Qualitative Change Expected in Indian Pilgrim Accommodation

There will be major qualitative changes in the operation of the Indian Haj mission next Haj, according to Consul General Mohammad Noor Rahman Sheikh.

Speaking to Saudi Gazette, he said the distance of accommodation of green category pilgrims from the Grand Mosque in Makkah has been reduced from 1,500 meters to 1,000 meters while all pilgrims in Madinah will be housed in the central area close to the Prophet›s Mosque. And new contracts will be signed to upgrade the transportation of pilgrims between Makkah and Madinah by replacing old buses.

Sheikh said these decisions were taken during a recent meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, which is in charge of Haj affairs, in New Delhi. The bilateral Haj agreement between India and Saudi Arabia will be signed on Jan. 11.

Sheikh said the Haj mission on Sunday published advertisement in local media outlets inviting applications from landlords for renting buildings within one kilometer from the periphery of the Grand Mosque. The ad states that there is no need for kitchen facility because cooking will not be allowed in green category buildings in the central area of Makkah.

Sheikh said the authorities started enforcing the cooking ban since the Haj 2016. The Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah and the Civil Defense Department have given strict instructions in this regard, he added.

The Saudi authorities have asked property owners to remove all arrangements for cooking in buildings in the central area of Makkah and warned violators of fines and shutdowns.

Sheikh said all intending pilgrims will be informed that there will not be any cooking facilities in green category building. He disclosed that the Haj mission has no plans to introduce catering services in Makkah or Madinah.

“It was a tough and unsuccessful experiment when we tried to serve food to pilgrims in their accommodations in Madinah for eight days. It involves a lot of money and logistics, apart from problems in catering to the tastes of pilgrims from different regions and states,” Sheikh said while noting that India is a very vast country with diverse food habits, unlike many Asian, Arab and Middle Eastern countries that have similar or uniform food habits.

“We tell the pilgrims clearly that the Haj mission cannot take the responsibility of food and hence they can come prepared,» Sheikh said.

He sad 70 percent of pilgrims were given accommodation in the central area of Madinah last Haj. The Indian authorities have given permission to find accommodation for all pilgrims in the central area starting next Haj.

According to Sheikh, transportation between Makkah and Madinah has been a headache for the Haj mission. “Some of the buses are old models and this created many problems. We have requested the Saudi Ministry of Haj and the Car Syndicate to replace them with new ones,” he said, adding that the Indian authorities have given the go ahead to sign additional agreements in this regard.

Source: http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/qualitative-change-expected-indian-pilgrim-accommodation/

Umm-ul-Momineen Khadijah Radhi Allahu Anha

She belonged to Banu Asad Ibn ʿAbd alʿUzza Ibn Qusay, a distinguished family of the Quraysh tribe. By genealogical standards of nobility, she enjoyed a high status in the society.

Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) was born fifteen years before the Year of the Elephant. Her family enjoyed a high status in the Makkan society. Khadijah’s father, Khuwaylid was a well-established trader as well as a tribal leader.

She was called Tahirah even in pre-Islamic days. Owing to her nobility and social status, the Makkans also called her sayyidat nisaʾ Quraysh the highest among the ladies of Quraysh. Following the advent of Islam, Qur’an called her Umm almuaminin, or the Mother of Believers an expression that signified her status in the new Muslim community. Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said that she was afdal nisaʾ ahl aljannah the most meritorious among the women who shall enter paradise.

The lineage of Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) meets that of Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) at Qusay Ibn Kilab. Qusay is credited with establishing the authority of Quraysh in Makkah. Before Qusay, Quraysh did not have any share in the governance of Makkah and the custodianship of the Ka’abah.

Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) was married twice before her marriage to Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him). Her first husband was ʿAtiq Ibn ʿAbid Ibn ʿAbdullah alMakhzumi. Following his death, she got married to Abu Halah Ibn Zararah alTamimi. According to some biographers, she married Abu Halah first.

Abu Halah and Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) had a son, Hind Ibn Abi Halah, which explains her alias “Umm Hind”. Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) had a share with Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) in the upbringing of Hind. Hind embraced Islam, and participated in the battles of Badr and Uhud. He died in 36 AH in the Battle of Camel.

Abu Halah had three other sons: Halah, Harith, and Tahir. All three of them embraced Islam. Harith Ibn Abi Halah died in the early days of Islam defending Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) on an occasion when he was attacked by his opponents in Makkah. In fact, he was the first martyr of Islam. With ʿAtiq Ibn ʿAbid alMakhzumi, Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) had another daughter, who was known as Umm Muhammad.

Remarriage of widows and divorcees was very common those days. In fact, a widow or a divorcee would be married again soon after the completion of ʿiddah. Thus, a number of tribal leaders and men of fame proposed to Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) following the death of her second husband, but she did not entertain any of those proposals.

But Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) was convinced about the nobility of Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him), and she thought of marrying him. Three months after Muhammad’s (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) return from as-Sham, Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) sent her friend Nafisah Bint Umayyah to Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) with a proposal for marriage.

Muhammad’s (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) uncles Hamzah, ʿAbbas, and Abu Talib are known to have attended the ceremony. From Khadijah’s side, Waraqah Ibn Nawfal (cousin), ʿAmr Ibn Asad (uncle), ʿAmr Ibn Khuwaylid (brother), Hakim Ibn Hazzam (nephew), and some ladies of the family attended the ceremony. It is reported that Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) friend, was also present on the occasion.

She was the first wife of Allah's Messenger (PBUH). She herself proposed to marry Allah's Messenger (PBUH) taking into consideration the honesty, perfectness and blessing she had observed in the personality of Allah's Messenger (PBUH). Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was 25 at the time of his marriage with Khadijah (RA). Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was blessed with four daughters from her i.e., Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umme Kulsoom and Fatimah (RA) andtwo sons i.e. Qasim and Abdullah (RA) were born form Khadijah (RA), except for Ibrahim (RA). All the children of Allah's Messenger (PBUH) died in his life, except for Fatimah (RA) who died six months after the death of Allah's Messenger (PBUH). Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was 50 when his first wife died. Khadijah (RA) died in the 10th year of Hijrah at the age of 65. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) used to remember the truthfulness and companionship of Khadijah (RA) after her demise.

Abu Talib addressed the gathering thanking God for placing him and his family among the descendants of Ibrahim, and for honoring them with the responsibility to oversee the affairs of the Ka’abah. He praised his nephew, Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him), mentioning some of his good attributes. He said his nephew was not wealthy, but that wealth was a passing affair. He then announced the mahr for the marriage. Following Abu Talib, Waraqah Ibn Nawfal addressed the gathering. It is reported that Waraqah officiated at the marriage. He acknowledged the merit and nobility of Banu Hashim and declared Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) and Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) as husband and wife for the appointed mahr. Some reports suggest that twenty camels were offered as mahr. Other reports suggest that the mahr was 500 Dirhams of the time.

At the time of marriage, Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) was 40 years old, and Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) was 25 years old. The marriage took place about 25 years after the army of elephants attacked Makkah, and 15 years before Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) was appointed by God as His Messenger. After marriage, Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) moved to Khadijah’s residence, where he continued to live until he migrated to Madinah. The two enjoyed each other’s company for about 24 years until the death of Khadijah. Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) did not marry other women during Khadijah’s life.

Soon after marriage, Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) and Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) were blessed with a son who was named al-Qasim. Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) came to be known as Abu al-Qasim in Makkah. But Qasim died while he was young.

In the years following the death of Qasim, Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) and Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) were blessed with four daughters and a son one after the other. The daughters were Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah. The son was ʿAbdullah, also known as Tayyib and Tahir. A lady named Salma is known to have nursed all of Khadijah’s children.

She was a graceful and wise woman, who established herself as a successful trader. As a mother, she brought up her children in the best possible manner. Subsequently, when it was time to support Muhammad’s (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) mission, she did not hesitate from spending her wealth to support the cause of Islam. She could afford the luxuries of this world, but she joined her husband and other members of his clan in exile for three difficult years in Shiʿb Abi Talib. Thus, Jibril informed Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be on him) that God promised Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) a palace in paradise.

The Holy Quran addresses the people till the Day of Judgment: Allah says: Nor that ye should ever marry his wives after him.(Al-Ahzab: 53)

It means that the status of Pure Wives (Wives of the prophet (PBUH) is that, they are the mothers of all the believers.

Source: http://blog.darussalampublishers.com/umm-ul-momineen-khadija-may-allah-pleased/

Shortly About Khadijah Radhi Allahu Anha

Allah's Messenger (PBUH)was first married to Khadijah (RA) at the age of 25 years. She was 40 at the time of her marriage to Allah's Messenger (PBUH), i.e. Khadijah (RA) was older than Allah's Messenger (PBUH) by 15 years. In addition she was married two times before her marriage to Allah's Messenger (PBUH), and had children from these marriages. When Allah's Messenger (PBUH) reached 50 years of age, Khadijah (RA) died. Thus Allah's Messenger (PBUH) spent the days of his youth (From the age of 25 to the age of 50 years) with a widow woman Khadijah (RA). Khadijah (RA) died in the 10th year of Hijrah at the age of 65. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) used to remember the truthfulness and companionship of Khadijah (RA) after her demise. She was Buried in Makkah , Jannat al-Mu'alla. Khadijah (RA) First wife of Prophet Mohammed, Mother of Fathima (RA), Grand Childrens of Hasan and Husain (RA). She is commonly regarded by Muslims as the "Mother of the Believers".

A Companion of the Prophet narrates that whenever any gift was brought to him he would immediately send it to some lady who had been a friend of Khadijah. Ayshah, a favorite wife of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) says that whenever a goat was slaughtered the Prophet it would send some meat to Khadijah's friends; when she remarked about this on one occasion he told her, 'I have great regard for her friends, as she has a special place in my heart.' Ayshah said she never experienced such a feeling of natural feminine jealousy for any other wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as she did for Khadijah. She also narrates that whenever Muhammad spoke of her he would talk at great length and praise her qualities, and pray for her forgiveness.

Khadija, the mother of Islam, was the first person on earth to accept Muhammad as the final prophet of God and accept the revelations that culminated into the Holy Qur’an. She was greeted with “Salam” (peace) by God himself as well as the Angel Gabriel. She bequeathed her worldly goods and put herself in the face of danger to stand by the Prophet Muhammad as Islam became established in the land.

Khadija was one of history’s most remarkable women. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said that the four greatest women of mankind were: Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Fatima bint Muhammad (his youngest daughter,) Mary bint Emran (the Virgin Mary) and Asiya bint Muzahim (the wife of Pharaoh.) Khadija continues to inspire people to this day who revere her for taking great care of the Prophet of Islam and for showing the world, through her behavior, what a pious, modest and courageous woman can accomplish. The example she left for mankind remains timeless.