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Jabal Hira The main picture above shows Jabal Hira (the mountain of Hira), which lies about two miles from the Ka’bah. Near the top is a small cave, a little less than 4 meters in length and a little more than one and a half meters in width. It was here that the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) received the first revelations of the Holy Quran during the month of Ramadhan in 610 CE. The mountain is also known as Jabal Noor (the mountain of light). - The Prophet (s.a.w.) first began to have revelations in the form of good dreams which came true. Then he began to like solitude. He would go to the cave of Hira and meditate there in solitude for a number of days and nights. He would take provisions with him to stay for an extended period, and when he returned to Khadeejah (r.a.), he would stock up again and go back to the cave. This was his practice until Truth was revealed to him by an angel while he was in the cave of Hira. - During Tahajjud time one night, when he was alone in the...
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Mina Mina, seven kilometres east of the Masjid Haram is where Hajj pilgrims sleep overnight on the 8th, 11th, 12th (and some even on the 13th) of Dhul Hijjah. It contains the Jamarat, the three stone pillars which are pelted by pilgrims as part of the rituals of Hajj. - Mina is referenced in Surah Baqarah of the Holy Quran: “Carry out the Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah during the limited days (10th, 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah). There shall be no sin on the person who chooses to hasten (to leave Mina) during the two days (by leaving Mina on the 12th Dhul Hijjah), nor will there be any sin on him who wishes to delay (by leaving Mina on the 13th).(Forgiveness shall be) for him who possesses Taqwa (throughout the Hajj journey).” [2:203] - The word Mina means ‘to flow’ as it is here that the blood of sacrificial animals flow during the day of Eidul Adha. During the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat-ul-Wada) the Muslims had brought with them 100 camels to be sacrificed. On ...
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Muzdalifah This is a view of Muzdalifah, where Hajj pilgrims arrive after sunset from Arafat on the 9th Dhul Hijjah (second day of Hajj). - Muzdalifah stretches from the Valley of Muhassar to the mountains of Ma’zamayn. It is four kilometres long and covers an area of 12.25km2. - Referring to Mudalifah, Allah (swt) mentions in Surah Baqarah in the Holy Quran: “When you leave Arafat, then remember Allah at the Mash’arul Haram.” (‘The Sacred Monument’, referring to Muzdalifah according to Abdullah bin Umar (r.a.)) - During the farewell Hajj, the Prophet (s.a.w.) performed the Maghrib and Isha salahs together at Muzdalifah. He stayed at the spot where the present Masjid Mash’arul Haram currently is (towards the Qibla side). From there, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Although I am staying here, you may stay anywhere throughout Muzdalifah.” [Muslim] - During Hajj It is waajib to perform Maghrib and Isha together in Muzdalifah at Isha time. Wuqoof (stay) of Muzdali...
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House of Abu Bakr (r.a.) This is the approximate place where the house of Abu Bakr (r.a.) was located in Makkah and from where Hijrah to Madinah commenced. It is in the Makkah Towers Hotel block, where a masjid (Masjid Abu Bakr) has been built on the 4th floor. - When the decision to assassinate the Prophet (s.a.w.) had been made by the Quraysh, Jibraeel (a.s.) was sent down to the Prophet (s.a.w.) to reveal to him the plot and to give him his Lord’s permission to leave Makkah. - Having been given the command for migration, the Prophet (s.a.w.) called at the house of Abu Bakr (ra) at noon when the burning sun had forced the people indoors. Since it was an unusual time to visit, Abu Bakr (r.a.) speculated that migration must have been ordered. First of all he (s.a.w.) inquired if there was any strange person in the house. When he was informed that there was no one in the house except Abu Bakr (r.a.) and his daughters, Asma and Aisha (r.a.), he disclosed that migration to M...

I Luv Madinatul Munawwarah

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The City of Madinah Madinah Munawarrah ("the enlightened city") ranks as the second most holiest place in Islam after Makkah. It is the city that gave refuge to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and the early Muslims upon their migration from Makkah and where lies the burial place of the Prophet (s.a.w.). - The city of Madinah was originally known as Yathrib, an oasis city dating as far back as the 6th century BCE. During the war between Jews and Romans in 3rd century CE many Jews fled Jerusalem and migrated to their ancestral place of Yathrib (present Madinah). Nero sent massive Roman force under Petra Lenidas to Madinah to massacre the Jews in 213 CE. A community survived and by the time the Prophet (s.a.w.) had migrated there was a large Jewish presence around the city. - The Jews were eagerly waiting for the arrival of a prophet who, according to their scriptures, would appear in Madinah. They used to taunt the local Arabs that when he did arrive, according to t...