fatman17
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From Mina to Arafat to Musdalfah to Jamarrat to Kaaba for the Glory of God.
Exactly one year ago on 24th October-2011, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to pay homage to the Almighty and his Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH).
The first night is spent in Mina in tents along with millions of hajjis from all over the world, immersed in prayer and recitation of the holy Quran, one cannot fathom the immenseness of the occasion, in contrast to what one sees on the TV channels because you are in your tent or maktab. There are tents everywhere. It is a huge tent city with small gullies to wander around or go to the kitchens or toilets. If one doesnt remember ones way around the tents or maktabs you can easily get lost, especially the older folk.
What is interesting is the lavishness the hajjis from other countries indulge in as far as food goes. I saw Moroccans, north Africans and Arabs spend thousands of rials to ensure that their hajjis are well fed during their stay at Mina. In stark contrast, hajjis from the poorer countries sometimes dont even have a tent to sleep in, let alone the food they eat. These hajjis go from tent to tent or gully to gully to beg for food and water. This is where once witnesses the real brotherhood of Islam as hajjis share their food and water with everyone. It doesnt matter what color, creed or sect one is from during this short period. Its all about human kindnesses to each other.
On reflection, why cant we Muslims continue the human kindnesses all the time, why restrict it to the ritual of hajj only. Allah is watching us everywhere!!! This is the inner lesson one learns when he is performing the hajj.
Early morning the next day, it is still dark as all the hajjis board buses, cars, trucks or anything that has wheels to go to Arafat. Its a major traffic gridlock but its amazing how everything moves in the same direction albeit at snails pace the virtues of patience are tested during this time its a short drive but it takes a few hours. One has to have an experienced and organized tour guide otherwise you can get lost in this maelstrom of mankind.
Three million (officially but five unofficially) hajjaj-e-karam arrive at Arafat to pray to the Almighty Allah for forgiveness of their past sins. Just like Mina, The plains around Arafat are a huge tent city. After fajr prayers, one gets time to rest. Hajjis try their utmost to get as close as they can to the sacred mountain but a lucky few hundreds amongst the millions get that far. Similarly only a few thousands get inside the huge mosque at Arafat to listen to the hajj sermon which is in Arabic but the organizers make sure the sermon can be heard in all the tents the message of the sermon is about peace, brotherhood of mankind and especially of Muslims, rejection of extremism once again we Muslims fail to grasp the enormity of the hajj sermon the sheer responsibility on the shoulders of all Muslim brethren to follow the message of the Holy Quran and Sunnat by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Islam is a religion of Peace & Harmony.
After performing the combined prayers of Zhur and Asr, the hajjis proceed towards Muzdalfah by foot or by motor to spend the night under the stars. Once again the calcavade of pilgrims move as one, slowly and surely. At Muzdalfah, the pilgrims find their spot under the night sky, and then begin collecting stones or pebbles to be used the next day to throw at the Shaitan or Satan. After isha prayers, the pilgrims consume the care package of food and water provided by the organizers and prepares to sleep.
By this time fatigue begins to set in but there is still the 6-8Km walk in the morning. After fajr prayers, the pilgrims (in their small groups) start the walk towards Jamarrat to stone the Shaitan. The morning is cool with a light breeze and the sun has not risen yet. The pilgrims are in a happy mood knowing that by this afternoon they would have completed the farz of Hajj.
In about two hours the pilgrims approach the three ramps leading up to the pillars where the Shaitan has to be stoned. As the pilgrims approach the pillars, they get into an un-controlled frenzy and rush to stone the Shaitan. This is where the pilgrims get trampled in the stampede in the past, however this time there are no major problems as the Saudi police usher the pilgrims towards the exit ramps leading towards the city of Azizia.
After your qurbani is confirmed, the pilgrims walk slowly in the afternoon sun towards their hotels. There is transport available but the Saudi locals now start charging exorbitant rates for the taxi fare. This is of course against the spirit of hajj but alas business is business.
After walking nearly 10-12 Kms by foot, the pilgrims look for barber shops to get their haircuts. Once again a 5 rial haircut costs 25 rials but people pay up happily.
Inside your hotel room, you are now free from the rules of the ahram. A much needed SSS and change of clothes is a welcome relief you say your asr prayers and fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion but there is still one final farz to complete. After isha prayers, the pilgrims proceed to haram to perform the tuwaf-e-kaaba and then once again go back to Mina to spend the night in the tent city.
In the morning, the Shaitan is stoned again for the second time, return to your hotel, rest, visit the Haram (to say your prayers and recite the Quran), spend the night at Mina again, and then the next day stone the Shaitan for the third time.
At Azizia, there is not much to do except rest and in the evenings indulge in kutcheries with the pilgrims in your group. One makes new friends who were strangers just a few days ago. Its gup-shup time mostly. The pilgrims are happy and satisfied that the Hajj has been performed.
After Tuwaf-e-wida, its rest and relaxation for a couple of days till it is time to move to Madina and visit the Prophet (PBUH) mosque and get a chance to offer prayers. Many pilgrims go on nearby ziarats organised by the tour operators. Others buy dates or indulge in whatever shopping is available like Qurans, prayer mats etc till its time to proceed to the airport for the flight home.
In the end its a experience of a lifetime and every able bodied Muslim should undertake the fareeza of Hajj when he is young enough and strong in body and spirit.
this is my personal experience and if anyone is offended, my apology!
Exactly one year ago on 24th October-2011, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to pay homage to the Almighty and his Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH).
The first night is spent in Mina in tents along with millions of hajjis from all over the world, immersed in prayer and recitation of the holy Quran, one cannot fathom the immenseness of the occasion, in contrast to what one sees on the TV channels because you are in your tent or maktab. There are tents everywhere. It is a huge tent city with small gullies to wander around or go to the kitchens or toilets. If one doesnt remember ones way around the tents or maktabs you can easily get lost, especially the older folk.
What is interesting is the lavishness the hajjis from other countries indulge in as far as food goes. I saw Moroccans, north Africans and Arabs spend thousands of rials to ensure that their hajjis are well fed during their stay at Mina. In stark contrast, hajjis from the poorer countries sometimes dont even have a tent to sleep in, let alone the food they eat. These hajjis go from tent to tent or gully to gully to beg for food and water. This is where once witnesses the real brotherhood of Islam as hajjis share their food and water with everyone. It doesnt matter what color, creed or sect one is from during this short period. Its all about human kindnesses to each other.
On reflection, why cant we Muslims continue the human kindnesses all the time, why restrict it to the ritual of hajj only. Allah is watching us everywhere!!! This is the inner lesson one learns when he is performing the hajj.
Early morning the next day, it is still dark as all the hajjis board buses, cars, trucks or anything that has wheels to go to Arafat. Its a major traffic gridlock but its amazing how everything moves in the same direction albeit at snails pace the virtues of patience are tested during this time its a short drive but it takes a few hours. One has to have an experienced and organized tour guide otherwise you can get lost in this maelstrom of mankind.
Three million (officially but five unofficially) hajjaj-e-karam arrive at Arafat to pray to the Almighty Allah for forgiveness of their past sins. Just like Mina, The plains around Arafat are a huge tent city. After fajr prayers, one gets time to rest. Hajjis try their utmost to get as close as they can to the sacred mountain but a lucky few hundreds amongst the millions get that far. Similarly only a few thousands get inside the huge mosque at Arafat to listen to the hajj sermon which is in Arabic but the organizers make sure the sermon can be heard in all the tents the message of the sermon is about peace, brotherhood of mankind and especially of Muslims, rejection of extremism once again we Muslims fail to grasp the enormity of the hajj sermon the sheer responsibility on the shoulders of all Muslim brethren to follow the message of the Holy Quran and Sunnat by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Islam is a religion of Peace & Harmony.
After performing the combined prayers of Zhur and Asr, the hajjis proceed towards Muzdalfah by foot or by motor to spend the night under the stars. Once again the calcavade of pilgrims move as one, slowly and surely. At Muzdalfah, the pilgrims find their spot under the night sky, and then begin collecting stones or pebbles to be used the next day to throw at the Shaitan or Satan. After isha prayers, the pilgrims consume the care package of food and water provided by the organizers and prepares to sleep.
By this time fatigue begins to set in but there is still the 6-8Km walk in the morning. After fajr prayers, the pilgrims (in their small groups) start the walk towards Jamarrat to stone the Shaitan. The morning is cool with a light breeze and the sun has not risen yet. The pilgrims are in a happy mood knowing that by this afternoon they would have completed the farz of Hajj.
In about two hours the pilgrims approach the three ramps leading up to the pillars where the Shaitan has to be stoned. As the pilgrims approach the pillars, they get into an un-controlled frenzy and rush to stone the Shaitan. This is where the pilgrims get trampled in the stampede in the past, however this time there are no major problems as the Saudi police usher the pilgrims towards the exit ramps leading towards the city of Azizia.
After your qurbani is confirmed, the pilgrims walk slowly in the afternoon sun towards their hotels. There is transport available but the Saudi locals now start charging exorbitant rates for the taxi fare. This is of course against the spirit of hajj but alas business is business.
After walking nearly 10-12 Kms by foot, the pilgrims look for barber shops to get their haircuts. Once again a 5 rial haircut costs 25 rials but people pay up happily.
Inside your hotel room, you are now free from the rules of the ahram. A much needed SSS and change of clothes is a welcome relief you say your asr prayers and fall asleep out of sheer exhaustion but there is still one final farz to complete. After isha prayers, the pilgrims proceed to haram to perform the tuwaf-e-kaaba and then once again go back to Mina to spend the night in the tent city.
In the morning, the Shaitan is stoned again for the second time, return to your hotel, rest, visit the Haram (to say your prayers and recite the Quran), spend the night at Mina again, and then the next day stone the Shaitan for the third time.
At Azizia, there is not much to do except rest and in the evenings indulge in kutcheries with the pilgrims in your group. One makes new friends who were strangers just a few days ago. Its gup-shup time mostly. The pilgrims are happy and satisfied that the Hajj has been performed.
After Tuwaf-e-wida, its rest and relaxation for a couple of days till it is time to move to Madina and visit the Prophet (PBUH) mosque and get a chance to offer prayers. Many pilgrims go on nearby ziarats organised by the tour operators. Others buy dates or indulge in whatever shopping is available like Qurans, prayer mats etc till its time to proceed to the airport for the flight home.
In the end its a experience of a lifetime and every able bodied Muslim should undertake the fareeza of Hajj when he is young enough and strong in body and spirit.
this is my personal experience and if anyone is offended, my apology!
