Some useful information for Madinah

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Published by: Halaal Travels

Last Updated: 15 November 2022

Author: Unknown (Group of family and friends) 

Disclaimer: Halaal Travels cannot verify the Halaal (Halal) status, or provide reviews for any of the contact details below. This article is provided for information purposes only. It is recommended that you do your own research prior to using any of the information available in this post. This post has been compiled by a group of family and friends whom we have tried to track down. Halaal Travels has obtained authorization to publish this list. May Allah reward the original authors of this list.

Gate 1:

*Bab Salaam 

*Males entrance to make Salaam. 

*Outside dome area.

*Amazing to sit in the area outside the dome.

*Very quiet at the back, by the luggage lockers.

*If you wish to make dua, recommended not to face the dome, rather the Qiblah, which is your back towards the dome.

Gate 2-5:

*Shifa Hospital

*Quran Exhibition Museum (3) – handstiched Quraan on display as well.

*You can purchase Quraan’s for the Haram(at the Museum), it has the stamp in it.

Gate 6:

* Inside the Haram area : There is a kiosk for wheelchairs if needed. You will provide your passport, which they will return to you immediately. 

*Outside the Gate: Lovely area to sit and have some lunch. 

*Masjid Ghamama, which is newly renovated and open for prayers.

*Masjid Abu Bakr.

*Krispy Kreme, Hardees, KFC next to Masjid Ghamama.

*Quba Street Shopping :

Walk with Masjid Ghamama on your left and Krispy Kreme on your right, you will see a highway in front of you, between hotels. Walk towards it, straight down and you will see a clock. There are alleys of shops. Jewellery on your right. The alley on the left of the clock is where you will find very reasonably priced abayas. Fancy dresses and wedding dresses are in the alley on the right of the clock.

*Masjid Bilal is on the left of Quba Street. There is Bilal Market as well, which has abayas and jewellery. You will need to cross the street in the area which is not blocked. 

*These places trade after Asr until midnight usually.

Gate 7:

*Very cheap market undercover an umbrella-like structure.

*You can purchase packs of tasbeehs for 5 riyals to hand out at the Haram.

Gate 8 – 13:

*Renovation, apparently expansion of the Haram area.

Gate 13:

* Ladies entrance to pray.

Gate 14 – 16:

*Movenpick with Bin Dawood Supermarket at the bottom. 

Gate 17 – 21:

*Taiba Centre- bargain with them regarding prices.

*Basement floor has more of a variety and cheaper abayas/kurtas.

Gate 21:

*KFC and Hardees – they have a sit down area in Taiba Centre.

*If you walk out of the main entrance of the Haram, and you walk straight down, you will see a tent, this is Bangladesh Market. Very cheap market as well. 

*After Bangladesh Market, you could walk way further and you will find, Top Ten, where everything is 10 riyals.

*Further on, you will find Mazaya Mall. You can get a free taxi to and from the Haram to Mazaya Mall.

Gate 32-37 Ladies Rawda

*Ladies entrance to the Rawda, to make salaam.

*The times for ladies are after Fajr, and after Esha.

*Ladies will need to walk through the gold doors, they will walk through the big brown gates in front. 

*It is sectioned off, the far left usually opens first. 

*If you are in those gates straight after Fajr (opens Ishraaq time until about 9-but you just be inside the Brown gates) or Esha (opens like 45 mins after Esha until 2:30 am- but the front brown gates close at 12:30 am) , you will go in at some point.

*However, these times(straight after Fajr or Esha) are the busiest and you will still wait, as they send in groups as per section, the white partitioning.

*Best time is to leave your hotel by 10:30 pm or possibly 11:15 pm – work it out so that you are safely in the brown gates before 12:30 am. 

*There are timings on the top, the times are an indication. 

*One gate opens in the front, but the white partitioning on the sides will open thereafter.

*When the male guards come out on the sides, you will see their heads basically, then you know it will open in a few minutes.

*There is no need to rush, once you are in, you are almost there. 

*Follow the crowd to the main entrance to the Rawda.

*There are 2 sections, left and right, you will walk to the right.

*Once in the right, there is a partition with guards on either of 2 sides

*Stand in the middle of the partition, whichever one opens first, go through.

*Walk in with the crowd, but turn to the right, or sit at the back left. 

*Wait out the crowd for a bit, and check the crowd coming in at the back. 

*You can have an amazing experience if you are patient and watch the crowd.

*Keep in mind, the carpet has all changed to green. The actual rawda, where you should make your 2 rakaats nafl and 2 rakaats shukr, if you are able is where the pillars have those yellow patterns.

*Trick is to stand behind or next to a pillar.

*If you are able, wait out the crowd at the back and move forward at about 1:45 am, the crowd lessens and if you are there at 2:15 am, you will have an incredible experience.

*Thursday evenings are exceptionally full, so go a bit earlier to ensure that you will get in.

*If you walk straight out of Gate 25, you will see the Bahahuddin building, in the centre on the top floor in the corner, there is a South African Take Away. 

Gate 37:

Jannatul Baqi

General:

*The water outside is not Zam Zam. 

*Good to give charity to possibly the cleaners outside or inside before you go to make salaam.

*Masjid Quba is good to go to on a Saturday. Make a ghusl and pray 2 rakaats, it is likened to performing an Umrah. 

*There is a traditional market at the side of Masjid Quba.

*There is a well across the road on the right side of Masjid Quba, very sweet water, entrance is 10 Riyals – Well of Attaq.

*Masjid Qiblatain, Khandaq they will take you during ziyarat.

*There is a wonderful place for cupping, by Masjid Quba, but opens after Asr.

*Good to hand out kajoor(stand with a box of kajoor at any entrance and people will flock towards you) or food parcels. Many people that live far out sit at the Haram from Thuhr until Esha. You can purchase yoghurt and bread at the supermarket by Gate 25 or Bin Dawood. There is a man(Abdul Hadi) that can deliver parcels already made (dates, yoghurt and bread).

*Good to hand out on a Thursday as many people are fasting. 

*If you do hand out, try to hand to those sitting and avoid getting crowded, especially by females. 

*Ml Younis Patel’s son has a place called South African Place, it is about 4kms from the Haram – nice chicken tukra sandwich – they deliver. 

*Al Tazaj excellent food – 2 branches one in Sultana Road which is 10 mins away and one by Masjid Bilal which is 5 riyals from the Haram – Kabsa and Spicy Rice is awesome. 

*Bardisi – pistachio ice cream a must it is in Sultana Road.

*Besides the places they will take you on ziyarat. 

*Mount Uhud – If you are doing ziyarat, they will take you.

It is spectacular at night, which you can take a taxi.

*Support the people selling at Uhud, it is good (The Prophet (SAW) had great love for Uhud.

*Nabi Booti leaves can be bought from the people selling at Uhud – can assist in falling pregnant.

*Uhud Garden on the other side of the religious/historical side. You must walk up on the pathway right to the uppermost section and follow the path down to the other side. Amazing view in front of you and Uhud at the back, can be a little strenuous for older folk.

*Al Hijaz Railway Museum – a museum close to the Haram.

*King Fahad Printing Quraan – Quick tour from the top of the factory – bit far out – open during the week only – not Friday’s and Saturday’s. 

*In the Aliat Mall area , there is a sort of garden/park, you will need to take a taxi – King Fahad Garden its like a cultural area when there is a market, it is a bit far out.

*Mobily simcards have good coverage and good packages for those on Umrah.

There are 3 normal malls:

*Rashid Mall – with the ship inside.

*Al Noor Mall – Close by and most popular.

*Aliat Mall – further out. 

*Alqaraat Mall(by Al Noor Mall and Mazaya Mall (very close to Haram) the more Arab style mall with just clothing shoes toys huge – free taxis to these malls. 

*The View – dessert place with swings, beautiful view … in Sultana Road which is a road of many shops … very vibey but a bit too modern for being on Umrah.