Iran Ziyarat resources and tips

English: Author: IA Source: Taken at the shrine of Imam Ali Reda in Mashad, Iran, in August, 2005. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

General

1. Iran ziyarat links
2. 2016 World Federation Summer Student Short Course
3. Visa / Administrivia

Qom
Mashad
Qadamgah, Nishapur
Tehran

Hajj / Umrah resources & tips

English: A picture of people performing (circumambulating) the . This picture taken from the gate of Abdul Aziz seems to divide the Kaaba and the minarets into mirror images of one another. Français : Pélerins en train de réaliser la Circumambulation (ou Tawaf) autour de la Ka'ba. Photo prise depuis la porte Ibn Saud, d'où la vue présente une symétrie en miroir presque parfaite. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Administrative preparation:

1. Ladies might want to get ehram stitched before leaving.  Get it done with pockets.
2. Meningitis vaccination required (at least once every 3 years)
3. Visa for Saudi
4. Long form birth certificates for your children
5. Marriage certificate

Resources:

1. Hajj: The Pilgrimage: Dr. Ali Shariati
2. Hajj Masail presentation by Sheikh Akil Karim
3. Hajj lectures by Sheikh Usama Al-Atar
4. Lectures by Dr. Mohamed Datoo 
5. Lectures by Sheikh Shomali, Sheikh Khalil Jaffer and others
6. Merits of Hajj  - Dr Usama Attar
7. Hajj: A divine invitation - Dr. Ammar Nakshwani
8. Quranic Reflections on Hajj - Shaykh Bhamanpour
9. Animated guide to Hajj
10. Short series on rules of Hajj: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
11. Niyyah card
12. Idhne Dhukul for Masjid-e-Nabi
13. Salaat Mayyit happens after EVERY congregational prayer in Mecca & Madinah
14. Critically valuable site - has everything
15. Hajj duas
16. Spiritual gems of Hajj from World Federation
17. Tips from duas.org
18. Mecca/Madinah live
19. Hajj Seminars - Canada
20. Hajj Seminar UK - Shaykh Abbas Jaffer and Mualima Masuma Jaffer
21. Hajj Seminar - Shaykh Mustafa Jaffer
22. Hajj Manual 
23. Madinah / Mecca Ziyarats
24. MP3s from World Federation
25. Amaal for the Day of Arafah
26. Layout of Janaat-ul-Baqee cemetery
27. Another layout of Janaat-ul Baqee cemetery on page 24 of this guide
28. Layout of Masjid un-Nabi on page 16 of this guide
29. Audio files for Hajj
30. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jannatul_Mualla
    
31. http://www.al-islam.org/shrines
32. http://www.al-islam.org/ziyarat/maps/maps.html
33. http://www.al-islam.org/ziyarat/maps/kaaba.htm
34. http://www.al-islam.org/ziyarat/maps/baqi.gif
35. http://www.al-islam.org/ziyarat/maps/nabawi.gif
36. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kaaba.png
37. http://manaasik.org/
38. More Hajj / Umrah links

The Selfish Giant - Oscar Wilde

    "You let me play once in your garden.  Today you shall come with me to my Garden."

Iraq ziyarat resources

Facade of the Meshed Ali, Najaf, Iraq Original description: 030408-N-5362A-002 Near Al Najaf, Iraq (April 08, 2003) -- The holy Shiite Muslim shrine (Dareeh) of the Imam Ali sits in Najaf. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Arlo K. Abrahamson. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Ziyarat in Iraq - Shaykh Muhammad Al-Hilli
2. duas.org - Ziyarat of Iraq
3. Ziyarat Spiritual Presentation - Sheikh Khalyl Jaffer
4. "How to prepare for Ziyarat and to make the most of it" | Interactive Session with Syed Naqvi
5. ALI 284 - Arbaeen ziyarat
6. ALI 374 - Arbaeen ziyarat 1438/2016
7. An Illustrated Ziyarah Guide to Iraq
8. Ziyarat in Iraq - P.E.T Publications
9. Ziyara Travel Journal - Iraq - qFatima
10. Maps/Layouts of the holy shrines in Iraq

Masjid-e-Kufa

1. Layout of Masjid-e-Kufa

Masjid-e-Sehla

1. http://www.alsahla.org/english/1.html
2. Layout on page 144 of this guide

Najaf

More Iraq Ziyarat links

Toronto Al-Quds Rally, 7/2/16

A few pics over here.

SEND A LETTER: Troubling revocation of citizenship of Ayatollah Isa Qassim and suspension of Al-Wefaq

Building on top of this post more recent disturbing events requires your action.  Please contact the Bahraini embassy and your local government representatives to politely, but firmly register your concerns over

1. the arbitrary revocation of the citizenship of Ayatollah Isa Qassim and 
2. the suspension of the main opposition party, Al-Wefaq.

Below is a sample letter you can use to send.  I think the phone, email, address, for Bahrain's Canadian consulate is here.  Also, CC your own local government representatives (contact info here).

-------------------------------------
Dear Ambassador

We are deeply troubled by the recent worrisome decisions by the Government of Bahrain to revoke the citizenship of prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim and to dissolve the opposition political society, Al-Wefaq.

We remain deeply troubled by the Government of Bahrain’s practice of withdrawing the nationality of its citizens arbitrarily, the overall precedent that this case could establish, and the risk that individuals may be rendered stateless. Our concern is further magnified by reports that Sheikh Qassim was unable to respond to the accusations against him before this decision was taken, or challenge the decision through a transparent legal process.

Moreover, the decision to dissolve the opposition party, Al-Wefaq needs to be reversed as peaceful criticism of the government plays a vital role in inclusive, pluralistic societies.

The government’s action against Al-Wefaq is not consistent with a commitment to sustaining progress towards yet unfulfilled promised reforms.

These actions against Sheikh Isa Qassim, Al-Wefaq, as well as other recent decisions, including the detention of prominent human rights activist Nabeel Rajab and resentencing of Al Wefaq chairman Sheikh Ali Salman, will restrict freedom of expression. Collectively, these actions divert Bahrain from dialogue necessary to ensure its security and stability and to continue the reforms that its leadership has pursued in the 16 years since ‎King Hamad’s National Action Charter was approved.

Signed,
YOUR NAME
-------------------------------------

Sermons during Mahe Ramadhan 1437 / 2016

A crescent moon can be seen over palm trees at sunset in Manama, Bahrain, marking the beginning of the Muslim month of Ramadan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sermons during Mahe Ramadhan 1437 / 2016

Respected Alim, Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi
1st night

Sheikh Jaffer Jaffer
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th - Wafaat of Lady Khadija A.S.
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th 

Respected Alim, Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi
16th
17th
18th
19th night - Seminal sermon refuting Dr. Tahir Al-Qadri baseless criticism of Nahjul Balagha - 1 of 3
20th - 2 of 3
21st - 3 of 3
22nd
24th