MBL Calendar 17 - Meezan Bank

111-331- 331 & 111-331- 332 www.meezanbank.com

Calendar 2017

SACRED PLACES HOLY CITIESThe history of Islam is replete with numerous sacred sites, each with its own religious significance. The majority of such sites

are located in the Middle East, particularly in the cities of Makkah and Madinah. These cities, and the numerous historical sites within, hold great value for Muslims around the world. Through research, we have put together facts, figures and historical narrative about 12 such sites and ask you to please join us as we take you back hundreds of years, on an interesting and

informative journey. May the year 2017 be one of blessings and prosperity for us all and for Pakistan.

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The information in this calendar has been extracted from numerous sources.Detailed references of this information are available at:www.meezanbank.com/calendar2017

MakkahMakkah was founded by Hazrat Ibrahim . Makkah is home to the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site and the direction of prayers for all Muslims. The Prophet was born in Makkah and received the first revelation of the Holy Quran there. In 630 C.E., the Prophet took control of Makkah and removed the 360 idols placed in the Kaaba.

When the Muslims conquered Makkah, the Prophet said: “Allah had made this city sacred the day He created the heavens and the earth and its sanctity shall remain until the Day of Qiyamah. Its thorns cannot be broken, its animals cannot be harmed and things fallen on its ground cannot be picked up except with the intention of returning them to their owners or making public announcements (to locate the owner).” [Sahih Bukhari]

The Holy Prophet said to Makkah (when he was leaving Makkah for Hijrah): “You are the best place on the earth of Allah and the most loved land to Allah . If the people of Makkah had not forced me to depart I would not have left.” [Tirmizi]


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February 2017

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Madinah is the second holiest city in Islam. During the pre-Islamic period, the city was known as Yathrib, but the Prophet renamed it as Madinat Al-Nabi (City of the Prophet ). The Prophet said: “One prayer in my Masjid is better than one thousand prayers in any other masjid, except Masjid al-Haraam.'' [Sahih Muslim]

Madinah is home to the three oldest masjids, namely Masjid-e-Nabawi, Masjid-e-Quba and Masjid-e-Qiblatain. Masjid-e-Quba is the first masjid built in the history of Islam. The current Masjid-e-Nabawi is more than 100 times the size of the original building which means that it covers almost the entire area of the old city itself. Historically, Madinah is known for growing dates and today, more than 20 di�erent types of dates are cultivated in the city.

The Prophet said: “O Allah, Ibrahim was Your servant, Your friend, and Your apostle; and I am Your servant and Your apostle. He(Ibrahim ) made supplication to You for (showering of blessings upon) Makkah, and I am making supplication to You for Madinah just as he made supplication to You for Makkah, and the like of it in addition.” [Sahih Muslim]

Madinah


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Kashmir Day

February 2017

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Masjid al-AqsaMasjid al-Aqsa is the third holiest site in Islam. The Masjid is located in Jerusalem, which has a history extending over 3,000 years and is among the longest inhabited cities in the world. It is also the only city in the world that is historically and spiritually significant to Muslims, Jews and Christians alike.

The name ‘Masjid al-Aqsa’ translates as ‘the farthest masjid’. Unlike the Dome of the Rock, which reflects classical Byzantine architecture, Masjid al-Aqsa is characteristic of early Islamic architecture. It was the first Qiblah for Muslims and is the only place on earth where all the Messengers of Allah prayed at the same time led by Prophet Muhammad .

The Masjid was originally built by Hazrat Adam ; Hazrat Ibrahim rebuilt it and Hazrat Daud undertook its reconstruction that was completed by Hazrat Sulayman . The rectangular masjid and its precincts, also known as Bayt al-Maqdis (House of Holiness), are spread over an area of 144,000 m2. The Masjid itself is about 35,000 m2 and can accomodate up to 5,000 worshipers.


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HateemHateem is the crescent shaped area immediately adjacent to the Kaaba.

When the Prophet was 35 years old, a devastating flood damaged the Kaaba and it was in danger of collapsing. The Quraish decided to rebuild the Kaaba and resolved to build it with only their purest earnings. Since Quraish did not have su�cient funds, this reconstruction did not include the entire foundation of the Kaaba as built by Hazrat Ibrahim . This was the first time the Kaaba acquired the cubical shape it has now, unlike the rectangle shape which it had earlier. The portion of the Kaaba left out is now called Hateem or Hajar.

It must be noted here that an area of approximately 3 meters adjacent to the wall of the Kaaba on the side of the Hateem actually constitutes as part of the Kaaba, the rest falls outside the Kaaba.

Hazrat Aisha says: “When I expressed the wish to perform salah within the Kaaba, the Prophet took me by the hand and led me into the Hijr (Hateem) where he said, ‘Perform salah here if you wish to pray inside the Kaaba because this is part of the Baytullah.’ ” - [Sunan Abu Dawud]




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Safa and Marwah

In Surah Al-Baqara - Ayat 158, Quran mentions Al-Safa and Al-Marwah to be among the symbols of Allah. These are the two hills between which Bibi Hajrah rushed seven times to see if she could spot any water or anyone from whom she could get some water for her infant son Ismail . This action is copied by all pilgrims performing Hajj or Umrah and is known as Sa’ee. The strip of ground between Safa and Marwah is referred to as the Mas’aa.

Safa - from where the Sa’ee begins - is located approximately 100 m from the Kaaba. Marwah is located about 350 m from the Kaaba. The distance between Safa and Marwah is approximately 450 m, and the seven trips between them amount to roughly 3.15 km (1.96 mi). The two points and the path between them are now inside a long gallery that forms part of the Masjid al-Haram on the West side. But at one time not only were these hills at quite a distance from the masjid but there was also a marketplace between them.


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June 2017


Labour Day

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Masjid-e-QubaQuba is the place on the outskirts of Madinah where the Prophet arrived and first stayed after emigrating from Makkah. A Masjid was established here by the Prophet , which is the first to be built in Islam and is one of the oldest masjids in the world.

On arriving in the village of Quba, the Prophet stayed there for several days and laid the foundations of Masjid-e-Quba. He personally carried stones, rocks and sand with his companions for the construction work.

The Prophet made it a habit to come to this Masjid every Saturday and o�er two rak’at prayers. He said: “He who purifies himself (Wodho) at his home and comes to Masjid-e-Quba and o�ers two rak’ats therein, will be rewarded the ajar of an Umrah.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

The modern day Masjid-e-Quba is an architectural feat, equipped with the latest facilities while maintaining its Islamic identity. The Masjid has the capacity to accommodate more than 20,000 worshipers.


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June 2017

Eid-ul-Fitr


Ghar-e-Hira - a cave about 3.6 m long and 1.6 m wide - is located a little over 10 km North-East of the city of Makkah in a mountain called Jable Noor (Mountain of Light). There is nothing on the mountain except thorny bushes. The peak of the mountain is also straight and slippery. It is opposite to the famous mountain Jabal-al-Shabeer. The cave, Ghar-e-Hira, is at a height of 270 m (890 ft).

It was the habit of the Prophet - before being given prophethood - to spend a few days at a stretch in this cave searching for solitude. He used to bring some food and water with him, which was replenished from time to time either by servants or his wife Hazrat Khadijah . At the age of 40, in the month of Ramadan, the Prophet received his first revelation from Allah here in Ghar-e-Hira in the year 610 C.E.

Ghar-e-Hira



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Jable RehmatJable Rehmat is a hill in the plain of Arafat, which is about 20 km (12 mi) South-East of Makkah. Jable Rehmat reaches about 70 m (230 ft) in height. The term Jable Arafāt is also sometimes applied to this entire area.

Jable Rehmat also holds a significant position as this was the location where Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon of the Hajj pilgrimage that he made towards the end of his life. There is a white pillar erected on the spot where it is said that Hazrat Adam and Bibi Hawwa had met and where the Prophet stood and gave his last sermon.



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September 2017

IndependenceDay

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MinaMina is the tent city about 7-8 km East of Makkah on the road to Arafat. It covers an area of approximately 20 km². At the beginning and end of Hajj, pilgrims go to Mina from where they finally return to Makkah. Mina has more than 100,000 air-conditioned tents which provide temporary accommodation to Hajj pilgrims. For the rest of the year, Mina remains pretty much deserted.

Originally, pilgrims used to bring their own tents which they would erect in the flat plains of Mina. After Hajj was over, the tents had to be dismantled, packed and taken back. In the 1990s, the Saudi government installed permanent cotton tents, relieving pilgrims of the burden of carrying their own camping equipment. Later, a permanent fiberglass-tent city was built which has a comprehensive fire safety network consisting of heat-sensitive water sprinklers which are linked to an alarm system.

The Jamarat Bridge, the location where the Stoning of the Devil (Ramy al-Jamarat) ritual takes place is located in the Valley of Mina. Waadi Muhassar is a place between Mina and Muzdalifah where Allah destroyed Abraha and his army of elephants.


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October 2017


September 2017

Eid-ul-Azha

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JamaratThe Jamarat are three walls (formerly pillars), at a distance of approximately 4.5 km from Masjid al Haram, that are pelted as a compulsory ritual of Hajj. This is a symbolic re-enactment of the actions of Hazrat Ibrahim . The Jamarat represent the three locations where Hazrat Ibrahim pelted the Shaitan (Satan) with stones when he tried to dissuade him from sacrificing his son Hazrat Ismail .

The stoning of the Jamarat also represents the repudiation of man's self and the act of casting aside one's low desires and wishes. It is said that from a scientific perspective, this ritual has tremendous power for developing an internal conviction to shun evil from one’s life.


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Jable NoorJable Noor, translated as ‘The Mountain of Light’, is a mountain situated approximately 10 km from Makkah, with its peak visible from a great distance. The mountain is roughly 640 m tall and houses the famed Ghar-e-Hira where the Prophet received his first revelation of the Quran. The cave is quite small; four arm's length long by 1.75 arm's length wide and one can see Kaaba straight and clear from this cave.

The top of the mountain in the mountainous desert is one of the loneliest of places and Ghar-e-Hira, which faces the direction of the Kaaba, is even more isolated.

One physical feature that di�erentiates Jable Noor from other mountains and hills is its unique-looking summit, which makes it look more like two mountains on top of each other.



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Jable UhudLocated in the North of Madinah, Mount Uhud is the largest mountain in the city of the Prophet . It holds significance because Islam’s second battle - the Battle of Uhud - between defending Muslims of Madinah and attacking infidels of Makkah, was fought in its vicinity on 19 March, 625 C.E. The Prophet loved this mountain and would declare this love by saying: "Uhud is a mountain which loves us and which we love.” [Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Uhud is actually a mountain range, extending from East to West, with a total length of 7 km and width of 3 km. Mount Uhud is at a distance of 5 km from Masjid-e-Nabawi and has a height of 1,077 m.

These days there is an enclosure, at the foot of Mount Uhud, which contains, in the centre, the graves of Hazrat Hamzah , Hazrat Abdullah bin Jasht and Hazrat Mus’ab bin Umair who were all martyred in the Battle of Uhud. These graves and those of the other matyrs of Uhud are now inside a walled closure.


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December 2017

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Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi


Documents

MBL Calendar 17 - Meezan Bank