Du’a is the least we can do. Today, as three million Muslims stand at Mecca, we can make du’a for ourselves, and make du’a for them, and for everybody in the Ummah, and for every person in the whole wide world.

Eid Wishes, y’all.

[Image courtesy: Ron Gonzalez]

a

 “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah then these ten days – i.e., ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah).” They said: “O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself with his wealth and does not come back with anything (i.e., he expends all his wealth and is martyred).” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 969. (source).

What to do if you aren’t performing Hajj or Umrah this year?

1) Fast the first nine days:
“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’ and three days of each month – the first Monday and two Thursdays.” Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 21829; Abu Dawood, 2437; classed as da’eef in Nasab al-Raayah, 2/180, but classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.”

Brother Naeem:

 Today marks the first of the 12th month, Dhul-Hijjah, of the Islamic calendar. It has been reported that while the last 10 nights of Ramadan are the most blessed nights of the year, these first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah are the most blessed days.

Fast, Pray, and Worship all you can.

[Image courtesy: la_imagen]

a

Lady Evelyn Cobbald achieved celebrity at age 65, in 1933, when she became the first British-born Muslim woman to perform the pilgrimage to Makkah. She was a Scottish aristocrat, a grandmother and a Mayfair socialite, and an accomplished deerstalker, angler and gardener, and, uniquely, she was both a Muslim and an Arabic-speaker. Yet the story of her colorful career has been overlooked, as has her contribution to the literature of the Hajj. Nor has she been studied for what her life has to say about being a Muslim in a western society.

She was not born into a Muslim family, yet Lady Evelyn claimed to have been a Muslim from as early as she could remember.

Continue reading this fascinating account here ..

a

However, few places are mentioned as often in childrens tales as the Cave of Hira at Jabl al-Nur (Mountain of Light). Even these people with confused ideologies find their hearts drawn to the stories of the cave. What would it be like to see that cave, pray where the Prophet (S) first received Quran?

Recently family members have come back from Umrah and took some pictures of the situation of the cave.

During my own climb up the Mountain of Light to the Cave of Hira, nearly 10 years ago, I recall a man in the cave who would dress you up in traditional Arab garb and take a picture of you pretending to make du’a – just five riyyals! It offended me that such a historical site would be exploited for business, with the act of prayer also being mocked. I’m not sure what is more offensive; that we are selling our history for money, or that we are selling it for so cheap.

a

Summary: A video podcast giving you a virtual, animated tour of the Kabah and surrounding areas within Masjid al-Haram.

Creator/Host: 3DKabah.com

Supplied Info: This is a video podcast that will feature new and exclusive video animations from the 3D Kabah model. I will try to make the videos as interesting and educational as I can so that they may be useful for anyone out there that wants to use them for non-profit use.

Last Podcast (title, date, info): Saee Preview, 05/03/2008, The 3D Kabah model now includes the area between the hills Safa & Marwah. This will be used, Inshallah, to create a full Umrah tutorial over the next few months. This current podcast consist of a preview of the Saee area.

Podcast of Interest (title, date, info): The Kabah – A Tour, 09/02/2008, This is the third video in the 3D Kabah podcast series. In this video we take a tour around the Kabah. Stopping to see the Black Stone, The Kabah door, the Hijr Ismael, the water spout and the Yemeni corner. This video will allow you to get a sense of where these things are in relation to each other, and in relation to the Kabah.

Overall Review: This week’s podcast put me in a bit of a pickle. Being that it is an animated vcast, I wasn’t sure whether to file this post under “video”, “artwork”, or under the normal header of “podcast review”… in the end, what really matters is that this podcast rocks, masha’Allah! I won’t bother repeating the descriptions above – just check out the amazing 3D rendered models of the Kabah, and Masjid al-Haram. An excellent resource for those planning to go on Hajj or Umrah, insha’Allah.

Recommended audience: Everyone!
Music warning: the videos contain some background percussion.

Score: 8.5/10

Subscribe to Podcast: iTunes link ; non-iTunes link

a

This blog is dedicated exclusively to topics related to Hajj. We will try to supply you with helpful information as well as stories, poems, and videos. That which is helpful comes from Allah. Any mistakes are our own; may Allah forgive us. Please keep your comments on topic and respectful of others.

a

The projects, including expansion of the mosque’s northern courtyard and construction of residential towers, are aimed at providing more housing and prayer facilities for pilgrims.

The projects include the SR12 billion Jabal Omar residential towers, one of the largest ventures aimed at developing areas surrounding the Holy Haram. Spread over an area of 230,000 square meters, the project includes five-star hotels, commercial centers and prayer facilities for 200,000 worshippers.

Other projects dedicated by the Crown Prince were: Development of Ajyad General Hospital, which is located close to the mosque, and construction of another road to Haram parallel to the existing road from the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway. The new five-km road, to be named after King Abdul-Aziz, is designed to benefit pilgrims.

a

Take a look at the following picture. What do you see?

Most people will say they see the black dot. Not the whole field of white dots.

That�s people for you! Despite all the white dots around us�our health, wealth, youth, our household, our family, our fine clothing�we only see the black dots… But one of the main ways to increase the quality of your Hajj is to focus on the white dots, not the black dots. Because Allah will test you�guaranteed�in ways you cannot imagine.

a

To understand the significance of this action, it is important to first understand what the rites of Arafat are held to symbolise. In the Islamic understanding, the Day of Arafat marks the culmination of the entire Hajj. It marks the quintessential moment of the whole pilgrimage: it is that moment when the pilgrims assemble as one on the plains of Arafat to seek God�s forgiveness and mercy. In the midst of the plain of Arafat stands Jabal al-Rahma, or �the Mount of Mercy�, which pilgrims attempt to climb.

a

“We walked outside gate 110 I believe, it the gate that is two gates to the left and perpendicular to Baab ul Nisa’. We walked into the middle of the courtyard and I saw Ammu Khalid gaze.

However, I could tell he was gazing into the past. He was gazing into the winding roads and the farm animals that permeated the landscape. He was gazing into the children playing and the sweet smells escaping from the tightly bunched houses.

He takes my arm and starts to speak:
“40 Years ago there were very few hujjaj. When they came we used to have parties to welcome them as they were on the journey sometimes for three years. Many times there were children born on the journey itself!” “

Read more at Mr. Espy’s blog.

a