Thread by @MissAli_RE

Still feeling blessed beyond measure to have completed #Umrah 🕋

🧵 Since I'm self-isolating, I've put together some of my favourite snaps from my journey with their history that may be useful for #TeamRE! ⬇️

Starting with #Madinah, previously Yathrib, the first Islamic community. Madinah is the resting place of the Prophet Muhammad and his 2 companions, Abu Bakr and Umar, below the iconic green dome 💚 Muslims give their 'salaam' to the Prophet when they visit.

Adjacent to Prophet Muhammad's resting place is Jannat al-Baqi, a graveyard which is the resting place for many significant figures in Islam, including the Prophet's wives, children and companions. This was closed due to covid (except for funerals). Pic from @HaramainInfo

Masjid an-Nabwi (The Prophet's Mosque) is truly stunning, and it was so calm and peaceful with fewer numbers due to covid. You could literally hear the birds singing all morning!

Madinah is also home to Masjid al-Qiblatain ('2 qiblas'). Originally, the direction of prayer was Jerusalem. When praying here, Prophet Muhammad redirected all worship towards the Kaaba. His closest companions followed without hesitation! (This was closed due to covid/not my pic)

#MasjidQuba is also in Madinah. This may arguably be the first mosque ever built as Prophet Muhammad laid the foundations after the Hijra (migration to Madinah), and the first Jummah (Friday) salah was prayed here. This mosque is dubbed the 'mosque of piety' in the Qur'an:

Many of the Madinan believers were poor and couldn't travel to Makkah, so according to Hadith, praying in this beautiful mosque is equivalent to completing an Umrah! Prophet Muhammad so loved Masjid Quba that he would travel to pray here almost every Saturday.

Battle of #Uhud: the 2nd most significant battle in Islamic history. The Muslims were at an advantage when some began to rejoice leaving their battle stations, making the small Muslim army vulnerable to attack. Many Muslims were killed and others injured, including the Prophet.

Ok now in Makkah... Makkah is of course home to the Kaaba, originally built by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail and has always remained a sanctuary of worship to God. This was repurposed at the time of Prophet Muhammad to only worship ONE God 🕋

With the current covid restrictions, only those completing Umrah were able to access the mataaf (area surrounding the Kaaba), so this was our only time here. We were so blessed to complete our Umrah in the rain (in Islam, rain is an opportunity of mercy and acceptance of prayer!)

Makkah is not only the birth place of Prophet Muhammad, but also the birth place of Islam. Cave Hira on the Mountain of Light (literally lighter than the others) is where Prophet Muhammad recieved the first Qur'anic revelations as he hid away from the polytheistic Arab festival.

Makkah is also home to the annual pilgrimage, Hajj. This is the site of Arafat, the Mountain of Mercy, where pilgrims spend an entire day repenting and asking for forgiveness. The pillar shows where Prophet Adam & Eve were reunited as they were sent to opposite ends of the earth.

The plain of Arafat is also believed to be the place where Prophet Muhammad delivered the Farewell Sermon, and the religion of Islam was perfected here (see Qur'an 5:3). It's also a visual reminder of the Day of Judgement as all Muslims will similarly stand in repentance.

Mina is a vast campsite near Arafat where the Hujjaj (pilgrims of Hajj) spend the day and night in worship. There are literally thousands of tents! Usually pilgrims are organised by country, sometimes travel groups, and men/women stay separated.

Next to Mina is Jamarat. Unfortunately the Jamarat was closed for us, but this is where the 3 large standing pillars are which represent the devil. Pilgrims throw at least 7 stones at each one during the course of the pilgrimage - an echoed tradition of Prophet Ibrahim. (Old pic)

And finally: my Umrah. After entering the state of ihram, I completed tawaaf - circumambulation of the Kaaba 7 times (in the rain!). Then, I walked 7 times between the Mountains of Safa and Marwa, before trimming a small flock of my hair. Umrah is also the first stage of Hajj.

For more info on Hajj and the process:

https://twitter.com/MissAli_RE/status/1285987781773332482?t=iYdFk57GWrCO_MPzkbfvpg&s=19

My reflections 💭: my Umrah came a year after losing my grandma (may Allah have mercy on her) the most challenging year in my life. My Umrah felt necessary. I felt so at-peace and content throughout the journey, which was made even more comfortable with fewer numbers.

I had no covid concerns as everyone wore masks, social distancing was in place within a day and a Saudi track and trace app was necessary to get in anywhere. I'm privileged to have been Umrah a few times, but this will definitely be my most memorable one 💛

*Note: there are many other significant sites between these 2 cities and beyond, these were just some that we were able to visit.

Hope you found this thread beneficial!

Please pray that my Umrah and prayers are accepted, and my family are invited to return again. #Ameen 💛