The Meccan Openings: Secrets of the Sacred Journey

﷽



وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًۭا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍۢ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍۢ ۝

لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَـٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍۢ مَّعْلُومَـٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِير۝

“And proclaim to the people the Hajj: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass—so that they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days…”

Surah Al-Hajj 22:27–28



🕋 Welcoming Dhul Hijjah 🕋

As the crescent moon ushers in the blessed month of Dhul Hijjah on May 28, we enter the most sacred days of the Islamic year. A time of devotion, sacrifice, and profound remembrance — these ten days carry the weight of centuries of worship, from the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim ﷺ to the final pilgrimage of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ.

In this special edition, we share wisdom from our spiritual guides, the Naqshbandi Golden Chain, glimpses of the Hajj journey beyond time and form, and sacred remembrances that open the heart.

Qurbani is offered from the 10th to 13th of Dhul Hijjah. Submit your request now to ensure it’s completed on time (see the link at the end of the newsletter)

🐐 🐄 🐑

Each Breath A Prayer

Excerpts from Meccan Openings

The Prophet ﷺ said in a Hadith ash-Shareef:

عن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال:

"صلاةٌ في مسجِدِي هذا أفْضَلُ من ألْفِ صلاةٍ فِيما سِواهُ من المساجِدِ إلا المسْجِدَ الحرامَ، وصلاةٌ في المسْجِدِ الحرامِ أفضلُ من صلاةٍ في مَسْجِدِي هذا بِمِائةِ صلاة،"

“One prayer in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers elsewhere, except Masjid al-Ḥarām, and one prayer in Masjid al-Ḥarām is better than one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere.”

The hadith of the Prophet ﷺ is that any prayer made in Madinatu ‘l-Munawwara is worth 10,000 prayers made elsewhere, and in Mecca it is 100,000 prayers. That also means that any breath or movement is considered a prayer in Madinah and Mecca; they will be rewarded as prayers, not as some scholars say, “only the prayers.” If you have missed any prayers, then go there and pray; it will be as if you have completed all your missed prayers, and more! You must still make up your missed prayers, but Allah ﷻ is Arḥamu 'r-Rāḥimīn, the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

If you go to Makkah and pray there, Allah ﷻ will give your due rights; you will get all the rewards, because you took the difficult way to reach Mecca and Madinah, and that’s why Allah ﷻ gives a lot.

So, I recommend doing Hajj when you are young, not when you are old, sitting in a wheelchair where they have to push you. Go when you are young!

النفقة في الحج كالنفقة في سبيل الله

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whatever you spend of money in Hajj is like money spent in the Way of Allah.”

Travel with Full Belief

MAWLANA SHAYKH NAZIM ADIL AL HAQQANI ق

“Everyone who took this way, started by believing in the Unseen. They said, ‘There is a Ka'bah over there, walk and see if you reach the glorious Ka'bah!’ In the old times they went to the desert. The camels and hujjaaj passed through the desert, sinking into the sand up to their knees, believing in the Ka'bah that they didn't see. They passed through the desert with love. Finally, they would find the Ka'bah.

Now our way is also like that. We walk by believing in the Unseen. That's why we are obliged to believe in the Unseen. If it were already visible, there would be no need to say, ‘Believe in this.’ You should believe here and go into the desert. You'll pass those deserts and find the Ka'bah. You'll be the guest of the Lord of the Ka'bah.”

Hajj is Like a Rainbow...

MAWLANA SHAYKH HISHAM KABBANI ق

“Hajj is like a rainbow displaying all kinds of different colors, each one giving you a different taste. If you examine that rainbow with a magnifier you will see even more colors all of which increase your joy. Hajj is thus like a rainbow displaying different manifestations of Allah's Beautiful Names and Attributes. Each year that goes by receives more manifestations over what came the previous year, all the way from the time of the Prophet ﷺ up to the year you go for Hajj.”

Your Hajj Can be Accepted From Home

SHAYKH NOUR KABBANI

In a Hadith Qudsi mentioned by Imam al-Qurtubi, Rasoolullah ﷺ said Allah ﷻ is saying:

"Whoever accept My Decree I have written for them in this world, and has been patient on the difficulties that have come on them, and thanked for the favors that I granted them, I will write them as Siddiq, one who accepts and speaks the truth, who is truthful, and I will resurrect them on Judgement Day with the Siddiqeen."

If you want to be a Siddiq, you must declare,

Ya Rabbee, everything is from You.

Ya Rabbee, I want to go for Hajj, but I am sick.

Ya Rabbee, I want to go, but I don't have the money.

Ya Rabbee, I am old, I cannot walk anymore like before.

Ya Rabbee, I submit to Your decree.

If you have any hindrances, any difficulties that prevent you from Hajj, and you submit to His Decree and are obedient, then you ascend in the Level of Perfection, thankful for Allah's favors by helping others. Then He will write you as Siddiqeen.

Whether you have made the pilgrimage or still yearn to go, this book is a spiritual Hajj in itself.

📖 Available in full-color and black & white paperback editions.

🌙 🌙 Special note from the editors 🌙 🌙

Meccan Openings began in 2011 as a personal effort to prepare for Hajj with Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani. When the journey didn’t come to pass, the longing turned into a ten-year labor of love, compiling suhbahs and teachings from Mawlana Shaykh Hisham, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim, Hajjah Naziha, Hajjah Amina, and Shaykh Nour on the spiritual realities of Mecca.

When the nearly 500-page manuscript was presented, Mawlana smiled and joked, “Put it in my pocket,” a moment of warm acceptance. He then gave Fātiḥa and instructed to complete the second volume on Madinah.

If you were blessed to accompany Mawlana and Hajjah Naziha during Hajj or Umrah, we invite you to share your memories—photos, videos, or reflections, especially from those sacred days in Madinah al-Munawwara. 

Email mshprojects7007@gmail.com or upload your photos below

Visiting Fenton Zawiyah?

We created this Whatsapp group dedicated to helping visitors at Fenton Zawiyah. This group connects local mureeds who can host and welcome our visiting mureeds from out of town. Let us know when you are planning to visit, inshallah!

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