11 Days Jejak Rasul (Egypt, Jordan & Palestine)

Mausoleum of Imam al-Shafi'i

The Great Pyramid of Giza

Largest of Egyptian pyramids in a complex also including temples & other Ancient artifacts.

Saladin Citadel

Imposing fortress & wall built by Saladin in the 12th century as protection against the Crusaders.

Al-Azhar Mosque

Cairo's first mosque, commissioned in 970 to develop into a major center for Islamic learning.

Amman Citadel

Famous archaeological site with remnants of past civilizations, plus several notable buildings.

Petra, Jordan

The city of Petra (Red Rose City), the capital of the Nabataeans. Iconic 2000-year-old city, including 45m-high Al Khazneh (The Treasury), carved into the red mountain rock. 120 km north of the Red Sea town of Aqaba, one of the seven wonders of the world! Surah Al Hijr, Chapter 15 verse 80 - 83 "The people of the Rock also rejected the messengers. We gave them Our revelations, but they turned away from them. They used to carve homes in the mountains, feeling secure. But the ˹mighty˺ blast overtook them in the morning."

Jericho

Jericho (Ariha) is a city in the West Bank, Palestine, and the capital of the Jericho Governorate. The city is located in the Jordan Valley, with the Jordan River to the east and Al Quds (Jerusalem) to the west. Jericho is among the oldest cities in the world ! Prophet Yusha’ ibn Nun (Joshua): - In Islamic tradition, after the 40 years of wandering in the desert (Al-Tih) following the exodus from Egypt, it was Prophet Yusha’ (the companion and successor of Prophet Musa) who led Bani Isra'il across the Jordan River into the Holy Land. - Jericho is widely regarded as the first major city conquered under his leadership The Miracle of the Sun: - Sahih hadith literature mentions a famous miracle associated with Yusha’ ibn Nun during his march to conquer the territory around Jerusalem and Jericho: - the sun was miraculously held back in the sky by Allah's command to allow his army to complete their conquest before the onset of the Sabbath. Association with the Concept of Hittah The Command to Enter Humbly: - Islamic scholars and commentators of the Qur'an (mufassirun) frequently discuss Jericho alongside Jerusalem regarding the Qur'anic command to "enter the gate bowing humbly and say 'Hittah' [repentance/forgiveness]" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:58). - Many classical commentators suggest that Jericho was the city referred to where Bani Isra'il were commanded to enter with humility after leaving the wilderness.

Al-Aqsa Mosque

Masjid al-Aqsa is not only the Qibly mosque (with the silver/black dome). It is in fact the whole region including the Dome of the Rock where it is the 3rd holiest Mosque in Islam (any prayer done within this area is a multiplication of 250x and other hadith is 500x each prayer). Also known as Bayt al-Maqdis or Bayt al-Muqaddas (House of the Holiness). The name ‘Masjid al-Aqsa’ translates as ‘the farthest mosque’ and is the third most holy place in Islam. It was here that in around 621 CE the Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) came on the night journey from Makkah riding on the Buraq. Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No 3366: Narrated Abu Dhar: I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Which mosque was first built on the surface of the earth?" He ﷺ said, "Al- Masjid-ul-,Haram (in Mecca)." I asked, "Which was built next?" He ﷺ replied "The mosque of Al-Aqsa ( in Al Quds [Jerusalem]) ." I asked, "What was the period of construction between the two?" He ﷺ said, "Forty years." He ﷺ added, "Wherever (you may be, and) the prayer time becomes due, perform the prayer there, for the best thing is to do so (i.e. to offer the prayers in time). https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3366 . . . The first qiblah for Muslims; The station of al-Isra and al-Mi’raj; The second house of Allah built on earth; The place where hundreds of Messengers of Allah (ﷻ) are buried; The place where many Sahabah are buried; A place where miracles were shown by Allah’s will; A place which Allah (ﷻ) Himself calls a ‘blessed place’; Referred to directly and indirectly, 70 times in the Quran; The place where angels have descended with Allah’s message; The only place on earth where all the Messengers of Allah prayed at the same time led by the Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) The only Masjid mentioned by name in the Quran apart from the Ka’bah Most religious Jews regard entry into the al-Aqsa compound (which they call the Temple Mount) as a violation of Jewish law. This restriction is based on the belief that even though the Temple (of Solomon) was destroyed centuries ago, the precise location of the Holy of Holies, the sanctuary that was once entered by the High Priest, is not known. Hence the restriction is applied to the entire compound. They believe that the Temple should only be built after the coming of their Messiah, and it is their belief that it would be presumptuous of people to force God’s hand. However, there are several Jewish groups who differ from this opinion. Many Evangelical Christians consider it to be a prerequisite to Armageddon and the Second Coming (of Jesus), and both are actively encouraging the rebuilding of the Temple on the Aqsa ground. There are ten open gates leading in and out of Masjid al-Aqsa. Nine of these are can be used by Muslims, the exception is the Moroccan Gate (Bab al-Magharib) which is solely for non-Muslims to enter from. Masjid al-Aqsa has 25 wells within its compound.

Dome of the Rock

The Dome of the Rock (Qubbatus Saqqara or Masjid Sakhara) is actually part of Masjid al-Aqsa compound. This structure was built by Caliph Abd al-Malik from 685 to 692 CE and houses the sacred rock or cave from which it is believed the Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) ascended to heaven (Mi’raj) after the night journey to Jerusalem (Isra’). Some scholars believe that the angel Israfeel (عليه السلام) will blow the soor (trumpet) from this place to herald the Day of Judgement. When the Dome of the Rock was originally built, there was a surplus of 100,000 gold dinars left from the budget. Caliph Abd al-Malik decided to have these dinars melted down and turned into plates to cover the dome. Almost 400 years later, the dome was severely damaged by an earthquake and the plates were replaced by blackened lead. In 1994 King Hussein donated the money to have it replaced with the gold plated metal we see today. The dome is topped by a full moon decoration which is aligned so that if you could look through it, you would be looking straight towards Makkah.

Al Ibrahimi Mosque (Masjid Al Khalil)

Muslim built the Ibrahimi mosque Jews and Christians call it the Tomb or Cave – of the Patriarchs.Four of the most illustrious Prophets and their wives are buried.The four prophets are Ibrahim (عليه السلام), his son Isaaq (عليه السلام), his grandson Yaqoob (عليه السلام) and his great grandson Yusuf (عليه السلام).The other son of Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام), Prophet Ismail (عليه السلام), Ibn Kathir reported that the grave of the Prophet Ismail (Ishmael), peace be upon him, is in Makkah.Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) is mentioned by name 69 times in the Quran. He is known as ‘Khalil-ullah’, the friend of Allah.According to the Book of Genesis in the Bible, the land over which the mosque has been built was bought by Ebrahim (عليه السلام) [Abraham] as a family burial plot after the death of Sarah (عليها السلام) [Sara].The plot is named as the ‘Cave of Machpelah’ which means cave of the double tombs, referring to the fact that the wives of the Prophets are buried close to them.It is also known as the ‘Cave of the Patriarchs’.According to most Islamic scholars, the grave of Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) is within the famous complex of what is now the famous Masjid in Al-Khalil city.The precise location within the complex is not known.Almighty Allah has declared in the Quran in Surah al-Imran, Chapter 3 verse 65 - 68:“O People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you dispute about Abraham, while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense?Verily, you are those who have disputed about that of which you have no knowledge. Why do then dispute concerning that which you have no knowledge?It is Allah Who knows, and you know not.Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism),to worship none but Allah Alone and he was not of the polytheists (he joined none in worship with Allah). Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him,andthis Prophet (Muhammad) and those who have believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers.”[Al-Qur'an 3:65-68]Imam Scholar Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr (d. 774/1373) writes that Prophet Ibrahim was buried in a village called Al Khalil and the whole complex should be revered and respected.The Jerusalem geographer al-Muqaddasi, writing in 985 CE described the town as:"In Al Khalil (Hebron) is a public guest house continuously open, with a cook, a baker and servants in regular attendance.These offer a dish of lentils and olive oil to every poor person who arrives, and it is set before the rich, too, should they wish to partake. Most men express the opinion this is a continuation of the guest house of Abraham, however, it is, in fact from the bequest of the sahabI (companion) of the Prophet Muhammed, Tamim-al Dari and others….The Amir of Khurasan…has assigned to this charity one thousand dirhams yearly,…al-Shar al-Adil bestowed on it a substantial bequest. At present time I do not know in all the realm of al-Islam any house of hospitality and charity more excellent than this one.”All three Abrahamic faiths believe this is where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives are buried inside the Old City of Al Khalil (Hebron)Ibrahimi Mosque falls under the 1997 Hebron Agreement.H1 is under Palestinian control and covers about 80 percent of Hebron, while H2 is under Israeli control, covering the remaining 20 percent which includes the Jewish Tomb of the Patriarchs, the adjoining Muslim Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City.The agreement stipulated that the Palestinian Authority (PA) would oversee planning and construction for the entire city, including the Ibrahimi Mosque.It is is recognized as a Palestinian World Heritage site by UN cultural agency UNESCO.

Cave of The Seven Sleepers

They slept for 309 years !!! and woke up to find their ENTIRE town had become Muslim." 😱🕋 These weren't prophets. They were ORDINARY YOUTH who chose Allah ﷻ over everything. --- 🌙 THE STORY OF THE 7 SLEEPERS (ASHABUL KAHF) A king demanded they worship idols. They refused. So they fled to a cave & prayed: Surah Al Kahf, Chp 18 verse 10: "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance." . . . Allah put them to sleep—for 309 years. When they woke up? - Their enemies were GONE. - Their entire nation had embraced Islam. 💡Moral: - When you choose Allah, HE God Almighty handles the rest.

Prophet Musa Mosque (Maqam Nabi Musa علَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام)

The exact place where Musa (عليه السلام) is buried is unknown but tradition holds that Salahuddin Ayyubi once had a dream where he was shown this spot. He had a mosque built on the site which was further expanded by Sultan Baybars in 1269 CE. The Maqam is located 11km south of Jericho and 20km east of Al Quds (Jerusalem) Musa (عليه السلام) is mentioned by name 136 times in the Quran, more than any other prophet. A Mamluk inscription at the site reads that ‘The construction of this Maqam over the grave of the prophet who spoke with God, Moses, is ordered by his majesty Sultan Dhaher Abu al-Fatah Baybars, in the year 668 Hijri.’ The building consists of a large central courtyard surrounded by over 120 rooms with the ‘burial chamber’ of Prophet Musa on the right of the mosque which is built against the western wall of the courtyard. Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No 1339: Narrated Abu Huraira: The angel of death was sent to Moses and when he went to him, Moses slapped him severely, spoiling one of his eyes. The angel went back to his Lord, and said, "You sent me to a slave who does not want to die." Allah restored his eye (Angel of Death) and said, "Go back and tell him (i.e. Moses) to place his hand over the back of an ox, for he will be allowed to live for a number of years equal to the number of hairs coming under his hand." (So the angel came to him and told him the same). Then Moses asked, "O my Lord! What will be then?" He (Angel of Death) said, "Death will be then." He (Musa) said, "(Let it be) now." He (Musa) asked Allah that He (Allah) bring him near the Sacred Land at a distance of a stone's throw. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)said, "IIf i were there, I would show you the grave of Moses by the way near the red sand hill."

Suez Canal

Nile Cruise Dinner

Dead Sea

Islamic scholars and historians (such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari),the Dead Sea is the exact site of the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—the home of the people of Prophet Lut (Lot) (عليه السلام)Because the people rejected the prophetic message and openly engaged in systemic, violent sins and heinous immorality, Allah decreed their total destruction. The Qur'an states:“So when Our command came, We turned the highest part of the city upside down and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay.” (Surah Hud, 11:82)True Muslims should not visit the Dead Sea for leisure or casual tourism.Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly commanded his companions when passing by places of past divine wrath:"Do not enter upon these recipients of punishment—unless you are crying—lest you be afflicted with what afflicted them."(Sahih al-Bukhari 3380)(Sahih Muslim 2980)Due to its history of divine chastisement, authoritative scholars strongly advise against using mud, therapeutic salts, or mineral cosmetics sourced from the Dead SeaSheikh Ibn Baz and Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen advises that if travel through locations like the Dead Sea is unavoidable, one should pass through as quickly as possible with mindfulness rather than for leisure.In Surah Ar-Rum, Allah made a bold historical prophecy regarding the war between the Byzantine (Roman) and Persian Empires.The Persians had completely crushed the Romans in a battle fought in the Greater Syria basin around the Dead Sea. Allah revealed:“The Romans have been defeated in the lowest land (Adna al-Ard).But they, after their defeat, will overcome... within a few years.” (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:2-4)The Scientific Fact:In standard Arabic, the word Adna has two accurate linguistic meanings: nearest or lowest. For over a thousand years, early translators interpreted it as "the nearest land" to Arabia.The Revelation:With the advent of modern satellite topography, geologists discovered that the shores of the Dead Sea rank as the absolute lowest land-based elevation on Earth, sitting at roughly 430 meters (1,412 feet) below sea level.The Challenge to Atheists:The battle took place right at this basin. How could Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)—an unlettered man living in a desert 1,400 years ago, completely devoid of measuring devices, maps, or geographical surveys—know that this exact region was uniquely the absolute lowest point on the face of the globe?The Qur'an’s specific description of the destruction of Lut's people—stating that the land was "turned upside down"—perfectly reflects the unique geological history of the Dead Sea.The Scientific Fact:The Dead Sea is not a typical ocean body; it is a terminal lake situated directly inside a deep, volatile geologic faultline known as the Jordan Rift Valley.The Evidence:Geological and archaeological studies of the valley show that the area suffered a catastrophic, sudden tectonic drop. The subterranean pressure forced up asphalt, sulfur, and oil, completely plunging the surface topography downward.The phrase "turned upside down" is a flawless literal description of a catastrophic rifting event that dropped the earth's crust to form the world's deepest continental depression.An atheist might counter by claiming that other highly saline lakes exist, such as the Great Salt Lake in Utah or Lake Assal in Africa.While high-salinity lakes occur elsewhere due to natural evaporation, no other place on Earth combines all of the following specific Qur'anic parameters1. It is uniquely the absolute lowest land spot on Earth.2. It is the specific historical battleground defined as Adna al-Ard where the Roman-Persian prophecy was physically fulfilled.3. It preserves explicit geological anomalies (such as continuous subterranean asphalt discharging and hyper-salinity that completely chokes out organic life) acting as an enduring, visible "evident Ayah (sign/warning)" left behind by Allah for future generations to witness.“And indeed, We have left thereof an evident sign for a people who understand.” (Surah Al-’Ankabut, 29:35)

Roman Theater

Restored Roman amphitheater cut into the side of the hill, home to cultural events & 2 museums.