Posts Categorized: Umrah

Sightseeing in Madinah

Posted by & filed under Hajj, Umrah, Uncategorized.

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Discover Madinah with City Sightseeing’s stylish red double-deckers. Tourists are driven along two routes (green and red) and eleven stops visiting some of the best attractions in the city.

The green route includes 4 stops:
– The Prophet’s Mosque
– Al-Baqi cemetery
– The Qur’an exhibition
– Al-Salam Road
The red route includes 7 stops:
– Uhud
– Masjid Al-Qiblatayn
– Al-Khandaq (Battle of the Trench)
– Masjid Quba
– Al-Hijaz Railway Station
– Al-Nur Mall
– Sultana Road
Tours are scheduled every 30 minutes and last approximately 60 minutes. The double-decker buses facilitate wheelchair users and special consideration was given when determining the price of the tickets in order to make the tours accessible to all visitors and pilgrims. The tours also offer guides who speak eight different languages including free Wifi access. Click here to learn more about the service.

Locked boxes in the Prophet’s Chamber, now unlocked

Posted by & filed under Hajj, Purification, Umrah, Uncategorized.

Hunafaa Blog Thumbnails (Hunafaa)

Shaykh Aayid bin Umar accompanied King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz into the Prophet’s Chamber, located in Madinah Mosque, and found that there were locked boxes made of iron. He did not know what was inside them.
In a video uploaded to YouTube, Sheikh Aayid said that King Faisal (reign from 1964 to 1975) ordered that a committee be formed to register the contents of the Chamber.
“We were ordered to enter the Chamber after the evening prayers. We catalogued the contents of the Chamber with the aid of a jewellery expert and historical records to identify items. The first box was examined and we found gold and jewellery. The second box contained chains of silver… We also found some private correspondences linked to the Prophet,” said Shaykh Aayid.
He said that the committee continued to catalogue the contents of the chamber for 15 days. The jewellery was moved to Madinah museum and the correspondence was handed over to the education ministry for further study.
Source

Safety: A Miraculous Aspect of Hajj

Posted by & filed under Hajj, Hunafaa Exclusive, Purification, Umrah.

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I cannot help, when talking about Hajj safety, but remember the British researcher Alistair, whom I met three years ago who was in the company of an Australian friend of his. He told me that he was investigating the issue of the safety of communities, and Hajj was one of the environments selected for test and study. After a few trials with the Saudi embassy in England, they finally agreed to grant him a visa to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to be around the pilgrims and join the pilgrims in their journey between the different rites.
He was a non Muslim, but no sooner did the season of Hajj finish that he announced his reversion to Islam and he returned the next year to Saudi Arabia as a Muslim to perform the rituals of Hajj.
The main reason behind him embracing Islam, as per his statement, was the result of the study he conducted during Hajj. He discovered the miraculous divine sign in the issue of safety during Hajj.
He said, “When I compared the results of the studies I conducted in the smallest community during football games that were held between the famous teams, the number of fans was around one hundred thousand people. In Hajj, on the other hand, the number was two million people in precise, relatively small areas that were connected areas. The requirements of performing these rites dictate that people are on the move around the clock. People move in a very short period in huge numbers. When comparing the two situations of the games in England and Hajj in Saudi, I noticed a massive and astonishing difference with regards to crime cases. Even though the means and causes for crime are facilitated, like the huge congested crowd, the closeness of people (especially during tawaf) and the set up of accommodation in Mina. Despite all of that, the crime rate there is not even one tenth that of the crime rate during the games in England in small communities. Additionally, the crime cases in Hajj are limited to theft and some fights due to disputes amongst pilgrims and some traffic violations. However, in England during games, the matter reaches murder, kidnapping, rape, robbery and ruining public property. […] I was certain after my experience that the safety aspect during Hajj cannot but be a divine gift granted by the Lord and a sign that calls people to ponder upon the greatness of Islam and that it is the True religion. This is why I decided to embrace Islam and have changed my name to Ilyas.”
Imam Al-Qurtubi said, “Makkah continues to be a sacred place which is safe and protected against earthquakes and other disasters that afflict other places. Allah made people glorify it and fear to commit evil in it to the extent that it became known and famous for its safety.”
Allah said,
“Have we not established for them a safe sanctuary (Makkah) to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.” [28:57]
“And (mention) when We made the House (K’abah) a place of return for the people and a place of security.” [2:125]
“By the fig and the olive. And by Mount Sinai. And by this secure city (Makkah).” [95:1-3]
“Have they not seen that We made (Makkah) a safe sanctuary, while people are being taken away all around them?” [29:67]
These verses and others prove that the safety and security of Makkah continues to be from Allah, and it is indeed a sign from Allah to all people to ponder upon and reflect.
 
Source

Actions with the Same Reward as Hajj and Umrah

Posted by & filed under Featured, Hajj, Hunafaa Exclusive, Purification, Umrah.

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There are several righteous deeds that are equal in reward to Hajj and Umrah. Some of these deeds are:
1. Dhikr after the five daily prayers
A group of poverty stricken people came to the Prophet salla Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam and said, “O Messenger of Allah, the wealthy people will have higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment in high levels in Paradise. They pray like us and fast as we do, but they have more money by which they perform the Hajj, ‘Umrah, participate in honourable battle and give in charity.” The Prophet replied, “Shall I not tell you something upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would surpass you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say ‘Subhan Allah’, ‘Alhamdulillah’ and ‘Allahu Akbar’ thirty-three times each after every (compulsory) prayer.’” Reported by Al-Bukhari.
This means that dhikr (words of remembrance) after each prayer equals to Hajj and ‘Umrah for Muslims.
2. Praying the ‘Isha and Fajr prayers in congregation
In a similar report to the above, the Prophet answered with another response. He said, “Has Allah not rendered for you the ‘Isha prayer in congregation equal to Hajj, and the Fajr prayer in congregation equal to ‘Umrah?” Reported by Muslim.
3. Praying the Fajr prayer in congregation and staying in the mosque until sunrise to perform the Duha prayer
The Prophet salla Allahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “Whoever prays the Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah (dhikr) until the sun rises, then prays two units, he will receive the rewards of a complete Hajj and ‘Umrah – he repeated that thrice.” Reported by Al-Tirmidhi.
4. Attending the congregational prayers at the mosque, and walking to the mosque to perform voluntary prayers
The Prophet said, “Whoever walks to complete an obligatory prayer in congregation, it is like Hajj [in terms of rewards], and whoever walks to complete a voluntary prayer, it is like a voluntary ‘Umrah [in terms of rewards].” Walking to the mosque to complete sunnah prayers such as the Duha prayer as mentioned in the version of Abu Dawud.
5. Offering prayers in Quba Mosque
The Prophet said, “He who purifies himself at his home and comes to Masjid Quba and prays therein will have the reward like that of ‘Umrah.” Reported by Ahmad.
‘A’ishah bint Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas said, “I heard my father saying, ‘It is dearer to me to pray two units in Quba’ Mosque than visiting Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa twice. If people only knew the virtues of praying in Quba Mosque, they would fight over it.’”

Prohibitions of Ihram

Posted by & filed under Hajj, Umrah.

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There are particular actions that are forbidden as long as one is in the state of ihram. They are designated by Muslim scholars as “Prohibitions of Ihram.”
Prohibitions for both men and women
1.   Removing hair of the head by means of shaving or other deliberate means. Allah said, “And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter” [2:196]. The majority of scholars extended the prohibition to other body hair. As such, pilgrims are forbidden to intentionally remove any hair while in the state of ihram, and they are required to pay fidyah (ransom) should they do so.
If the hair fell by itself, the pilgrim is not accountable for that. It is permissible to remove the hair if the pilgrim is physically harmed by its presence, and in this case a fidyah is obligatory, as Allah says, “And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice” [2:196].
2.   Clipping nails is forbidden by analogy with the prohibition of hair removal. In this regard, Ibn Qudamah said, “There is consensus among scholars that pilgrims who are in the state of ihram are forbidden to clip their nails.” The prohibition is applicable to fingernails and toenails alike. However, if a nail broke and causes harm, the pilgrim is permitted to clip the annoying part and is not required to pay a fidyah for it.
3.   Applying perfume to the clothes or the body. The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  said about a pilgrim who is in the state of ihram, “He must not wear a garment to which either curcuma or saffron was applied.” Likewise, the Prophet said about a pilgrim who died due to a kick from his riding camel while he was in the state of ihram, “Do not apply perfume to him nor cover his head.” Reported by Al-Bukhari.
What is meant here is applying perfume after entering the state of ihram, but traces of perfume which a pilgrim has applied before he entered ihram and they remained on his body are not prohibited, for ‘A’ishah is reported to have said, “I would see the glistening of musk (in the parting of the head) of the Messenger of Allah while he was in the state of ihram.” Reported Al-Bukhari.
4.   Concluding marital contracts. The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  said, “A pilgrim in the state of ihram shall neither get married, nor marry off, nor get engaged.” Reported by Muslim.
This means that a pilgrim in the state of ihram is not permitted to marry, or to conclude a marital contract for someone else, or to make a marriage proposal until his ihram is over.
5.   Sexual intercourse and caressing, kissing, or touching that is motivated by lust. Allah said, “There is to be no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj” [2:197].
In this context, sexual relations include foreplay like hugging, kissing, touching, and the like. Consequently, a pilgrim who is in the state of ihram is not permitted to kiss his wife or touch her out of sexual desire. Sexual intercourse is the major prohibition and the one that affects ihram the most, for it is the only prohibition that invalidates the Hajj.
6.   Killing lawful-to-eat land game. Allah said, “But forbidden to you is game from the land as long as you are in the state of ihram” [5:96]. Pilgrims in the state of ihram are not permitted to either catch lawful-to-eat game animals such as gazelles, rabbits, and the like, or kill them, or help anyone to kill them by guiding them to that effect, or pointing to the animals, or handing them (a lethal weapon), or the like. Also, pilgrims in the state of ihram are not permitted to eat game that is caught especially for them by other people who are not in the state of ihram. If the animal was not caught especially for them, then they are permitted to consume it.
 
Prohibitions specific to men
1.   Wearing form-fitting clothes. The Prophet was asked about the clothes to be worn by people in the state of ihram, he said, “They shall not wear qamis (a loose shirt), turbans, hooded cloaks, trousers, leather socks, or clothes that were scented by curcuma or saffron.” …

A Real Heaven on Earth?

Posted by & filed under Featured, Hajj, Umrah.

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The Rawdah is located inside Al-Masjid An-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque). The area is distinguished with marble columns and designs very different from the rest of the mosque.
The Prophet said, “Between my house and my pulpit is one of the gardens of Paradise.” Reported by Al-Bukhari.
Scholars interpreted this hadith in three ways:
1.The narration could mean that the Rawdah is similar to the gardens of Paradise in the sense that the person who performs worship there attains happiness and joy, and a mercy from Allah descends on him.
2. The narration could mean that performing acts of worship in the Rawdah is a path to Paradise.
3. The narration could mean that the Rawdah is an actual part of Paradise that would be transferred to Paradise on the Day of Judgement.
The area of the Rawdah encompasses many historical sites; it includes the Prophet’s room in which lies the grave of the Prophet salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam along with the graves of his companions Abu Bakr and Umar. It also includes the mihrab of the Prophet that is located in the middle of its southern wall, and the pulpit of the Prophet.