Thursday 25 March 2021

Imporant Places to visit During Umrah / Hajj in Holy Makkah




Places to Visit During Umrah in Makkah, as Makkah is the mother of all cities, the birthplace of our beloved Prophet PBUH, and the most sacred place for Muslims. Muslims from all over the world flock to Makkah to perform sacred religious obligations of minor and major pilgrimage every year. And during their holy spree, they want to visit the sacred and historical places of Islamic history. There are many important places in Makkah to visit during your Umrah tour, we make a list of must-visit places that you can’t miss during your Umrah trip




Masjid Al Haram : The largest mosque in the world, Masjid e Haram or Grand Mosque can accommodate 1.2 million pilgrims at once. The most sacred and dream place for Muslims houses the black cubic structure ‘Kabah’ and the famous well of holy water ‘Zam Zam’. It is the utmost desire of every Muslim to visit this sacred mosque at least once in his lifetime. 

Mina (The City of Tents): Mina is a valley 3 miles east of the Makkah, where more than 100,000 air-conditioned tents are placed for pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage. The Jamarat Bridge ID is located in the valley of Mina where pilgrims perform another ritual of hajj ‘Stoning the devil’.

Muzdalifah: Another sacred place in Makkah, Muzadlifah lies within the province of Makkah. It is a plain flat land located between Mina and Arafat. Spending the entire day at Muzdalifah is the major ritual of the hajj. Pilgrims sleep under the open sky in Muzdalifah and wake up early for prayers. At the top of the hill in Muzdalifah, there is a sacred mosque.

Cave Hira (Mount Al Noor): The renowned cave of Hira where Prophet PBUH got the initial revelations of Quran in 610 BC. The cave is located at Mount Al Noor, also known as Jabal Al Noor because of the mysterious light shining on the mountain at night. Prophet PBUH needs an isolated place to receive revelations from Angel Jibraeel. Cave Hira is a place where Prophet SAWW spends His time and meditates day and night with provision for himself.

Well of Tuwa: Also known as Bir Tuwa, located in one of the valley of Makkah that was once isolated and rugged but now crammed with buildings. Bir Tuwa today is restricted to a well in Jarwal or Tuwa. Prophet SAWW spent night here and in the morning he cleaned himself from the water of this well and entered Makkah. The word ‘Tuwa’ means the pleated well. The famous well is located at the bottom of Makkah in north.

Factory of Kiswah at Umm Al-JudThe famous factory where the Kiswah, cloth that covers the Holy Kabah is produced. Kiswah is the most revered covering, a highly respected cloth in Holy Mosque that you should need to explore while visiting the holy city of Makkah. Kiswah passed through several changes throughout history due to economic and social factor.


Makkah Mall: This luxurious mall is dedicated to providing dynamic shopping and dining atmosphere to all visitors in Makkah. Makkah Mall is considered a unique, diverse and important shopping spot for Muslim visitors by Saudi officials. You can find wide diversity of local and international brands here with many top-notch restaurants. Makkah Mall is a great place to visit and to buy souvenirs for your family and friends.

Masjid e Aisha: Masjid e Aisha or Masjid e Taneem is located just 4.6 miles south of Makkah. The sacred mosque is close to all boundary points. It is a place where Hazrat Aisha RA announced that pilgrims need to wear Ihram to perform Umrah when Holy Prophet SAWW asked her to do so during the farewell Hajj.

Al Wahba Crater: Its unique place in Makkah, located towards the northeast of city. The 1-mile long crater is surrounded by 900-foot rugged cliffs. It was once a place for volcanic activities that now turned into a trekking zone with loads of palm trees along the cliffs. The bottom of the cliff fills with water during the wet season and turn into a salt pan in summer.

Jannatul Mu’alla: 
The sacred cemetery is located 10 minutes walking distance from Hoy Mosque, where many of the Prophet’s family members and companions are buried, including the grave of Bibi Khadija RA (the first wife of Prophet PBUH), Qasim (son of Prophet PBUH), Abdullah Bin Zubair, Abu Talib, Bint Abu Bakar and other members of Prophet’s family. Everyone can visit the graves and pay their respects to the noble people of Islam.

Auction House Makkah: Located in the Hilton Tower, Makkah Auction House is a worth visiting place in the city. Here you can see the ancient gems, unique artifacts, and many other fascinating and interesting things. This Auction House gives you the feel of shopping centre where you can see people bidding on the beguiling things.

Mount Abu Qubays: The massive Mount Abu Qubays is located near Mount Safa. According to the beliefs, this is the sacred place from where Holy Prophet PBUH pointed His finger towards the moon and it split in half. For Muslims, this famous incident holds deep religious significance and pilgrims love to visit this sacred spot.

Site of Battle of Badr: The battle of Badr is the most important battle in the history of Islam and also in the life of Prophet PBUH as He and His followers were fighting for true religion against the Makkah’s pagan communities. They are just a handful in number. but fought bravely against the large, well-trained and well-equipped army. The battle of Badar is also mentioned in Quran. It was fought in Hejaz region of western Arabia in 624 CE. The historical place where this battle happened is must be visiting place in Makkah, located 334km away from the city.

Al Jaaranah Mosque:
 This beautiful yet very important place regarding one of hajj basic ritual is now turned into a stunning white mosque known as Jaaranah Mosque. It is located towards the northern Makkah and a place where Holy Prophet PBUH clothed himself before travelling towards Makkah for the performance of hajj. The sacred site was surrounded by many date trees and wells that overlook the mosque. To visit this mosque you might need a permission letter from authorities.

Thawr Mountain: The historical mount is located at the southern end of holy Makkah. The sacred mountain holds immense importance in Islamic history as this is the place where our beloved Prophet PBUH spent 3 days in a cave known as Cave Thawr. He SAWW hide here with his most trusted companion and beloved friend Abu Bakar Siddique RA after the persecution in Makkah
.



Clock Tower Museum: The Clock Tower Museum is a museum, occupying the top four floors of the Abraj Al-Bait clock tower in Mecca or Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 

The non-profit Misk Foundation established by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, is operating the museum, which is located on the highest point in Makkah.

The museum was designed to take the visitors on a tour of the universe, which will tell them how people used to measure time in the olden days. They used the sun, the moon, and the galaxies for this purpose.

The visitors will come to know the methods people in ancient times used to measure time through the use of the universe's two clocks — the sun and the moon.

They will also be able to see the largest clock in the world, which is considered a miracle in watchmaking.

The first floor contains the Makkah clock, which was designed and manufactured jointly by a number of international watch companies. They made various components of the clock, making it the most accurate in the world in giving time.

The second floor dedicated to time measurement explains to the visitors how a man of old ages was keen to know the time. The man had invented many tools and systems for time measurement through the ages. They included water and sand clocks, the pendulum, and the pocket watch.

The Man in the old ages closely followed the orbits of the sun and the moon to decide the dates, the direction of the Qiblah, and the prayer time.

On the third floor of the museum, the visitors will have a treat of the sun, the moon, and the earth. The visitors can see how men in the past relied on the celestial bodies to organize his life and activities. They will also come to learn how the eclipse and other solar phenomena take place in the universe.

On the fourth floor, the visitors will have a chance to deeply understand the space and the stars, and how man used them in the past to determine his destinations.

Lastly, the balcony of the clock tower will give the visitors a panoramic view of the vast Grand Mosque complex and its surroundings.

https://www.clocktowermuseum.com




Thursday 18 March 2021

To Visiting Madinah Munawara in Holy Madina !!




Holy Madinah is the second Holy city for Muslims after Makkah and every Muslim must have to know the procedure of visiting this sacred city whenever they are going there. Following the correct procedure will earn you great rewards and makes your visit unforgettable and brings you blessings. Following are the procedure of visiting the holy land of Madinah.



Travel to Madinah and make Intention:


When you start your journey towards the sacred land of Madinah make Niyyah or intention by saying:

“O Allah! I start the journey to visit the Holy tomb of Prophet SAWW. Please accept it for me”.

During your journey engage yourself in Zikr and recite Darud Sharif frequently. And when the city of Madinah is in your sight show your excitement and extreme fondness and enters the city humbly while reciting Darud and Salam.

Masjid e Nabwi:

The next step in the procedure of visiting the Mad
inah Munawara is visiting the Prophet’s mosque. After putting your luggage in your hotel or residence take a bath or perform ablution (Wudhu), wear a nice and clean dress, apply perfume (unscented) and proceed towards the Masjid e Nabawi while reciting Darood Sharif.

Bab e Jibraeel:


Bab e Jibraeel is the name of one of the door of Masjid e Nabawi. When you are going to enter the Prophet’s Mosque enter through the Bab e Jibraeel or Bab as-Salam. But it is not necessary to enter just through these two doors but it is preferable. If it is not possible due to rush to enter through Bab e Jibraeel or Bab as-Salam you may enter through any other door.

Right Foot:

While entering in the holy mosque place your right foot first in the entrance and praise Allah Almighty by saying Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, and Alhamdulillah etc and recite Darood Sharif and say “Allahhuma aftah li abwabe rahamte ka”.

Offering Two Rakah Nafal:

In the procedure of visiting the holy mosque offer two Rakah of Nafal if it is not Makroo or undesirable time. Offering the two Nafals of Tahiyyat Al-Masjid (greeting of the Masjid) preferably there is a tomb of Prophet SAW in Riaz al-Jannah but if not possible one can offer it anywhere else in the mosque.


In the Front of Holy Tomb:

There are three sections of brass screens in front of the sacred tombs of Holy Prophet SAW and all three sections have holes in them. the first section is known as the Holy Prophet SAW, the second one is Hazrat Abu Bakar RA and the third one is Hazrat Umar RA. If you stand in front of the middle section between the pillars you will see a big round hole on your left. This is in front of the face of Holy Prophet SAW. At joining to this there is a door that stays closed. Right after it on the right side there is a round hole which is in front of the face of Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddique and on the right of it there is another hole which is in front of the face of Hazrat Umar Farooq RA. While visiting the Masjid e Nabawi one has to stand in front of Prophet SAW section while facing it say in a respectful and hushed voice

“Peace Be Upon Him, O Prophet and the mercy and blessings of Allah”

After this supplicate to Allah for good things in life and the life of the hereafter.

 Offer Salam of Others: After making the supplications now offer Salam of your family, relatives, or friends and make the supplications or dua they asked you to do on their behalf. Use your own language or say “Asslamu alaika ya Rasul Allah min —“. After the word min adds the name of your family, friend, or relative to offer Salam on their behalf.

Salam on Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddique:

After offering the Salam on the behalf of others to the Holy Prophet SAW move a little to the right side and stand before the grave of Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddique RA. Greet the first caliph of Islam and the noble friend of Holy Prophet SAW and supplicate to bestow His mercy and forgiveness on Abu Bakar Siddique RA.

Salam on Hazrat Umar Farooq:

After paying your Salam to the first caliph, move again a little to the right before the grave of the second Kalifa of Islam Hazrat Umar Farooq RA. Greet him and make supplication for him.

Forty Prayers in Madinah:


Another major virtue of visiting Madinah Munawra is offering forty prayers in the sacred city. Men should offer forty prayers in Masjid e Nabawi but it should be kept in mind that it is only Mustakhib which means “if one done it will earn the reward but if not done there is no sin”. It is not a requirement of any kind or essential to offer forty prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque.

Other Places to Visit:

There are many sacred places in the holy city of Madinah and one when is in Madinah should have to visit these sacred places including Masjid e Quba, Graves of Hazrat Hamza and other martyrs of Uhud Battle, Jannat-ul-Baqi, Masjid e Jummah, Masjid e Ghamama, Masjid e Qiblatain, Masjid e Abu Bakar, Masjid e Ali, Masjid e Umar Farooq, Jabal e Uhud and Jabal e Sa’ey.


Departure from Madinah:

No one wants to leave the holy city of Prophet SAW but when you visit the Holy Madinah you have to leave the place. At your departure visit the Masjid e Nabawi again and offer your Salam to the Prophet SAW, cry at this separation with your heart and supplicate to Allah and leave with the earnest desire to come back again.

Prepared by M.Ajmal Khan.