Aleena and Aydaan’s Umrah Trip April 2014

1. Aleena and Aydaan’s Umrah Trip April 2014

2. Getting ready for Umrah When you get ready for umrah you enter into a state of ihram. This includes Performing a ritual bath (ghusl) Putting on the ihram (like Aydaan is in the picture) Making the intention Saying the Talibyah (labbayk Allahumma labbayk…) Praying two ra’kah’s After traveling for almost two days from Canton to Chicago to Frankfurt (Germany) and finally Makkah, we immediately started our Umrah, even though it was almost midnight! <NOTE: We didn’t take any pictures during any part of our actual Umrah, so had to go back a few days later to make sure we could capture it all to bring it back home!>

3. Visiting the Ka’aba The first step is to circle (ta’waf’) the Ka’aba seven times, starting and ending with the black stone. You have to have wudu while you are making ta’waf or it won’t be counted! We made lots of dua (especially when first seeing it) and even got to touch it! The Ka’aba is our favorite building in the whole world! Thousands of people from all over the world Aydaan’s hand touching the Ka’aba wall View from inside the Hatim A beautiful view of the Haram at nighttime

4. Footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim After we completed our Ta’waf, we prayed two rakats salah behind the Maqam of Ibrahim . This is the second step in Umrah. This place has a special history that goes back to when the Ka’aba was first built….. In order to complete the upper part of the walls of the Ka’aba, Prophet Ibrahim stood upon a large stone block that he moved along when each section was completed. When the Ka’aba was finished building, the large stone block was left outside of the Kab’ah. It was the place where Prophet Ibrahim offered his prayers. Footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim

5. Drinking Zam Zam The third step of Umrah includes drinking a lot of Zamzam water. When drinking, we made the intention that it helps us attain good deeds with knowledge, vastness in provision and continued well being. A mouth piece of the Well of Zamzam with its ring and lid. A pulley for lifting Zamzam water dating back to the end of the 14th century of Hijrah A brass bucket which used to be in the well of Zamzam dating back to 1299H Zam Zam was everywhere we travelled – even all the way in Madinah

6. Safa and Marwah The fourth step of Umrah is called Sa‘ee which is meant to honor Hajirah’s search for water and Allah's mercy in answering her prayers. The start of Sa’ee Mount Safa Keep running Aydaan! You have to complete 7 times total back and forth Following Sa’ee, we trimmed our hair (final step) and officially completed our Umrah. Alhamdullilah!! Aydaan standing on Marwah Making dua between Mts. Safa and Marwah

7. The Prophet’s (PBUH) early years After we completed our Umrah, we spent a few days seeing the sights and getting to see everything we had learnt about the Prophet’s life. Near the Haram, we walked to see where the Prophet (PBUH) was born. It is now a library. We also saw the mountain areas where he was a Sheppard and cared for sheep in his early years. What a blessing it was to walk in the very same footsteps of our Beloved! The Prophet (PBUH) grew up as an orphan.  The Prophets father, Abdullah, died when Muhammad was not yet born.  Muhammad (PBUH) was nursed by Halimah Al-Sadiyyah up until the age of 2 when he was taken into the custody of his paternal uncle Abu Talib.  Muhammad’s mother died when he was six years old.  He was first taken under the care of his paternal grandfather, Abd Al-Muttalib.  When Muhammad was eight years old, Abd Al-Muttalib passed away, and Muhammad’s guardianship fell to Abu Talib (son of Abd Al-Muttalib and Muhammad’s paternal uncle).  Alluding to the Prophet Muhammad’s orphanage experience and poor childhood, Allah says “Did He not find you (O Muhammad) an orphan and gave you a refuge? And He found you unaware (of the Quran, its legal laws and Prophethood) and guided you?  And He found you poor, and made you rich (self sufficient with self contentment)?  Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression.  And repulse not the beggar.  And proclaim the Grace of your Lord (Surat Al Dhuha, verses 6-11)

8. Masjid al Bay’ah One of our first sight visits was to Masjid al Bay’ah which is also known as the Mosque of the Pledge. It is the place where the Prophet (PBUH) received the oath of allegiance of the tribes of Yathrib (Madinah). Years before the Hijrah, this was where 73 Muslim men and women swore their allegiance to him, promising to defend him as they would their own families. Our Amma praying Dhur La illaha ill Allah Inscribed on the wall of the masjid The mosque lies at the foot of the hills near Mina Sh. Hamza making dua after giving a lesson he taught It was a really hot day but subhanAllah amazing to see!

9. Mount Arafat The Prophet’s Last Sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah, 10 AH in the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat in Makkah. After praising and thanking Allah, the Prophet (PBUH) began with the words…. “O People! Lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen carefully to what I am saying and take these words to those who could not be present here today. O People! Just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest) therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital is yours to keep You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Al-Abbas ibn Abd AL-Muttalib (Prophets uncle) be waived. Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived and the first such right that I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabi’ahibn Al Harithiah O Men! The unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calendar in order to make permissible that which Allah forbade, and to prohibit which Allah has made permissible. With Allah the months are twelve in number, four of them are sacred, three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumadah and Sha’ban. Beware of Satan for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things. Eating Ice Cream with the Camels Mount Arafat

10. Mount Arafat O People! It is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. DO treat your mown well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. An it is your right that they do not allow any one to your house o whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste. O People! Listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan and give your wealth in Zakat (obligatory charity). Perform Hajj if you can afford to. All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab is not superior to a non Arab nor a non Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white man is not superior to a black person nor a black has any superiority over a white except by piety and good action. Know that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not therefore do injustice to yourselves. Remember one day you will meet Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone. O People, No prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore. O People! And understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my Sunnah(sayings, deeds, and approvals) and if you follow these you will never go astray. All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to you people”. Toward the end of his sermon, the Prophet (PBUH) asked: “O People, have I faithfully delivered unto you my message? “ “O Allah, yes!” Came the answer of the thousands of pilgrims, whereupon, the Prophet (PBUH) raised his forefinger and said “Be my witness O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people.” Eating Ice Cream with the Camels Mount Arafat

11. Climbing up to Cave Hira We climbed to the top of Cave Hira which is the place where the Prophet (PBUH) spent a month each year in spiritual retreat, before Angel Jibril came to him with Revelation. At the halfway mark…. It was soooo hot climbing more than 1000 steps up the mountain “Read in the Name of your Lord Who has created, Who has created man from a clot. Read and your Lord is the Most generous, He has taught by the pen, taught man that which he did not know” The first of the Qur’an was revealed here to the Prophet (PBUH) Almost at the top, where we prayed Maghrib. After a hard climb, we were blessed with a beautiful breeze!

12. Inside Cave Hira As we entered inside the cave, not only was it hard to imagine that our Prophet (PBUH) climbed this mountain so frequently (it was high and very difficult to climb), but that we were in the very place that the Quran was first revealed! We made lots of dua and dhikr as we stood inside and felt the power of being inside the cave. Hard to believe this is the same place our Prophet might have sat! It was really tiny and squishy inside Asad Mamoo was the only one of the adults (other than mama) who believed we would make it to the top! Aydaan sitting down at the entrance of the cave

13. Kiswah Factory Kiswah is the cloth that covers the Ka’aba. The cover is made of silk with embroidery done in real gold. It takes 11 months to make and is draped every year on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah (Day of Arafat). We got to have a private visit to the factory where it is made to see all of the steps involved. Aleena was also fortunate enough to be given a piece of gold that is used on the cover. Example of the Kaaba Door Before there is even any embroidery We were the only ones that got real gold that is used on the cover The process continues… A model of the inside of the Ka’aba is in the factory. This is our family standing inside of the model Ka’aba

14. Mecca Museum There were so many cool things that we saw at the Museum The teak staircase of the Holy Ka’aba from 1240 AH The door of the Ka’aba from 1363 AH The door of the Kaaba from 1363 AH A marble midday timer used to determine prayer times The well of Zamzam from 1299AH What an amazing walk through history…..

15. Meeting more grandparents! We were very blessed to get to go for Umrah with our mom, grandparents and great aunt. When we got to Makkah, we had a very special visit with even more grandparents, when my Baba’s (grandfather) older brother and wife came all the way from Pakistan just to see us and spend time with us at the Ka’aba. This was a memory of a lifetime! On the authority of Salmh ibn Al-Akwa who said: “I once head the Prophet’s mule (named: Al Shahba) all the way into the Prophet’s bedroom with the Prophet and his grandchildren (Al-Hasan and Al-Husein) mounted on it” (reported by Muslim) On the authority of Abu Hurairah who said “I once saw the Prophet (PBUH) carrying on his shoulder his grandchild Al-Hasan ibn Ali while the latter’s saliva was flowing on the Prophet’s body” (reported by Ahmad) On the authority of Ya’a AL-Amiri who said that Al-Hasan and Al-Husein once came racing toward the Prophet (PBUH) who embraced them’ (reported by Ahmad)

16. Traveling to Madinah As we left Makkah we traveled 324km on our way towards the city of our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) – Madinah. On our way we stopped to visit the grave of Lady Maymunah, on of the Mothers of the Believer, who was married to the Prophet (PBUH) in the 7 AH. Even though she lived close to 40 years in Madinah after the Prophet (PBUH) death, she asked to be buried at the same place where she married the Prophet. We stopped on the way to pay our respects. Gravesite of Lady Maymunah We also stopped on the way in Jeddah to have a dinner at the house of a special ‘Hijazi’ dignitary who hosted our group with a very fancy meal. It was a very long day traveling – but we remembered that at the time of the Prophet, they did this same route on foot! Jeddah Beachfront

17. Date Garden On the authority of Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari who said that the Prophet (PBUH) said “I saw in a dream that I would migrate from Makkah to a land with palm trees. Initially , I thought that place was going to be Al-Yamamah or Hajar . But then it turned out to Yathrib (Madinah) was my destination” (reported by Bukhari and Muslim) Aydaan listening carefully to find out that we were standing in the very same Date Garden from where the Prophet PBUH entered into Madinah from. subhanAllah! We ate a wonderful breakfast of special bread that was known for its healing power (made with zamzam), yogurt and dates from the date garden.

18. The Prophet’s Mosque Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) is reported to have said: “The Prophet (PBUH) used to occupy himself with the remembrance of Allah (dhikr) no matter what situation he was in (reported by Muslim). On the authority of Abu Hurairah who said that he heart the Prophet (PBUH) say ‘By Allah, I do repeat istaghfar and pronounce tawbah to Allah more than 70 times a day (reported by Bukhari). On the authority of Abu Hurirah who said that the Prophet (PBUH) said “Repeating “SubhanAllah, Al-hamdullilah, laa llaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, is worthier for me than everything under the sun (reported by Muslim) These beautiful domes open The windows to the mosque Aleena posing in front of the main entry to the ladies prayer area Umbrellas outside of the mosque Everything inside of this mosque was stunning The lamps inside the mosque

19. The Prophet’s Grave (Rawdah) “What is between my house and my pulpit is a meadow of the meadows in Paradise, and my pulpit is on my pool” (Al-Bukhari) “Oh Allah, once I set my foot in Paradise, You promised You will never take it back, so please grant me Jannah Firdose!” Green Carpet… A piece of Jannah The Green Dome under which lies the graves of the Prophet (PBUH), Abu Bakr and Umar

20. Masjid Quba Built by the Prophet (PBUH) as soon as he arrived from Makkah, this mosque has many interesting facts about it including; It was the first masjid ever built The Prophet (PBUH) visited it almost every Saturday to pray A prayer at this masjid is equal to the reward of an Umrah We prayed our two rakah at this masjid, which meant we did TWO umrah’s during our visit. May Allah accept!!

21. Masjid al-Qiblatayan ‘Mosque of the Two Prayer Directions’ For 17 months after the Prophet’s (PBUH) arrival into Madinah, prayer was still in the direction of Jerusalem. The Prophet (PBUH) began to ask Allah to give him the qiblah of his choice, towards the Ka’bah. It was at this masjid that one day at Dhur time, right in middle of the prayer (after the first two rakah), Angel Jibril came with the order to face Makkah. The Prophet immediately turned, along with his companions. As such, the first two rakahs were prayed towards Jerusalem and the second two were prayed towards the Ka’aba. We had the chance to pray our two rakats at this Masjid while visiting. Aydaan listening and learning to our teachers

22. Sites of the Various Battles Archers’ Hill We walked on the same earth that our Prophet fought so hard to give us the gift of Islam. Mount Uhud (where Hamza RAH is burried) Battle of the Ditch (Khandaq) Battle of Badr

23. Our Daily Lessons While in Madinah, we had classes every day between Asr and Maghrib time with Sheikh Hamza. We learnt a lot about the Prophet’s life, the history of the sites we were visiting, and stories of the companions. We also were taught about the many benefits of saying salaam on the Prophet. Aydaan sitting in the front row of class

24. Madinah Museum Right outside of the Prophet’s Mosque was a wonderful museum that included everything you needed to know about his life! His Revelations Baba, Aydaan and Asad • His Miracles • Prophet talking to Date Tree • Prophet broke the rock with his hand at Khandak • Golden bracelets that would be discovered after his death • Splitting of the Moon The Prophet’s daughters The Prophet’s sons

25. Quran Printing Press Our group was able to get a personal visit to the King Fahd Quran printing press. They produce about 10 million copies of the Quran every year in 39 languages.

26. Coming Home After ten days of an amazing experience, visiting the Blessed Cities, seeing all of the holy sites and even meeting and making some new friends, it was time to come home. Aleena and Sana (who has already memorized 10 entire juz mA!!) Playing in Frankfurt airport Aydaan, Yusuf and Ali in Madinah when they were sad to leave each other

27. The End We pray that Allah accepts our worship and that we are invited one day to return. Until then, we hope that this experience will live with us in our hearts and minds forever … Thank you for listening