Medina

Visiting the Holy Shrine of the Messenger of Allah (S):

The Holy Prophet said to his grandson, Imam Hussain (A.S):

My son! If someone visits me while I am alive or dead, or visits your father, your brother or yourself, it becomes obligatory upon me to visit him/her on the day of Judgement and rescue him/her from his/her sins.

 

Entering the Prophet’s Mosque

1. Bab-e-Jibreel (gate of Gabriel) is the best door to enter from. It is located on the north west side of the mosque.
2. Asking permission to enter the mosque:

May I enter O Messenger of Allah?

May I enter O Fatima? ...

As you cross the threshold, enter with humility while reciting: takbir (saying Allah Akbar) 100 times 

 

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Al-Ijabah Mosque (Medina) 
 

1. Like other tribes and neighborhoods, after embracing Islam, Banu Mu'awiyah Bin Awf which were one of the Aws tribe branches, built a mosque in the early days of Islam among their homes. It is situated around 300 or 400 meters to the north of Jannat al-Baqi, some 550 meters northeast of the Prophet’s Mosque, on Sittin Road.

2. This mosque has been well-known and respected by residents and pilgrims of Medina. 

An auther of the 12th century after Hijrah, writes in his book that whenever the people of Medina intend to offer the rain prayer, they go to Al-Ijabah Mosque and their demand is immediately fulfilled. (Targhib Ahl al-Mawadat wa al-Wafa', page 134)

3. This mosque was reconstructed in the Ottoman period. The last renovation took place in 1418 A.H. in which it was vastly expanded. 

3. In Shia historical resources, a mosque is mentioned with the name of Mubahalah Mosque. It is famous that it is the same mosque. The story of Mubahalah which is mentioned in Quran and is explained in details in historic book and commentaries is about a dialogue and argument between the Messenger of Allah (sawa) and Christians of Najran which took place in the year 10 A.H. In this event which is mentioned in Quran 3:61, once the Christian delegation saw Hazrat Fatimah (sa), her two children Hassan and Hussain (as) Amir al-Mumineen (as) with the Prophet (sawa), they were frightened and worried and said to the Messenger of Allah (sawa): “We will pay you whatever pleases you so excuse us from the ‘Mubahalah’”. Then the Messenger of Allah (sawa) made a settlement with them for them to pay the Jizya and they left.’

It is said that Mubahala was done in the place of Al-Ijabah Mosque.

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Jannat al-Baqi'

Jannat-ul-Baqi’ is a much revered graveyard located in Madinah Munawwarah in Saudi Arabia. Many great personalities of the Ahle Bait (a.s.), immaculate members of the Prophet’s (s) household including his successors are laid to rest here:

a) Imam Hasan b. Ali – Al Mujtaba (a.s.)

b) Imam Ali b. Husain – Zain al-Aabedeen (a.s.)

c) Imam Muhammad b. Ali – Al-Baqir (a.s.) and

d) Imam Jafar b. Muhammad – Al-Sadiq (a.s.)

e) And according to some historians Hazrat Fatemah al-Zahra (a.s.), the Prophet’s (s) highly-revered daughter .

2. In addition to the successors of the Messenger of Allah (s), prominent and famous companions of the Prophet (s) and his close relatives are also buried here. 

Apart from these great personalities, graves of approximately seven thousand famous companions are located in Baqi’.

Similarly, many scholars of the early days of Islam are also buried here, like Imam Maalik – the founder of the Maaliki sect.

3. These people’s graves were adorned with mausoleums and tombs. Even today Muslims have preserved pictures of the tombs and these are widely available on internet websites. These tombs were present till 8th Shavval 1344 A.H.

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The first attack on Baqi’ – 1220 A.H. 

The attack was first engineered by the Wahhabis in 1220 A.H. i.e. when the first Saudi government was overthrown by the Ottoman government. In 1220 A.H. Wahhabis entered Medinah to demolish Baqi’ and tried to demolish many mosques inside of Baqi’. They initially tried to pull down the dome of the mausoleum of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) but apparently refrained due to fear of reprisal.

The Ottoman government renovated the mausoleums and Shias and Sunnis from all over the world accumulated funds for its renovation. Consequently, beautiful tombs were created in Baqi’ and visitors from all over the world at the time of Hajj, Umrah and Ziyaarah paid their respects to these tombs.

However, this was just the beginning of the nightmare for the Islamic world.