American Muslim Leaves For Hajj At Al-Medina

Masjid Quba

Front view of Masjid Quba – Photo: B.Munier

Quba is the place on the outskirts of Madinah where the Prophet (ﷺ), accompanied by Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived and first stayed after emigrating from Makkah. They arrived on Monday 12th Rab’i al-Awwal, fourteen years after Prophethood and this date marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar (Hijra), (16th July 622 CE). A masjid was established here by the Prophet (ﷺ), the first to be built in Islam.

The virtue of Masjid Qubas is mentioned in the following Quranic verse in Surah Taubah: “…certainly a masjid founded on piety from the very first day is more deserving that you should stand in it…”[9:108]

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “He who purifies himself at his home and comes to Masjid Quba and offers two rakats therein, will be rewarded the reward of an Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).” [Sunan ibn Majah]

Interior of Masjid Quba – Photo: makkahmadeenah (Instagram)

Masjid Qiblatain

Front of Masjid Qiblatain

This is Masjid Qiblatain (Mosque of the Two Qiblas). It is historically important to Muslims as this is where in Rajjab 2 AH the revelation of the Quran came to change the direction of the Qibla from Bait-al-Maqdis in Jerusalem to the Ka’bah in Makkah.

During his time in Makkah, the Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) used to pray towards Bait-al-Maqdis, with the Ka’bah in front of him. When he migrated to Madinah, he prayed towards Jerusalem for 16 months, but he hoped it would be changed to the Ka’bah.

During Dhuhr prayer (or it was said that it was Asar), the Prophet (ﷺ) had led his Companions when he was commanded to face towards the Ka’bah by the following revelation in the Quran in Surah al-Baqarah: “Verily, We have seen the turning of your (Muhammed’s) face towards the heaven. Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you, so turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah). And wheresoever you people are, turn your faces (in prayer) in that direction.” [2:144 ]

Marker opposite the present qiblah wall showing the direction of the original qiblah

Jannatul Baqi

View of Jannatul Baqi with Masjid-e-Nabwi on the left

Jannatul Baqi (Garden of Heaven) is the main cemetery of Madinah. Buried here are many members of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) close family, around ten thousand of his companions (Sahabah) and many prominent, pious personalities.

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported (that whenever it was her turn for the Prophet (ﷺ) to spend the night with her) he would go out towards the end of the night to al-Baqi and say:“Peace be upon you, abode of a people who are believers. What you were promised would come to you tomorrow, you receiving it after some delay; and God willing we shall join you. O Allah, grant forgiveness to the inhabitants of Baqi al-Gharqad.” [Muslim]
Baqi means the land in which the roots of different trees are embedded, Gharqad is the name of a thorny tree (Boxthorn) which were abundant in Baqi. Hence the cemetery also came to be known as Baqi al-Gharqad.
The first person to be buried in al-Baqi was As’ad Bin Zararah (may Allah be pleased with him), an Ansari companion who died soon after the Prophet ‘s (ﷺ) migration to Madinah. The Prophet (ﷺ) chose the spot to be a cemetery. The first of the Muhajirun (Emigrants) to be buried there was Uthman bin Mazoun (may Allah be pleased with him) who died shortly after the Prophet (ﷺ) returned from the battle of Badr.

Infographic of Jannatul Baqi:

Jannatul Baqi infographic