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MADABA
Just south of Amman is Madaba the famous
"City of Mosaics", home to one
of the world's largest collections of
mosaics, most at least 1,400 years old.
Madaba's most famous mosaic, the Map of
the Holy Land, contains over two million
pieces of coloured stones depicting the
Holy Land and its surrounding regions.
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The
Madaba Mosaic Map Of The
Holly Land,Depicting Jerusalem |
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A
ten-minute drive from Madaba brings you
to Mount Nebo, one of the most revered
sites in Jordan. Here you have a magnificent
view of the Dead Sea, a panorama of mountains,
and the crowning heights of Jerusalem
are visible in the distance. On the summit
of Mount Nebo, you stand where the Prophet
Musa (Moses) 
? looked over the Jordan River towards
Palestine, Mount Nebo also became his
final resting place after leading his
people from Egypt across the Sinai Desert
towards the Promised Land. God spoke directly
to Moses
who then gave his people the divinely
revealed laws. It is generally acknowledged
that Moses
was buried on Mount Nebo, although there
is no actual tomb marking the spot. The
Holy Quran describes in detail the life
and mission of Moses .
In fact, Moses
is the most mentioned prophet in the Holy
Quran.
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In
need of water, Prophet Moses
struck a rock with his staff and twelve
springs emerged. Named 'Uyun Musa, Moses'
Springs?are near Madaba. Also near Madaba
overlooking Wadi Al-Mujib is the village
of Shaqiq. In Shaqiq, the tomb of the
venerable companion Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari
?is marked by lined up stones. Recognised
for his veracity and generosity Abu Dharr
was among the first companions to follow
Islam and a strong advocate of wealth
distribution.
The
Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist)
was the son of the Prophet Zakariyyah
and continued his father's work of preaching
the word of God. The pious and virtuous
John
lived, preached and baptised in the settlement
of Bethany ?in the Jordan Valley. John
the Baptist
also baptised Prophet Issa (Jesus Christ)
at Bethany and often accompanied Jesus
Christ
whenever he preached. He became a prophet
and an apostle when God addressed him
saying: "0 Yahya!
take hold of the Book with might."
[Sura 19, verse 12]. Herodias, who married
her husband's brother King Herod, instigated
John's
beheading in King Herod's Citadel at Mukawir
(Machaerus)?. John the Baptist's
head was sent to Damascus, while his body
remained in Mukawir. You can visit this
site located on top of a mountain in the
village of Mukawir near Bethany that lies
32 km southwest of Madaba.
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