Hajj the journey of a life time!
This time two years ago I was one of the million little tiny dots walking towards Mina. Thousands of people from all corners of the globe all united with one goal. All I can say is I had The Journey of my life.
When people would talk of their Hajj experiences, they would end usually by saying it is something you have to do yourself to fully understand what they mean. Hajj for me normally would be a theory lesson or revising for a test.
In reality, as soon as you decide to go for Hajj your tests start, the whole journey is a lesson in itself.
Before I went for Hajj I spoke to many people who had been for Hajj before so I could have some idea of what to take etc, luckily for me my husband had been before so I had my own personal Hajj guide. We decided from home that we would Inshallah try to do our Hajj on foot. (from Makkah of course).
Once we were there, a few experienced members of the group asked me if we were "pedalling" or what sounded with a "mixed" accent as "paddling".I was completely baffled. (and yes I was finding it highly amusing). Later on the way to the Haram, I related the story to my husband, that the ladies were asking if we're pedalling or paddling or something. He didn't even bat an eye and assured me that we had our names down already for the walking group.
Why could nobody just say " Are you walking?" So Pedal as in pe - dal in Urdu, became pedal in English -hence the pedalling and paddling indo- english. Nevertheless, I had a good laugh with my Pedal buddies.
My personal experience of Hajj was of many heightened emotions, one minute your crying your heart out, the next your laughing. Feeling bone tired and an extreme high simultaneously.A real homecoming and a sense of belonging and purpose. I could go on and on about the sheer awesomeness of Hajj, but then I'll never publish this post!
If I could transport myself in time I really would want to be back.. Walking with the throngs of people in the heat, the Talbiyyah ringing in your ears as different groups of people from all walks of life pass you by, flags held high. Arriving in Mina to a sea of White tents, and sleeping under the stars in Muzdallifah...
Inshallah Allah accepts all the Haajis and accepts from us also. Let us pray that we too can go for Hajj and Umrah again Inshallah.
Eid Mubaarak all!
When people would talk of their Hajj experiences, they would end usually by saying it is something you have to do yourself to fully understand what they mean. Hajj for me normally would be a theory lesson or revising for a test.
In reality, as soon as you decide to go for Hajj your tests start, the whole journey is a lesson in itself.
Before I went for Hajj I spoke to many people who had been for Hajj before so I could have some idea of what to take etc, luckily for me my husband had been before so I had my own personal Hajj guide. We decided from home that we would Inshallah try to do our Hajj on foot. (from Makkah of course).
Once we were there, a few experienced members of the group asked me if we were "pedalling" or what sounded with a "mixed" accent as "paddling".I was completely baffled. (and yes I was finding it highly amusing). Later on the way to the Haram, I related the story to my husband, that the ladies were asking if we're pedalling or paddling or something. He didn't even bat an eye and assured me that we had our names down already for the walking group.
Why could nobody just say " Are you walking?" So Pedal as in pe - dal in Urdu, became pedal in English -hence the pedalling and paddling indo- english. Nevertheless, I had a good laugh with my Pedal buddies.
My personal experience of Hajj was of many heightened emotions, one minute your crying your heart out, the next your laughing. Feeling bone tired and an extreme high simultaneously.A real homecoming and a sense of belonging and purpose. I could go on and on about the sheer awesomeness of Hajj, but then I'll never publish this post!
If I could transport myself in time I really would want to be back.. Walking with the throngs of people in the heat, the Talbiyyah ringing in your ears as different groups of people from all walks of life pass you by, flags held high. Arriving in Mina to a sea of White tents, and sleeping under the stars in Muzdallifah...
Inshallah Allah accepts all the Haajis and accepts from us also. Let us pray that we too can go for Hajj and Umrah again Inshallah.
Eid Mubaarak all!
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