Yesterday night I had a wonderful, once in a lifetime opportunity in my own city, Lahore, to pray behind the imam of the mosque of our beloved Prophet Muhammad. May Allah’s peace and blessings be on him. The shuyook from Saudia were invited at jamiaah Bait ul Ateeq, near Wanda town, which is a branch of Lahore Institute for social sciences and Islamic Institute, Barkat market, Lahore.
Alhamdulillah it was so nice to hear the same iqamah that is pronounced in masjid e Nabvi and then quite different tarteel of the sheikh himself. Never could have I prayed that prayer except imagining myself standing in the prayer hall of masjid e Nabvi and praying with all my focus, communicating with my Lord, asking for guidance for the straight path, from the One Who listens wherever we are. SubhanAllah
I am a regular visitor of the place and it’s a huge mosque as well as facility for local scholars, libararies and authentic Islamic education. Never in my lifetime I found it so crowded that it was hard to find a place to sit. Not even in Ramadhan. People were standing, waiting for shuyook to come, representing their love for masjid e Nabvi and the Nabi himself, masha’Allah. The loveliest thing to see was the unity of Muslims behind one imam just like in Makkah and Madinah.
It was though disappointing to watch when people tried to grab the sheikh from his hands and clothes, a shear disagreement for the act was clearly seen on his face. There was mismanagement of the overall event, but it doesn’t matter, as long as our hearts were to come close together in the mosque to see a man who has been honoured by Allah SWT to be the imam of the beloved Prophet’s mosque.
It was a long wait before everyone could stand in rows for the prayer at around 9:20 PM. The prayer began with the familiar iqamah of masjid e Nabvi and the imam recited the beautiful 7 oft repeated ayah of Surah al Fatiha). Last 10 ayah of Surah Ale Imran were recited in parts in both rakah. I wonder why did the imam chose them for such an event. SubhanAllah, it not only reflects his hikmah but also reflects his dawah to us; those ayah serving as reminder for us to be among those who reflect on the signs of Allah in the alterations of days and nights and who remember their Lord standing and sitting. (translation coming at the end)
It was also supposed to be an event kind of thing later on as arrangements could be seen. Probably where speeches were to be given by the shuyook. Although I left as soon as the prayer finished.
My experience was great and so was blessed, Alhamdulillah Rab il Alamin . All is His praise who gave me this opportunity. May Allah give us opportunity and Tawfeeq to actually go to the blessed Kabah and Masjid e Nabvi to really pray there, to get the ultimate reward from Allah SWT with Tawheed in our hearts and love and taqwa of Allah and love of being with Rasul Allah in Jannah. Say Ameen.
(the only picture I could find)
I’ll end with a brief translation of Surah Ale Imran last 10 ayah, serving as a reminder and to ponder deducting as many lessons as we may.
[More translation help available at http://quran.com/3/190-200%5D
3:190
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.
3:191
الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): “Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.
3:192
رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
“Our Lord! Verily, whom You admit to the Fire, indeed, You have disgraced him, and never will the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) find any helpers.
3:193
رَّبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا ۚ رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ
“Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one (Muhammad SAW) calling to Faith: ‘Believe in your Lord,’ and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die in the state of righteousness along with Al-Abrar (those who are obedient to Allah and follow strictly His Orders).
3:194
رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
“Our Lord! Grant us what You promised unto us through Your Messengers and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection, for You never break (Your) Promise.”
3:195
فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُم مِّن بَعْضٍ ۖ فَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَأُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِمْ وَأُوذُوا فِي سَبِيلِي وَقَاتَلُوا وَقُتِلُوا لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ثَوَابًا مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الثَّوَابِ
So their Lord accepted of them (their supplication and answered them), “Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female. You are (members) one of another, so those who emigrated and were driven out from their homes, and suffered harm in My Cause, and who fought, and were killed (in My Cause), verily, I will remit from them their evil deeds and admit them into Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise); a reward from Allah, and with Allah is the best of rewards.”
3:196
لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ
Let not the free disposal (and affluence) of the disbelievers throughout the land deceive you.
3:197
مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ
A brief enjoyment; then, their ultimate abode is Hell; and worst indeed is that place for rest.
3:198
لَٰكِنِ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا نُزُلًا مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِّلْأَبْرَارِ
But, for those who fear their Lord, are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise); therein are they to dwell (for ever), an entertainment from Allah; and that which is with Allah is the Best for Al-Abrar (those who are obedient to Allah and follow strictly His Orders).
3:199
وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَاشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ لَا يَشْتَرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ
And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before Allah. They do not sell the Verses of Allah for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, Allah is Swift in account.
3:200
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful.
Z.Imtiaz 