Day 1: Amman / Cave of the Seven Sleepers / AMMAN
- Pickup from your hotel in Amman.
- Depart to visit The Cave of the Seven Sleepers;
Outside of Amman, at a distance of about 10Km, is the mystical Cave of the Seven Sleepers, known as Kahf Al-Raqeem. The story around this revered site is related in the Quran in Surat Al-Kahf (the Cave), which is equated to the Biblical “Sleepers of Ephesus.” The “sleepers” were pious people who were persecuted by their own people. Refusing to recant their religion, they sought refuge in the cave. There, they slept for about 300 years - waking up thinking they only slept a few hours. Today, one can see the cave’s Roman Byzantine remains.
Proceed to visit the shrines of Abdul Rahman bin Awf & Bilal bin Rabah.
Abdul Rahman bin Awf bin Abd Al Hareth, In Jubeiha, a suburb of Amman, rests the shrine of the venerable companion, Abdul-Rahman bin Awf Al-Zuhri. As one of the first Muslims, and the Prophet’s earliest companions, Al-Zuhri was one of the “Blessed Ten” who were promised Paradise through the Prophet. Al-Zuhri participated in all major Islamic campaigns and battles during the time of the Prophet, including the battle of Mt. Uhud, The Trench, the conquest of Mecca and Hunayen. Al-Zuhri led the expedition of Dumat Al- Jandal and was assigned by the Prophet as the signatory to represent the Islamic side in the treaty of Hudaybiyah. He was also present during the Farewell Pilgrimage, also known as the Pilgrimage of Islam, which was the last time that the Prophet saw Mecca and the Holy Sanctuary prior to his passing away. After the Prophet’s death, Al-Zuhri was one of the signatories of the conquest of Jerusalem and the covenant of Omar.
This covenant of peace took place between the Muslims, represented by the Caliph Omar bin-Al-Khattab and the Christian population in Jerusalem.
Bilal bin Rabah Shrine Enclosed in a modern building in wadi Es-Seer, another suburb of Amman, is the shrine of
Bilal bin Rabaah - one of the first companions of the Prophet and the first Mua’then in Islam (man who called out-loud for people to come to prayer). Bilal converted to Islam when he was still a slave, and although he was badly
tortured by his master Umayyah bin Khalaf, his deep faith helped him withstand and refuse to renounce his new religion. The Prophet’s companion, Abu Bakr Al-Siddeeq, bought Bilal from bin Khalaf and set Bilal a free man upon the order of the Prophet. Bilal fought in the Battles of Uuhud and Badr, and when Islam conquered Mecca, he was asked by the Prophet to climb up the Ka’aba and sound the call for prayer. His beautiful voice echoed in the sky reminding the people of their one God and their religious duty.
- Lunch at a Local Restaurant in Amman (Optional).
- Transfer back to your hotel in Amman.
Day 2: Amman / Al Salt / Amman
- Pickup from the Hotel in Amman.
- Depart to Al Salt for a visit to the tombs of the Prophets Jethro (Shu’ssyb), Joshua (Yosha’a) & Maysarah bin Masrouq Al-Abassi.
Prophet Jethro (Shu’aayb), In Wadi Shu’aayb lies the tomb of Prophet Shu’aayb. Known as Jethro in the Bible; he is believed to have been the only “blind” prophet. Shu’aayb came from the tribe of Midian that lived around Ma’aan and Jordan. The Midian tribe was composed of bandits that robbed and terrorized travelers. Shu’aayb delivered God’s message to them and asked they denounce their evil ways. However, they rejected him, after which God destroyed them. Shu’aayb is one of four Arab Prophets mentioned in the Quran; the others are Hud, Saleh and Muhammad. Shu’aayb was also a descendant of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). He was also the father in-law of both Musa (Moses) and Haroun (Aaron). The Quran tells us that Musa worked for Shu’aayb for ten years to pay off the dowry.
Prophet Joshua (Yosha’a), in a tomb near As-Salt lies Prophet Yosha’a. Also a descendant of the Prophet Ibrahim, Yosha’a was the son of Nun and the maternal nephew of Musa. According to Surat Al-Kahf in the Quran, he was the apprentice of Musa. After Musa died, Yosha’a led the Israelites into Jericho and Jerusalem in Palestine. The Quran does not mention Yosha’a by name, but Islamic tradition confirms him as a Prophet. According to a Hadith (venerable words spoken by Prophet Muhammad), the sun never hailed to any man, except for Yosha’a as he left for Jerusalem.
Maysarah bin Masrouq Al-Abassi, The tomb of Maysarah bin Masrouq Al-Abassi lies in an area called Arda near As-Salt. Maysarah, whose name means ‘ease’ was from the tribe of ‘Bani Abs’ and was one of a nine-member delegation that met with the Prophet Muhammad. During the Farewell Pilgrimage, he expressed gratitude to Muhammad for saving him from Hell. During the wars of the Apostasy, Al-Abassi’s tribe supported Abu Bakr
Al-Siddeeq, and he personally joined Khalid bin Al-Walid in the Battle of Yamamah and the conquest of Syria. A commander of the Islamic army against the Byzantines, Al-Abassi led four hundred men to victory in the 20th year after the Hijra. That was the first time that a Muslim army entered the land of the Byzantines.
- Lunch during trip at a Local Restaurant (Optional).
- Transfer back to your hotel in Amman.