Journey of a Lifetime


As I first land in Medina, I feel this sudden rush of joy, thinking to myself, could I possibly be treading upon the same earth as the Prophet (peace be upon him)? Could I possibly be so close to visiting him (peace be upon him)?

 

The feeling intensifies further once I arrive in Mecca and slowly approach the Sacred Kaaba.

 

I stride slowly, overwhelmed by the masses of people and trying to keep close to my husband in fear of becoming lost, yet I am lost already.  I am lost in a sea of hope, awe, and admiration for this beautiful, blessed place.

 

A few years ago, Allah (SwT) blessed my husband and I with the trip of our lifetimes.  It was the journey to Mecca to perform our hajj.  I remember trying to read everything I could possibly get my hands on about hajj before leaving, talking to as many people as I can, and looking at every existing “to-do list”.

 

I embarked on this journey thinking I was as prepared as I could be, but subhana’ Allah, I feel like we could never be prepared for such an enormous journey.

 

A journey that will test you physically, mentally, and spiritually, yet raise you to standards you would have never reached and leave you with lessons you could have not possibly learned anywhere else.

 

Amidst all of the difficulties, I kept thinking to myself, how can I reach this spiritual high I have been dreaming about for months when I have not eaten for the past eight hours or when I am on a bus for 20 hours from Medina to Mecca(no exaggeration).

 

Your limits will be pushed, your patience will be tested, and then you realize that this is where ‘spirituality’ comes in.  This is where your belief in Allah and in the value of what you are doing becomes paramount.

 

It was like revelation to me when I heard someone say, ‘spirituality’ in this instance is to be able to perform all of your hajj obligations without falling into any error, as mentioned in the Qur’an: “Hajj shall be observed in the specified months.* Whoever sets out to observe Hajj shall refrain from marital relations, misconduct, and arguments throughout Hajj…” [2:197]. Reaching this spiritual peak entails displaying a most upright and well-mannered character in these difficult times.  It is to forgive, to be patient, and to hope for Allah’s reward.

 

This is not to say that there aren’t truly spiritual moments.  My first spiritual peak occurred as I was entering the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) mosque.  As I slowly paced my way in, and as I inched closer to the place where the best of mankind is buried, I started to realize that all of the women returning are crying, and I thought to myself for a few seconds and then it hit me.  Trying to express in words the feelings I underwent in those moments is difficult for it was truly a most humbling feeling that I had not encountered before.  It was a feeling of complete gratitude to Allah for enabling me to make it to this blessed place and to actually visit the Prophet peace be upon him.   It was a feeling of ultimate humility for being so close to a man who has verily changed the world and to the one who Allah promised to allow first into Jannah.  It was simply indescribable.

 

My second spiritual peak was as I entered the Kaaba for the first time, for as they say, you are walking through the gates of the Kaaba, when suddenly, the amazing Kaaba appears before your eyes, as if it was a pearl hidden inside a seashell.  It is protected, shielded, and centered amongst everything.

 

As I start to do the tawaf with tens of thousands of Muslims from all over the world, I am surprised at how peaceful it is.  I am touched by how people of all colours, languages, and backgrounds are so immersed in making duaa, hoping for Allah’s forgiveness and reward.

 

Finally, one of the hardest good-byes I have ever had to say in my life was when I was leaving the Kaaba.  Leaving this blessed place, I thought to myself, will I ever make it again?  Will I ever be chosen amongst the billions of Muslims on earth to smell the beauty of this sacred land again?

 

I glance back at some of my memories from hajj and sometimes I cry and sometimes I laugh and that is the beauty of it.  It is a journey in which you may encounter every possible human feeling and it just makes it all the more meaningful and memorable.

 

I pray Allah will grant all of you this journey soon – the journey of your lifetime.

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