Pictures of Al Masjid Al Haram: June 2014

1 Alif Lam Mim.
2 This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard (against evil).
3 Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them.
4 And who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of the hereafter.
5 These are on a right course from their Lord and these it is that shall be successful.

[Al-Baqara | 286 verses | The Cow]

(All) people are a single nation; so Allah raised prophets as bearers of good news and as warners, and He revealed with them the book with truth, that it might judge between people in that in which they differed; and none but the very people who were given it differed about it after clear arguments had come to them, revolting among themselves; so Allah has guided by His will those who believe to the truth about which they differed and Allah guides whom He pleases to the right path.

( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #213)

He it is Who has revealed the book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.

سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #7)

The month of Ramazan is that in which the quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks.

( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #185)

Say: What thing is the weightiest in testimony? Say: Allah is witness between you and me; and this quran has been revealed to me that with it I may warn you and whomsoever it reaches. Do you really bear witness that there are other gods with Allah? Say: I do not bear witness. Say: He is only one Allah, and surely I am clear of that which you set up (with Him). ( سورة الأنعام , Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #19)

And this quran is not such as could be forged by those besides Allah, but it is a verification of that which is before it and a clear explanation of the book, there is no doubt in it, from the Lord of the worlds.

( سورة يونس , Yunus, Chapter #10, Verse #37)

And We reveal of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to the believers, and it adds only to the perdition of the unjust. ( سورة الإسراء , Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #82)

Say: If men and jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Quran, they could not bring the like of it, though some of them were aiders of others.
( سورة الإسراء , Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #88)

And certainly We have explained for men in this Quran every kind of similitude, but most men do not consent to aught but denying.
سورة الإسراء , Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #89)

And it is a Quran which We have revealed in portions so that you may read it to the people by slow degrees, and We have revealed it, revealing in portions. ( سورة الإسراء , Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #106)

And certainly We have explained in this Quran every kind of example, and man is most of all given to contention. ( سورة الكهف , Al-Kahf, Chapter #18, Verse #54)

1 Ta Ha.
2 We have not revealed the Quran to you that you may be unsuccessful.
3 Nay, it is a reminder to him who fears:
4 A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the high heavens.
5 The Beneficent Allah is firm in power.
6 His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and what is between them two and what is beneath the ground.
7 And if you utter the saying aloud, then surely He knows the secret, and what is yet more hidden.
8 Allah-- there is no god but He; His are the very best names.

32 And those who disbelieve say: Why has not the Quran been revealed to him all at once? Thus, that We may strengthen your heart by it and We have arranged it well in arranging.
33 And they shall not bring to you any argument, but We have brought to you (one) with truth and best in significance.
( سورة الفرقان , Al-Furqan, Chapter #25, Verse #32)

1 Ta Sin! These are the verses of the Quran and the Book that makes (things) clear
2 A guidance and good news for the believers,
3 Who keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, and of the hereafter, they are sure.
4 As to those who do not believe in the hereafter, We have surely made their deeds fair-seeming to them, but they blindly wander on.
5 These are they who shall have an evil punishment, and in the hereafter they shall be the greatest losers.
6 And most surely you are made to receive the Quran from the Wise, the Knowing Allah.
( سورة النمل , An-Naml, Chapter #27, Verse #1)

76 Surely this Quran declares to the children of Israel most of what they differ in.
77 And most surely it is a guidance and a mercy for the believers.
78 Surely your Lord will judge between them by his judgment, and He is the Mighty, the knowing.
79 Therefore rely on Allah; surely you are on the clear truth.
80 Surely you do not make the dead to hear, and you do not make the deaf to hear the call when they go back retreating.
81 Nor can you be a guide to the blind out of their error; you cannot make to bear (any one) except those who believe in Our communications, so they submit.
82 And when the word shall come to pass against them, We shall bring forth for them a creature from the earth that shall wound them, because people did not believe in Our communications.
83 And on the day when We will gather from every nation a party from among those who rejected Our communications, then they shall be formed into groups.
84 Until when they come, He will say: Did you reject My communications while you had no comprehensive knowledge of them? Or what was it that you did?
85 And the word shall come to pass against them because they were unjust, so they shall not speak.
86 Do they not consider that We have made the night that. they may rest therein, and the day to give light? Most surely there are signs in this for a people who believe.
87 And on the day when the trumpet shall be blown, then those who are in the heavens and those who are in the earth shall be terrified except such as Allah please, and all shall come to him abased.
88 And you see the mountains, you think them to be solid, and they shall pass away as the passing away of the cloud-- the handiwork of Allah Who has made every thing thoroughly; surely He is Aware of what you do.
89 Whoever brings good, he shall have better than it; and they shall be secure from terror on the day.
90 And whoever brings evil, these shall be thrown down on their faces into the fire; shall you be rewarded (for) aught except what you did?
91 I am commanded only that I should serve the Lord of this city, Who has made it sacred, and His are all things; and I am commanded that I should be of these who submit;
92 And that I should recite the Quran. Therefore whoever goes aright, he goes aright for his own soul, and whoever goes ' astray, then say: I am only one of the warners.
93 And say: Praise be to Allah, He will show you His signs so that you shall recognize them; nor is your Lord heedless of what you do.
سورة النمل , An-Naml, Chapter #27, Verse #76)

85. Most surely He Who has made the Quran binding on you will bring you back to the destination. Say: My Lord knows best him who has brought the guidance and him who is in manifest error.
( سورة القصص , Al-Qasas, Chapter #28, Verse #85)

58 And certainly We have set forth for men every kind of example in this Quran; and if you should bring them a communication, those who disbelieve would certainly say: You are naught but false claimants.
59 Thus does Allah set a seal on the hearts of those who do not know.
60 Therefore be patient; surely the promise of Allah is true and let not those who have no certainty hold you in light estimation. ( سورة الروم , Ar-Room, Chapter #30, Verse #58)

1 Ya Seen.
2 I swear by the Quran full of wisdom.
3 Most surely you are one of the apostles
4 On a right way.
5 A revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful.
6 That you may warn a people whose fathers were not warned, so they are heedless.
7 Certainly the word has proved true of most of them, so they do not believe.
8 Surely We have placed chains on their necks, and these reach up to their chins, so they have their heads raised aloft.
9 And We have made before them a barrier and a barrier behind them, then We have covered them over so that they do not see.
10 And it is alike to them whether you warn them or warn them not: they do not believe.
11 You can only warn him who follows the reminder and fears the Beneficent Allah in secret; so announce to him forgiveness and an honorable reward.
12 Surely We give life to the dead, and We write down what they have sent before and their footprints, and We have recorded everything in a clear writing. Ya Seen, Chapter #36, Verse #2)

Photos : Ibn Hanif

Oh my mother Hagar!
The wife of Ibrahim
Running and searching to fed your dying babe
In distress
Running out of breathe
Feeling helpless
And feeling weak
Taking your faith to every mountain
In search of water for your boy
Your dying boy
Oh how the angel took pity on you
Striking the ground and causing water to flow
Fed your babe
All alone in the desert
Wasting away
But it was not the wish of your husband
To cause you such cruelty
He could not even turn back to you
As you pleaded for a reason
His heart was soft
But their was someone he loved more then you
For Allah?, you asked
And he said yes
For Ibrahim loved unconditionally
More then anyone in the world
The one who created the heavens and earth
When Allah spoke to him, he listened
He tested repeatedly his most faithful servant
And in turn Ibrahim is a friend to Allah
And now my mother
We run like you run
Retracing your steps
Not with a babe in our arms
But with our hearts filled
Asking for mercy
Praying that a mere ritual
Will grant us a place in paradise
But for you Hagar, my sweet mother
My faithful mother
I pray for you, a place beside your husband
Where you'll wear gold and never be cold
And never have to run again

Narrated 'Asim bin Sulaiman (Radi-Allahu 'anhu):

I asked Anas bin Malik about Safa and Marwa. Anas replied, "We used to
consider (i.e. going around) them a custom of the Pre-islamic period of
Ignorance, so when Islam came, we gave up going around them. Then Allah
revealed" "Verily, Safa and Marwa (i.e. two mountains at Makkah) are among
the Symbols of Allah. So it is not harmful of those who perform the Hajj of
the House (of Allah) or perform the 'Umra to ambulate (Tawaf) between
them." (2.158)

Bukhari Vol. 6 : No. 23

Poetry : Nuriddeen bint Yusuf