The Tradition of قرقيعان

This is a unique Arab tradition that takes place in Ramadan, which I wish to share with my South African people and those residing in non-Arab countries…

Have you ever heard of the Arab tradition called قرقيعان?

It’s a fun and unique celebration that takes place in various Arab countries, especially in the Gulf region.

In some places, it’s held just before Ramadan begins, in the month of Sha’baan, while in other regions, it takes place just before the last 10 days of Ramadan. Here in Riyadh, قرقيعان was celebrated last night, and it was a blast!

During قرقيعان, children dress up in traditional clothes and walk through the streets with their packets, going from door to door. Their neighbors give them snacks, gifts, and goodies celebrating the month of Ramadan. It’s a tradition that goes back centuries and is loved by both children and adults alike.

The festive feeling that قرقيعان brings to Ramadan is truly amazing. It’s a time of joy, giving, and community spirit.

Although it’s completely safe here for kids to walk through the streets, adult supervision is still needed, especially to keep a watchful eye for any passing cars.

I know things can be different in other parts of the world, like in South Africa; it may not be safe for children to walk around freely, especially at night, because someone may take the kids away.

So if you’re ever in an Arab country during Ramadan, try to catch a glimpse of قرقيعان; be sure to join in on the fun and experience this unique tradition for yourself!

Fun fact: The word قرقيعان comes from the Arabic word “qaraqir” which means “bowl”. During the celebration, children carry special bowls or baskets to collect their treats.

#RamadanKareem #ArabTraditions #Qarqiaan #Celebrations #CommunitySpirit #FestiveFeels #UniqueTraditions #CulturalDiversity #SouthAfrica #ExploreCulture #LearnSomethingNew #JoyOfGiving #BowlOfGoodies #FamilyFun #ChildrenOfInstagram #LoveForTraditions #TravelGoals #MiddleEastCulture #saudiarabia #Islam #Muslim #Muslims #Arabic #Arab

Ramadan in Saudi Arabia – An unforgettable experience

🌙✨ Celebrating Ramadan in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 is a unique and unforgettable experience.

The air is charged with a special energy that can only be found during this holy month. From Taraweeh prayers to Suhoor gatherings, the spirit of Ramadan is prevalent everywhere.

What I love most about Ramadan in Saudi Arabia is that people stay awake from Taraweeh until the Fajr prayer. When Suhoor arrives, the streets come alive with people heading to restaurants and cafes.

As a Muslim, it is truly a blessing to be in a Muslim country during Ramadan, and the atmosphere in Saudi Arabia is unlike any other.

If you want to experience these incredible vibes for yourself, I strongly advise visiting Saudi Arabia during Ramadan. It’s an experience you won’t forget!

Ramadan vibes in Saudi Arabia

May Allah bring you and your family to Saudi Arabia soon. 🤲🏻

#SaudiArabia #BlessedMonth #RamadanVibes #Islam #Muslim #Muslimah #Ramadan #Peace

Unsung heroes of Saudi Arabia

A glimpse into the unwavering dedication of the guards, soldiers, and police officers in Saudi Arabia, especially in the holy lands of Makkah and Madinah.

These brave individuals not only ensure the safety and security of millions of pilgrims, but also go above and beyond to show kindness and compassion to those in need.

In the first video, you can witness the exchange of duty shifts between two guards who are responsible for safeguarding the Black Stone.

The second video is a timelapse of the many kind acts of humanity performed by these guards.

They help lost children find their parents, assist the elderly who are having difficulty walking, and fan people who feel weak in the scorching heat.

Some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet are the guards, soldiers, and police officers in Saudi Arabia.

Their selflessness and dedication to serving others is truly inspiring.

May Allah bless and reward them for their actions. Let us all take a moment to appreciate and show gratitude to these unsung heroes who make our pilgrimage to the holy lands a safe and memorable experience.

#SaudiArabia #Makkah #Madinah #guards #soldiers #policeofficers #kindness #compassion #holylands #pilgrimage #AllahBlessThem #unsungheroes #Islam #Muslim #Muslimah #Muslims

Allah is always listening

When you feel lost and alone, remember that Allah is always listening.

Your supplications serve as a reminder that you are never truly alone.

هذا هو ربي ❤️ This is my Lord

#Allah #Supplications #Love #Faith #Hope #Islam #Muslim #Muslims #Arabic #Islam

Musjid Sayid Al-Shuhada in Madinah

This is Madinah’s Musjid Sayid Al-Shuhada, located by Mount Uhud.

It is the final resting place of Prophet Muhammad’s صلى الله عليه وسلم Uncle Hamzah رضي الله عنه, Musab bin Umair رضي الله عنه, a noble Sahabi whose story is well-known, and the martyrs رضي الله عنهم of the Battle of Uhud.

It is located directly across from the hill where the archers fought during the Battle of Uhud.

May Allah bestow the highest level of Paradise on our Blessed Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and His noble companions رضي الله عنهم, and may Allah make us among those who will meet them in Jannah, آمين يارب.

As is customary in this land and country, the hospitality of the people can be seen wherever you go inside; it was extremely hot, and a generous person left a box of cold water on the ground for people to take. May Allah bless them.

#people #hospitality #islam #muslim #madinah

Heartwarming Charity

The refrigerators on the sidewalks and signs in restaurants and grocery stores offering free food or beverages truly touch my heart ❤️.

A refrigerator can sometimes be seen in the middle of nowhere on street sidewalks, and people instinctively know that if they are thirsty, they can take a bottle of cold water from the fridge. Such is the warmth of the people and safety inside the country.

Now, I’m not going to say that this only happens in Saudi Arabia; I’ve seen it in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates as well.

I wished I could see this in South Africa, but a funny thought occurred to me: not only would the contents of the fridge be taken, but so would the fridge itself. 😄🤦🏻‍♀️

May Allah bless all charitable people, wherever they may be, in this world and the next, and may He protect and grant safety to the people of South Africa and all human beings worldwide. آمين

Hajj Season: Appreciation to Saudi Police and Military

Thank you to the Saudi police and army forces for their generosity and service to pilgrims during Hajj.

Officers and officials from Riyadh, Dammam, Tabuk, Madinah, Taif, and other cities throughout the kingdom came to Makkah to assist the Hujjaaj.

We walked with wobbly knees at the end of each intensely humid and scorching day of Hajj, but it was comforting to see the smiling faces of police officers and army officials who were always ready to assist the Hujjaaj.

They helped lost pilgrims find their way, sprayed cooling water on perspiring faces, gave their umbrella to those who didn’t have one, comforted those who were crying and restless, fed those who were too tired to eat on their own, carried an elderly man who felt like he was about to collapse, and a kind army official offered my parents a chair to sit when there was no place to rest.

A kind police officer took off his shoes and gave them to an elderly woman from India who was wearing makeshift sandles made of cardboard and string.

Such was the generosity I witnessed from the police officers and army militants on duty in Makkah during the Hajj season.

So, from the bottom of my heart, I thank the Saudi police officers and army soldiers for their generosity, assistance, and heartwarming acts of kindness in making the Hujjaj’s Hajj experience comfortable and memorable.

May Allah bless and reward you both in this life and the next. آمين

STRANGE WORLD OF ISLAMOPHOBIA

The words of this Hadith (saying of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is sufficient to explain what I see in this world. However, I’m not the only one who feels disturbed by the negativity against Islam that has unfurled.

By the way, it’s not only Muslims who are affected by this world’s chaos and disorder; it’s people of other faiths too; they’re experiencing torture and would like some order!

When innocent people are being displaced and killed, they call it “PROTECTION”. When someone dresses immodestly, they call it “LIBERATION”. But, when a woman covers herself, they call it “OPPRESSION”.

I find it uncanny that a politician who incited Islamophobia by saying that Muslim women who cover their faces look like ‘POSTBOXES’, turns out to be the very same person who covers his face with a mask to save himself from coronavirus!

They’ve told Muslim women that covering the face is a form of oppression. If that is so, then answer my question… If we all start wearing masks, does it mean we have succumbed to a form of oppression? 

When people insult the Prophet of Islam, the beloved of Allah, the best of mankind (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), they call it “FREEDOM OF SPEECH”. But, when Muslims want freedom to practice their religion, then they’re accused of terrorism and ridiculed for their belief, yet they wish no harm because Islam teaches peace, and they are still mocked for saying “In God we believe!”

(يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ الصَّابِرُ فِيهِمْ عَلَى دِينِهِ كَالْقَابِضِ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ)

“A time of patience will come to people in which adhering to one’s religion is like grasping a hot coal.”

Al Tirmidhi – صحيح الترمذي

Islamophobia is NOT Freedom!

Religious sites in Istanbul

It has been another day in Istanbul, Turkey. We visited a few religious places such as tombs of great companions of the blessed Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and beautiful mosques.

We first visited the tomb of Abu Ayub Al Ansari رضي الله عنه. His tomb is located in an area called Eyup, which was named after him. Abu Ayub Al Ansari was the Sahabi who supported Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم when he migrated to Madinah from Makkah.

In order to get to the area of Eyup, we had to take a ferry across the Bosphorus River.

In the vicinity of the tomb is a beautiful mosque known as the Eyub Sultan Mosque. A few other companions of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم are buried in this area too.

People from around the world come to visit the tomb of Abu Ayub Al Ansari رضي الله عنه. It’s a peaceful and tranquil area with lots of shops and restaurants.

Men and women walk in separate lines to the place where the noble sahabi Abu Ayub Al Ansari رضي الله عنه is buried.

You can hear people reciting Qur’an and uttering supplications as they walk pass his grave.

Nearby to where the sahabi Abu Ayub Al Ansari رضي الله عنه is buried, there’s an enclosed glass cabinet containing a wooden slate that has a footprint of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. The wooden slate on which the footprint is on, is encased in metal. The metal casing was designed by an artist whose signature is still on it.

However, the wooden slate that has the footprint of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was brought to Istanbul from Arabia and it was kept at the Topkapi Museum. Then from the Topkapi Museum it was moved to the tomb of Abu Ayub Al Ansari رضي الله عنه.

We could hear the call of prayer for صلاة العصر being called at the Eyub Sultan Mosque and went to pray. The mosque was crowded, so we prayed outside.

After praying Al-Asr (the late afternoon prayer), we were feeling a bit hungry and stopped at a Turkish savoury shop in the courtyard of the Eyup Sultan Mosque. The name of the shop was called Simit Sarayi and we ordered savouries such as spiral potato pies, mini pizzas, chicken filled in delectable butter pastries and even a hot Turkish beverage called Salep.

We then left the area of Eyub and went with a bus to an area near the Bosphorus called Karaköy. Alongside the Bosphorus we saw boats with fishermen catching fish and other boats from which they were selling fish sandwiches. We could even see them frying the fish on pans inside the boat.

However, the fish sandwich was not to my liking as it did not appeal to my tastebuds. But some people really enjoy it.

Thereafter, we boarded a tram and went to an area called Sultanahmet and visited another mosque popularly known as the Blue Mosque.

We made it just in time for the Maghrib prayer and performed Salaah inside the Blue Mosque.

The mosque had underfloor heating and the architecture was amazing. This mosque is a tourist site and it is visited by many from around the globe.

We also noticed signs around the mosque advising us to keep an eye on our belongings, especially during prayer time as theft is (unfortunately) rife in Turkey.

A model of Musjidun Nabawi (The mosque of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) in Madinah (Saudi Arabia) was also being displayed to tourists visiting the Blue Mosque.

After performing صلاة المغرب, we left and took a walk to another mosque known as the Hagia Sophia which is quite close to the Blue Mosque.

The Hagia Sophia was formerly a Greek Orthodox church that was converted into a mosque by the Ottoman Empire.

After the Esha prayer, we then took a tram to the area of Sirkeci and returned to our hotel.

It was truly a day to remember and cherish.

“I did not come into contact with any Muslim before I embraced Islam. I read the Qur’an first and realized no person is perfect, Islam is perfect, and if we imitate the conduct of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم…we will be successful.” – Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)