘Patience is a sign of sincerity and it is from Taqwa you exhibit patience.

…and the photos…stark visual reminders of the realities of this Dunya, so we may turn the heart to strive towards the blossoming of Taqwa…or as heard from Shaykh Kamaluddin’s summary of Shaykh Zulfiqar’s recent tour of the UK:

the purpose of this existence is not to live a good life but to die a good death.

May Allah Ta’ala bestow us all with ‘Taqwa enhancing’ days…weeks…months…years…so that we may attain it….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.

…a topaz jewel illuminated the skies when this Dhul Qa’dah moon was full…and now it is a slightly wry silver platter suspended over Madinatun Nabi…

…as it shines down a multitude of lights shimmer and reflect…

…as pilgrims seem to float on a pearly lake…

…as if buoyant in entranced euphoric masses…

…allured to the paragon of beauty…the light of guidance that outshines and dims all other lights…the pinnacle of Messengers SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…

…every heart secluded in every unique raiment seeks to be quenched with the sublimest of love and the of deepest of compassion…

…in awe of being so close to the treasure of mankind SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…

…offerings of tireless praise never cease as wave upon wave of seekers are transfixed in his SallAllahu alaihi wasallam’s light…

…some would happily breath their last here…as others weep tears that mingle joy…elation…gratitude…shortcomings…repentance…

…by the grace of the Lord of the Throne, may intercession be granted to all…and all that eludes an intimacy with the Prince of this Dome be dissolved…

…under this waning gabbous moon a variety of vehicles scuttle and criss cross the mirrored marble…puncturing the calm with a scramble of sounds and differnt purposes…

…an expansive ‘fleet’ of carts provide a free service all around the courtyard…

…even at midnight the depot is busy…

…with drivers, as if on a dodgem car circuit, whisk pilgrims to and fro…

…but all is eerily quiet along the abandoned souk…

…and as the sky is lit by the splendour of the majestic waning moon…in truth, it is the shine from your presence SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, the greatest gift to mankind, that sets the Universe ablaze…

…may the purest of endless blessings never cease upon our Liegelord, Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and his family and companions RadhiAllahu anhum…

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.