Views from second level of Masjidil Haram

Continued from Views from the inner compound of the Masjidil Haram.

Late afternoon me and wife spent time at the second level of the mosque.

From here one could get a good perspective of the going-ons. It is a good place to see the thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of pilgrims circumambulating the holy black building called the Ka'abah, the focal point for Muslims worldwide to face towards to in prayers.

Views from the inner compound of the Masjidil Haram

The article An introductory view of Mecca and its holy mosque made 3 days ago has shown pictures as I walked towards the Masjidil Haram or holy mosque in Mecca at night. Now time to savour some views from the middle or rather, inner compound of the mosque in broad daylight.

Sunday afternoon 7th April 2013. After conducting the Zuhur (afternoon) prayers in congregation me and wife stepped onto the inner compound.

The 650-metres high or so Mecca clock tower looms large outside...

As usual I like to take in views from different angles turning anti-clockwise.

The holy Ka'abah, Muslims' focal point for prayers worldwide. Behind is the long straight segment attached to the holy mosque where lies the place for sa'ie... an act of walking to and fro between the peaks of two ancient hills emulating the action of Siti Hajar (Hagar), wife to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) when she was looking for water to give to her crying infant son Prophet Ismail (Ishmael).

That is estimated to have happened some 6,000 years ago, when the city of Mecca was still a barren desert. Now just look at the developments going around...

An introductory view of Mecca and its holy mosque

Peace be upon you all. After a lapse of almost 3 weeks its time to continue the stories on my trip to the Muslim holy lands 1-12 April.

Saturday night 6th April 2013. After 5 hours on the bus from Medina our entourage arrived at the city of Mecca around 10 pm.

After checking in our hotel and having a short rest we started walking towards the holy mosque known as the Masjidil Haram. Prominent along the way is the giant skyscraper famously known as the clock tower of Mecca.

If I'm not mistaken it was built and completed just about 2 years ago. The tower is around 650 metres tall making it the second tallest building in the world, after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai which stands nearly 200 metres taller.

Soon we could see the minarets of the Masjidil Haram. For the record our hotel is about a kilometre away..

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Ah. What a magnificent sight...

Still, nothing can beat the sight of the Kaabah inside the mosque middle compound. For this is the beacon, the building where all Muslims worldwide face in direction for the prayers.

Though the clock tower looms awesomely large nearby, the Masjidil Haram and Kaabah remains the focal point for all true-at-heart visitors...

The date plantation of Bani Hashim

On to my 3rd day in Medina. Continued from Shopping for dates at a plantation.

Friday morning 5th April 2013. We were brought to another date plantation.

This one looks special.

Indeed, it is special as it is the date plantation of the Bani Hashim, the tribe of Prophet Muhammad SAW.

Shopping for dates at a plantation

Continued from Views from the archer's hill at Uhud.

After Uhud me and my group were taken to a date plantation.

There is also a warehouse selling all sort of dates. 

It is practically a date market...

Views from the archer's hill at Uhud

On to my 2nd day in Medina...

Thursday morning 4th April 2012. It was time to make site visits to some places outside the city of Medina. After visiting a mosque called Masjid Quba we went to Uhud, about 3.5 km north of city centre. The place is famous for the battle of Uhud, the second battle involving the early Muslims of Medina against the unbelievers of Mecca more than 1,400 years ago.

There lies a small hill where Prophet Muhammad SAW placed a number of archers on top to check against the army of unbelievers.

Me and wife took the time to climb to the top witnessing the surroundings where the battle took place. Seen in the background is the much bigger hill or rather, the mountain called Jabal (hill of) Uhud.

I started taking pictures by moving bit by bit anti-clockwise.

I think this should facing south and the city.

The wife awed by the view while adjusting to the dry weather.

That should be the south-west tip of Jabal Uhud.

Jabal Uhud looks quite imposing and formidable. 

Down there were the plains where major part of the battle of Uhud happened.

The battle of Uhud is well remembered because the Muslims made an error which costs lives. The archers stationed on top this small hill were given specific instruction never to come down unless the Prophet said so. Never, regardless of whether the Muslim army were seen victorious nor defeated. But they ignored it after the first wave of unbeliever's army retreated leaving plenty of loots on the plains. As they rushed down to partake of the goods that was when another wave came. This forced the Muslims into a tight spot and many went down as martyrs. Seen down there within the square are graves of the martyrs including the most  respected and feared, Saidina Hamzah, the lion of the desert who was also the Prophet's uncle.

Masjid Nabawi at night

Continued from Looking inside Baqi'.

Came night time I was at the Masjid (mosque of) Nabawi again to do my prayers while enjoying the atmosphere.

The whole place was lively inside and outside. People can practically sit anywhere and even lie down to sleep... that is, when it's not time to pray congregationally. For the record this is the 1,133th article in this blogspot.