Update: Nov. 25, 2024, Monday, at 10:30 a.m. — Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud sponsored Umrah pilgrims, 250 persons from Asia, including 39 from the Philippines, continue their privileged journey today to Makkah Mukarrama to formally perform the Umrah pilgrimage. Alhamdulillah (Praise God)!
Lessons from Battle of Uhud: “(T)he fall of pride and the importance of discipline in Islam.”
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Part IV of Umrah Journey 2024
CITY OF MADINAH, Saudi Arabia, November 24, 2024 (SDN) — The sponsored Umrah guests under the auspices of the Custodian of the Holy Mosques, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, on Saturday, November 23, have their wishes fulfilled in a grand manner, fit for guests of a royalty.
A total of 250 people invited for a free Umrah from Asia — the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, among others, are feeling the love of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They enjoy through the Kingdom’s deep pockets, all free — two-way round trip tickets, hotel accommodation & food at Sofitel Hotel (Shad Al-Madinah) Hotel, transportation, STC SIM Cards, set of Umrah outfit and a big traveling bag.
While in Madinah, the city of the Messenger of Islam, the Prophet Mohammad (SAW), their official itinerary included visits to the resting place of the “shuhada” (martyrs) of the Battle of Uhud, King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Qur’an, and Masjidil Quba (Islam’s first house of worship).
And which they did, seven huge buses that each can accommodate 40 passengers transported them like a time machine at the historic Mount Uhud, the site of the battle that wounded the Prophet, killed his uncle Hamza, and the deaths of 70 martyrs.
Of the 250 Umrah pilgrims, 39 of them are Filipinos representing some of the Islamized Moro tribal communities — Maguindanaon, Tausug, Yakan, Sama, Maranao, Kagan, Balik-Islam (Reverts to Islam), and others.
At the head of the Moro ethnic group as their amir is Shaikh Nasroden Ibrahim Alamada, who once studied at the Islamic University of Madinah and live and work here for around seven years. His familiarity with the rituals of Hajj (the Pilgrimage to Mecca), Umrah (the minor pilgrimage), led the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Philippines to make him the Filipino group’s amir.
Saudi Ambassador to the Philippines Hisham bin Sultan Al-Qahtani and his officers at the embassy welcomed and sent off the Filipinos in a reception at the Saudi Arabian Chancery a day before their flight to Jeddah, the Kingdom’s gateway to the holy sites.
In the evening of Saturday, Alamada led his wards to what is called “Raudah” (Garden), described as a piece of Jannah (Paradise) in the Masjidil an-Nabawi and then proceeding to the funeral site of the Prophet and Caliph Omar bin Khattab.
For their Sunday itinerary, before the whole Umrah guests are transported to Mecca on Monday, November 25, to perform the pilgrimage’s rituals, they will visit in the evening after the Aesha prayers near the Prophet’s Mosque the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization.
Battle of Uhud — a costly lesson in discipline and following orders
According to The Islamic Information online portal — the fateful Battle of Uhud as described in an article written by Warda Shahid, “is one of the most important battles in the history of Islam.”
In 625, the Muslims led by the Prophet battled against the Meccan Quraish tribal army under the command of Abu Sufian who were then still un-Islamized.
Among the most important lessons learned — with the benefit of hindsight — from the blood-drenched grounds of Uhud Valley included “the fall of pride and the importance of discipline in Islam.” It was in the third year of the Hijrah (Migration) when the battle happened, at the perimeters of Medina (Madinah).
It happened that discipline among the Prophet’s soldiers broke down because as they seemed to have defeated the vengeful Abu Sufian, archers stationed on Mount Uhud guarding the Meccans left their posts and joined their fellow Muslim soldiers on the ground level in gathering the loot from the Meccan soldiers.
Before that occurred, they were ordered by the Prophet to stay put on Mount Uhud and continue guarding the enemies. But they broke discipline, came down, joined the looting spray. And when the Quraish army saw this, they assembled and attacked the Muslims, leading their resounding defeat.
Abu Sufian launched his attack on Madinah to avenge his army’s defeat beforehand at the Battle of Badr. And he succeeded because of the breakdown of discipline of the Muslim army.
After Mound Uhud, the Umrah guests were bused to the King Fahd Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex (KFGQPC), also in Madinah, which was opened in 1984 (after two years of construction). It was established through a Royal Order of the then Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, which he inaugurated in 1405 Hijrah (equivalent to 1984 Gregorian).
According to a video presentation, the complex has a mosque, administration and maintenance buildings, printing press, warehouses, transportation and marketing.
Its Scientific Council is in-charge for drawing up plans, setting general goals, and studying related issues and research.
The complex houses 1,100 workers, 89 percent of which are Saudi citizens. Among them are scientists, university professors, technicians and administrators, who work on modern equipment, and advanced capabilities in the field of studies, research, preparation, printing, binding and accurate observations.
More than 280 milion Muslims prayed at Masjidil an-Nabawi in 2023
As emphasis, the workflow is carried out according to accurate and tight regulations and policies to ensure the integrity of the Qur’anic text and final product. In 2023, the complex produced 18 million copies of the Muslim Holy Book, and “sold 320 million copies”, including recordings and scientific works with 74 translations, held seven scientific symposia and a forum for the world’s calligraphers since it opened for business in 1984.
The complex also won seven local and international awards and has 12 websites done in seven languages and has launched a Qur’anic app called The Prophet’s City on various smart platforms.
King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and his son Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud provide funding for the complex. It is their gift to Muslims across the world.
The Umrah pilgrims’ last stop was at Islam’s first mosque, Masjidil Quba, the first site where the Prophet prayed. As remembrance of the Messenger of Islam, the Asian pilgrims prayed to Allah (SWT) for him and their own families and friends back home for good health, more blessings, forgiveness, and mercy.
In the evening, the King’s privileged guests visited Al l-Rawda Al-SherifaRaudah (the Garden), said to be a piece of Jannah on Earth, the site of the tomb of the Prophet. A thick line of people moving hurriedly but gingerly passed an enclosure as they offered prayers for the Messenger of Islam and his companions.
Later the same evening, they completed their visit to Al-Rawda Al-Sherifa, to the actual burial ground just outside but within the mosque’s courtyard, where the Prophet, Caliph Abu Bakr, and Caliph Omar bin Affan, were interred.
A Gulf News report said that “over 280 million Muslims prayed at the Prophet’s Mosque, which houses Al-Rawda Al-Sherifa, the site of the tomb of Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).’
Sunday, November 24, was the Asian Umrah gguests’ final official itinerary here in Madinah, a visit to the museum adjacent to Masjidil an-Nabawi that contains a narration of the Prophet’s life, and many things connected with him.(♡)