HJ ZULHEIMY - DOWN MEMORY LANE: HAJJ JOURNEY 2017

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

15 April 2024

Visiting Madinah is not part of Hajj. However, since paying a visit to the Prophet's mosque is a recommended act, all pilgrims use the Hajj opportunity to perform the latter as well. They do so either before Hajj or after it. If you have the opportunity, please visit Madinah and explore some historical places because there are many things we can learn from it. This is where we can feel the struggle of our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w in upholding the religion of Islam in Medina. By visiting historical places, we will feel as if the Prophet s.a.w. is beside us, like in Jabal Uhud, Quba Mosque, etc. I couldn't hold back my tears while listening to the story of how great the struggle of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his companions was, as told by our Tour Guide, such as the story of the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud.

On September 23, 2017, the Zone 2 Hajj Pilgrims were taken on a tour around Madinah Al Munawwarah. Among the places visited were:

MASJID QUBA, MADINAH

Quba Mosque is the first mosque built in the history of Islam, founded on the basis of piety and solid faith. It was built after the Prophet s.a.w migrated from Mecca to Medina. On Monday, 12 Rabiulawal, equivalent to September 20, 622 AD, the Prophet s.a.w along with Saidina Abu Bakar as Siddiq arrived at the village of Bani Amru ibn Auf, 3 kilometers from the city of Medina, and built the first mosque in Medina. The name Quba is taken from the name of a well that is in that place. This mosque is mentioned in the Quran with the name Masjid At-Taqwa.

The Prophet s.a.w once said about this mosque:

"Whoever performs ablution at home and then visits the Quba Mosque, then performs the prayer, will receive the same reward as the reward for performing the Umrah."

However, the present mosque is not the original mosque built by Rasulullah s.a.w. This new mosque is the result of the touch of Egyptian architect, Abdel Wahed El Wakil, which was completed in 1986.

From the Quba Mosque, we continue our journey to Mount Uhud, which is located on Uhud Hill and is approximately 16 km away.

JABAL UHUD

Jabal Uhud, located approximately 12 km from the Prophet's Mosque. I have been to Jabal Uhud in 2015, but the tour was not complete, only at Bukit Pemanah.

This is where the Battle of Uhud took place in the 3rd year of the Hijrah (625 AD). The Quraish tribe waged war against the Muslims in the Battle of Uhud. Abu Sufyan was the de facto head of the Quraish. The Quraish army was equipped with 3,000 infantry, 3,000 camels, and 200 horsemen. The Muslims had 700 infantry, 50 archers, and 4 horsemen. The army was led by leaders like Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Hazrat Ali, Al-Hamzah, and Abu Dujanah. The Quraysh Makkans, with an army of 3,000 strong men, charged toward Madinah under the leadership of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb.

The Muslims lost the Battle of Uhud not because they were fewer in number or were weak. They lost because of their disobedience. Only if the archers had obeyed the order of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and remained in their position on Mount Uhud, the victory wouldn't have slipped from the hands of the Muslim army.

But after seeing the Mushyrikin army fleeing and leaving behind their war gear, this army of archers came out of hiding and ran down the hill to take the spoils of war that were left behind. This is when the Quraysh Cavalry, under the leadership of Khalid ibn Walid (who was not yet Muslim at the time), attacked them. As a result, 70 Muslim soldiers were martyred, including the Prophet's uncle, Saidina Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib.

From a hadith narrated from Anas bin Malik r.a., the Prophet s.a.w said, "Indeed, Uhud is a mountain that loves us and we also love it." (HR Bukhari and Muslim)

Bukit Uhud is also one of the hills in heaven.

JABAL RUMAT

The hill known as Jabal Rumat or Jabal Ainain, also known as Archer's Hill, was where Rasulullah s.a.w stationed 50 archers under the leadership of Abdullah bin Jabir r.a. These archers were assigned to defend against the Musyrikin army. Initially, the victory was on the side of the Muslim army. However, due to disobeying the order of the Prophet s.a.w.that is not to leave their defenses and went down to grab the spoils of war, the Quraysh cavalry, led by Khalid ibn Walid (who was not yet a Muslim at the time), attacked them from behind. Many companions were martyred, and Rasulullah s.a.w. was injured. The lesson that can be learned from this is that if you want prosperity in this world and in the hereafter, you should obey the commandments of Allah s.w.t and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet s.a.w.

The Matyrs of Uhud Cemetery contains the body of 70 Syuhada (Matyrs) who were killed during the Battle of Uhud, the most notable being the uncle of the Proplet s.a.w Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib.

Being around Jabal Uhud you could feels as if you can see the Prophet s.a.w. planning a war strategy. We can feel how brave the companions of the Messenger of Allah s.a.w. and Muslim soldiers fighting to defend Islam in a hilly and scorching hot area. Imagine how great a woman named Nusaibah bt Kaab made herself a shield to protect Rasulullah s.a.w. That's how great Muslim women were in the early days of Islam...

To find out more about the greatness of this woman named Nusaibah bt Kaab, you can visit ustaz Shauqi's blog page which tells more about it.

MADINAH FARM DATE

Then we were taken to visit the Bani Hasyim Date Farm in Medina. Dates have many benefits, especially Najwa Dates. It is called the Prophet's date because the Prophet s.a.w himself said when holding this date, "This is my date."

My wife and I do not plan to buy dates in Madinah because we have sent via Poslaju the dates we bought in Mecca to be sent back home. Here, I just bought some to eat at the hotel with my roommate.

AJWA DATE

Ajwa Date is a type of date that is grown at Madinah. According to some sources Ajwa refers to a type of date all of which have their origin in a palm tree planted by the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Due to lack of time, we did not have the opportunity to visit all the historical places in Medina. We just passed by. Among the other historical places in Medina are the Qiblatain Mosque (2 Qibla Mosque), Mosque 7, Al-Ghamamah Mosque, and many more.

THE QIBLATAIN MOSQUE

Located in the northwest region of Madinah, Qiblatain Mosque was built in 623 AD and is considered the only mosque that was performed in 2 qiblah prayers at the same time. Inside the mosque, there are two minarets and two qiblah, and it is distinguished by the white color.

THE SEVEN MOSQUE

A complex of six small historic and often visited mosques in the city of Madinah. It consist of six mosques in spite of the nama "Sab'ah" means "seven", as the State Government demolished one.

That's the end of our tour around Madinah today... After this we are free to do any activity in Madinah before heading back home on September 30, 2017.

My wife and I, while waiting for the time to return to our homeland, did a self-guided tour around the Prophet's Mosque in addition to worshiping at the Prophet's Mosque.

Next to the Nabawi Mosque, my wife and I visited the "Muhammad: Messenger of Allah Exhibition". Various modules of the history of Madinah were also exhibited.

SOKAIFAT BANI SAIDAH

Sokaifat Bani Saedah is the home of Bani Saidah Al-Kharajiyah tribe and is distinguished for having housed the most famous gathering of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after he passed away. Under this roof, the caliph who would take control of affairs was selected, it was here that the companions of the Messenger of God in his migration from Mekkah to Madinah, Abu Bakar As-Siddiq - may God be pleased with him - was chosen.

PROPHET'S MARKET

Not far from Sokaifat Bani Saedah, there is a market that has existed since the time of the Prophet s.a.w. and remains to this day. It is known as the Prophet's Market.

RAWAAE AL-ANWAR RESTAURANT

Rawaae Al-Anwar Restaurant, a Pakistani restaurant, has become our favorite. Our go-to menu items are fish curry rice and boiled eggs. We simply wanted to try food outside of our hotel, especially dishes from other countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, and more.

Indonesian Restaurant at Madinah

Thank God, my intention before leaving for the Holy Land to perform Hajj was to be able to finish the Quran. At first, I intended to finish the Quran in Mecca, but it didn't work out. However, I finally managed to finish the Quran in Medina. I started reading the Quran from the beginning of Surat Al Fatehah on August 23, 2017, which is the day my wife and I flew to Mecca. I successfully finished the Quran in Madinah on September 25, 2017, at 4.15 pm Madinah time (4 Muharram 1439H).

These are the activities, other than worship, that my wife and I did in Madinah while waiting for the time to return to our country.