ZIARATS IN MECCA

In the province of Hijaz in Arabia, not far from the Red Sea is the town of Mecca. In the centre of the town is a small square-built stone structure called Kaaba. The word " Kaaba " literally means " Square ". Kaaba was first built by Prophet Adam exactly under Baitul Mamoor which is in Jannat. It is also the same shape as Baitul Mamoor. After the strong waves and currents of Prophet Noah's ship, Kaaba was destroyed but the foundation remained. Prophet Ibrahim later built the walls of the Kaaba again. This was done for the devouts to worship in one God but during his lifetime, the people disobeyed his orders and put hundreds of idols inside the Holy Kaaba. Prophet Ibrahim had to clean the Kaaba.

During the time of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.) the people were still very wild and used to worship idols. There were still Idols inside the Holy Kaaba. Our Holy Prophet ( S.A.W. ) and Imam Ali ( A.S. ) destroyed all the idols with their own hands. At one stage, Imam Ali had to climb onto the shoulders of Prophet Muhammed to bring down one of the tallest idols called " Hobai " to carry out the orders of Allah. This took place in the 8th year of Hijra 630 A.D.

Our first Imam, Hazrat Ali ( A.S. ) was born inside the Holy Kaaba on the 13th of Rajab by the order of Almighty Allah.

Hajare Aswad is the stone from Jannat. The word " Hajr " means " Stone " in arabic. When Prophet Adam was in Jannat, he used to sit on this stone and pray. This stone was very white and bright. When Prophet Adam was sent down to the earth, the stone started crying. Allah therefore said: " You will be sent to the earth ". Hajare Aswad has been put in the Kaaba by the angels. On the day of Judgement (Quiyamat), this stone will be a witness for those who went for Hajj and Umrah.

This is a place where Prophet Ibrahim used to pray to Allah when he finished building Kaaba. There is a footprint of Prophet Ibrahim on this stone. It is said that this stone was used to build Kaaba. Prophet Ibrahim used to put his foot on it. As the wall was raised, the stone also raised itself. This stone served the purpose of the ladder.

Prophet Ibrahim was the son of Tarakh. During the time of Prophet Ibrahim, a king named Namrod threw him in the fire, which, by the grace of Allah turned into a garden. This happened in a place called Babylon which is now known as Kufa. For many years Prophet Ibrahim lived here with his wife Sarah. He then came to Egypt. The king of Egypt name Qibti tried to take Sarah. As he approached Sarah, she cursed him and his hand was paralysed. The king knew that she was a pious lady and respected her. He gave away his daughter named Hajra to Prophet Ibrahim in marriage. Every year the king named Qibti used to send food and clothes to Harja via the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal was dug at that time specifically for this purpose.

Prophet Ismail and Janabe Hajra are both buried here.

Safa and Marwa are two mountains. Janabe Havva was brought to mountain Marwa. Prophet Adam was in mountain Safa for many years. They met after many years in Arafat.

This is a piece of land where some of the Mohsinaan-e-Islam are buried.

a) JANABE KHADIJATUL KUBRA
She was the daughter of Khulad. Khulad was a very rich businessman. He had two daughters, Khadija and Hala. When Hala was married, she had two daughters named Zainab and Kulsum. After the death of Hala, Janabe Khadija looked after her two daughters. Janabe Khadija was a very rich, intelligent and pious lady.
At the age of 40, she married Prophet Muhammed. She was the mother of Bibi Fatema Zehra ( A.S. ). She stayed with Prophet Muhammed ( S.A.W. ) for 12 years after Nabuwwat ( declaration of Prophethood ) and 25 years of married life before she passed away. When Prophet Muhammed was 50 years old, his uncle Abu Talib, father of Imam Ali passed away. Three days later, his wife Bibi Khadija passed away. The holy Prophet was very much grieved and called this year " Aamul Huzn " which means the " Year of Sorrow ". She was the first lady to recite Kalema and gave away all her wealth for the sake of Islam. We will never forget her Ihsaan. But in 1924, the Saudi Government demolished the rauza of Bibi Khadija in Jannatul Mualla.

b) JANABE ABU TALIB
He was the father of Imam Ali ( A.S. ). He died when Prophet Muhammed was 50 years old.

c) JANABE QASSIM
He was the eldest son of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and the brother of Bib Fatema Zehra (A.S.). The Holy Prophet ( S.A.W. ) acquired his title of " Abul Qassim " from Janabe Qassim.

d) JANABE ABDUL MUTTALIB
He was the Prophet's paternal grandfather.

e) HAZRAT ABDULLAH
He was the father of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.). When he died, he was first buried in Madina. During the extension of Masjide Nabawi, his grave was dug, his body was found intact and according to some narration (riwayah) it is said that he is now buried in Jannatul Mualla.

f) HAZRAT ABDE MUNAF
He was the Prophet's great great grandfather.

g) HAZRAT AMINA BINTE WAHAB
She was the mother of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.). Prophet Muhammed ( S.A.W. )'s father died before he was born and his mother died when he was only 5 years old. There are two narrations regarding her burial place. Some say that she is buried between Mecca and Madina at a place called Abawa where she died. According to others, after her death in Abawa, her coffin was given to Abdul Muttalib - her father-in-law and she is buried in Jannatul Mualla. So it is mustahab to recite her ziyarat in Mecca.

Apart from these holy personalities, there are many Ullemas, Shohadas and relatives of Prophet ( S.A.W. ) buried here. This graveyard existed before the beginning of Islam and is still present.