السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Saturday 4th July 2020. Let’s talk about ‘ꜤIbādat at The Umayyād Masjid of Córdoba‘ today اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ.
As I prayed Ṣalāh with JamāꜤat in my local Masjid after a 3 month gap, memories of my 2 visits to Córdoba (Qurṭuba) in Spain came flashing back. Our Masjid was temporarily closed for just 3 months, but the ‘Umayyād Masjid of Qurṭuba’ has been closed for the worship of Almighty Allāh since almost 8 centuries.
The first, in 1989, was a flying visit, with just one day at the magnificent Masjid. When my friend Ḥāfiẓ Rizvān and I entered the Masjid early in the morning, with very few visitors around, there was a good opportunity to offer Ṣalāh. However, we thought we would pray later. That moment never came. For the rest of the day, thousands of tourists packed the Masjid.
Missing the opportunity haunted me for 30 years. In March 2019, Almighty Allāh blessed me once again and I arrived at the beautiful Masjid. On this occasion, security was very tight. It was just not possible to find a quiet spot to pray Ṣalāh. Thinking that something was better than nothing, I went to the section reserved for silent prayers, and offered Ṣalāh, sitting on a bench.
For the next few hours, my family and I walked from pillar to pillar, reciting The Holy QurꜤān. We tried to cover each and every inch of the Masjid with our recitation. When the time came to leave the Masjid, I couldn’t resist the temptation to offer Ṣalāh. Finding a very quiet corner, I started, but within seconds, security personnel surrounded me. At least I had performed a Sajdah on the blessed ground.
Coming to the point, once we are completely out of lockdown and travelling becomes safe again, make the ‘Umayyād Masjid of Córdoba’ one of your destinations اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ. There are inexpensive flights from Manchester to Granada. When you visit, make sure you have downloaded a QurꜤān app on your phone. Go to the Masjid first thing in the morning and remain till it closes, walking from pillar to pillar, reciting The Glorious QurꜤān.
The Masjid is crying out for worshippers. Just before closing time, find a quiet spot and pray your Ṣalāh. The most security can do is remove you from the Masjid. You were about to leave anyway.
Almighty Allāh liberate the ‘Umayyād Masjid of Córdoba’ and return it back to the Muslims, Āmeen.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for DuꜤās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala