Pictures of Maqam Ibrahim

 وَإِذْجَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْناً وَاتَّخِذُواْ مِن
مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيم
وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ
وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ  2:125

Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of
safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We
covenanted with Abraham and Isma'il, that they should sanctify My House
for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or
prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).  [Surah Albaqarah] 

[95 Say: Allah has spoken the truth, therefore follow the religion of Ibrahim, the upright one; and he was not one of the polytheists.

96 Most surely the first house appointed for men is the one at Bekka, blessed and a guidance for the nations.

97 In it are clear signs, the standing place of Ibrahim, and whoever enters it shall be secure, and pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah, (upon) every one who is able to undertake the journey to it; and whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient, above any need of the worlds.

98 Say: O followers of the Book! why do you disbelieve in the communications of Allah? And Allah is a witness of what you do.

99 Say: O followers of the Book! why do you hinder him who believes from the way of Allah? You seek (to make) it crooked, while you are witness, and Allah is not heedless of what you do.

100 O you who believe! if you obey a party from among those who have been given the Book, they will turn you back as unbelievers after you have believed.

101 But how can you disbelieve while it is you to whom the communications of Allah are recited, and among you is His Apostle? And whoever holds fast to Allah, he indeed is guided to the right path.

102 O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah with the care which is due to Him, and do not die unless you are Muslims.

103 And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited, and remember the favor of Allah on you when you were enemies, then He united your hearts so by His favor you became brethren; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it, thus does Allah make clear to you His communications that you may follow the right way.

104 And from among you there should be a party who invite to good and enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong, and these it is that shall be successful.

105 And be not like those who became divided and disagreed after clear arguments had come to them, and these it is that shall have a grievous chastisement.

106 On the day when (some) faces shall turn white and (some) faces shall turn black; then as to those whose faces turn black: Did you disbelieve after your believing? Taste therefore the chastisement because you disbelieved.

107 And as to those whose faces turn white, they shall be in Allah's mercy; in it they shall-abide.

108 These are the communications of Allah which We recite to you with truth, and Allah does not desire any injustice to the creatures.

109 And whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is Allah's; and to Allah all things return

110 You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah; and if the followers of the Book had believed it would have been better for them; of them (some) are believers and most of them are transgressors.

111 They shall by no means harm you but with a slight evil; and if they fight with you they shall turn (their) backs to you, then shall they not be helped.] The Holy Quran , Chapter : Aal-e-Imran

What is Maqam-e-ibrahim?

(10) Narrated

Ibn Abbas: When Abraham had differences with his wife), (because of her
jealousy of Hajar, Ishmael's mother), he took Ishmael and his mother
and went away. They had a water-skin with them containing some water,
Ishmael's mother used to drink water from the water-skin so that her
milk would increase for her child. When Abraham reached Mecca, he made
her sit under a tree and afterwards returned home. Ishmael's mother
followed him, and when they reached Kada', she called him from behind,
'O Abraham! To whom are you leaving us?' He replied, '(I am leaving you)
to Allah's (Care).' She said, 'I am satisfied to be with Allah.' She
returned to her place and started drinking water from the water-skin,
and her milk increased for her child. When the water had all been used
up, she said to herself, 'I'd better go and look so that I may see
somebody.' She ascended the Safa mountain and looked, hoping to see
somebody, but in vain. When she came down to the valley, she ran till
she reached the Marwa mountain. She ran to and fro (between the two
mountains) many times. They she said to herself, 'i'd better go and see
the state of the child,' she went and found it in a state of one on the
point of dying. She could not endure to watch it dying and said (to
herself), 'If I go and look, I may find somebody.' She went and ascended
the Safa mountain and looked for a long while but could not find
anybody. Thus she completed seven rounds (of running) between Safa and
Marwa. Again she said (to herself), 'I'd better go back and see the
state of the child.' But suddenly she heard a voice, and she said to
that strange voice, 'Help us if you can offer any help.' Lo! It was
Gabriel (who had made the voice). Gabriel hit the earth with his heel
like this (Ibn 'Abbas hit the earth with his heel to Illustrate it), and
so the water gushed out. Ishmael's mother was astonished and started
digging. (Abu Al-Qasim) (i.e. the Prophet) said, "If she had left the
water, (flow naturally without her intervention), it would have been
flowing on the surface of the earth.") Ishmael's mother started drinking
from the water and her milk increased for her child . Afterwards some
people of the tribe of Jurhum, while passing through the bottom of the
valley, saw some birds, and that astonished them, and they said, 'Birds
can only be found at a place where there is water.' They sent a
messenger who searched the place and found the water, and returned to
inform them about it. Then they all went to her and said, 'O ishmael's
mother! Will you allow us to be with you (or dwell with you)?' (And thus
they stayed there.) Later on her boy reached the age of puberty and
married a lady from them. Then an idea occurred to Abraham which he
disclosed to his wife (Sarah), 'I want to call on my dependents I left
(at Mecca).' When he went there, he greeted (Ishmael's wife) and said,
'Where is Ishmael?' She replied, 'He has gone out hunting.' Abraham said
(to her), 'When he comes, tell him to change the threshold of his
gate.' When he came, she told him the same whereupon Ishmael said to
her, 'You are the threshold, so go to your family (i.e. you are
divorced).' Again Abraham thought of visiting his dependents whom he had
left (at Mecca), and he told his wife (Sarah) of his intentions.
Abraham came to Ishmael's house and asked. "Where is Ishmael?" Ishmael's
wife replied, "He has gone out hunting," and added, "Will you stay (for
some time) and have something to eat and drink?' Abraham asked, 'What
is your food and what is your drink?' She replied, 'Our food is meat and
our drink is water.' He said, 'O Allah! Bless their meals and their
drink." Abu Al-Qa-sim (i.e. Prophet) said, "Because of Abraham's
invocation there are blessings (in Mecca)." Once more Abraham thought of
visiting his family he had left (at Mecca), so he told his wife (Sarah)
of his decision. He went and found Ishmael behind the Zam-zam well,
mending his arrows. He said, "O Ishmael, Your Lord has ordered me to
build a house for Him." Ishmael said, "Obey (the order of) your Lord."
Abraham said, "Allah has also ordered me that you should help me
therein." Ishmael said, "Then I will do." So, both of them rose and
Abraham started building (the Ka'ba) while Ishmael went on handing him
the stones, and both of them were saying, "O our Lord ! Accept (this
service) from us, Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing."
(2.127). When the building became high and the old man (i.e. Abraham)
could no longer lift the stones (to such a high position), he stood over
the stone of Al-maqam and Ishmael
carried on handing him the stones, and both of them were saying, 'O our
Lord! Accept (this service) from us, Verily You are All-Hearing,
All-Knowing." (2.127)
 (Bukhari : Book #55, Hadith #584)

Narrated Ibn Umar: The Prophet reached Mecca, circumambulated the Kaba seven times and then offered a two Rakat prayer behind maqam ibrahim. Then he went towards the Safa. 

Allah has said, "Verily, in Allah's Apostle you have a good example."
 (Book #26, Hadith #693)

Photographs: Ibn Hanif

Photos Showing the Under Construction Area of Masjid-al-Haram

Photos:  Ibn Hanif

Recent Photos of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah Mountains

[Note : Alhamdulillah, I captured the following pictures of the mountains; Al-Safa and Al-Marwah on 18/11/2011.

All these photos may be published on websites blog etc. (except the ones which have been created only for the sake of spreading misconceptions about Islam). If appropriate please give credit to my blog: www.VoiceofNature.Net

And now first of all read about the history of this holy place:

 Ibn Abbas(R.A) Narrated that :

When Abraham (Peace be upon him) had differences with his wife), he took Ishmael (Peace be upon him) and his mother and went away. They had a water-skin with them containing some water, Ishmael's mother used to drink water from the water-skin so that her milk would increase for her child. When Abraham reached Mecca, he made her sit under a tree and afterwards returned home.

Ishmael's mother followed him, and when they reached Kada', she called him from behind, "O Abraham! To whom are you leaving us?" He replied, "(I am leaving you) to Allah's (care)."

She said, "I am satisfied to be with Allah."

She returned to her place and started drinking water from the water-skin, and her milk increased for her child. When the water had all been used up, she said to herself, "I'd better go and look so that I may see somebody." She ascended the Safa mountain and looked, hoping to see somebody, but in vain.

When she came down to the valley, she ran till she reached the Marwa mountain. She ran to and fro (between the two mountains) many times. Then she said to herself, "I'd better go and see the state of the child." She went and found it in a state of one on the point of dying. She could not endure to watch it dying and said (to herself), "If I go and look, I may find somebody." She went and ascended the Safa mountain and looked for a long while but could not find anybody. Thus she completed seven rounds (of running) between Safa and Marwa. Again she said (to herself), "I'd better go back and see the state of the child."

Gabriel hit the earth with his heel like this (Ibn 'Abbas hit the earth with his heel to illustrate it), and so the water gushed out. Ishmael's mother was astonished and started digging. (Abu Al-Qasim) (i.e. the Prophet) said, "If she had left the water, (flow naturally without her intervention), it would have been flowing on the surface of the earth.")Ishmael's mother started drinking from the water and her milk increased for her child.

Afterwards some people of the tribe of Jurhum, while passing through the bottom of the valley, saw some birds, and that astonished them, and they said, "Birds can only be found at a place where there is water." They sent a messenger who searched the place and found the water, and returned to inform them about it.

Then they all went to her and said, "O Ishmael's mother! Will you allow us to be with you (or dwell with you)?" (And thus they stayed there.) Later on her boy reached the age of puberty and married a lady from them. Then an idea occurred to Abraham which he disclosed to his wife (Sarah), "I want to call on my dependents I left (at Mecca)." When he went there, he greeted (Ishmael's wife) and said, "Where is Ishmael?" She replied, "He has gone out hunting." Abraham said (toher), "When he comes, tell him to change the threshold of his gate." When he came, she told him the same whereupon Ishmael said to her, "You are the threshold, so go to your family (i.e. you are divorced)."

Again Abraham thought of visiting his dependents whom he had left (at Mecca), and he told his wife (Sarah) of his intentions. Abraham came to Ishmael's house and asked. "Where is Ishmael?" Ishmael's wife replied, "He has gone out hunting," and added, "Will you stay (for some time) and have something to eat and drink?" Abraham asked, "What is your food and what is your drink?" She replied, "Our food is meat and our drink is water." He said, "O Allah! Bless their meals and their drink." Abu Al-Qa-sim (i.e. Prophet) said, "Because of Abraham's invocation there are blessings (in Mecca).

" Once more Abraham thought of visiting his family he had left (at Mecca), so he told his wife (Sarah) of his decision. He went and found Ishmael behind the Zam-zam well, mending his arrows.

He said, "O Ishmael, Your Lord has ordered me to build a house for Him."

Ishmael said, "Obey (the order of) your Lord." Abraham said, "Allah has also ordered me that you should help me therein."

Ishmael said, "Then I will do."

So, both of them rose and Abraham started building (the Ka'ba) while Ishmael went on handing him the stones, and both of them were saying, "O our Lord! Accept (this service) from us, Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." (2.127)

When the building became high and the old man (i.e. Abraham) could no longer lift the stones (to such a high position), he stood over the stone of Al-Maqam and Ishmael carried on handing him the stones, and both of them were saying, -O our Lord! Accept (this service) from us, Verily You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing." (2.127)

Al-Safa Mountain

 

Facing the holy Kabah pilgrims praying at Safa 

 Al-Safa Mountain

 

Al-Safa Mountain

This green light is a mark where male pilgrims walk a little faster until they reach a similar light where they walk at normal speed.

An area in the middle of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah

 Al-Marwah Mountain

Ibn Hanif

Makkah Al Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia

Captured on 18/11/2011

Between Safa and Marwa

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



More Islamic poems of Nuriddeen can be read at her team blog www.GuidingFriends.com 



Alhamdulillah, I had the honor of starting "The Guiding Friends" blog. But when I felt that I needed to avail some time for my personal life I gave the ownership of the blog to respected sister Nuriddeen. Although, I am not a team member of www.GuidingFriends.com any more but I still love this blog and recommend it to my visitors as well. Please read more Islamic poems written by sister Nuriddeen at:



"The Guiding Friends"



Alhamdulillahe Rabbil-Aalameen

Photos : Ibn Hanif 

A Photo Tour of the World's Largest Annual Gathering (The Islamic Pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia)

And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Kabah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for ones conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves (i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allah), then Allah stands not in need of any of the Alameen (mankind and Jinns). (Quran: 3/97)

Nearly three million Muslim pilgrims performed the hajj on Tuesday and alhamdulillah no major incident was reported this year. May Allah reward Saudi hosts who did their best to make the journey peaceful.



All praise is due to Allah Who enabled me to perform and witness the rituals for the first time in my life.

Here is the photo tour of the worlds largest annual gathering:

"Eid-o-kum Mubarak fil-Balad-al-Mubarak" 

[The Royal Mecca Clock, a giant clock on a skyscraper in Islam's holiest city has four faces measuring 151 feet (43 meters) in diameter - setting the new world record for the Largest Clock. The Largest Clock in The World will tower over the holy Kabaa in Mecca, Saudi Arabia at a height of 1,972 ft.]{www.worldrecordsacademy.org}

Map of Mena in Mena

Mountain Ar Rahmah

A note for the pilgrims informing them that Prophet (Peace be upon him) did not climb the Mount Ar Rahmah, whole Arafat is a standing place on the day of Arfah.

Photos : Ibn Hanif