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AlGhazalisIhya-Book_of_Mysteries_of_Pilgrimage, page : 62
every believer! As Abu Sulayman is reported to have said: “Uways al-Qarani
went on Pilgrimage and entered Madinah. When he stood at the gate of the
Mosque he was told: „This is the tomb of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon
him.‟ He fell in a faint, and when he revived he said: „Send me away, for I cannot
enjoy myself in a town where Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, lies
buried!‟”
Visiting the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him
As for visiting the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, you must
stand before him in the manner we have described, visiting him in death as you
would have visited him in life. Do not approach his tomb except as you would
have approached his noble person if he had been alive. Just as you would have
considered it respectful to refrain from touching or kissing his person, rather
standing back and bowing before him, you should now act accordingly. Touching
and kissing tombs is a custom of Christians and Jews. Realize that he is aware
of your presence, of your standing there and of your visit; that he is receiving
your greeting and benediction. Imagine his noble form as it lies in the tomb in
front of you. Feel in your heart his tremendous dignity. For he is reported as
saying that Allah, the Almighty has appointed to his tomb an angle who conveys
to him the salutations of those members of his community who salute him.
This refers to those who are not actually present, so how about hose who leave
home and cross desert wastes from longing to meet him, content merely to
behold his noble shrine since they have no possibility of witnessing his noble
countenance? He said: “When someone blesses me once, Allah blesses him ten
times.” This refers to the reward for oral benediction, so how about the reward for
coming in person to visit him?
Next, you should go to the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be
upon him, imagining you can see the Prophet praise and peace be upon him,
ascending it. Picture to yourself his radiant appearance, as if he were there on
the pulpit, surrounded by the Emigrants and Helpers as he urges them in his
sermon to be obedient to Allah. Ask Allah, the Almighty not to part you from him
at the Resurrection.
Conclusions
Such are the duties of the heart at all stages of the Pilgrimage. When all have
been completed, your heart should be beset with sadness, anxiety and fear, for
you do not know whether you have had your Pilgrimage accepted and been
firmly placed in the company of the loved one, or had your Pilgrimage rejected
and been included among the outcasts. The Pilgrim should discover this from his
heart and its conduct. If he finds his heart extremely adverse to this world
went on Pilgrimage and entered Madinah. When he stood at the gate of the
Mosque he was told: „This is the tomb of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon
him.‟ He fell in a faint, and when he revived he said: „Send me away, for I cannot
enjoy myself in a town where Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, lies
buried!‟”
Visiting the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him
As for visiting the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, you must
stand before him in the manner we have described, visiting him in death as you
would have visited him in life. Do not approach his tomb except as you would
have approached his noble person if he had been alive. Just as you would have
considered it respectful to refrain from touching or kissing his person, rather
standing back and bowing before him, you should now act accordingly. Touching
and kissing tombs is a custom of Christians and Jews. Realize that he is aware
of your presence, of your standing there and of your visit; that he is receiving
your greeting and benediction. Imagine his noble form as it lies in the tomb in
front of you. Feel in your heart his tremendous dignity. For he is reported as
saying that Allah, the Almighty has appointed to his tomb an angle who conveys
to him the salutations of those members of his community who salute him.
This refers to those who are not actually present, so how about hose who leave
home and cross desert wastes from longing to meet him, content merely to
behold his noble shrine since they have no possibility of witnessing his noble
countenance? He said: “When someone blesses me once, Allah blesses him ten
times.” This refers to the reward for oral benediction, so how about the reward for
coming in person to visit him?
Next, you should go to the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be
upon him, imagining you can see the Prophet praise and peace be upon him,
ascending it. Picture to yourself his radiant appearance, as if he were there on
the pulpit, surrounded by the Emigrants and Helpers as he urges them in his
sermon to be obedient to Allah. Ask Allah, the Almighty not to part you from him
at the Resurrection.
Conclusions
Such are the duties of the heart at all stages of the Pilgrimage. When all have
been completed, your heart should be beset with sadness, anxiety and fear, for
you do not know whether you have had your Pilgrimage accepted and been
firmly placed in the company of the loved one, or had your Pilgrimage rejected
and been included among the outcasts. The Pilgrim should discover this from his
heart and its conduct. If he finds his heart extremely adverse to this world