Most probably Venus, the brightest object on the Eastern sky at dawn (though I'm not sure).

Anyway, the view is a love ♡

Today's dawn sky, screaming in silence, that it's a wonderland, not just a mere visible sky. Who knows how many more imaginations can lie beyond.

أركض ورا الشمس .. اللي تغيب ..

ابي النهار .. وينتحي ..

أخاف أنا وجهي الى طاح الظلام ..

فوق الملامح .. ينمحي ..

كافي سواد العين والظل الحزين ..

وشمسٍ تبين .. وماتبين ..

ورا السحاب ..

كافي بَعْض ليلٍ يجي .. قبل الغياب ..

عن ليل الغياب

يا موقد الشمعة ..

وجهي أنا .. أو نور ذا الشمعة ..

قاسي الشحوب ..

في رعشة الضي العليل ..

وتكبر مسافات الهروب ..

يا صاحبي الشمعة غروب ..

به قريةٍ .. تحت الظلام .. مريتها ماجيتها

وبنيةٍ .. تحت الظلام ..

ورسالةٍ في الليل ..

خانتها الحروف .. من القهر شقيتها ..

كلي عيون .. وماتشوف

والناس .. ياظل .. وطيوف ..

والظلما .. نسيان .. الحبيب .. لحبيب ..

أركض ورى الشمس اللي تغيب ..

شكرا fajr@حزن

www.flickr.com/explore/2022/04/11

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam. It is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad received the initial revelations of the Quran, the holy book for Muslims. Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam.

Fasting is primarily an exercise of devotion to willingly renounce oneself, for a definite period of time, from all bodily appetites in order to form spiritual discipline and self-control. Muslims are prohibited from eating or drinking from dawn (fajr) to dusk (maghrib) when the adhan is sounded.

Ross Mosque

Do you think too that the colour is so beautiful? 🍂

L slam 3likum All :)

first! happy new Hijri Year ;D

I hope u'all doin great. either with ur finals, work or even in holidays :p

I'm sorry 3al crappy shot (v_v) I miss uploading :D

oo I miss lots of u too..

Cuta, Queen meme, simple, cheesecake, fajr .. and many [deleted] flickrs (v_v)

and alot of [BRBs] too :p

well! wish ya all an awesome cold day :p

oo happy birthday to Somii .. enjoy ur special day sweety :*

take care all! (n_n)

The musaharati is a public waker for suhur and dawn prayer during Ramadan. According to the history books, Bilal Ibn Rabah was the first musaharati in Islamic history, as he used to roam the streets and roads throughout the night to wake people up.

According to Abbas Qatish, who is considered Sidon's best musaharati, the attributes every musaharati should possess are physical fitness and good health, "because he is required to walk long distances every day. He should also have a loud voice and good lungs, as well as an ability to read poems. A musaharati should supplicate God throughout the night to wake the sleepers.

The tradition is practised in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan and Palestine. However, there has been a gradual disappearance of the musaharati due to several factors, including: Muslims staying up later; using technology such as alarm clocks to awake for suhur; and louder and larger homes and cities that make the voice of the musaharati harder to hear. However the old Dhakaiya tradition of singing qasidas can still be found in the streets of Old Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Similarly, in Indonesia and nearby countries, a slit drum known as a kentongan is used to wake households up to eat the suhur meal.

Sahūr or Suhūr, also called Sahrī or Sehri is the meal consumed early in the morning by Muslims before fasting (sawm), before dawn during or outside the Islamic month of Ramadan. The meal is eaten before fajr prayer. Sahur is matched to iftar as the evening meal, during Ramadan, replacing the traditional three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) although in some places dinner is also consumed after iftar later during the night.

Being the last meal eaten by Muslims before fasting from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan, suhur is regarded by Islamic traditions as a benefit of the blessings in that it allows the person fasting to avoid the crankiness or the weakness caused by the fast. According to a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, Anas ibn Malik narrated, "The Prophet said, 'take suhur as there is a blessing in it. Source Wikipedia.

TD : Agfapan 100 Professional 35mm film, developed in D-76 1+1 for 7 minutes. Exposure ISO 100 @35mm lens, natural daylight. Scanned with Alpha 6000 edited in ACR, inverted in CS6.

Taken @Mecca, SA

Junjungan Mulia

Tercipta satu lembaran sejarah

Di tanah suci Kota Mekah

Hari yang mulia penuh syahadah

Bermulalah sebuah kisah

Terima junjungan mulia

The Visayas are the subject of my new book Queen of the South, which contains 57-pages of B&W-photographs of natural beauty, gritty cities and interesting people in the Visayas (Philippines).

The book is sold at cost price with a small mark-up. The mark-up will benefit in full some of the slum dwellers featured in the book and in this set.

Instead of my vanity project, you can also sponsor these people directly via Action for Nurturing Children and Environment, Inc. (Philippines) or their German sponsors Kinder in Not.

Tonight's Tune: "Broken - Everlast"

The Overview: Happy Winter to all of you :), hope you all are doing fine. Well after all the wacky manipulation I did in my previous upload, here is something simple and beautiful for you all. I took this shot few days back, while I was preparing for my exam. It was a beautiful morning, though I just altered the hues to make it more beautiful. Enjoy this simple picture and Have a great weekend everyone.

Prayers

There are 5 prayers which are compulsory for Muslims:

● Dawn, before sunrise: ​Fajr

● Midday, after the sun passes its highest point: ​Dhuhr

● The late part of the afternoon: ​Asr

● Just after sunset: M​ aghrib

● Late evening: I​ sha

of the past year.

Day 187. 31/12/2010.

Last Day of the year and when I look back I'd remember this year for:

1. My love for photography and my 365

2. Getting to know Tazuin. She's certainly been the best friend of the year.

3. The two legendary vacations at home.Truly priceless moments with family,and I don't think I've ever felt so loved by friends.

4. Some really amazing days with university friends in China.

Resolution for the new year:

1. Start waking up in the morning to pray Fajr prayers.

Misses of the year:

1. No Aamir Khan movie!:(

2. Australian Cricket Team losing their grip on world cricket.

----

HAPPY NEW YEAR Folks!

I can't tell you how loved I feel on flickr. The last month or so has been extremely special. They say you can get a glimpse of the person in a photographer from their photos, and I feel there are quite a few likeable personalities here.

Explore:35

Madrasah children memorizing the Quran at 6:00 AM in the orphanage, someone who memorizes a complete Quran is honored with the title of Hafez.

A madrasa in Chittagong's Madarbari area where orphans and poor children lead a regular life, young children begin their day with Fajr prayers.Here madrasa childrens taught religious education and conventional education and responsibility towards the country.It helps children develop beliefs and values and encourages the qualities of respect and empathy.which are important in our diverse society.

A day at a small residential madrasa in my area - At a madrasa in Chittagong's Madarbari area where orphans and poor children lead a regular life, young children begin their day with Fajr prayers, regularly reciting the Qur'an after prayers. There they are accustomed to balanced diet and sports. In this madrasa children are taught religious education as well as conventional education and responsibility towards the country. It helps young people develop beliefs and values and encourages the qualities of respect and empathy, which are important in our diverse society. However, they have to spend most of their day in the madrasa, which is a source of frustration for them.

Fajr means dawn in the Arabic language. The Fajr prayer is the first of the five daily prayers recited by Muslims.

The sun was rising and so are the other creations.

When I woke up to pray Fajr this morning, I noticed this beautiful glow of reddish pink in the West Southwest part of the skies over the Rocky Mountain.

I rushed to grab the camera. Within 20 to 30 seconds, the color had changed, and what left was captured in this photo. But there were a lot more 30 seconds ago than what I was able to capture!

The beauty of the creations always mesmerizes me. The moments that I could not capture won't be returning; what a powerful reminder that is. I whole-heartedly appreciate that I was given the opportunity to experience the split-moment of beauty.

Shot through the window of my room.

Denver, CO, USA

Jan 18, 2016

_MG_2781

Permanent URL:

wp.me/p6HanI-2Q

Prayers

There are 5 prayers which are compulsory for Muslims:

● Dawn, before sunrise: ​Fajr

● Midday, after the sun passes its highest point: ​Dhuhr

● The late part of the afternoon: ​Asr

● Just after sunset: M​ aghrib

● Late evening: I​ sha

View on black

One of my clients is an Electrical Transformers Company. I sold them shots for their 2009 calendar 2 weeks ago.

The Logistics Manager of that company seems to love this mosque a lot, so he asked me to shoot it for the calendar. and so I did this morning. I had to pray Al-Fajr in there to be able to catch this shot to meet their deadline.

No Filters were used in here, just the Natural Early Morning Light. with the help of F/13.

Explore #112 on 16-Dec-2008.

SEE WHAT INSIDE ↓

ask.fm/DossaryS ASK ME =D

A local people taking a wudhu for the morning prayer at Jama' Masjid, Old Delhi India

*

يوماً ما سـ أقتسم مغلفات الشوكولا مع صغيرتي

, وهي بدورها سـ تتحايل بـ براءه لـ تأخذ القطعه الأكبر . . = $

rawan-al3bri.blogspot.com/

Madinah

November 16, 2018

OPPO CPH1607

Taken @Mecca, SA

… "El canto de la llamada a la oración o Canto del Almuhédano, quiere cambiar la focalización de nuestros sentidos y nuestros negocios mundanos y recordarnos que somos criaturas de Dios, al que debemos atención al menos, unos minutos al día… se repite 5 veces al día, (fajr), (dhuhr), (asr), (magrhib), (aisha)." Plaza Yamaa El Fna. (La Reunión de los Muertos) Marrakech.

The great gate (darwaza-i rauza) that leads from the north of the jilaukhana to the garden, and ultimately to the mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal, is a large structure with triadic openings. Looking at the south elevation, the base of the gate measures nearly 38 meters and its peripheral walls, including the cupolas, are 30 meters in height. The central pishtaq, also including the cupolas, is 33 meters in height and 19 meters wide. The gate is composed of red sandstone with decorative panels and accents in white marble. The surface treatment of the pishtaqs is elaborate: it is framed in white marble and inlaid with precious stones. Its central arch is delineated by a triple rope moulding and surrounded by a frame containing the Daybreak Sura (Sura al-Fajr) in thuluth script. The entry iwan contains muqarnas in red sandstone, which contrast with the white plaster paint outlining each segment. (The northern elevation of the gate is identical to the southern one; the lower left corner of its framed inscription also contains the signature of the calligrapher, Amanat Khan). Topping the central pishtaq is a series of eleven arches in red sandstone, capped by a chajja; eleven white marble chhatris crown the chajja. A single column rises from the pishtaq to complete each end of the arcade; this column terminates in a finial above the chhatris. This same column runs in engaged form along the height of the pishtaq itself.

Taj Mahal, the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658), grandson of Akbar the great, in the memory of his queen Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled ‘Mumtaz Mahal’. Mumtaz Mahal was a niece of empress Nur Jahan and granddaughter of Mirza Ghias Beg I’timad-ud-Daula, wazir of emperor Jehangir. She was born in 1593 and died in 1631, during the birth of her fourteenth child at Burhanpur. Her mortal remains were temporarily buried in the Zainabad garden. Six months later, her body was transferred to Agra to be finally enshrined in the crypt of the main tomb of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is the mausoleum of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.

The mausoleum is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna at a point where it takes a sharp turn and flows eastwards. Originally, the land where the Taj Mahal presently stands belonged to the Kachhwahas of Ajmer (Rajasthan). The land was acquired from them in lieu of four havelis as is testified by a court historian, Abdul Hamid Lahauri, in his work titled the Badshah-Namah and the firmans (royal decrees). For construction, a network of wells was laid along the river line to support the huge mausoleum buildings. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran. While bricks for internal constructions were locally prepared, white marble for external use in veneering work was obtained from Makrana in Rajasthan. Semi-precious stones for inlay ornamentation were brought from distant regions of India, Ceylon and Afghanistan. Red sandstone of different tints was requisitioned from the neighbouring quarries of Sikri, Dholpur, etc. It took 17 years for the monument complex to be completed in 1648.

In all, the Taj Mahal covers an area of 60 bighas, as the terrain gradually sloped from south to north, towards the river, in the form of descending terraces. At the southern point is the forecourt with the main gate in front and tombs of Akbarabadi Begum and Fatehpuri Begum, two other queens of Shah Jahan, on its south-east and south-west corners respectively called Saheli Burj 1 and 2.

On the second terrace is a spacious square garden, with side pavilions. It is divided into four quarters by broad shallow canals of water, with wide walkways and cypress avenues on the sides. The water channels and fountains are fed by overhead water tanks. These four quarters are further divided into the smaller quarters by broad causeways, so that the whole scheme is in a perfect char-bagh.

The main tomb of the Taj is basically square with chamfered corners. The minarets here are detached, facing the chamfered angles (corners) of the main tomb on the main plinth. Red sandstone mosque on the western, and Mehman-Khana on the eastern side of the tomb provides aesthetically a clear colour contrast.

The Taj has some wonderful specimens of polychrome inlay art both in the interior and exterior on the dados, on cenotaphs and on the marble jhajjhari (jali-screen) around them.

I took this shot of Ayasofya as I was leaving Blue Mosque after praying fajr. Both monuments are across the street from each other. Take a look at my other pic set to see the inverse view of this shot.

Water, that is.

Most people went back to sleep after taking Sehri and praying Fajr prayers, but then she's a hindu, woke up early to collect some water to avoid the crowd during the daytime.

Fisheryghat, Chittagong.

All rights reserved © fairuz 2009

Asbahna 'ala fitroti al islam

explored #167, novermber, 8 2009

Location:Kuala Lumpur

090609

Actually the moment before the sunrise; when it's just spectacular to view the sky and the clouds from the balcony of a fifth floor.

🍂 📜 The very first morning views have been different since I've moved into this new city for my medical course; which also leads to the fact that I'm not going to be having more captures or uploading my previous shots, for which I opened flickr in the first place, for a while or for how long I don't exactly know. Actually events happened in the previous two months that turned my life into a different way- right after a month of my maternal granny's death my father suddenly passed away without any warning and within a week I had to start my med-life in a city far from my hometown which is also very busy and running with lectures and exams, plus I'm adapting with living alone and away from home for the first time. So you'll be getting less feed from this page, or probably a long pause... sorry for that. And also, my YouTube uploads will be on pause too.

Hope you're all doing well and going to have a nice autumn/winter. 🍁 :)

Any thing you want to know ask.fm/DossaryS ASK ME ..!

HDR from 5 RAWs processed.

Minaret of Muhiyadheen Juma masjid melparamb.

Beautiful scene just after Fajr prayer with Shareef Kett.

www.50500.deviantart.com

I generally don't do mornings but on all nighter nights I see dawn. But never saw a shocking almost neon red pink orange sunrise morning like this one today at Tampa Bay Florida! Enjoy the weekend!

iPhone 7+ photo

Like, Comment, Share!

© 2016 IMRAN™

Muslim prayer

Five times a day a Muslim is bound to perform the Salaah, the fixed ritual of the Islamic prayer - worship. He should properly go to the nearest mosque to offer his prayers together with the whole congregation. Each of the five periods is preceded by the adhaan (or azaan - ezan as it is more commonly called). The muezzin (mu'adh-dhin in Arabic) calls out on each occasion:

Allaabu Akbar (four times - "Allah is Most Great").

Ash'hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah (twice - "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah").

Ash'hadu anna Muhammadar-rasulullaah (twice - "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah").

Haya 'alas-salaah (twice - "Come to prayer").

Ilaya 'alal falaah (twice - "Come to the good;').

Allaaku Akbar (twice - "Allah is Most Great").

Laa ilaaha illallaah (once - "There is no god but Allah"). Listen to Ezan (.wav format, 1Mb)

After the call to the good during the Fajr prayer (just before dawn), the crier calls out twice: "Prayer is better than sleep". Then follows the actual performance of prayer itself in which anything between two or four rituals (each one known as a rak'ah - a "bowing") are performed. The worshipper begins with the qiyam, the standing posture. He raises his hands to his ears and then folds them, right over left, upon his breast. Following this is the ruku in which he bows down and places his hands on his knees, thereafter returning to the standing position. Then comes the sajdah (secde), the prostration of the whole body on the ground. This is performed twice with a brief sitting in between. He then comes back to the sitting position, the qa'dah and passes the greeting as-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah - "peace on you and the mercy of Allah". It is known as the taslim and it is said that the worshipper is greeting his fellow Muslims (though some say he is greeting two angels who sit on his shoulders recording his good and bad deeds).

In between these postures various expressions and passages of the Qur'an (especially the Suratul- Fatihah) are recited. These include the takbir ("Allah is Most Great"), the tahmid from the Fatiha ("Praise be to Allah"), the tahlil ( There is no god but Allah") and the tasbih ("May Allah be Glorified ). There are variations of these, for example subhaana rabbiyyal Adhiim - "Glorified be the Lord, the Most High . This fixed ritual of prayer is so rigid in Islam that there may be no departure from it and the pious Muslim will slavishly follow it day after day.

Prayer is also like a gymnastic exercise and a mechanical act, together with total submission to God of course. Before going into the mosque the worshipper must perform an ablution, washing his face, hands and feet (or, in certain circumstances, a washing of the whole body known as ghusl), the ritual of which is set out in the Qur'an:

"When you prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows) rub your heads (with water), and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If you are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body". Surah 5.7. Later in the same verse it is said that the worshipper may use sand or earth, a ritual known as tayammum, where water is not available, in a desert for example.

In addition to the five daily prayers there are the tahajjud prayers, a late-night ritual practiced by Muhammad but not commanded by him, as well as tarawih prayers after the last prayer, salautal-isha, during the month of Ramadan. Furthermore on Fridays the great congregational prayer just after midday, the Juma prayer, replaces the midday prayer. In all of these the ritualistic performance of raka'at continues but, apart from these prescribed prayers, Muslims also have a more extemporaneous form of prayer, the dua. This takes the form either of set Arabic phrases or of personal devotions which may also be in Arabic or in the worshipper's language.

The times of prayer

Every Muslim, male or female, must offer at least five daily prayers in time, if is no lawful reason for exemption, combination, or temporary delay, They are:

The Early Morning Prayer (Salatu-l-Fajr), which may be offered any time after the dawn and before, a total period of about two hours.

The Noon Prayer (Salatu-z-Zuhr). This prayer may be offered anytime after the sun begins to decline from its Zenith until it is about midway on its course to setting. For example, if the sun sets at 7:00 p.m. the prayer time begins a little after 12:00 noon and continues until a little after 3:30 p.m. Soon after that the time of the next prayer begins. However, there are accurate calendars telling the time of each prayer. But if there is none available, one must resort to one's best judgment.

The Mid-Afternoon prayer (Salatu-l-Asr), which begins right after the expiration of the Noon prayer time and extends to sunset.

The sunset prayer (Salatu-l-Maghrib). The time of this prayer begins immediately after sunset and extends till the red glow in the western horizon disappears. Normally it extends over a period of one hour and twenty to thirty minutes.

The Evening prayer (Salatu-l-Isha), which begins after the red glow in the western horizon disappears (nearly one hour and thirty minutes after sunset) and continues till a before the dawn.

It is noticeable that Islam has set the times of prayer in such a way that our spiritual recreation remarkably coincides with our physical nourishment, and combines the peace of mind with the relaxation of body. The early Morning Prayer is due in the regular period of breakfast; the Noon Prayer coincides with the lunch period; the Mid-Afternoon Prayer falls about the break time for tea or coffee; the sunset Prayer is about the supper time; and the Evening Prayer corresponds with the late snack. It is also noticeable that the Muslim, by observing these prayers, marks the whole day with a spiritual stamp in the beginning, at the end and throughout. So he combines religion and life, feels the presence of God within him throughout the day, concludes his daily transactions with a spiritual feeling and builds up his moral prestige on strong foundations. Moreover, in this way the Muslim introduces spiritual vitality into all aspects of his life, and religion presents itself to all fields of activity. Indeed, this timetable of prayer is remarkable because it is the work of God and the product of Islam. It is always preferable to offer the prayer as soon as the time sets in, last some things cause unexpected delay or postponement. These prayers are Divine contests. The Noon (Zuhr) and the Afternoon (Asr) Prayers may be offered together, if a person is traveling, sick or pregnant. The same permission is granted with regard to the Sunset (Maghrib) and the evening (Isha) Prayers.

The partial ablution

Before offering the prayer one must be in good shape and pure condition. It is necessary to wash the parts of the body which are generally exposed to dirt or dust or smog.

Declare the intention that the act is for the purpose of Worship and purity.

Wash the hands up to the wrists three times.

Rinse out the mouth with water three times preferably with a brush whenever it is possible.

Cleanse the nostrils of the nose by sniffing water in to them three times.

Wash the whole face three times with both hands if possible from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin and from ear to ear.

Wash the right arm three times up to the far end of the elbow and then do the same with the left arm.

Wipe the whole head or any part of it with a wet hand once.

Wipe the inner sides of the ears with the forefingers and their outer sides with the thumbs. This should be done with wet fingers.

Wipe around the neck with wet hands.

Wash the two feet up to the ankles three times beginning with the right foot.

At this stage the ablution is completed and the person who has performed it is ready to start his prayer. When the ablution is valid a person may keep it as long as he can and may use for as many prayers as he wishes.

Nullification of the Ablution

The ablution becomes nullified by any of the following.

Natural discharges i.e., urine, stools, gas, etc.

The flow of blood or pus and the like from any part of the body.

Vomiting.

Falling asleep.

Losing one's reason by taking drugs or any intoxicating stuff. After the occurrence of any of these things the ablution must be renewed for prayer. Also, after natural discharges, water should be applied because the use of toilet tissues may not be sufficient for the purpose of purity and worship.

Complete substitute for the Ablution (Tayammum)

Tayammum or resort to pure earth may substitute for the ablution and even the bath. This is allowed in any of the following cases.

When a person is sick and cannot use water.

When he has no access to water in sufficient quantity.

When the use of water is likely to do him harm or cause any disease.

When the performance of ablution makes the person miss a funeral or Eed prayer which has no substitute.

In any of these instances it is permissible to make Tayammum which is performed as follows.

Strike both hands slightly on pure earth or sand or stone.

Shake the hands off and wipe the face with them once in the same way as done in the ablution.

Strike the hands again and wipe the right arm to the elbow with the left hand and the left arm with the right hand.

Special Facilities in Ablution

With regard to the ablution Islam has offered certain facilities. If socks or stocking are on and have been put on after performing an ablution, it is not necessary to take them off when renewing the ablution while traveling. Instead of taking them off, we wet hand and may be passed over them. They should be removed, however, and the feet washed at least once in every twenty four hours. The same practice may be restored to if the boots are on and their soles and appearance are clean. Similar a wound in any of the parts which must be washed in the ablution, and if washing that particular part is likely to cause harm, it is permissible to wipe the dressing bandage of the wound with a wet hand.

The complete Ablution (Ghusl / Bath)

The whole body with the nostrils, mouth and head must be washed by a complete bath before entering prayer in any of the following cases:

After intimate intercourse;

After wet dreams;

Upon expiration of the menstruation period of woman;

At the end of the confinement period of nursing woman, which, is estimated at a maximum of forty days. If it ends before, complete ablution should be done.

It should be pointed out that at the start of the bath or ablution the intention must be clear that it is for the purpose of purity and worship. Also, a person who is performing an ablution, partial or complete, should combine his performance with some utterances glorifying Allah and praying him for true guidance. The forms of such utterances and described in detail in the elaborate sources of the religion. One, however, can say one's own best utterances if one does not know the exact wo sufficient as long as it is in the praise of Allah and is said with sincerity.

Shot from the minarets of Muhiyadheen Juma masjid melparamb.

Beautiful scene just after Fajr prayer with Shareef Kett.

di dunia fana ini,

hidup menyenangkan itu bukan di mana, tapi dengan sıapa :)

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Feel free to visit my Facebook page : Farizun Amrod II

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Tagged By: evo_alkuwari

Model: evo_alkuwari

1- My name is Majid Al-Ahmadi and i born in 1 of Aug 1987.

2- I’m working and studying Bachelors of Business Management Administration (Distance learning) .

3-Things i love for sure my family, my friend and everyone who respect me the way i am.

4- My hobbies Photography, Drawing, Playing Guitar, Sport and the best for me riding horses and swimming, Shopping at the morning time, having adventure.

5- I dislike Waiting, Not being accurate in appointments, Noise, Nagging and cheating.

6- My Fav no number is (3) because my best friends are 3, My first letter was 3 and also i gave chance for anyone 3 times .

7- I love flickr so much XO xo XO xo.

8- In flickr i hate the most people who add me without writting a comment so how do they accept me to write for them.

and i like the poeple who always keeping touch with me and i really appirciateit for everything.

9- I like to listen to popular song, specially (Gipsy Kings) , when i exersise i listen to linkin park and seether.

10- Action and comedy movies are my best.

I tagge :

Fajr@qtr

»»المـہـندي»»

[ мίss мσ∂εℓ ♥ ] ..بس آحبڪ

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Technical Specs :

Camera: Canon EOS 40D

Lens: Canon EF 18-55mm F/ 3.5-5.6 USM

Focal Length: 39mm

Aperture: F/6.3

Shutter: 2.5sec

ISO: 100

Exposure: Manual

Other: On tripod

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Photo By M Al-Ahmadi

© All rights reserved 2009

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage"

Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.

In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.

Origin and inspiration

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess, died during the birth of their 14th child, Gauhara Begum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words.

Should guilty seek asylum here,

Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.

Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,

All his past sins are to be washed away.

The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;

And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.

In this world this edifice has been made;

To display thereby the creator's glory.

The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian architecture and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings including; the Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, inSamarkand), Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes called the Baby Taj), and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid inDelhi. While earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.

Tomb

The tomb is the central focus of the entire complex of the Taj Mahal. This large, white marble structure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome and finial. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements are Persian in origin.

The base structure is essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners, forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on each of the four long sides. On each of these sides, a huge pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with two similarly shaped, arched balconies stacked on either side. This motif of stacked pishtaqs is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, making the design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four minarets frame the tomb, one at each corner of the plinth facing the chamfered corners. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a lower level.

The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the most spectacular feature. Its height of around 35 metres (115 ft) is about the same as the length of the base, and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical "drum" which is roughly 7 metres (23 ft) high. Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome or amrud (guava dome). The top is decorated with a lotusdesign, which also serves to accentuate its height. The shape of the dome is emphasised by four smaller domed chattris(kiosks) placed at its corners, which replicate the onion shape of the main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of the tomb and provide light to the interior. Tall decorative spires (guldastas) extend from edges of base walls, and provide visual emphasis to the height of the dome. The lotus motif is repeated on both the chattris and guldastas. The dome and chattris are topped by a gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindustani.

The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic motif whose horns pointheavenward. Because of its placement on the main spire, the horns of the moon and the finial point combine to create a trident shape, reminiscent of traditional Hindu symbols of Shiva.

The minarets, which are each more than 40 metres (130 ft) tall, display the designer's penchant for symmetry. They were designed as working minarets—a traditional element of mosques, used by the muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a final balcony surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb. The chattris all share the same decorative elements of a lotus design topped by a gilded finial. The minarets were constructed slightly outside of the plinth so that, in the event of collapse, (a typical occurrence with many tall constructions of the period) the material from the towers would tend to fall away from the tomb.

Exterior Decorations

The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest in Mughal architecture. As the surface area changes the decorations are refined proportionally. The decorative elements were created by applying paint, stucco, stone inlays, or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms or vegetative motifs.

Throughout the complex, passages from the Qur'an are used as decorative elements. Recent scholarship suggests that the passages were chosen by Amanat Khan.The texts refer to themes of judgment and include:

Surah 36 – Ya Sin

Surah 39 – Az-Zumar The Crowds

Surah 48 – Al-Fath Victory

Surah 67 – Al-Mulk Dominion

Surah 77 – Al-Mursalat Those Sent Forth

Surah 81 – At-Takwir The Folding Up

Surah 82 – Al-Infitar The Cleaving Asunder

Surah 84 – Al-Inshiqaq The Rending Asunder

Surah 89 – Al-Fajr Daybreak

Surah 91 – Ash-Shams The Sun

Surah 93 – Ad-Dhuha Morning Light

Surah 94 – Al-Inshirah The Solace

Surah 95 – At-Teen The Fig

Surah 98 – Al-Bayyinah The Evidence

Surah 112 – Al-Ikhlas The Purity of Faith

The calligraphy on the Great Gate reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you.

The calligraphy was created by a calligrapher named Abd ul-Haq, in 1609. Shah Jahan conferred the title of "Amanat Khan" upon him as a reward for his "dazzling virtuosity" Near the lines from the Qur'an at the base of the interior dome is the inscription, "Written by the insignificant being, Amanat Khan Shirazi. Much of the calligraphy is composed of florid thuluth script, made of jasper or black marble inlaid in white marble panels. Higher panels are written in slightly larger script to reduce the skewing effect when viewed from below. The calligraphy found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is particularly detailed and delicate.

Abstract forms are used throughout, especially in the plinth, minarets, gateway, mosque, jawab and, to a lesser extent, on the surfaces of the tomb. The domes and vaults of the sandstone buildings are worked with tracery of incised painting to create elaborate geometric forms. Herringbone inlays define the space between many of the adjoining elements. White inlays are used in sandstone buildings, and dark or black inlays on the white marbles. Mortared areas of the marble buildings have been stained or painted in a contrasting colour, creating geometric patterns of considerable complexity. Floors and walkways use contrasting tiles or blocks in tessellation patterns.

On the lower walls of the tomb there are white marble dados that have been sculpted with realistic bas relief depictions of flowers and vines. The marble has been polished to emphasise the exquisite detailing of the carvings and the dado frames and archway spandrels have been decorated with pietra durainlays of highly stylised, almost geometric vines, flowers and fruits. The inlay stones are of yellow marble, jasper and jade, polished and levelled to the surface of the walls.

Interior Decorations

The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. Here, the inlay work is not pietra dura, but a lapidary of precious and semiprecious gemstones. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing for entry from each face, although only the door facing the garden to the south is used.

The interior walls are about 25 metres (82 ft) high and are topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif. Eight pishtaq arches define the space at ground level and, as with the exterior, each lower pishtaq is crowned by a second pishtaq about midway up the wall. The four central upper arches form balconies or viewing areas, and each balcony's exterior window has an intricate screen or jali cut from marble. In addition to the light from the balcony screens, light enters through roof openings covered by chattris at the corners. Each chamber wall has been highly decorated with dado bas-relief, intricate lapidary inlay and refined calligraphy panels, reflecting in miniature detail the design elements seen throughout the exterior of the complex.

The octagonal marble screen or jali which borders the cenotaphs is made from eight marble panels which have been carved through with intricate pierce work. The remaining surfaces have been inlaid in extremely delicate detail with semi-precious stones forming twining vines, fruits and flowers.

Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves. Hence, the bodies of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan were put in a relatively plain crypt beneath the inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards Mecca. Mumtaz Mahal's cenotaph is placed at the precise centre of the inner chamber on a rectangular marble base of 1.5 by 2.5 metres (4 ft 11 in by 8 ft 2 in).

Both the base and casket are elaborately inlaid with precious and semiprecious gems. Calligraphic inscriptions on the casket identify and praise Mumtaz. On the lid of the casket is a raised rectangular lozenge meant to suggest a writing tablet. Shah Jahan's cenotaph is beside Mumtaz's to the western side, and is the only visible asymmetric element in the entire complex. His cenotaph is bigger than his wife's, but reflects the same elements: a larger casket on a slightly taller base, again decorated with astonishing precision with lapidary and calligraphy that identifies him. On the lid of this casket is a traditional sculpture of a small pen box.

The pen box and writing tablet were traditional Mughal funerary icons decorating the caskets of men and women respectively. The Ninety Nine Names of God are found as calligraphic inscriptions on the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, in the crypt including "O Noble, O Magnificent, O Majestic, O Unique, O Eternal, O Glorious... ". The tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic inscription that reads; "He travelled from this world to the banquet-hall of Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri."

Garden

The complex is set around a large 300-metre (980 ft) square charbagh or Mughal garden. The garden uses raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway with a reflecting pool on a north-south axis, reflects the image of the mausoleum. The raised marble water tank is called al Hawd al-Kawthar, in reference to the "Tank of Abundance" promised to Muhammad.

Elsewhere, the garden is laid out with avenues of trees and fountains. The charbagh garden, a design inspired by Persian gardens, was introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor, Babur. It symbolises the four flowing rivers of Jannah (Paradise) and reflects the Paradise garden derived from the Persian paridaeza, meaning 'walled garden'. In mystic Islamic texts of Mughal period, Paradise is described as an ideal garden of abundance with four rivers flowing from a central spring or mountain, separating the garden into north, west, south and east.

Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular with a tomb or pavilion in the center. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the tomb, is located at the end of the garden. With the discovery of Mahtab Bagh or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna, the interpretation of the Archaeological Survey of India is that the Yamuna river itself was incorporated into the garden's design and was meant to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise. The similarity in layout of the garden and its architectural features with the Shalimar Gardens suggest that they may have been designed by the same architect, Ali Mardan. Early accounts of the garden describe its profusion of vegetation, including abundant roses, daffodils, and fruit trees. As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the garden also declined, and when the British took over the management of Taj Mahal during the time of the British Empire, they changed the landscaping to resemble that of lawns of London.

Outlying Buildings

The Taj Mahal complex is bounded on three sides by crenellated red sandstone walls, with the river-facing side left open. Outside the walls are several additional mausoleums, including those of Shah Jahan's other wives, and a larger tomb for Mumtaz's favourite servant. These structures, composed primarily of red sandstone, are typical of the smaller Mughal tombs of the era. The garden-facing inner sides of the wall are fronted by columnedarcades, a feature typical of Hindu temples which was later incorporated into Mughal mosques. The wall is interspersed with domed chattris, and small buildings that may have been viewing areas or watch towers like the Music House, which is now used as a museum. The main gateway (darwaza) is a monumental structure built primarily of marble which is reminiscent of Mughal architecture of earlier emperors. Its archways mirror the shape of tomb's archways, and its pishtaq arches incorporate the calligraphy that decorates the tomb. It utilises bas-relief and pietra dura inlaid decorations with floral motifs. The vaulted ceilings and walls have elaborate geometric designs, like those found in the other sandstone buildings of the complex. At the far end of the complex, there are two grand red sandstone buildings that are open to the sides of the tomb. Their backs parallel the western and eastern walls, and the two buildings are precise mirror images of each other. The western building is a mosque and the other is the jawab (answer), whose primary purpose was architectural balance, although it may have been used as a guesthouse. The distinctions between these two buildings include the lack ofmihrab (a niche in a mosque's wall facing Mecca) in the jawab and that the floors of jawab have a geometric design, while the mosque floor was laid with outlines of 569 prayer rugs in black marble. The mosque's basic design of a long hall surmounted by three domes is similar to others built by Shah Jahan, particularly to his Masjid-Jahan Numa, or Jama Masjid, Delhi. The Mughal mosques of this period divide thesanctuary hall into three areas, with a main sanctuary and slightly smaller sanctuaries on either side. At the Taj Mahal, each sanctuary opens onto an enormous vaulting dome. These outlying buildings were completed in 1643.

Construction

The Taj Mahal was built on a parcel of land to the south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the center of Agra in exchange for the land. An area of roughly three acres was excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage, and levelled at 50 metres (160 ft) above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and filled with stone and rubble to form the footings of the tomb. Instead of lashed bamboo, workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated it would take years to dismantle.

According to the legend, Shah Jahan decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold, and thus it was dismantled by peasants overnight. A fifteen kilometre (9.3 mi) tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to the construction site and teams of twenty or thirty oxen pulled the blocks on specially constructed wagons. An elaborate post-and-beam pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position. Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs, an animal-powered rope and bucket mechanism, into a large storage tank and raised to a large distribution tank. It was passed into three subsidiary tanks, from which it was piped to the complex.

The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab, and gateway. Since the complex was built in stages, discrepancies exist in completion dates due to differing opinions on "completion". For example, the mausoleum itself was essentially complete by 1643, but work continued on the rest of the complex. Estimates of the cost of construction vary due to difficulties in estimating costs across time. The total cost has been estimated to be about 32 million Rupees at that time.

The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia and over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials. The translucent white marble was brought from Makrana, Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli fromAfghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.

The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.

A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayers from southern India, stonecutters from Baluchistan, a specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit. Some of the builders involved in construction of Taj Mahal are:

• Ismail Afandi (a.k.a. Ismail Khan) of the Ottoman Empire Turkish architect, designer of the main dome.

• Ustad Isa, born either in Shiraz, Ottoman Empire or Agra credited with a key role in the architectural design and main dome.[34]

• 'Puru' from Benarus, Persia – has been mentioned as a supervising architect.

• Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore – cast the solid gold finial.

• Chiranjilal, a lapidary from Delhi – the chief sculptor and mosaicist.

• Amanat Khan from Shiraz, Iran – the chief calligrapher.

• Muhammad Hanif – a supervisor of masons.

• Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz – handled finances and management of daily production.

History

Abdul Hamid Lahauri, the author of the Badshahnama, the official history of Shah Jahan's reign, calls Taj Mahal rauza-i munawwara, meaning the illumined or illustrious tomb.

Soon after the Taj Mahal's completion, Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb and put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan's death, Aurangzeb buried him in the mausoleum next to his wife.

By the late 19th century, parts of the buildings had fallen badly into disrepair. During the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the Taj Mahal was defaced by British soldiers and government officials, who chiselled out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls. At the end of the 19th century, Britishviceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping restoration project, which was completed in 1908.[39][40] He also commissioned the large lamp in the interior chamber, modelled after one in a Cairo mosque. During this time the garden was remodelled with British-style lawns that are still in place today.

Threats

In 1942, the government erected a scaffolding in anticipation of an air attack by German Luftwaffe and later by Japanese Air Force. During the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, scaffoldings were again erected to mislead bomber pilots.

More recent threats have come from environmental pollution on the banks of Yamuna River including acid rain due to the Mathura Oil Refinery, which was opposed by Supreme Court of India directives. The pollution has been turning the Taj Mahal yellow. To help control the pollution, the Indian government has set up the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a 10,400-square-kilometre (4,000 sq mi) area around the monument where strict emissions standards are in place.

Concerns for the tomb's structural integrity have recently been raised because of a decline in the groundwater level in the Yamuna river basin which is falling at a rate of around 5 feet a year. In 2010, cracks appeared in parts of the tomb, and the minarets which surround the monument were showing signs of tilting, as the wooden foundation of the tomb may be rotting due to lack of water. Some predictions indicate that the tomb may collapse within 5 years.

Tourism

The Taj Mahal attracts a large number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001, including more than 200,000 from overseas. A two tier pricing system is in place, with a significantly lower entrance fee for Indian citizens and a more expensive one for foreigners. Most tourists visit in the cooler months of October, November and February. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourists must either walk from parking lots or catch an electric bus. The Khawasspuras (northern courtyards) are currently being restored for use as a new visitor center.

The small town to the south of the Taj, known as Taj Ganji or Mumtazabad, was originally constructed with caravanserais, bazaars and markets to serve the needs of visitors and workmen. Lists of recommended travel destinations often feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of Seven wonders of the modern world, including the recently announced New Seven Wonders of the World, a recent poll with 100 million votes.

The grounds are open from 06:00 to 19:00 weekdays, except for Friday when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12:00 and 14:00. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon and two days before and after,excluding Fridays and the month of Ramadan. For security reasons only five items—water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, still cameras, mobile phones and small ladies' purses—are allowed inside the Taj Mahal.

Myths

Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and emotional responses have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals of the monument.

A longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to be built in black marble as a Black Taj Mahal across the Yamuna river. The idea originates from fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in Moonlight Garden, Mahtab Bagh, seemed to support this legend. However, excavations carried out in the 1990s found that they were discolored white stones that had turned black. A more credible theory for the origins of the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archaeologists who reconstructed part of the pool in the Moonlight Garden. A dark reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool itself.

No evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail, the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the tomb. Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design. Similar claims are made for many famous buildings. No evidence exists for claims that Lord William Bentinck, governor-general of India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble from Agra Fort.

Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken bangles surrounding the silhouette.

In 2000, India's Supreme Court dismissed P. N. Oak's petition to declare that a Hindu king built the Taj Mahal. In 2005 a similar petition was dismissed by the Allahabad High Court. This case was brought by Amar Nath Mishra, a social worker and preacher who says that the Taj Mahal was built by the Hindu King Parmar Dev in 1196.

SOURCE :- WIKIPEDIA

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal)

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