History of Makkah

The history and the incident pertaining to it about Makkah city re as astonishing as its present is. Makkah is one of the two holiest cities that are visited by million and millions of people all around the world mostly for the sake of performance of Hajj and Umrah. The existence and life in Makkah are stated by the Holy Quran itself. The information regarding any of the Islamic site or incident one hears should be ascertained what is correct from what is foster. So the most authentic source of the information about Makkah city and its life comes from the hadith of Beloved Prophet Muhammad SAWW and from these we can ascertain the primeval times in the Makkah as well as how it was prior the message and Prophet Hood of Muhammad SAWW.
The history of Makkah is directly connected to Prophet Ibrahim SAWW as he was the very first one to enter in Makkah. We can also refer him the first one who initiated a residence in Makkah city. Prophet Ibrahim AS was a native of Syria until when he was ordered by the Almighty to move towards Makkah. Prophet Ibrahim AS took his wife Hajra and infant baby Ismael AS and start moving towards Makkah. At that time Makkah was a barren desert with no living at all. When the family reached Makkah, prophet Ibrahim left his wife and son their under the shade of a tree along with some dates and a flask of water then headed back to ancient Syria. On his leaving, his wife questioned him about his going but he did not replied to her. She kept on asking that why he is leaving them on a barren land that has neither humans nor anything else in regards of living but he did not answer. Finally, when she asked that was he commanded by the Allah Almighty to do so then he answered her yes. She then stopped questioning and said; “Then He SWT shall never forsake us.”
 Prophet Ibrahim AS left his family on a deserted valley but obviously was concerned about his wife and infant son. He then prayed to Almighty;
“Our Lord! I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near your sacred house, Our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline towards them and endeavor for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.”
The very first tribe to reside among all the people who came from all directions of Makkah when Allah SWT blessed Hajra and her son with the ZamZam well was Jurhum. That was the tribe amongst whom Hazrat Ismaeel AS grew up and then from whom he married. To know about the circumstances Hazrat Ibrahim came to Makkah many times and then he was commanded by Allah Almighty to build the holy Kabah. Allah SWT says:
“And (mention) when Ibrahim was hovering the foundations of the House and (with him) Ismaeel, (saying); ‘Our Lord! Consent (this) from us. Indeed, You are the Earshot, the Eloquent.”
Various verses from Holy Quran suggested and confirmed that Prophet Ibrahim AS was the first one who has the honor and virtue to build the two mosques. The time difference between the building of Masjid al Haram and Masjid- e Aqsa was of forty years and the credit of the building of both these holy sites is in part of Prophet Ibrahim. These above mentioned verses indicates that the very first building ever on the barren land of the Holy City Makkah was the Grand Mosque and the first water that wet the deserted valley of Makkah was the holy water of ZamZam that is keep on gushing from that time uptill now and itself is not less than a miracle due to its marvel system of running and unlimited supply.
Thereafter, the offspring of prophet Ismael AS spread in the area of Hejaz after their multiplication and to its surroundings and their families were responsible to took care of the Holy House and maintaining it for a long period of time. It was the time until the tribe of Khuzaa’ah took over this responsibility to look after Bait ul Allah. People had firm believe on monotheism and keep on worshiping the one and the only Lord until the time of Amr bin Lahy Al- Khuzaa’I came to Hejaz (the province of the Saudi Kingdom in which Makkah was situated) and introduce the concept of idol ship in the holy Kabah of various gods.
After that, the numbers of idols keep on increasing in the Holy Kabah and a time comes when the sacred Kabah was the biggest site of worshiping idols. Annual celebrations of worships o the idols and foster gods were conducted and the whole city came to the holy Kabah for the sake of commemoration. At that time, the number of idols in the Kabah was three hundred and sixty that were individually destroyed by Prophet Muhammad SAWW at the time of victory of Makkah. Due to various wars, the well of ZamZam was buried and no one could no longer find that.
A great grandfather of Prophet Muhammad SAWW forcefully took over the responsibility of the Sacred Kabah. Qusay gathered all of the tribes of and noble families of Quraysh and re- gained the sanctity of Makkah which had been lost due to the misuse of power of Khuzaa’ah. This incident becomes the base of glorified Makkah later.
Abdul Mutalib (the grandfather of Prophet Muhammad SAWW) saw the exact point of ZamZam well, dug up and restored it so in this way the well of ZamZam again becomes the greatest source of water for the Muslims uptill now.

Madinah Ziyarat Guide

Ziyarat is an Arabic word which means to “visit” and has been used to visit the graves of the most pious people of Islamic history, especially Prophet Muhammad SAWW. A complete guide on Ziyarat will be provided to you here so that with this knowledge you can visit the beautiful and peaceful city of Madina.
The city of Madina was chosen by the Almighty as a host city which has the heart to welcome each and everyone who wants to enter it. It has the honor to welcome Prophet Muhammad SAWW and being his SAWW second homeland after migration. Madinah’s full name is Madina al Munawra which means the “gleaming city”. The city is also referred as Madina an- Nabwi SAWW or town of Prophet. The Ziyarat to the city of Prophet SAWW can be summarized as follows;
While paying Ziyarat to Prophet Muhammad’s SAWW grave, intention should be made only and only to Allah and not tot Prophet Muhammad SAWW. He SAWW is noblest of all and is truly honorable personality but he SAWW is a human being and also the worships are only for Allah and not for anyone else. If someone does not make his intention towards Allah, his worship might get dented.
 While paying umrah with Ziyarat to Roza Mubarak (Prophet Muhammad’s SAWW grave), reciting Salawat with full concentration is recommended. It is recommended that reading Salawat as much as possible is Afzal even you do not supplicate or pray any other thing.
In your way to Madina, the longing becomes more longed and passion and excitement to see the Roza Mubarak SAWW is harder to explain. In such a situation reading praise, poetry or historic book pertaining to the life of Prophet Muhammad SAWW will work best to compensate your longing. After completing the journey and entering into the hotel you are staying, go to your room, take shower, wore new clothes and if have then apply some perfume which should be non-alcoholic.
Charity should be given as it is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad SAWW. It can be given to anyone either to the local resident of Madina or anyone else. It should be kept in mind that charity should be given before entering the mosque (Masjid e Nabwi SAWW)
Makin your entrance inside Masjid e Nabwi SAWW from any of the entrance but if possible then it is more Afzal to enter from Bab e Jibrael. Inside the mosque offer two rakats Tahiyatul Masjid in the area known as Roza. If it is not yet the time of the Farz prayers, then pay visit to the Roza Rasul SAWW which is situated somewhat in between pulpit and the tomb of Prophet Muhammad SAWW. If you have the fear that you’re Farz Salat might get Qaza, then offer the prayer first. In this case do not engage in Tahiyatul Masjid. If you have left to prayer the Farz Salat and offer Tahiyatul Majid, then it will be rendered.  The place is referred as Roza because it is present between the pulpit (Mimbar) and the grave and therefore referred as garden Paradise. Roza means “garden”. The place area of the Roza Mubarak is easy to differentiate by other areas as it has greenish/ bluish color carpet which is different from other carpets lying inside the mosque. Because of the limited space available, pilgrims should have to wait patiently standing in queue for their turn as all of the pilgrims have a strong desire to visit the Roza. Usually a barrier around Roza Mubarak is placed by the security officials so that any kind of harm can be avoided. If one has the chance to be here, then make it sure to humbly pray and recite supplications and then leave towards the tomb of Prophet Muhammad SAWW.
The Prophet Muhammad’s SAWW grave is adjacent to area where Hazrat Abu Bakr RA and Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab RA are buried. That is why they are called the companions of the Prophet SAWW who are with him even after this life. Here, the queue is not usually long so you can have your turn on little patience. Here one should take care about the manners and say his greetings to the Prophet Muhammad SAWW. A special supplication is recited by almost all the pilgrims who visited the Grave of Prophet Muhammad SAWW. Some of the things and gestures that you have to be careful about are; do not cast your gaze all over, do not make Sajda, do not stand too closely to the Holy grave, do not kiss it, do not raise your voice, elicit the attitude that is the most humble and prestigious. The salaam should be paid in neither to slow nor to loud voice.
After that, pray to the Almighty and then also pay Ziyarat to the graves of Hazrat Abu Bakr RA and Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab RA and supplicate as well.
In the end, before leaving, it is good to pray Nafl prayers as much as possible in Roza. After it, go to the Prophet’s SWW tomb, pay greetings and pray to the Almighty for the health, wealth and prosperity that you want in your life. Also pray for your Hajj or Umrah that you have just performed to be accepted and that Allah may give you honor in the future to visit these sacred places again.