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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
Part VII of Umrah Journey 2024
MADINAH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SDN) — Visualize yourself living in the years between 570 and 632, walk in the footsteps of a man whom the Bible’s Old Testament prophesied and named “Ahmed”. Of course, that’s Prophet Mohammad (SAW), that’s the “Rasullullah”, the Messenger of Islam.
In 622 AD the Prophet, forced by Mecca’s hostile pagan tribal leaders migrated to “Yathrib” (Medina), now Madinah, (the city), along with his followers who accepted Islam. Upon their arrival from Mecca, 420 kms. away, the people (Ansar) of Madinah warmly welcomed the new arrivals (Muhajirun), and brotherhood was soon established between the natives and the outsiders.
Though the Prophet’s city is not integral to the Hajj, millions of Muslims visit Madinah annually to pray at Masjidil an-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque), where his burial site and those close to him are located.
In essence, especially for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, their visit is to retrace his footsteps as they go on mostly guided tours to places important to the Prophet’s life.
Described as the major Pilgrimage, the Hajj rituals are performed in Mecca — Tawaf (Circumambulation or Going around the Holy Ka’aba seven times, and Saei (running to and from between the hills As-Safa and Al-Marwa also seven times inside Masjidil Haram (Mecca Sacred Mosque), Uqof (Standing in Arafat), the paramount ritual, and Mina where the Throwing of Stones at the three Jammarats (representing Satan) are done. It’s in Mina at the climax of the Hajj that Eid’l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) is celebrated by millions of pilgrims annually.
Note that from Arafat, where pilgrims spend a part of the day and a part of the night for the Hajj to be valid, descend to and stop by Muzdalifah overnight to pick up 49 pebbles for the Mina rituals.
In Umrah, the minor Pilgrimage, only Tawaf and Saei are performed by pilgrims at Masjidil Haram.
On November 20 to December 1, this year, 40 Filipinos got the rare chance to be hosted and sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud for an all-expense paid Umrah.
So, the Filipinos got the opportunity to actually live in Madinah for five days and four nights which gave them the chance to visualize themselves living here in the times of the Prophet and retrace some of his footsteps as they were toured to important places Islam’s Messenger frequented in his lifetime.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance, on the orders of King Salman, along with his son, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS), handled the sponsored Umrah, as well as the Filipinos’ stay in the city and, later their seven days and six nights stay in Mecca.
As “residents” of Madinah, of which the 5 stars Sofitel Hotel (Al-Shahda Madinah), was their home away from home, they did their five daily prayers at Masjidil an-Nabawi, visited various sites such as Mount Uhud where the Prophet and his army suffered a crushing defeat from vengeful Meccans led by Abu Sufyan, Masjidil Quba, the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an, all within the city, Al-Rawda (The Garden), the Prophet’s tomb, and the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Mosque.
In fact, the Filipinos were part of Batch 1 comprised of 250 Asians of King Salman’s Program for Sponsored Umrah under the Ministry headed by Minister Abdullatif Al-Sheikh. Three other batches will come from Africa, Europe, United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
Here’s more photographs to juggle the memory of Madinah:
Various sectors represent Philippine delegation
Nurse Maria Theresa Reynon Sakkalahul noted the Philippine delegation for King’s Salman’s sponsored Umrah program comprised of medical professionals (doctor and nurse), ulama, police, government workers, news media members, educators, lawyers, judges (of Regional Trial Court and Shari’ah District Court), Balik Islam, community leaders, youth, women, and others.
In “Discover Madinah”, Muslims call it “The Good City” and is the first capital in Islam’s history. Next to Mecca, Madinah is the second holiest place among believers of Islam, third is the Masjidil Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.
The city which the Prophet founded after escaping persecution in his native Mecca, serves as the capital of the Medina region located on the historical land of Hijaz, on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s western portion; it is some 420 kms. from Mecca and more or less 150 kms. from the Red Sea on the east. Madinah is around 589 kms. squared.
The Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia headed by Ambassador Hisham bin Sultan A. Qahtani facilitated the Philippine delegation’s journey to the Saudi holy places. (♡)
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Note: Update will be made with more photographs.