Just about a month ago, with a heart filled of emotions, a mind full of commotions and a brain full of uncertainty, Me and my better half had embarked the journey of our lifetime- The Hajj.
Hajj being one the five pillars of Islam, surrendering to the very thought of it makes us grateful to the Almighty.
Leaving behind the families, wealth and home and almost all the connections with world was not an easy task but the sole purpose behind it, the very intention of pleasing our Lord, Allah SWT made it quite easy. With several thoughts behind, there was one strong feeling with in, If Allah has decided it for me and thats it, it will happen, Kun FayaKun !!
Donned in the humble Ehrams we had set for the travel as a servant of the Lord.
Alhamdulillah we had a smooth flight and reached the land of blessings, Makkah Mukarama for the biggest achievement of life. Throughout the journey we had several stops and formalities which took hours more than the entire flight time to reach our rooms.
Tired and torn apart with almost 2 days of travel from my hometown of Kangeyam, with a qalb full of restrictions and limitations, with tongues moist with dhikr of Allah and answering to the call of Ibrahim A.S, we proceed with, as our souls wouldn't rest without seeing the house of Allah , the Kabathula uttering Labbayka Allahumma labbayk (Here I am, O Allah, here I am) with complete submission to Allah, we complete our first Umrah of our Hajj Tamatu.
With only a couple of days left behind for the most beautiful and enriching experience of life, we get all prepared and set mentally and physically.
On the 7th of Dhul Hijjah we leave to the tent city of Mina dressed in Ehrams as humble as we can with our bare necessities in a small bag for a trip of almost 6 days, We are then taken over by the Government as guests of " Al Bait", wearing the tags around as proclaiming ourselves as the guests of Allah to his house, this-this very feel would make us give all that we have in us to our Lord, Almighty .
The days in Mina are an important factor for making us prepared with lots of prayers and some rest for the coming tough days. Our Mina days were truly blessed in every single way we could even imagine, We had the best of the stay and food, and not to forget to mention the best of the mates we could get in the Hajj, which we hope would stay forever. Mina days were totally enjoyable in the most halal way.
Following the Mina was the day of Arafa, on 9th Dhul Hijjah, we were put up in huge tents with the best accommodation among people from different parts of world, different ethnicities and cultures but only one Intention, pleasing our Lord, Allah SWT, the entire day was filled with lots of supplications and prayers helping us getting connected to our dear Lord in the most special way, our tears were almost dry after all its outpour the entire day, humbling and simplifying us, the most. This day is a reminder of the Day of resurrection where the entire Ummah would stand in front of our Lord, humble and naive. Masha Allah, blissful in every single moment
Around the sunset, we had to leave to lands of Muzdalifah, a distance of 6-7 kms but the formalities and waiting took almost 7 long hours, without food and toilet facilities, quite a challenge for the elderly, but Allah made it easy.
The skies of Muzdalifah had all the warmth we could ask for, soon after combined prayers, we picked up our pebbles for the pelting of the devil and took some rest, Surely, that was the best sleep, one can imagine on bare ground and bare skies beyond us.
Around Sunrise, was our humble march back to Mina, a distance of 7 kms, but it was quite a breeze as our hearts were filled with joy of The Eid day, It was the long day, 10 th of Dhul Hijjah, rituals of pelting stones, animal sacrifices and haircut and coming out of partial Ehram kept us totally busy, the following days had the rituals of stone pelting and Tawaaf Ziyarah after which we can give up our Ehram completely and be called as Hajis, Alhamdulillah .
The Baitullah stood there all elegant and majestic with almost witnessing the humbling of 3 million souls. Subhanallah, no where on earth , one could experience this sight of joy and submission.
Other rituals of Hajj were completed in full enthusiasm and energy we had in store.
The days of Medina rather the days of tranquility marked the end of our journey, Nevertheless we were treated as the elite guests of Allah throughout the journey. Alhamdulillah.
The entire journey emphasized and imbibed several instances which taught us compassion of fellow beings, patience and humility in every way .
Reaching back to our home without our baggage ( as they were still stuck in Medina due to some formalities) was another test for Sabr and we are enduring it with patience and hoping and praying that it reaches us safely, so that we can gift our loved ones, our memoirs of the blessed land. Insha Allah.
Out hearts are still yearning just like how it all started with only one dua, May Allah accept our greatest amal and make our Hajj Maqbool and accept it from us. This is all we ask for, Ya Rehmaan, Ya Raheem.
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