Makkah Mukarramah! Pictorial History! Walk through the pages of History with pictures & information on the city of Makkah Mukarramah and the Makkan life of our beloved Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam Also included will be Pictures & Information on Places in & around Makkah!

The City of Makkah Through History

Virtues of Makkah Mukarramah

Rasullullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) stated; “The best and the most beloved city on the face of this to is Makkah.” (Sahih Al- Bukhari)

Rasullullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) stated: “The earth was rolled out from Makkah. Allah stretched (the earth) from underneath it. Thus it is called the mother of all cities.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Around the Ka’bah lies the graves of three hundred prophets.” (Sahih Muslim / Bayhaqi)

“There is no city on earth to which all the prophets, the , the holy messengers and all the pious servants of Allah, who reside in the heavens and on earth, including the , flocked to, except Makkah.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

“The salat offered in Musjid-ul- is increased by a hundred thousand salaah. For verily one obtains one hundred and fifty million (150 000 000) rewards for a salaah offered therein.” (Sahih Bukhari , Sahih Muslim)

Boundaries of the Haram (Sabctuary) The word “Haram” indicates that the area has specific regulations. When Allah ta'ala made the Sacred House holy, He also made it a place of safety and security, even for the birds and trees. He has forbidden certain actions in this particular area, such as carrying weapons, trespassing by disbelievers, hunting etc. Signs have been set up indicating the boundaries at various points. Following picture of one of the signs hosted by flickr

The Signs are set up on the main roads leading into Makkah as follows 1. On the Jeddah road from the west: Ash-Sumaysi (Al-Hudaibiyyah) which is 22 km away. 2. From the south: Ida'at Libn on the road coming from Tihamah which is 12 km away. 3. From the east: the edge of Wadi 'Uranah Al-Gharbiyah which is 15 km away. 4. From the north-east: Al-Ji'ranah Road near the village of Shara'i Al-Mujahidin which is 16 km away. 5. From the north: the boundary of At-Tan'im which is 7 km away. (From "History of Makkah" by Shaykh Saifur Rahman Mubarakpuri)

The Miqaat

There are five places some distance from the Holy City of Makkah which pilgrims must not cross before they are in a state of Ihraam if they intend to enter al Masjid al Haram for or . These points or stations are called the Meeqaat.

Ihraam is a state one enters after intention after which certain prohibitions will apply to the pilgrim.

The Ka'bah

Door of the Ka'bah

The Door of the Ka'bah In the time of Ibrahim AI-Khalil (peace be upon him), the door of the Holy Ka'bah was just a ductless entry. Asa'd Tubba III, one of the Kings of Yemen, erected a single-paneled door that could be locked and opened. Quraish added a double door. Then it was replaced and often decorated several times through history. It had a special key kept by Bani Shaiba and no other people or tribe can possess it, as instructed by the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him). During the reign of King Saud (may his soul rest in peace), the present dimensions of the door were established: 318 centimetres high, 171 centimetres wide. It is elevated 222 centimetres from the floor of Al-Shadhrwan.

Key To the Ka'bah (Ottoman Period)

Custody of the Holy Ka'bah Gatekeeping and custody are synonymous. It is a service of the Sacred House, opening and locking its doors. This was bestowed on Tasm, a tribe of Aad before Quraish. It passed to Khuza'a, then Qusai, who gave it to his son Abdul Dar, who handed it over to his son Othman. It shifted from one person to another until it rested with their nephew Shaiba. It is still inherited by their ancestors up to the present day. The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) handed the key to Bani Shaiba in' the year of the conquest of Makkah AI-Mukarramah, and said, "Take it, O Bani Talha, eternally up to the , and it will not be taken from you unless by an unjust, oppressive tyrant". Old & New Key of the Ka'bah 19 November 2013 Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Monday handed over the new keys of the Holy (House of ) to Abdul Qader Al-Shaibi, its chief guardian. The newly built lock was fixed on the Kaaba following the ceremonial washing of the House of God on Monday under the leadership of Prince Khaled. The lock and key were made of nickel and polished by 18-carat gold. The Muslim testimony to faith is written on the front side of the lock and an attribution of donation to Custodian of the Two Holy on the back.

Kiswah (Covering of the Ka'bah) The Making of the

Article on the Kiswah

Multazam

The Multazam The area between the Hajar al-Aswad and the Door of the Ka’bah is called the Multazam. It is approximately two metres wide and is a place where (supplications) are accepted.

 The Multazam is an area where du’aas are accepted . It is sunnah to hold on to the wall of the Ka’bah in such a manner that a cheek, chest and hands are against the wall. It is reported that Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) once completed the Tawaf, performed the salat and then kissed the Hajar al-Aswad. Thereafter, he stood between the Hajar al-Aswad and the door of the Ka’bah in such a manner that the cheek, chest and hands were against the wall. He then said, “This is how I saw Rasulullaah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) do.”  Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says, “The signs of acceptance for any made between the Hajar al-Aswad and the door of the Ka’bah will certainly be seen.”

Rukn Yamani

Rukn Yamani The corner before the corner of the is the Rukn Yamani.

Seventy Angels say "Aameen" when anyone passes by in Tawaaf and recites the du'a on the left

Meezaabe Rahmat (The Water Spout)

The Waterspout of the Holy Ka'bah

The first waterspout was fixed by Quraish when they roofed over the Holy Ka'bah. It was made to drain into Hijir Ismail (peace be upon him). Abdullah Ibn AI-Zubair and AI-llajjaj Ibn Yusuf fitted similar waterspouts. AI-Walced Ibn Abdul Malik added some gilded tin plates to it. Caliphs and wealthy changed the waterspout several times and the last waterspout was presented by Sultan Abdul Majeed Khan in 1273 H. King Saud repaired it and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques renovated it. Source

Rain water through Meezaabe Rahmat

Al-Hajar Al-Aswad (The Black Stone)

Hajar al-Aswad (The Black Stone) It is situated on the south-eastern corner of the holy Kaaba which marks the starting and finishing point for circling the Kaaba (known as tawaaf). Today, only parts of the stone are present; consisting of 8 pieces of varying sizes. These are affixed to a larger stone, encased in a silver frame and attached to the corner of the Kaaba about 1.5 meters above the ground.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed us of three main virtues of the Stone: 1) Allah sent it down to earth from whiter than milk; however the sins of mankind turned it black. 2) It will come on the Day of Judgment with two eyes with which it will see and a tongue with which it will speak and will testify for those who have touched it in truth and sincerity. 3) Touching the Stone is also one of the means by which Allah erases sins.

It is a customary practice to touch and kiss the Black Stone (and not the silver casing around it).

The Black Stone will be a witness on Judgement Day to all Muslims who have touched and kissed it in sincerity. It is the spot which has been kissed by the Prophets, Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors.

Hateem

Hijir Ismail (peace be upon him) (The Hateem)

It is the curved section to the north of the Holy Ka'bah on the side of the waterspout. It is called Al-Hateem because a part of it was demolished when Quraish reduced the area of the House while reconstructing it. It is a marbled area with a wall in the form of a semi-circle with an eastern and a western opening. It is about one and a half metres high, and has three lanterns for lighting and decoration.

A part of it amounting to three cubits and a hand span is considered as a part of the Holy Ka'bah. It has been renovated more than twenty-five times. Source

Visitors performing Salaah in the Hateem

Zamzam Water Zamzam is the name of a famous in al-Masjid al-Haraam which is thirty-eight cubits away from the Ka’bah. It is the well from which Allah quenched the thirst of Ismaa’eel the son of Ibraaheem (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them both) when he was an infant. His mother, Haajra (peace and blessings of Allah be upon her) looked for water for him, but could not find any. She climbed to the top of Mount al-Safaa, praying to Allah to help her and give her water for Ismaa’eel, then she climbed to the top of Mount al-Marwah and did the same. Allah sent Jibreel (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) , and he struck the earth, and water appeared.

Above are pictues of the old entrance into the Basement where Zamzam Taps were located Two entrances (One for men and one for women) used to lead down to a cool, wet basement where rows of taps were located and at the back, behind a glass barrier used to be the old well. Below (on the right) is a picture of the old well and on the left is an old and rare picture of the well.

From saudigazette.com In the history of the , there have been several significant milestones. The first was in 1964 when the use of buckets to draw water ended. It was replaced with taps after the late King Saud ordered the expansion of the mataf (circumambulation area). The mouth of the well was positioned below the mataf in a basement 2.7 meters deep.

Pilgrims could descend to the well using a divided staircase, one for men and the other for women.

The second phase was in 1979 when King Khalid issued directives to clean the Zamzam well using the latest available methods with the help of professional divers. This was one of the largest cleaning operations in the history of the well. This also resulted in an increase in the flow of water.

The third phase was in November 1979, the well's second cleaning operation. Dr. Yahya Koshak, a Saudi academic, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the well was cleaned twice in the Kingdom’s history. He was given the opportunity to participate in both the cleaning operations. He said the Zamzam well is peculiar in the sense that the flow of water can be stopped for a period of time.

The Mas'aa Where Sa'ee is

Performed Safa and Marwah are the two mountains between which Hajra (upon her be peace) rushed seven times to see if she could spot any water or anyone from whom she could get some in order to give to her infant Ismail (upon him be peace). This action is copied by all pilgrims performing Hajj or Umrah and is known as the Sa’ee. The strip of ground between Safa and Marwah is referred to as the Mas’aa.

The Sa'ee consists of 7 rounds of walking between As-Safa and Al-Marwah. One round is completed when you begin from As-Safa and end at Al-Marwah. The return from Al-Marwah to Al-Safa completes the second round and so on.The Men should walk briskly between the green lights (located on the side of the walls nearer to As- Safa).

At present the mountains are fenced off whereas before people used to be climb up to face the Ka'bah and make du'a

DAAB-BATUL ARDH OR THE BEAST FROM THE EARTH A short while after the event of the sun rising in the west, there will appear a strange animal. An earthquake will grip Mount Safaa in Makkah Muazzamah. The mountain will split open and a strange and wonderful animal will emerge. The animal will speak to people and will travel around the earth with great speed. With the Asaa (staff) of Nabi Musaa (AS), the Daab-batul Ardh will draw a glittering line on the forehead of Muslims. As a result, their faces will glow in a halo of heavenly light. With the ring of Nabi Sula Imaan (AS), this animal will stamp the noses or necks of the kuffar. As a result, their faces will be blackened. After performing this duty, the animal will disappear.

Pictures of the old and new Mas'aa

The Minbar of Masjid al-Haram

Until 1978 a traditional Minbar built from white marble, originating from the Ottoman period, was placed near the eastern corner of the Kaaba. As it was too big an obstacle for the increasing number of pilgrims, it had to be removed like other constructions from the courtyard of the Masjid al-Haram.

Subsequently a smaller, wooden Minbar was used as a mobile pulpit for the rendition of the weekly Friday sermon. In 2001 SL Rasch was assigned a contract for the design and manufacturing of a new Minbar. The challenge was to build it from marble, more than five meters high, but nevertheless mobile and to complete this complex structure in less than one year to be used in 1423.

The body, made of white marble and partially reinforced by glass-fiber laminate, is carried on a stainless steel frame by a battery-driven steerable chassis.

The Minbar in the Mataaf -October 2013

The side panels and railings, richly decorated with floral ornaments and turquoise stones in gilded bezels, were carved by traditional masters in Rajasthan, India, on the basis of drawings provided by SL Rasch.

To save weight, some structural elements of the cladding such as the dome and its base profile are made of Corian®.

The space below the landing houses an airc onditioning system which provides cold air for the imam at his elevated seating. An adjustable support holds microphones for the transmission of the sermon, and a screen, allowing the reading of a stored text.

Dimensions: 3,2 x 1,8 m, height 5,9 m Weight: 5,5 t Materials: Stainless steel frame; marble cladding with inlaid turquoise stones; glass-fiber reinforced epoxylaminate for inner dome; Corian® for the dome base and exterior. Completion: 2002 Source

Masjid Haram Gates

Above picture is an old one. The new extension is in progress at the Umrah Gate

Baabul Umrah - How it was until recent development work

Old Pictures of Baabul Umrah Area This area known to many around the Gate of Umrah has forever disappeared. Many hotels, food outlets, shops, barbers etc. in the narrow, winding streets have been demolished to make way for the development of the Haram. Following are pictures of the busy street opposite the gate of Umrah before the developement

The 7 old Minarets of Masjid al

Haram before Saudi Expansion

:منارة باب العمرة 1- 1- Minaret of Bab al Umrah The first minaret of Masjid Haram built by the Abbasid Caliph: Abu Jafar al-Mansur

:منارة باب السالم 2- 2- Minaret of Bab as Salam It is located in the north-east of Masjid Haram

منارة باب علي 3- 3 - Minaret of Bab Ali Built in the reign of Caliph Muhammad al-Mahdi

(منارة باب الوداع )الحزورة 4- 4 - Minaret of Bab al Wadaa Established at the time of Caliph Muhammad al-Mahdi when he expanded the Grand , in the year 771 AH

منارة باب الزيادة 5 5 - Minaret of Bab al Ziyadah

6 منارة السلطان قايتباي 6 - Minaret al Sultan Qaitbay

7 منارة باب المحكمة )السلطان سليمان خان 7 - Minaret of Bab al Mahkama

Unification of the Four Musallaahs (Prayer Stations) of the Haram in Makkah Before the prayers were united behind one Imam, there used to be different prayer stations in the Haram, one for each Imam of the four Schools of Jurisprudence, Imams Malik, Ash-Shafi'ee, Ahmed bin Hanbal and Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullaahi ''alayhim). At each of tehse stations there was an Imam who would lead the people in prayer.

The Adhaan would be given once however the prayers at each station would be done at different times starting with the first prayer at the station of Imam Ahmed. After it was over, the prayer at the station of Imam Ash- Shafi'ee would commence followed by Imam Malik and finally at the station of Imam Abu Hanifah.

This arrangement was set up by the Ottomans and continued until the time of King 'Abdul-'Aziz bin 'Abdur Rahman Al-Saud. (History of Makkah - Saifur Rahman Mubarakpuri)

Each Prayer station was not only for the Prayers but also indicated the circle of learning of one of the four Sunni Schools taught in the Haram as per the many old illustrations and photographs of the Haram showing the structures housing the teaching circles to that effect.

Masjid Haram Library

Daarul Arqam This area, at the foot of Mount Safa was the approximate area where Daarul Arqam (The house of Arqam) was located. It was here in the initial period of that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) secretly preached Islam.

The house belonged to a Sahabi named Arqam bin Abu Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him). For some time after the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) proclaimed his Prophethood, this house was the secret centre of propagation. It was here that the Muslims gathered to perform salat and to learn about Islam. As it was a short walk away from the Ka’bah and its bustling crowds, the pagans who lived nearby did not take notice of the many people who used to gather here

The First Place of Teaching

…first prayer taught here…

…Jibreel Alaihis Salam came to our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam the day after the Mir’aj to teach him Wudhu and Salat…and Allah Ta’ala knows best…but it is knowledge passed down through the ‘Ulema and Awliyah that the brown marble pieces inserted into the white marble of the Shadharwan is where the Mubarak teaching occurred…

… transmits in his Musnad and al-Hakarn in his Mustadrak from Zaid ibn Haritha RadhiAllahu anhu that our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihiwasallam said: “Jibreel came to me at the beginning of what he revealed to me and taught me how to do Wudhu and the Prayer…”

…Al-Bukhari transmits that the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: “Jibreel descended and led me in prayer, and I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him and then I prayed with him,” and he counted out five times on his fingers… almiskeenah

Birth Place of Rasoolullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi waslallam Behind Safaa and Marwah, approximately 25 metres from the main road is the birthplace of Rasulullah (S.A. W).Currently a small library is situated on this place.

From Al-Miskeenah

I could hardly believe my eyes from the distance seeing the door open! Maghrib was approaching as I hurriedly tried running in the hope of being able to enter…

…inside, just to the right of the inner door sat two brothers…after discreetly taking this photo I indicated to them that I wanted to enter.Alhumdulillah one came to the entrance and was profusely apologetic and in broken English said that it was not his decision, but that of the Hukum that sisters were not permitted inside!

Journey to at the Age of Twelve!

Buhairah the Monk Below is a picture of the remains of the of Buhairah the Monk

This ruin used to be the monastery of the Nestorian monk Buhairah/Bahira, who spotted the signs of Prophethood on the young Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) while the Prophet was on a trade caravan on the way to Syria.

 When Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was about 12 years old, he accompanied his uncle Abu Talib on a trade journey to Syria. In a place called Busra a very interesting incident took place, which caused Abu Talib to return Muhammad to Makkah.

 On their trade journey they met a monk by the name of Bahira, who lived a simple life in a monastery. He had very simple provisions and lived a harsh life, surviving on the bare essentials. His diet was very simple and the clothes he wore were also coarse and well worn. He was looking outside and saw a caravan approaching. His residence was on the main caravan route and he regularly saw caravans passing by, carrying different goods destined to be sold in the great markets of Syria.

 He noticed that this caravan was different; there was something special about it. He decided to invite the people to a meal and find out more. Bahira sent a message to the caravan that his hospitality was extended to all the members of the caravan. The caravan traders accepted the invitation and arrived at the monk’s place.

 When they arrived, Bahira searched their faces looking for something. He said that he had offered his hospitality to everyone, was there anyone left behind? They said that they had left a young boy called Muhammad to look after the camels. Bahira insisted that they send someone to get Muhammad and bring him to the entertainment. When Bahira saw the face of Muhammad he was delighted for he was aware from the scriptures of the arrival of a mighty prophet and he could see the signs on the young boy.

 After the food, Bahira approached Abu Talib saying that Muhammad would be a great prophet one day. He said that when he had seen the caravan in the distance there was a cloud hanging over them, which was shading them from the great heat of the desert. When the caravan had stopped under a tree the cloud had also stopped above them.

 Bahira said that he had seen the stones and the trees prostrating to Muhammad as he had been walking by. They only do this for a prophet of Allah. He looked at the Muhammad’s back and noticed the seal of the prophets, which was an oval shape protruding just below Muhammad’s shoulder blades. He said that this was one of the signs of a great prophet to come that was taught to them in their books.

 Bahira said “This is the master of all humans, Allah will send him with a message which would be a mercy to all humans”. Bahira advised that Muhammad should be taken back to Makkah at once, if the found out about Muhammad they would try to kill him. Abu Talib took the advice of this wise old monk and sent Muhammad back with some of the guides. (IslamicLandmarks.com)

Prophethood

Jabale Noor (Mountain of Light)

The picture above shows Jabal Hira (the Mountain of Hira), which lies about two miles from the Ka’bah. Near the top is a small cave, a little less than 4 meters in length and a little more than one and a half meters in width. It was here that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) received the first revelations of the Holy during the month of Ramadhan in 610 CE. The mountain is also known as Jabal Noor (the mountain of light)

Below is a picture of the Cave of Hira

 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) first began to have revelations in the form of good dreams which came true. Then he began to like solitude. He would go to the cave of Hira and meditate there in solitude for a number of days and nights. He would take provisions with him to stay for an extended period, and when he returned to Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with him), he would stock up again and go back to the cave. This was his practice until Truth was revealed to him by an while he was in the cave of Hira.

  During Tahajjud time one night, when he was alone in the cave, there came to him an angel in the form of a man. The angel said to him, “Recite!”. “I cannot read”, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied. The angel took hold of him a second time and pressed him until he could not endure it any longer. After letting him go, the angel again said, “Recite!”. Again the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied “I cannot read”. The angel further embraced him again until he had reached the limit of endurance and said “Recite!” for the third time the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said “I cannot read”. The angel released him and said:“Read in the name of your Lord, the Creator. He Who created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Bounteous. Who taught by the Pen, taught man what he knew not.” [96:1-5]

 This was the first day of his Prophethood and these were the first verses of the Quran revealed to him. He recited these words after the angel, who thereupon left him; and he said; “It was as though the words were written on my heart.” He was very alarmed by the experience and feared that he had become possessed.

 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) fled from the cave, and when he was halfway down the slope of the mountain he heard a voice above him saying: “O Muhammad, thou art the Messenger of God, and I am Jibraeel ()”. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) stood gazing at the angel; then he turned away from him, but whichever way he looked the angel was always there on the horizon, whether it was to the north, east , south or west. Finally the angel turned away. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was terrified and his heart was pounding hard. He returned home to Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) and said, “Cover me!” Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) covered him and helped him calm down.

 The Quran tells us that the first revelation descended in Ramadan on the ‘Night of Power’.“The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed.” [2:185] “We have indeed revealed this message during the Night of Power.” [97:1] islamiclandmarks.com

Site of the House of Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) It was to his beloved and supportive wife Khadijah that the Beloved Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam turned to after the revelation!

This is the approximate region, outside the Marwah exit, where the house of Ummul Mu’mineen Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) was located. It was here that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) lived from the time of his marriage to her until he emigrated to Madinah and it was where his children Umm Kulthum, Ruqqaya, Fatima, Zaynab, Qasim and ‘Abdullah were born.

In the late 1980s plans were drawn up to flatten the area immediately outside in the Haram in and make way for a paved area. The work began in 1989 and over 60 old houses were demolished to make way for the paved area. However, after demolishing one of the buildings, the Bin Ladin company found remains of a house under the foundations of the building. This turned out to be the House of Sayyida Khadija and of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon him.

There are numerous references to the House of Sayyida Khadija in historical documents giving minute details as to its location and layout. The house was an important site for and it remained preserved in people’s memories for many generations to come. However, by the early 20th century and with the rise of the Wahhabi movement in the , the house suffered neglect and in order to preserve it Sheikh ‘Abbas Qattan obtained permission from King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz to open a Qur’an school as it was the site of some of the first revelations of the Qur’an and the place where the Prophet lived until he migrated to Madinah. Over time this school too became derelict, with the various political upheavals and the declining fortunes of traditional Islam. The school was eventually replaced by housing and gradually the existence of the remains of the House of Sayyida Khadija were little known among the general population of Makkah.

Below are pictures of the excavation of the House which was rediscovered during the Haram extensions in 1989. It was covered over and all traces were obliterated.

Site of the House of (may Allah be pleased with him) This is the approximate place where the house of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was located in Makkah and from where Hijrah to Madinah commenced. It is in the Makkah Towers Hotel block, where a masjid (Masjid Abu Bakr) has been built on the 4th floor.

Darun Nadwah This photo, which is north-west of the Ka’bah, shows the approximate place where the Darun Nadwah (Assembly House) was located. The house functioned as a house of parliament for the and it was from here that they plotted to kill the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Note that this area is located in the new expansion project of the Haram.

House of Abu Jahal

This spot, just outside the present Masah is believed to be the approximate location of the house of Abu Jahal. Abu Jahal was a relative of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and one of the worst enemies of Islam. He was described by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the ‘Fir’awn’ of this Ummah.

Social Boycott

Shayba Abee Taalib

It is situated close to the tunnels leading to MIna approximately 200 metres from Jaba-e-Qubais, where there is a small bus stand. At this place Rasoolullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam took refuge for three years with the Believers during the Boycott.  When Islam began to spread the Makkans asked Abu Talib, the uncle and protector of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), to hand him over to them for execution but he steadfastly refused. Abu Talib acted fast and called on the members of and Banu al-Muttalib to meet at the Ka’bah and convinced them to pledge that they would protect their clansman, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Abu Lahab, another of the Prophet’s uncles and self-proclaimed sworn enemy, refused to take the pledge and declared he was on the side of the Quraysh.

 The Quraysh held a meeting and decided to outcast the Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib by placing them under a total social boycott. The other clans from the Quraysh would not marry their daughters, transact business with them, keep company with them, nor would they accept any peace overtures from these two clans until they handed over the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Once all the people present had agreed with the points mentioned above, Baghid bin Amir bin Hashim put this pact in writing. The Quraysh chiefs signed this document and the parchment was hung in the Ka’bah in order to give it authority. This was done on the 1st Muharram, in the seventh year of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) mission. When the deed was done, Baghid’s hand, or at least some of his fingers, became paralyzed.

 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), along with Abu Talib and and clan memebers of Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib were forced to withdraw from Makkah and live in She’b Abi Talib, which was a subsection of one of the gorges that ran down to Makkah.

 The boycott was devastating and for many months they lived in misery. It was so rigorously applied and food was so scarce that they had to eat the leaves of trees. The women, and more specially the children and suckling babies would cry with hunger which could be heard all over the valley. The Quraysh told the merchants not to sell any goods to them. Prices were increased to prevent them from buying even essentials. They remained in that state for three years. Apart from some kind Qurayshi people who secretly sent food to them they were totally abandoned. Despite such grim circumstances, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) never ceased inviting non-Muslims to Islam. He was particularly active during the time of Hajj. It was at this time that he would speak to tribes that had travelled to Makkah from all over the Arab world.

 A group of fair-minded Quraysh, led by Hisham ibn ‘Amr, hated this unfair boycott. Hisham was highly respected among his people. He contacted some men of the Quraysh whom he knew to be kind-hearted and considerate. He told them it was shameful to allow such tyranny to continue and asked them to abandon the unjust contract. When he had persuaded five men to agree, they met togather to work towards this end. When the Quraysh were assembled the next day, Zuhayr ibn Abi Umayyah, whose mother was the aunt of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), faced the people and demanded, “People of Makkah! Do we eat and clothe ourselves while the Banu Hashim are perishing, unable to buy or sell? By Allah, I will not sit down until this unjust document is torn up!”

 Abu Jahal became suspicious of the sudden rebellion but Abu Talib saw his opportunity to step in. He had come into the precincts of Ka’bah to tell the Quraysh that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had received a revelation about the fate of the wicked parchment. He stood up, and facing the Quraysh, told them that Allah had revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that termites had eaten the parchment inside the Ka’bah. The only thing that remained of the document, Abu Talib said, were the words “In Your Name, O Allah.” Abu Talib then challenged the Quraysh, saying that if the Prophet’s claim turned out to be false, he would no longer stand between them and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). However, if the Prophet had spoken the truth, the Quraysh should end the boycott. The Quraysh accepted Abu Talib’s challenge.

 When Mut’im bin Adiy rose to retrieve the parchment, the assembly saw that it had been destroyed. Its only remaining words were “Bismika Allahumma” (In Your Name, O Allah) and Allah’s name. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) had given the Quraysh yet another sign but once again they refused to admit their error and accept Islam. Their only concession was to end the boycott. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his Companions came out of the mountain pass and were allowed to live in Makkah once again.  References: When the Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, Fazail-e-Aamal – Sheik Zakariyya Kandhalvi, Muhammad the last Prophet – Sayyed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi islamiclandmarks

Jabl-e-Abee Qubais

This mountain was directly opposite the Ka’aba close to Mount Safa.

At present this large structure, adjacent to Mount Safa, is the location of Mount (Picture below). It is believed that it was from the top of this mountain that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) pointed to the moon and split it into half.

Jannatul Ma'laa

The Graveyard of Makkah Mukarramah

The picture shows Jannatul Ma’la, the principle historical graveyard in Makkah which is located in a valley east of the Masjid ul Haram. Several members of the Prophet's sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam family Khadeejah Radhiyallaahu a'nhaa and many Sahabah Radhiyallahu 'anhum are buried here. It is the greatest graveyard after Jannatul Baqee in Madinatul Munawwarah. Below is an old picture showing Jannatul Ma’laa, before the demolition of the tombs. The main central tomb was of Ummul Mu’mineen Khadijah Radhiyllahu 'anhaa. Others known to be resting here include Abd Manaf, the great, great-grandfather, Hashim the great-grandfather, Abdul Muttalib the grandfather and Qasim the son of the our Prophet Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam.

Her grave now

A closer view of the tomb of Ummul Mu’mineen Khadijah Radhiyallaahu 'anhaa

Other graves are placed in walled areas …quite different from Jannatul Baqee in Madinah

The graves of the notable predecessors are behind the green gate and grills

The Graveyard where Daughters were buried alive in the time of

It is situated outside the Haram in front of Bab-e-Fahad. It is under the bridge of the road leading to Jeddah. Small of small graves can clearly be seen in a four-walled compound. "Women's Guide to hajj and Umrah"

The Pledge of Aqabah

This Masjid, in Mina commemorates the spot where the of Madinah pledged their allegiance to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in the year 621 A.H. The group included leaders of the Aws and Khazraj tribes of Madinah and were twelve in number. The second such pledge called the second Aqabah pledge (Bay’ah Thaaniya) took place the following year, the thirteenth year after the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) proclaimed his Prophethood.

It was built in the year 144 AH by the Abbasid Caliph Abu Jaafar al - Mansur. The Masjid remained hiding behind the mountain until after the new expansion of Mina and the removal of the mountain to make way for pedestrians and bus routes.

Hijrah (Migration) The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam accepted the support of the people of Madinah (previously known as Yathrib) and the invitation to live in their city in the 13th year of Prophethood during the Second Pledge of Al- Aqabah. Muslims began leaving Makkah quietly on the instructions of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam.

Upon being made aware of the disbelievers plot to kill him, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam slipped away with his devoted friend Abu Bakr RA, leaving behind 'Ali RA in his bed. They made their way to the Cave of Thaur where they hid for three nights while the disbelievers searched in vain. Jabale Thaur (Mountian of Thaur)

Jabal Thawr is the mountain that contains the cave in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) sought refuge for three days and nights from the Quraysh, as they left Makkah and emigrated to Madinah.

 When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived at the cave on Mount Thawr, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) entered first to clear away anything that might injure the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He found a few holes and stuffed them with pieces of cloth. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) then entered and went to sleep on Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)’s lap. Suddenly , something stung Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)’s foot, but he did not twitch, fearing he would wake the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The pain was so intense that tears began to run down his cheeks and onto the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’s face. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) woke up and saw that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was in pain. He applied his spittle on the injury and the pain disappeared.

  For three consecutive nights the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) remained hidden in the cave. During this period, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)’s son, Abdullah, would pass his nights nearby. The young man would return to Makkah very early in the morning so that the Quraysh had no idea that he had slept elsewhere. Each day in Makkah he collected information about the activities of the Quraysh, and each night went back to Jabl Thawr to inform the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his father Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).

 Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)’s slave, Amir bin Fuhayra (may Allah be pleased with him), would graze Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)’s goats near the cave so that both men could drink fresh milk. Early the next morning Amir would drive the goats back to Makkah along the same route that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)’s son took, to obscure his footprints.

 When they were inside Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) sent a spider to spin a web from a bush across the entrance to the cave. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) also commanded two doves to fly down between the spider and the tree, make a nest and lay eggs. Meanwhile the Quraysh search party scoured the area south of Makkah where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) where hiding. They came upon the mouth of the cave, and had they looked down while standing at the edge of the cave, they would have surely found the men they were hunting.

 With the Quraysh so close to discovering their hiding place, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became very tense about the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’s safety. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) reassured him, “How can you be apprehensive about two with whom is a third, especially when the third one is Allah?”

 On seeing the spider’s web and dove nest, the Quraysh concluded that no one could have entered the cave and left. Describing this scene the Quran mentions in Surah Taubah:“If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter): for Allah did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion; they two were in the cave, and he said to his companion, “Have no fear, for Allah is with us”: then Allah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights: for Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.“ [9:40]

 After three days when they learnt that the search by the Quraysh had petered out left the cave and headed towards Yathrib (Madinah). Asma (may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came to them bringing food for the journey. When they were about to start she could find nothing to tie it to their saddles with and so she undid her waistband, tore it in two, wore half and tied the food with the other half. This ready solution won her praise from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who also named her ‘She of the two waistband’. And ever after that the Muslims knew her by that name. islamiclandmarks.com They proceeded towards Yathrib (Madinah) with the help of a guide and eventually reached the place where the people of Madinah had been waiting for his arrival. They would go to the Harrah every morning and wait until the heat of mid day forced them to return. One day, after waiting for a long while, they returned home, and when they went into their houses, a Jew who had climbed up to the roof of one of the forts of his people to look for something, saw the Prophet sallallaahu 'layhi wasallam and his companions, emerging out of the desert mirage. He shouted the news at the Muslims who rushed out to receive the beloved Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam.

He stayed there for ten nights and established a place for prayer which is now the Masjid of Quba. He prayed in it and then mounted his she-camel and proceeded on, accompanied by the people.

Masaajid In & Around Makkah

Mukarramah

Masjid Al-Jinn

The site where the jinn heard Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallm reading the Qur'an

Masjid Jinn, also known as Masjid Haras, is built on the place where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) drew a line for Abdullah bin Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) who had accompanied him after he had been commanded to recite the Qur’an to the Jinn.

 Abdullah bin Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates, “While in Makkah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) once said to the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them), “Whoever wishes to see what the Jinn are all about should come along.” Besides myself no-one else came. When we reached the place in the Ma’la district of Makkah the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) used his foot to draw a circle on the ground. He then instructed me to sit inside the circle. After proceeding a little further, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) started reciting the Qur’an. It then happened that Jinn started to arrive in troops as they gathered there. So many came that I could not even see the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) nor hear him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) then continued talking with a group of them until Fajr, when he came back to me saying, “I have given them bones and dung as their provisions so you people should ensure that you never use bones and dung to clean yourselves after relieving yourselves.”” [Tafseer ibn Kathir] References: The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani

Masjid Al-Shajarah

This building is Masjid Shajarah (Masjid of the tree) and is located opposite Masjid al-Jinn. The Masjid marks the spot from where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) called a tree and it came to him. Note that this masjid is not to be confused with the masjid in Dhul Hulayfah which is sometimes referred to by the same name.

Masjid Ar-Ra'yah

On the Conquest of Makkah, Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam embedded the flag of Islam at this place. It is situated on the way to the Graveyard of Jannatul Ma'laa.

Masjid Al- / Masjid Al-Tan'eem

The of Umrah is worn at this place by the people of Makkah. It is approximately three miles north of Makkah. It is also called Masjd Al-Tan'eem.

During Hajjatul Widaa, Aisha could not perform her Umrah after coming into Ihram due to menstruation. She mentioned it to Rasoolullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam who instructed her to leave the Iram of Umrah by combing the hair. After Hajj she was told to go to Tan'eem with her brother and perform the missed Umrah.

Masjid Tan'eem in 1908

Masjid Az-Zeetowa On the way to Tan'eem in the state of Ihraam, Rasoolullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam stopped at this place (No picture)

Masjid Al-Ijabah

The significance of Masjid Ejabah (also known as Masjid Mu’awiyah) is that it is the location where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) supplicated to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) three times with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) answering two of his requests, but forbidding the third. The word ‘ejabah’ in english closely means ‘responding’.

 Aamir bin Sa’ad (may Allah be pleased with him) reported on the authority of his father that: One day Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) came from Aaliya and passed by the mosque of Banu Mu’awiyah. He went in and observed two rak’ahs there and we also observed prayer along with him and he made a long supplication to his Lord. He then turned to us and said: “I asked my Lord three things and He has granted me two but has withheld one. I asked my Lord that my Ummah should not be destroyed by through famine and He granted me this. And I asked my Lord that my Ummah should not be destroyed by drowning (by deluge) and He granted me this. And I asked my Lord that there should be no bloodshed among the people of my Ummah, but He did not grant it.” [Muslim] References: Pictorial History of Madinah Munawwarah – Dr.Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, AlMiskeenah.com

Masjid Al-Khaif (Mina)

Masjid Al-Khaif in 1908

Masjid al-Nimrah On the outskirts of Arafat and most of it is within the boundary of Arafah.

Masjid Al-Masha'ril Haram () After leaving Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, Maghrib and 'Isha Sallat are performed together in this Masjid

The Hajj DAY 1 - 8th DHUL HIJJAH

From Makkah through the Tunnels or by vehicles to Mina after coming into the state of Ihraam

Tunnels showing air blowers (picture above)

Travelling may become easier with the Mashair railway

Mina Tents

DAY 2 - 9th DHUL HIJJAH Reciting Takbeer-e-Tashreek, Hujjaaj leave Mina, for Arafat and stay there till sunset

The Hill of Arafat is also known as Jabal ar-Rahmah, meaning Mountain of Mercy. On the ninth day of hajj, pilgrims leave Mina for where they stand in contemplative vigil and pray and recite the Qur'an. It is here that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave his last sermon to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. A pilgrim's Hajj is considered invalid if they do not spend the afternoon on Mount Arafat

People climb to the top thinking that is where Rasoolullaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam stood during Hajjatul Wida's Final Sermon which is incorrect. The following picture is from "Women's Guide to Hajj & Umrah" by Mufti Muhammad Faruq

NIGHT OF 9th DHUL HIJJAH Pilgrims Spending the Night in the Plain of Muzdalifah Sleeping, Resting & Worshipping...while others collect pebbles in preparation for the Pelting the next day!

DAY 3 - 10th DHUL HIJJAH From Muzdalifah, back to MIna to perform the Rami of the big Jamarah (Throwing seven pebbles at only the big pillar)

Jamarat Bridge Complex

Above is view inside Below are pictures of the old Jamaraat

Pebbles Collection at the Jamaraat More than a hundred million pebbles weighing more than twenty tons are thrown at the Jamaraat! Before the pebbles used to be manually collected and disposed with the help of small machines. Now there are pebble collecting mechanisms at the Jamaraat Bridge

DAY 4 & 5 - 11th & 12th DHUL HIJJAH Rami will be done again on the 11th & 12th of all three Jamaraat & in between will be the Animal Sacrifice & Cutting of the Hair......

One Last Remaining Rite of Tawaafe Ziyaarah left. Back to Makkah......

End of Hajj! May it be a Maqbool and a Mabroor Hajj for all who go!

Places In & Around Makkah Mukarramah

Journey to Taif

The was the year the Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib and his wife, Khadijah died. However, it was also the year the Prophet went to Taif to pass on to them, as it was his given duty, the prophet went to Taif after the death of his wife and uncle. The prophet was about 50-51 years old. They were two tribes in Taif, Taqif and Hawazin who worshipped very, very strongly in an idol called Al-Lat. The people were rich and proud and most wealthy people went to Taif on holiday. The prophet went to Taif with his adopted son Zaid. The people of Taif were worse than the people of Makkah and when Muhammad (SAW) and Zaid went to the leaders of Taif they mocked them and throw stones at them until they bled. The children made fun of them and chased them away the Prophet did not say anything to them but left quietly. For he and been informed of these people by Allah, who had told him he would be cast astray by his own people and that the rich people would not follow him.

“We have not sent not any town a warner and the proud habitants declare. We shall not believe in and we shall not be punished.” (Sa’ba V34-35)

The Prophet (PBUH) sat outside Taif next to vineyard and raised his hands in du’aa. He said to Allah that he did not have any manpower, money nor any respect. But he did not want it as long as he had Allah’s mercy. He (PBUH) did not want Allah be angry with him. (This shows how much the Prophet (PBUH) felt for his people, how much he wanted for them to be Muslim and sent to paradise.)

Allah sent an angel down who asked Muhammad (SAW) if he wanted the two mountains surrounding Taif to crush the people. However, the Prophet (PBUH) said no, leave them just in case they become Muslim, which they did, 10 years later. Today all of Taif is Muslim!

Only an hour from Makkah, Taif, is a beautiful town set high in the mountains, with a of parks and greenery. In , roses are synonymous with the city of Taif, which is internationally famous for agriculture and in particular the cultivation and production of roses, dating back to 100 years

View of the winding road towards Taif Because of its higher (and cooler) altitude as well as the majestic backdrop of mountains, Taif is a popular summertime vacation destination in the Kingdom.

Hudaibiyyah

Above is a picture of a Masjid at hudaibiyyah

Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) with fourteen hundred unarmed companions, set out for Makkah for the pilgrimage. The Quraish however decided not to allow the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) and His companions to enter Makkah. The Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him), therefore stopped at Hudaibiya, a place at a short distance from Makkah. From there he sent a messenger to inform the Quraish that they had not come to wage war, but had come unarmed and wished to enter Makkah only for the purpose of performing the Umrah.

The messenger sent by the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) did not return, the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) sent Hazrat Uthman. He, too, was detained by the Quraish and a rumor spread that he was killed. The Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) collected all his followers near the oasis of Rizwan. He took from them the oath that they would lay down their lives in the name of Allah. This oath is known as Bait-e-Rizwan. Regarding this oath, the Quran says: “Allah’s Good Pleasure was on the Believers when they swore fealty to thee under the tree: He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down tranquility to them: and He rewarded them with a speedy victory” (48:18)

The Quraish were very disturbed when they heard of this and decided to negotiate a treaty of peace with the Muslims. It was called the Treaty of Hudaibiya. It had the following terms:  Muslims would return to Madinah that year.

 They would be permitted to come for pilgrimage next year but would stay only for three days in Makkah.

 If a Quraish from Makkah should join the Muslims without permission from this guardians, he would be sent back to Makkah. But if a Muslim from Madinah went to Makkah he would not be sent back.

 There would be no fighting for ten years.

Many of the Muslims including Hazrat Umar were not happy over the terms of the treaty which were very harsh and against the interests of Muslims. Yet the Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) accepted them with the command of Allah Who Himself, declared this treaty to be a manifest victory for the believers by saying: “Verily We have granted thee a manifest victory.” (48:1)

As the subsequent events show, this treaty proved to be beneficial for the cause of Islam. It ended the atmosphere of constant hostility and the non-believers of Makkah started coming to Madinah. Having free contacts with the believers, they got the chance to study closely the Islamic way of life. Large number of unbelievers accepted Islam after this treaty. This was the turning point for the Muslims and thus proved the victory later for Muslims.

Hudaibiyyah Well

Darb Zubayda

Zubayda bint Ja`far ibn Mansur (d.791A.D.) was daughter of the Abbasid caliph Al-Mansur, and cousin of Harun al-Rashid (r.766-809 A.D.), whom she later married (781A.D.).

She was the best known of the Abbasid princesses. She and her husband’s exploits are the subjects of The Thousand and One Nights. It is said that her palace ’sounded like a beehive’ because she employed one hundred women maids who had memorized the Qur’an. She is particularly remembered for the contributions she made to the ulema and the poor, and for the series of , reservoirs and artificial pools that provided water for Muslim pilgrims along the route from Baghdad to Mecca and . The route was re-named Darb Zubayda, “Zubayda’s Way”. At its height, the route included milestones, 54 major way stations with cisterns, reservoirs or wells, fire signal towers, hostels and fortresses—all paid for by the Abbasid treasury. The people of Makkah received water from this canal for twelve hundred years, with Muslim rulers continuing to repair and maintain it through the centuries until it eventually started to break up. In parts, the monumental stone artistry still seems intact, after all these years of harsh conditions. Going back to the previous post on Arafat, you will notice this same aqueduct surrounding the base of Jabal Rahmah. The views of it hugging the mountain sides, and winding around valleys as a ribbon around a parcel is awesome, and more so given the harsh nature of the landscape it traverses.

Harun al-Rashid ruled from 786 to 809. He performed Hajj six or nine times, including the one in 790 which, in fulfillment of a vow, he made entirely on foot. His final one, performed in 804, was the last Hajj ever made by a caliph. It is recorded that a field of carpets would be rolled out on the sand before them each day of traveling! Zubayda made five or six herself. Apart from patronizing the incredible engineering feat of the aqueduct she is also honoured for her efforts in established an abundant drinking water system in Makkah at the time.

The following pictures show the remains of the magnificent aqueduct known as Darb Zubayda

One of dozens of maintained rest and water stations on the pilgrim road from to Makkah, this pool at Aqiq (picture above), still holds water more than a thousand years after it was constructed under the patronage of Zubayda. (Al-Miskeena)

Waadi Muhassar Waadi Muhassar is a place between Mina and Muzdalifah; it is here that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) destroyed and his army of elephants. This incident in mentioned in Surah Feel. It is sunnah for Hujjaj (pilgrims) to walk briskly pass this area as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) did as it was a place of punishment from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).(Islamic Landmarks.com)

Waadi Al-Muhassab It is Mustahab (desirable) for pilgrims to stop at Al-Muhassab after leaving Mina. It is in Makkah on the way to Mina and it is where Allah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam stopped.

Narrated Al-Qasim bin Muhammad (RA): ' Aisha (RA) said, "We set out with Allah's Apostles in the months of Hajj, and (in) the nights of Hajj, and at the time and places of Hajj and in a state of Hajj. We dismounted at Sarif then addressed his companions and said, "Anyone who has (ﷺ) a village six miles from Mecca). The Prophet) not got the Hadi and likes to do Umra instead of Hajj may do so (i.e. Hajj-al-Tamattu) and anyone who has got the Hadi should not finish the Ihram after performing ' Umra). (i.e. Hajj-al-Qiran).

obeyed the above (order) and some of them (i.e. who (ﷺ) Aisha (RA) added, "The companions of the Prophet and some of his companions were (ﷺ) did not have Hadi) finished their Ihram after Umra." Allah's Apostle resourceful and had the Hadi with them, they could not perform Umra (alone) (but had to perform both Hajj and ,came to me and saw me weeping and said (ﷺ) Umra with one Ihram). Aisha (RA) added, "Allah's Apostle "What makes you weep, O Hantah?" I replied, "I have heard your conversation with your companions and I cannot perform the Umra." He asked, "What is wrong with you?' I replied, ' I do not offer the prayers (i.e. I have my menses).' He said, ' It will not harm you for you are one of the daughters of , and Allah has written for you (this state) as He has written it for them. Keep on with your intentions for Hajj and Allah may reward you that." Aisha (RA) further added, "Then we proceeded for Hajj till we reached Mina and I became clean from my menses. Then I went out from Mina and performed Tawaf round the Ka'ba."

in his final departure (from Hajj) till he dismounted at (ﷺ) Aisha (RA) added, "I went along with the Prophet called ' Abdur-Rahman bin (ﷺ) Al-Muhassab (a valley outside Mecca), and we too, dismounted with him." He Abu Bakr (RA) and said to him, ' Take your sister outside the sanctuary of Mecca and let her assume Ihram for ' Umra, and when you had finished ' Umra, return to this place and I will wait for you both till you both return to me.' " ' Aisha (RA) added, ' ' So we went out of the sanctuary of Mecca and after finishing from the ' Umra and said, 'Have you performed the ' Umra?' We replied in (ﷺ) at dawn. He (ﷺ) the Tawaf we returned to the Prophet the affirmative. So he announced the departure amongst his companions and the people set out for the journey, and the Prophet too left for Medina.'' [Bukhari]

Nowadays, the conveyance of Motor Lorries is not usually in one's own control. It is therefore very difficult to stay anywhere on the way. As such, there is no harm if due to this helplessness one does not stay at Al- Muhassab (Unfortunately we do not have a picture to post)