Wonderland Fun Park, Dubai

Divided into 3 areas: Main Street, Theme Park and Fujifilm Splashland, the latter is the most enjoyable in Dubai’ hot weather.

In Splashland you’re spoilt for choices of water rides and pools. One is an adult activity pool, two young children’s pool, twister, surf hill, dragon pool, lazy river and more!!

Wednesday's is ladies only!!!

There’s an equally fun number of rides in the theme park, go – karting, trampoline and separate children’s rides area.

For those that can’t brave Dubai’s heat, there’s an indoor air-conditioned family centre again with over 100 rides, a 3D theatre and Rain Ball.

I can describe this place in two words: Highly Recommended!

Website details are: http://www.wonderlanduae.com/

Sokollu Mehmet Pasa Camii Mosque

This is my favourite mosque in Istanbul.

Designed by the great architect Sinan, it was sponsored by Princess Esmahan, the daughter of Sultan Selim II.


This stunning house of Allah swt is in the heart of tourist Istanbul but hidden away in the backstreets therefore mostly inhabited by local Istanbullas.


There’s a madrassa attached to the actual mosque building, and the teachers and students are always extremely hospitable to visitors. I’d recommend you visit after Jumaah (Friday prayers) which is when the students finish for the day, and take a quick peep inside. It’s amazing to think that the Quran has been taught in these rooms for over 500 years and continues to be taught to this day.


The courtyard and exterior is typical of Sinan’s style but it’s the interior that remarkably outshines all the other mosques of Istanbul.


Framed in gold above the entrance of the mosque is a fragment from the sacred Black stone in the Kaaba at Mecca. Another fragment can be seen in the mimbar, and two in the mihrab.
Any Muslim can tell you, that people trample over each other in attempt a just glimpse this holy stone in Mecca. To be able to see it, (and touch it if your tall enough) here in Istanbul is incredible.


The Iznik tiles in this mosque are ‘the best tiles ever made’ and instantly you will be able to tell they are far superior to of any other mosque in Istanbul.


The marble pillars by the mihrab were actually one of the first set of instruments designed to inspire the ‘Richtor magnitude scale’ (seismic energy released by an earthquake). The pillars are designed to revolve if the foundations of the mosque have been unbalanced due to an earthquake!


For map of the mosque: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=sehit%20cesmesi%20sokak

Aerial View

The Mihrab

The Madrassa

Why Istanbul?

My love affair with Istanbul began 10 years ago, when I visited for a week and was blown away by the grandeurof the enormous beautiful mosques in this amazing city.

I remember speaking to one fellow traveller who told me one week is not enough time to see Istanbul; she had been there two weeks and still had so much more to see.

She was right, I’ve since visited almost annually, and each time I see something new and realise I must come back again to visit another opulent site.

Istanbul is one of the worlds great cities where for over 1000 years east met the west.

Indeed the only city in the world to straddle two continents (Europe and Asia), it is 90% Muslim and is a window into the history of Islam.

The choice is mosque’s to pray in, is greater than the number of places to eat out in, and each mosque holds history and usually an amazing story behind its conception.

Depending on how long you go, here’s my top places to visit:

• Topkapi Palace. For centuries this was home to the Sultan’s family. The Harem which has a separate entrance is an absolute must, as is the holy relics room where Imams chant from the Quran day and night over holy relics belonging to the Prophet Muhammed pbuh and the Sahaaba.
  
  
• Aya Sofya (Haga Sofia). Confirmed to be generations older than the Blue Mosque this great structure dating back to the Constantinople era of the Roman Empire, has switched from being a church to a mosque many times over.


• Museum of Turkish and Islamic art. Some of the world’s great Islamic artifacts are housed here. If you’re not that much into art and artifacts, this is just a beautiful building to visit with a stunning courtyard where you can sip a quick Turkish tea.
  
  
• Sokollu Mehmet Pasa Mosque. You won’t find this mosque in guide books, as its quite hidden away in the backstreets behind the blue mosque and from a tourist point of view is only significant to Muslims. It the only mosque in the world other than the holy city of Mecca to hold remnants of the holy black stone of Kaaba. Four pieces of the black stone are each embedded above the main door, the mihrab and two in the mimbar.
  
  
• The Grand Bazaar. An ethnic shopping experience. Feel like you’ve stepped back in time, and be ready to haggle for anything you like.

• Lunch or dinner at Kumkapi. This place is one big open air restaurant, serving delicacies straight from the sea at very reasonable prices.

Why Dubai?

Dubai being an Islamic country alone is a haven for Muslim travellers. There are beautiful mosques around every street corner, large air-conditioned prayer rooms in shopping malls, hotels, spas and adventure parks.

Not to forget it’s an orthodox emirate so Islamic dress, Hilal food and general Islamic etiquettes are the norm.

I’ve had the pleasure of living in Dubai and terribly miss that lifestyle specifically catered for Muslim women and families. For instance all the parks have a ladies only area which allowed me to jog outdoors with my hair tied up as opposed to bundled in a hijab.

Similarly the fitness centres have a separate section for women and a crèche. Beautician’s and hairdressers are ladies only!

The best buzz I got was being able to buy from the meat counter in supermarkets!

But Dubai is most famous for one thing – shopping! There’s an amazing collection of malls and souks which host an array of clothes, jewellery and shoes you won’t find anywhere else.

For those of us on a budget, there are some souks in the Deira area that are incredibly cheap (you’ll feel like you’re shopping in India) and a designer outlet where goods are heavily discounted. Don’t forget Dubai is also renowned for its electrical goods market and the famous gold souk. So if you need the latest digital camera or want to splash out on gold jewellery, head to downtown Deira with your banter hat on.

My top tips for enjoying Dubai are:

• Being Muslim, living Dubai is far more satisfying than being a tourist in Dubai! Unless you can afford the top notch hotels like The Atlantis, I would really recommend renting out a villa or apartment. There are lots of great areas to choose to stay in. I recommend Dubai Marina for apartments, and Emirates village for a villa.
  



• If you do go ahead with my suggestion above, the holiday home rental company will provide you with details of your nearest mosque, supermarket, taxi office and also cleaners (which is usually very cheap in Dubai). Be sure to make the most of buying hilal food.
  



• Hit the beach at night time. During the day, Dubai beach (around the Burj Al-Arab hotel) is crammed with tourists. Night time brings out the Muslim locals. You’ll find nasheed groups, families, picnics, violinists . . . . .I don’t know anywhere else in the world where the beach is so buzzing during the pitch black night. As the only lighting comes from the moon and the towering Burj Al-Arab hotel above, I was able to comfortably take off my hijab and abaya and swim in the sea.

• Visit the local fitness centre or spa. All residences in Dubai have a local one. If you’re in Dubai Marina many of the apartment blocks have their own on the top floor. These are no ordinary fitness centres, these are sanctuaries! I would recommend booking a massage or treatment as soon as you arrive as appointments can get booked up very fast.
  
  
• For women, Wild Wadi water park is a MUST! Every Thursday night is ladies only! Need I say more?

• Do try out the desert safari, scuba diving and sky diving. There are numerous tour companies to choose from. Again I would recommend booking early.

• If you're not staying at The Atlantis or Al-Burj, I would recommend you still visit or have a quick drink there. These hotels are like worlds within themselves.

• The best resteraunts in Dubai get booked for reservations very fast. For example, reservations at The El Cassa should be done a fortnight in advance. Try and plan ahead as much as you can before you go.
  

If you need any more information just email me or comment below. If I can’t help you out, I’ve lots of friends in Dubai who can.

Dubai’s is the world’s 21st century global village. It’s a cosmopolitan city like no other!

Ibn Battutu Mall, Dubai

China court
























Fountain in Andulusia court


Indian elephant clock

Persia court

Ibn Battutu himself was a Morrocan scholar. At the age of 21 he set off from his home town Tangier, to do Hajj, and little did he then know he would not return to his home country for another 24 years.

On his journey to Hajj, he travelled through Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Palestine (including the holy cities of Bethlehem and Jeruselum) and Medina.

All this information comes from his autobiographical accounts and personal notes.

After Hajj, he chose to continue travelling, and his next stops were to be through Persia, Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, India, South east Asia, The Maldives and China.

In China he decided to return home but couldn't quite decide where home was!

News then came to him that his father had died, so made the journey back to Tanjier with a detour through Italy on route. On arriving home his mother had died.

Its fair to say by this time Ibn Battutu had been bitten by the travel bug, and his next stops included Andulusia, Mali and Timbukto.

In 1354, the Sultan of Morocco asked Ibn Battutu to narrate an account of his travels.

And fast forward to 21st century Dubai, where a shopping mall has been erected in his honour.

Although I'm not a particularly big fan of the shops here, the mall has to be visited for its amazing architecture, which depicts each major country covered by Ibn Battutu.

I also loved the small exhibitions in each court that tells us about Ibn Battutu, and Islamic science during Islam's golden age.

The mosque in the mall is also a lovely place to pray!

Wild Wadi Water Park - Dubai

Dubai is a haven for Muslim women! So many facilities provide a ladies only area, which makes it the perfect destination for us women to let our 'hijab' down!

Wild Wadi Water Park, doesn't dissapoint as from April to Aug 09 every Thursday night is 'ladies only'!

Jumeirah resorts state on their website that these nights are extremely popular, so lets hope they make it permanent.

For those ladies with some extra cash to spare, its also possible to rent out your own VIP cabana which includes a private tent, loungers, fridge and VIP passes.

Other highlights include 5 resteraunts, shops including one to buy your swimsuits, childrens water park and family mornings.

Muslim Travel Dua

Allaahu 'Akbar, Allaahu 'Akbar, Allaahu 'Akbar, Subhaanal-lathee sakhkhara lanaa haathaa wa maa kunnaa lahu muqrineen. Wa 'innaa 'ilaa Rabbinaa lamunqaliboon. Allaahumma 'innaa nas'aluka fee safarinaa haathal-birrawattaqwaa, waminal-'amalimaa tardhaa, Allaahumma hawwin 'alaynaa safaranaa haathaa watwi 'annaa bu'dahu, Allaahumma 'Antas-saahibu fis-safari, walkhaleefatu fil-'ahli, Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu bika min wa'thaa'is-safari, wa ka'aabanl-mandhari, wa soo'il-munqalabi fil-maaliwal'ahli

Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us though we could never have had it by our efforts. Surely, unto our Lord we are returning. O Allah, we ask You on this our journey for goodness and piety, and for works that are pleasing to You . O Allah , lighten this journey for us and make its distance easy for us . O Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the One in Whose care we leave our family . O Allah , I seek refuge in You from this journey's hardships, and from the wicked sights in store and from finding our family and property in misfortune upon returning.

(Upon returning recite the same again adding :)

'Aa'iboona, taa'iboona, 'aabidoona, Lirabbinaa haamidoon.

About Muslim holiday destinations

What’s this blog about?

Well, ever been on holiday, and its a Friday and you have no idea where to pray Jumaah?

Want a relaxing beach holiday with friends, but don’t want to stand out because you’re the only one in a burqini?

Love ski-ing but want to stay away from the beer festivals?

Muslims have a strict code of modesty and ethics. Many Muslims may not feel comfortable going to comedy festivals that are held in pubs as alcohol is prohibited in Islam. Similarly beach holidays are avoided by Muslims because of the modest clothing ruling. Being on holiday on a Friday in a town that doesn’t have a mosque is risky business.

All these issues are addressed in this blog. It’s about bringing to you a wealth of information about Muslim friendly holiday destinations!

I look forward to all your comments and suggestions.

Peace be on you,

Arfy.