Journey to the Holy Land (Part II)

Warning: This is going to be a series of long and boring entries. Do stop at the first sign of yawn..



Maddinah Al-Munawarah

>>Masjidil Nabawi

Inside of Masjidil Nabawi (taken frm a potrait @ Muzium of Mekkah)

Beautiful ain't it... It is just simply captivating.

This is where I found solace for the first three days of our trip. Once you've passed the angry lady guards at the door ("Masyaallah.. sabar ya hajjah.. sabar siti rahmah.."), you'll be greeted by a very serene feeling that envelopes you throughout the time you spent in the mosque. You will feel warm and fuzzy as if you are being hugged by your loved ones.. Well, that's how I felt laa.. *winks*

Since the ladies can only visit the tomb of Rasullulah s.a.w and his two closest companion at a restricted time, you will find thousands and thousands of women pushing their way through the sea of people just to get close to the tomb of the Rasul. Here, you will witness the power of faith, the deepness of One's love for One's religion - Islam, One's God - Allah, and One's Prophet - Muhammad s.a.w. Tears strewn from One's eyes at the sight of the Prophet's tomb, at the closeness One has gotten to be near Rasullulah. One would then face the Qiblat and perform a 2 rakaat solat (with much difficulty due to the large crowd and the size of the Arab ladies) and bow down after the last salam and recite...

"O Allah, Your word is the truth, and You did say: 'And O Muhammad when they having been unjust to their ownselves, come to you to seek Allah's forgiveness, and the Rasul begs forgiveness for them, then surely they will find Allah Oft Forgiving, Merciful.' And now have I come to you O Rasul seeking forgiveness for my sins, seeking your intercession on my behlaf in the presence of Allah; and I ask You O Allah to grant me these, and to grant me forgiveness in a similar manner as You had granted to them who came to the Rasul in his lifetime"
- Duaa from Mughni, an authentic book of Hambali fiqh.

When I saw people crying, I felt compelled to cry too. However, even though I felt deeply by the thought of being close to the Rasul and begged for his safaat, I just can't shed any tear. None came at all. Even when I performed salat sunnah near the Mimbar and Raudah (the other 2 places that are mustajab to duaa and pray), and was surrounded by crying and sobbing ladies, no tears came. I somehow felt bad for awhile about it, as if I didn't connect with Allah. Nevertheless, something tells me that it will be worse if I forced myself to cry just because everybody else is crying. It will not be ikhlas rite? Only Allah know what I feel inside and I don't need to cry to show it to Him.

It was quite sad to leave Masjidil Nabawi for Mekkah. 3 days was too short a time to absorb the peacefulness of the place. Plus, no other place will be the same as this place. That's a guarantee.


>> Masjid Quba'

If a person has clean himself from home and goes straight to Masjid Quba' to perform salat, it is as if he has performed an Umrah.


>> Jabal Uhud and Jabal Rumah

This is where the great Islamic fighters during the Uhud war were laid to rest, i.e. Saidina Hamzah. Uhud war is one of the famous war during Rasullulah's era. However, am not well versed about it to relay the story here.. hehehe...


>> Masjid Al-Kiblatin

Ihis is where Rasulullah s.a.w. received a message from Allah while performing salat Zuhur. Previously, Rasul s.a.w performed salat facing the Temple of Jarusalem (the Kiblat for the Jews) and was mocked by them for doing so. Hence, during one Zuhur prayer in the middle of Rejjab, While Rasullulah s.a.w. was performing the prayer, he received a message from Allah to turn and face the Holy Temple of Mekkah (the Kiblat of Islam) after the 2nd rakaat. Hence the mosque got its name, Al-Kiblatain (2 Kiblats).


>> Pasar Kurma (Date Market)

This was the highlight of the trip (for some). We were brought straight to "Toko 59", where according to our Muttawif, is the cheapest shop that sells various types of dates. Checkout the signboard - it's written in Bahasa Melayu (can't say Bahasa Malaysia because it's more towards Indonesian laguange)

Maddinah produces various type of dates of the highest quality amongst other city or towns in the country. Plus, it is cheaper to buy dates in Maddinah then in Mekkah. So, that's why everyone in the group had 'borong' berplastik-plastik and berkotak-kotak kurma... Excluding yours truly. I only bought the date chocolates... yummy!!

More pics of sights around Maddinah here



binx: munching on chocolate.. yumm...