INCREDIBLE MADINAH And Its Landmark: Mountain of Uhud. (Umrah Mem. 2/3)

(Umrah Memories 2/3)
Incredible Madinah

And Its Landmark:

Mountain of Uhud

Climate Change Brings Plenty Of

Rains To Madinah Now

(M. Javed Naseem)

To visit Madinah is not a part of Hajj or Umrah rites, but the unique merits of the City of the Prophet (s.a.w.), his Mosque and his sacred tomb attract every pilgrim to visit it. There is no requirement of Ihram or Talbiyah to visit Madinah or the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid-e-Nabawi). The Prophet (s.a.w.) had great love for this city. He once said that "There is a cure for every disease in the dust of Madinah" – (Al-Targhib).

(Rain at the Masjid-e-Nabawi, Madinah)

Madinah Munawarah (the city of lights) is the second holy city to Muslims after Makkah. It’s also known by many other names such as Taibah, Yathrib, the City of the Messenger, and Dar Al-Hijri (i.e. Home of Migration). It is located in the Hijaz region. It is surrounded by a number of mountains: Al-Hujaj, or Pilgrims' Mountain to the West, Salaa to the north-west, Al-E'er or Caravan Mountain to the south and Uhad to the north.

Madinah is a desert oasis, with fertile land, surrounded by mountains and rocky areas from all sides. It was known as Yatrib in writings of the ancient Maeniand. Obviously, the population structure of this desert oasis is a combination of northern Arabs and southern Arabs, who settled there and built their civilization a thousand years before Christ. It is the city whose people supported Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.) when he migrated there from Makkah.

(Madinah International airport – Prince Mohammed Bin Abdelaziz Airport)

During our trip, it was on the 11^th May, 2017, that we experienced heavy rains in Madinah. But the heavy rains in Madinah were also reported in the Press on 15^th February, 2017. The rains were coupled with lightning, thunder and gusty winds. In a few minutes, the low lying areas were lightly flooded. Water was gushing all over. Rain started in the afternoon and continued, for a few hours, into the evening. 40C degrees temperature of Madinah turned into pleasant 30C degrees and the pilgrims had a break from scorching heat.

(Bengali/Pakistani Market in Madinah after rain)

Not far from the Masjid-e-Nabawi, is the Pakistani-Bengali Market where pilgrims do all kinds of shopping at very low prices. There are also many Pakistani small hotels and restaurants that offer South-Asian foods and sweets. We were at this market when rain started and we had to run for shelter.

(Rain at Masjid-e-Nabawi, Madinah)

Years ago, it would be considered something ‘rare’ but lately, the weather patterns have changed all over the world and Makkah and Madinah (Saudi Arabia and also U.A. Emirates) get flooded every year. Here are some clippings from the Saudi newspaper ‘Arab News’, from April-December 2016.

Heavy rain, floods in Saudi Arabia leave seven dead

(November 2016)

At least seven people died and many others were injured

or trapped by heavy rain and floods that swept various

regions of Saudi Arabia.

Heavy rain turns Riyadh desert into ‘sea’

(1st December, 2016)

Heavy rainfall has transformed the desert north of the

Saudi capital, Riyadh, into what resembles a small sea.

Rains play havoc in Madinah: 3 dead

(Thursday, 14 April 2016)

Unprecedented rains in several parts of the Kingdom on Tuesday

resulted in accidents that caused deaths and injuries and damage

to property. Madinah topped the affected cities due to incessant

rains. The holy city reported three deaths and 40 injuries due to

20 road accidents in a period of 12 hours after the rains commenced

at 7 a.m. Madinah region Red Crescent spokesman Khaled bin Mosaed

Al-Sahli said the heavy rainfall and floods in Madinah resulted in a

number of traffic accidents and collisions.

Al-Hijra Highway saw the largest number of accidents, followed by

the Yanbu Highway, Al-Qassim Highway, roads inside Madinah,

Al-Mahd road (Gharab) and the Tabuk Highway.
“Accidents occurring on Al-Hijra Highway (Madinah-Makkah) alone

resulted in one death and two serious injuries, as well as three other

less critical injuries.”
Abha witnessed the collapse of a bridge which was

under construction closing the Riyadh-Abha road

and King Abdullah Road toward Rafidah.

(Mountain of Uhud, Madinah)

Battle of Uhud:

The biggest landmark of Madinah, after the Masjid-e-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque), is the mountain of Uhud. This historic place has witnessed the history of Islam in the making. The second big battle of Islam, the Battle of Uhud, was fought there. It’s about 5km from Madinah. Prophet Muhammad loved this mountain.

Qatadah reported from Anas ibn Malik (r.a.a.) who said: Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.) said, "Uhud is a mountain that loves us and we love it too."

(Enclave of Shuhada-e-Uhud. Some prominent martyrs of Uhud are buried inside the enclave while others are buried outside it.)

Martyrs of Uhud:

The above enclosure, at the foot of Mount Uhud contains in the center the graves of the Prophet’s uncle Hamza (r.a.a.), Abdullah bin Jasht (r.a.a.) and Mus’ab bin Umair (r.a.a.) who were all martyred in the Battle of Uhud. The rest of the martyrs of Uhud are buried behind this enclosure.

Generally, it is agreed that there were 70 martyrs of the Battle of Uhud, but a figure of 86, 101 and even 103 is also mentioned by some writers. Allah knows best. May Allah bless their souls.

(Jabal al Rumah – the hill where Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) had appointed a group of 50 archers to ward off any attack from the side. Khalid ibn Walid attacked Muslims from this hill. People walk up the hill and all over the place. But I was feeling terrible by the thought that I was walking on this sacred soil with my shoes on where Prophet, his uncle, his companions and other Shuhada-e-Uhud spilled their blood for Allah's cause. So I didn't even cross the enclave. )

It was Saturday, March 23, 625 (7^th Shawwal, 3-Hijri. A group of approximately 1,000 Muslim men from Madinah had managed to circle around the Meccan forces, led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb. Shortly before the battle started, Abdallah ibn Ubayy (the chief of the Khazraj tribe) and his followers withdrew their support for Muhammad (s.a.w.) and returned to Madinah, with reports suggesting Ibn Ubayy's discontent with the war-plan to march out from Madinah to meet the Meccans. (Muslims were betrayed by Munaafiqeen and traitors in every era of history.)

(The Uhud war map on display at the war site)

The Muslim force, now numbering around 700, was stationed on the slopes of Uhud, facing Madinah with the rear being protected by the towering mount itself. Before the battle, Muhammad (s.a.w.) had assigned 50 archers on a nearby rocky hill called Jabal al-Rumah, at the West side of the Muslim camp. This was a strategic decision in order to shield the vulnerable flanks of the outnumbered Muslim army; the archers on the hill were to protect the left flank, while the right flank was to be protected by the Mount of Uhud.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) ordered the Muslim archers to never, under any circumstances, leave their positions on the hill unless ordered to do so by him only, he made this order very clear by uttering these words to the archers, "If you saw us prevail and start to take spoils, do not come to assist us. And if you saw us get vanquished and birds eat from our heads, do not come to assist us."

(War lay-out on display with Mountain of Uhud in the background)

Muslims pierced through the Meccan lines, with victory appearing certain. However, it was the detachment of the Muslim archers on Jabal al-Rumah, disobeying Prophet's strict orders to remain stationary, that would shift the outcome of the battle, as they ran downhill to join in the advance and despoil the Meccan camp, leaving the flank vulnerable.

At this critical juncture, the Meccan cavalry led by Khalid ibn al-Walid exploited this move and attacked the remaining few of Muslim archers who refused to disobey Prophet's orders and were still positioned on the hill. From there, the Meccans were then able to target and overrun the Muslim flank and rear. Confusion ensued, and numerous Muslims were killed. The Prophet himself was also injured.

A serious mistake was committed by the archers which altered the outcome of the battle. Muslims had to withdraw up the slopes of Uhud. The Meccans did not pursue the Muslims further, but marched back to Mecca declaring victory.

(The historic Mountain of Uhud near Madinah)

We left Madinah around 3:00pm with a coach and arrived at Makkah after 10:00pm. At the outskirts of Makkah, we encountered heavy rain and thunderstorm. There were traffic jams, construction detours and other delays in the Holy City.

(Sunset on the outskirts of Makkah)

I would like to share with you some unusual pictures of Madinah. I took more than 300 pics myself, and my wife helped me with some. God bless!

(Minarets and folded umbrellas at Masjid-e-Nabawi, Madinah)

(Mehrab of Masjid-e-Nabawi, Madinah)

(A part of the Riaz-ul-Jannah, Masjid-e-Nabawi)

(Inside Masjid-e-Nabawi, Madinah)

(Enclave of the Prophet’s grave at Masjid-e-Nabawi)

( The beautiful minaret of Masjid-e-Nabawi after rain)

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