The Road to Mina

Sept 25 marked the start of my  haj & umrah journey, Alhumdulilah!

Arriving in Medina was all it promised to be including hearing the melodious voice of the Imam in Masjidun Nabawi. At first I thought it was the exceptional quality of the sound system but everyday as I listened to the voice leading the salaah, I realized it was like the "sound" of  Iiquorice, so so beautiful Mashaa Allah.
Visiting the prophets grave at the Rowdhatul Jannah was an experience not easily explainable to those who have not yet been, so I make duah that the Almighty Allah swt grant each and every
Muslim an opportunity to visit this Sacred Holy place, Inshaa Allah.

As we head to Mecca Mukarrama chanting La Baik Allah Humma La BAIK ( Here I am Oh Allah, here I am!) whilst in Ihraam, you are so close to your Maker, that it feels almost as if you are outside your own body. Subhahanallah !

Reality strikes when you have to navigate your way towards the Kabaa through Thousands and thousands of pilgrims. You set your eyes on the kabaa for the first time and it's nothing that you expect it to be. Because we see pictures of it on TV, the first reaction is that it's so small compared to how it looks on Television. But when you circumvate the kabaa 7 times, day after day, the kabaa appears bigger and bigger each time, and it's not the size, but the magnitude of the realization of where you are. The House of Allah built by Ebrahim (AS), Subhahallah!
Then re-living Hajira's moments running between Safa & Marwa as she looked for water for her precious child, you Praise Allah for all his favors bestowed upon you, Alhumdulilah!

Finally the first day of haj arrives and you head to Mina by foot, where you will overnight in tents on a basic mattress before leaving for Arafat by bus.

Arafat is the place where you beg Allah swt for his forgiveness. The smell at Arafa is one found nowhere else in the world I am sure. As the smell of euchilliptus fills the air the tears flow while you pray for the Almighty's infinite mercy and forgiveness at Jabal Ragmah.

As you leave Arafa for Muzdulifah, not knowing what to expect, you leave all your trust in Allah's hands. So when you reach your destination and even though you have to sleep on the ground, you
feel so light believing that your sins have been forgiven that you sleep soundly! AllahuAkbar !  AllahuAkbar !   AllahuAkbar !

Heading from Muzdulifah by foot to pelt the Jamarat, the symbolic pelting of the devil, you feel exhausted but yet energized at the thought of stoning the "symbolic shaitaan"

Thereafter you head back to Mina for the 3 days of Tashrieq where you engage in reflection, Thikr Allah and more pelting of the Jamarats.

The last day of pelting left many of us crying buckets of tears as we let go of the shackles of Shaitaan and begging Allah Almighty to protect and guide us from wrongdoing.

To all returning Hujaaj, May Allah accept your Haj, forgive your sins and recompense your expenses.
Inshaa Allah