✨Do not wish to be like anyone except in two cases✨

(The first is) A person, whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously.
(The second is) the one whom Allah has given wisdom (the Holy Qur’an) and he acts according to it and teaches it to others.

The Prophet : (Fath-al-Bari page 177 Vol. 1 / Sahih al-Bukhari 73)

Hateem/Hijr Ismail

The Hateem is the crescent shaped area immediately adjacent to the Ka’bah. Part of it is also known as the ‘Hijr Ismail’ as this was the place where Ebrahim (upon him be peace) constructed a shelter for Ismail (upon him be peace) and his mother Hajrah (upon her be peace).

The grandfather of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), Abdul Muttalib, loved to be near the Ka’bah and he would sometimes order a couch to be spread for him in this space. One night, when he was sleeping there a shadowy figure came to him in a vision and instructed him where he would find the Zamzam well, which had laid buried from the time of the Jurhum tribe.

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was 35 years old, a devastating flood damaged the Ka’bah and, as it had already been weakened by an earlier fire, was in danger of collapsing. Seeing that their house of worship was under threat, the Quraysh decided to rebuild the Ka’bah. They resolved not to taint the project with resources gained through usury (interest), prostitution or thieving. They came to know of a Roman ship that had become wrecked at a nearby port and a contingent went to purchase the wood of the ship. They also contracted a carpenter, named Baqoom, who had been one of the passengers on the ship to come and reconstruct the walls. The construction started with each tribe being allocated specific duties. The nobles among them carried pieces of stone and piled them up in one place. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his uncle Abbas were among those carrying stones. However, the tribes were unable to collect enough money to rebuilt the Ka’bah completely so a small wall was built showing the boundaries of the original foundation laid by Ebrahim (upon him be peace). This small wall enclosed an area on the northern side of the Ka’bah.

Some scholars have mentioned that the graves of Ismail (upon him be peace) and his mother Hajra (upon her be peace) lie buried beneath the Hijr Ismail. However, others have dismissed the narrations as being Da’eef (weak).

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that when she asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) whether the Hateem was part of the Ka’bah, he replied that it was. When she further asked why it was then not included in the walls of the Ka’bah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied, “Because your people (the Quraysh) did not have sufficient funds.”[Bukhari]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says, “When I expressed the wish to perform salah within the Ka’bah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) took me by the hand and led me into the Hijr (Hateem) where he said, ‘Perform salah here if you wish to enter the Ka’bah because this is part of the Baytullah.’”

It must be noted here that an area of approximately 3 meters adjacent to the wall on the side of the Hateem actually constitutes as being part of the Ka’bah, the rest falls outside the Ka’bah. It is however clear that Tawaf must be performed outside the complete area of the Hateem.

Another narration states that Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, “O Aisha! Had your people not very recently been in the Period of Ignorance, I would have had the Ka’bah demolished and included the left-out portion within its walls. I would have also brought the inside of the Ka’bah to ground level and added two doors, with one on the eastern wall and the other on the western wall. In this manner, it would be according to the building and foundation of Ebrahim (upon him be peace).”In the year 65 AH, Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him had the Ka’bah constructed according to this wish of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

There is a water outlet that channels water from the roof of the Ka’bah down to the Hateem area. This was first constructed by the Quraysh and is known as the ‘Meezab-e-Rahmah’ (the water outlet of mercy).

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Holy Makkah – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, When the Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri

Musallah Jibraeel

These brown marble pieces mark the spot where the angel Jibraeel (upon him be peace) taught the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) how to pray.

Reference:

ZiyaraGPS.com

Meezab

The Meezab is the golden spout from where rainwater on the roof of the Ka’bah falls onto the Hijr Ismail. It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) supplicated under the Meezab.

It is commonly referred to as the ‘Meezab-e-Rahmah’ (The water outlet of mercy).

The Quraysh were the first to construct a roof on the Ka’bah and therefore the first to attach this downpipe. Before their construction, there was neither a roof nor a downpipe.

The Meezab was remodelled when the Ka’bah was renovated in the year 1417 A.H. The dimensions were retained as they were when the Ottoman Emperor Sultaan Abdul Majeed Khan renovated the Meezab in the year 1273 A.H.

References: Guide to visiting Makka and Madina – Sh. Abdul Aziz Ahmed, The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani

Rukan Yamani

This corner of the Ka’bah is called the Rukan Yamani because it is situated on the side of the Ka’bah which faces the land of Yemen. It is on the wall opposite to that of the Hajar al-Aswad.

Because this corner is still standing on the foundation that Ebrahim (upon him be peace) built, the narration of Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) made ‘Istilaam’ of it.

‘Istilaam’ refers to the touching of the corner whether this is done by hand or by kissing. As the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) touched the Rukn Yamaani by hand, this practise is Sunnah. However, there is no harm if one is unable to touch it due to the crowds.

It was the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that when he passed between the Rukn Yamani and the Hajar al-Aswad, he recited the following du’a: “O Rabb, grant us (all that which is) good in this world, (all that which is) good in the Aakhirah and save us from the punishment of the fire (of Jahannam).”[Surah Baqarah, verse 201]

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani

SEEK FORGIVENESS FROM YOUR LORD.

RasulAllah ( SalAllahu Alayhi WaSalam ) said:

"ALLAH ( Subhana Wa Ta'la ), will continue to stretch out His Hand in the night so that the sinners of the day may repent.

And continue to stretch His Hand in the daytime so that the sinners of the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west."
(Sahih Muslim, Book #037, Hadith #6644)

You could never bear the wrath of ALLAH ( Subhana Wa Ta'la ) each time you sin.
So Repent in the morning and the evening.
-Abdullah ibn Habib

A person is not ready for death if he still thinks he will live tomorrow.
-Sufyan At-Thawri

Fudayl ibn Ayadh used to tell the Mujahideen
"Hold firm to Taubah for it will protect you from that which your swords will not protect you."

Mutarrif bin Abdullah lost his son. He came out in a happy mood and said:
"I feel ashamed of ALLAH to be shaken by a disaster...
... I controlled the tears in my eyes and stopped them pouring forth, so my eyes are shedding tears in my heart. "

Amr bin Bukayr said:
"I exercised patience and in the end it was good. Why should I show anguish when it is not going to help me?
[Journey towards ALLAH]

Death is the only escape.
So patiently await.
Sabr is the courage of the soul.

♡ [Poem that made Imam Ahmad cry]♡

O restless soul, whose heart is overcome by sadness, remember this:

"Is not the morning near? " [Surah Hud 11:81]

If my Lord asks me, "Have you [any] shyness in disobeying me?

You conceal your sins from my creation - and with sins you come to me. "

So how will I answer? O woe to me - and who shall protect me?

Then how will I answer - after I have neglected my religion.

Woe to me! Did I not hear the Speech of ALLAH inviting me?

O my soul,
Pass quickly on through this world and leave it, for indeed life lies ahead of it.
- Imam Ash-Shafi'ee

"And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden as wide as the Heavens and Earth, prepared for the righteous. "
[ Surah Ali Imran 3:133]

"And you shall not find any refuge besides Him. "
[ Surah Al Kahf 18:27]

"Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You've guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. "
[Surah Ali Imran 3:8]

Ya ALLAH, do not leave us to our own souls, nor the thoughts of our minds.
Surely, only You can save us from our ownself.

Ya ALLAH, let us reach the Month of Ramadan.

Ya ALLAH, do not attach my heart to what is not mine.

Ya ALLAH, how will I answer to You when I know I failed You?

O ALLAH, we take refuge in You from depending upon anyone but You; and from putting our full trust in anyone but You.

O ALLAH, do not attach our heart to that which will betray us.

O ALLAH, in Your name we die and we live.

Ameen Allahumma Ameen. —

Door of Ka’bah

This is the entrance of the Ka’bah on its eastern side. Originally it was at ground level but was raised when the Quraysh rebuilt the Ka’bah.

When Ebrahim (upon him be peace) built the Ka’bah, the openings of the Ka’bah were on ground level. People entered from the eastern opening and exited through the western opening.

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) once asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) what reason the Quraysh had for raising the door above the ground. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied, “Your people did it so that they could permit into the Ka’bah only those people whom they approved of and could prevent those whom they pleased. Had your people not been recently removed from ignorance and had I not feared that they would be averse to change, I would have included the Hateem within the Ka’bah and brought the door level with the ground.”

At the top of each door is inscribed:“Allah Jal jalaalah Muhammad sallallaahu alaihi wasallam”. Beneath all of this is inscribed:“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.”“Enter with peace and safety”[Surah Hijr, verse 46]” Allah has made the Ka’bah the sacred house, as well as the sacred months a means by which (the physical and spiritual safety and well-being of) mankind is maintained.”[Surah Maa’idah, verse 97]Say, “O my Rabb! Allow me to enter a pleasant place, allow me to leave pleasantly and grant me such authority from Yourself that is coupled with (Your) assistance.”[Surah Israa, verse 80]“Your Rabb has made mercy (towards you) compulsory upon himself.”[Surah An’aam, verse 5]

Your Rabb says, “Supplicate to Me and I shall respond.”[Surah Mu’min, verse 60]

Beneath all of this is inscribed: Say, “O My bondsmen who have wronged their souls (by committing kufr or other sins)! Never lose hope of Allah’s mercy.”[Surah Zumar, verse 53]

The words “Allahu Akbar”is inscribed on the two rings and Surah Faatiha has been engraved beneath the lock.

References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani