The end

When I started this blog, I had high hopes of maintaining continuity in posting about my Hajj experience. Aside from this blog, I’ve been running a parallel series – with a different focus – on my other blog. While that series has flourished, unfortunately, life has been too demanding to keep up any consistency here, so I’ve decided to halt this blog – probably forever.

Thanks to all who viewed these pages, and I pray that you took benefit from it.

If you have any queries, or you are still interested in knowing about my experiences, head over to my main blog, where you can find more Hajj content, and a link to contact me if you need to. I’ll try to assist, God-willing.

God bless.

Yacoob
2nd January 2013

Part 3: A little piece of paradise

Previous parts in the series: Part 1 | Part 2

The mosque of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at sunset

Madinah in brief

The city of Madinah is located in the western coast of the Arabian peninsula – about 340km north of Makkah. It’s the second holiest place in Islam (after Makkah), being the final resting place of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the place where the Muslim community was first established.

I won’t go into detail on the history of the Prophet (you can find a great interactive presentation here and further details here) – other than to say that Madinah was the place he migrated to after enduring twelve years of persecution from the pagans of Makkah – who rejected his message and saw his preaching as a threat to their power and economic standing.

The city itself is loved by Muslims worldwide, being renowned for its serene atmosphere, as well as the site of many important sites in Islamic history. Although visiting Madinah is not a part of the Hajj pilgrimage, I – like many Muslims, visited, the city during the journey – given the religious virtue of the place.

Approaching the mosque

 

 

The main attraction

Madinah’s centerpiece is the mosque of the Prophet, called Masjid an-Nabawi in Arabic. The mosque itself was much smaller and humbler in the Prophet’s time – a far cry from the dazzling modern extensions which have extended the building tremendously and introduced majestic adornments that add the aura of the place.(You can have a look for yourself in this virtual tour.) But the grandeur doesn’t seem to make it overly-modern, and just being inside comes with its own sense of magic.

The mosque of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

There are numerous spots of historical significance in the mosque, but the main two are the burial chamber of the Prophet, and the Garden of Paradise.

The burial chamber of the Prophet

The burial chamber of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Here, the Prophet is buried – on the spot where he passed away (which was in the home of his wife Aisha). Muslims stand in front of the chamber and ‘greet’ the Prophet, sending their respect and praying for him. It’s important to note that Muslims do not pray to him. They pray to God alone – and praying to anyone other than God constitutes polytheism, which is considered the greatest sin in Islam.

Also in this area, next to the Prophet’s grave, lies the graves of his two closest companions (and successors as leaders of the Muslim nation) – Abu Bakr and Umar (may God be pleased with them).

The Garden of Paradise

The ‘Garden of Paradise’

The area between the burial chamber and the pulpit is known as the ‘ Garden of Paradise ‘ (Rawdahtul-Jannah). Its name is derived from the reported statement of the Prophet: “Between my house and my pulpit lays a garden from the gardens of Paradise…”.

Scholars have interpreted this in a number of ways, among them: it could mean that this land is parallel to a garden above it in Paradise; or the land itself will be placed into Paradise in the Hereafter.

The original size is approximately 22 meters in length and 15 meters in width, part of it is in the burial chamber.

 

 

Serenity

For much of my life, I’d seek happiness in the kinds of pleasures that are ‘normal’ for so many of us: movies, music, other forms of entertainment, and food (in my case, junk food – and especially chocolate :)). And while these things did provide some kind of satisfaction, the feeling of fulfillment was always short-lived.

There was this void inside, and none of those indulgences could ever fill it. And when my life changed (as mentioned here), I still held on to many of those habits – though they slowly dropped away over the years (well…most of them). What became dearest to me in those years was my relationship with my Creator – a bond which was previously highly neglected (and that – I believe – was the reason I could never find true happiness in the past). And much of that bond was nurtured in times of solitude – where I’d be at peace, away from people, responsibilities, and all else that would otherwise gnaw at my mind and fill my thoughts.

As time passed, marriage and then fatherhood came my way – and such moments became very rare. That bond which was once so cherished began to lose its strength – due to the reality that I was no longer alone, and had so much more to occupy me now.

But this trip would help renew the strength of that bond, and it all started with my time in this mosque. My first day in the mosque was really special, with an experience of inner calmness and connection to my Creator which I had never felt that intensely before. There was something about being in a religious environment such as that which was unparalleled. A sense that all my worries and responsibilities were in the background, and I could dedicate my complete focus to my relationship with my Creator. I felt pure and alive – free of the worries, and mental and spiritual pollution of the outside world. My soul felt completely at ease because such a place was a natural home for my spiritual side to flourish. It was an utterly awesome feeling – one that can’t be reached through sensory fulfillment or indulgence in worldly pleasures.

Inside the mosque

Unity

Another highlight of Madinah was the sheer variety of people there. Hajj season sees the greatest number of visitors to Madinah and Makkah, as Muslims from all over the world come on this sacred journey.

In South Africa, many people think that Islam is an ‘Indian’ religion – since many Muslims are of Indian racial heritage. Elsewhere, many people think that it’s an ‘Arab’ religion – since that’s where it started. But that’s not the case at all. Islam is open to every single race, culture, and group in the world – from the palest of Europeans to the darkest of Africans (as you may remember from Malcolm X’s description of his Hajj journey, encapsulated in his ‘Letter from Makkah‘).

My days in Madinah showed me – with my very own eyes – the incredible variety there is in the world’s population of Muslims. The people were young and old, and of many different nationalities: Muslims from Turkey, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, and us South Africans. And these were just the early arrivals. In the days that followed, people from many more countries would come.

It was interesting to see how the different nationalities identified themselves: the Turks all wore khakis; the Malaysian women wore bright pink hijabs; some Indonesians had bright markings on their clothing; and Africans wore what seemed to be their traditional cultural clothing, which was very colourful.

To me, this was really the ultimate advertisement for Muslim unity. Though everyone identified themselves differently, we all went to the same mosque, made the same prayers five times a day, recited the same Quran in the same Arabic language, and we all prayed to the same God. So often does one hear about Muslims having sectarian differences, religious infighting, and racial and ideological clashes – but in Madinah, there was a mix of so many different kinds of Muslims – and none of those dividing factors mattered. It was truly amazing.

The whole experience brought to mind an image of Paradise. I imagined that Heaven will be something like this: people of all different types gathered in one place. Everyone will be calm, at peace, and forever safe in the knowledge that no harm or discomfort will ever touch them again – because they’ve navigated their Earthly lives successfully and ended up with God’s immense reward. Their Creator is pleased with them, and they are pleased with their Creator.

Next up: More insights from Madinah.

Image sources: Unknown, except for the second image, which was taken by me.

 

Quick update

Apologies for the long break in updates. Things have been rather busy, and I haven’t had time to write new stuff in quite a while. But I do have a new post in progress, and I’m hoping to have it published within the next few weeks, God-willing. Thanks for your patience 🙂

 

A most blessed rooftop

The City of Madinah is a very special place for Muslims, and even though it’s not part of the Hajj itself, most Muslims visit it during their Hajj journey.

Before we get into the actual posts about the Madinah, I thought I’d introduce the effect it had on me – which is encapsulated in the following poem, which I wrote on my last night there.

I like rooftops because they are freedom.

As I write this, I’m seated on one.
No ordinary one, mind you;
but one in a city of immense peace;
on top of a building so blessed that only one other is greater than it.

Generally, people aren’t aware of rooftops.
They live their lives down below,
never thinking of how serene and peaceful the world above is.

It’s the same in this place:
hundreds of thousands have come to this city,
to this building,
yet only a fraction have ventured up to this rooftop.

Down below, the crowds are swelling –
with new faces each and every day,
from places far and wide,
each with a culture,
a nationality,
a family,
a unique life story.

We meet each other –
all speaking different languages,
sometimes not able to communicate at all,
other than in sign language –
yet our greeting is the same;
a universal greeting of peace –
taught to us by the Messenger of peace,
who established this,
our community,
in this very place
some fourteen centuries ago.

He would be proud
to see his nation gathered here today –
such variety in colour, speech, and manner –
but all committed to the way of life he brought.

All here to visit him,
and honour his resting place –
the ground where he,
along with the giants of his generation,
strove to build a society
based on justice,
peace,
and universal principles of goodness –
recognised by every single soul –
whether they know it or not.

They walked this very earth –
by day and night,
in wartime and during peace,
hardship and times of ease;
knowing that their time here was only temporary –
a short period of tests –
the results of which would determine
their home in the eternal realm.

And some were assured of their success even before their earthly life ended;
yet still they struggled,
still they strove,
still they feared
that they weren’t living up to the life expected of them.

Yet that generation
was the best of people raised up for mankind.

They enjoined what was good,
and forbade what was evil;
and most importantly,
they believed in God.

And our generation today
doesn’t live up to that example –
for if they did,
their lives would reflect more justice,
God-consciousness,
and eagerness to fulfil the responsibilities placed upon them
as stewards of this Earth.

Yet in this blessed place,
this generation –
those who have come to visit –
witnesses the way life should be.

We feel the tranquillity of the way of life we call our own.

We experience it first hand –
in ways we could never experience back home.

We feel spiritually rejuvenated
by this environment –
re-establishing our connection to our Creator,
the Owner of Peace,
the Master of all things –
both worldly and beyond human comprehension.

Grown men break down in tears –
begging their Lord for forgiveness,
and supplicating for all that they need in their lives,
and all that they desire in their existence.

Desperate pleas,
made with such sincerity –
both in private,
and where others can see them –
but without inhibition,
for in those moments,
nobody else matters:
it’s just them and their Lord –
without anyone or anything to break that bond.

And so
this City of Peace
serves as a purifier for the souls that visit it;
helping to wash away years,
decades,
and lifetimes of mistakes –
and giving hope that maybe,
just maybe,
when our journeys take us back home,
we’ll be able to recapture some of the magic we felt here,
and live lives of peace, justice, and submission
to the One we owe everything to.

*This piece was inspired by my time in Madinah, on the rooftop of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) mosque, a few weeks prior to Hajj 2011.

Part 2: The foundation

Previous post in this series: Part 1

Intention

One of the most important principles in Islam revolves around motivation – a person’s intention for doing something. As the famous, reported saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) goes:

“Actions are according to intentions…”

This means that, in Islam, a person will be judged, and recompensed, according to the motivation behind what they did*. So for Muslims, even the most mundane or seemingly un-spiritual acts – like eating – could be consider an ‘act of worship’, if done with the intention of pleasing God (either directly or indirectly).

The concept of ‘worship’ in Islam is extremely broad – and not limited to just physical rituals of prayer, and observable acts such as giving charity. Basically, in Islam, anything a person does, if done to please their Creator (and within the bounds of permissibility set by Islamic law) is considered an act of worship. The broadness of this definition makes sense when one considers the purpose of man’s creation – as related by God in the Quran: God has created humankind to worship Him (Chapter 51, Verse 56). And if that’s our purpose, it wouldn’t be fair to expect our entire lives to be spent in just specific, ritualistic acts of worship.

With this importance of intention in mind, it makes sense that when it comes to Hajj, the foundation – the intention – must be good, or else you’re wasting your time, energy, and money.

For my journey, my intentions were threefold:

1. to fulfill the obligation of Hajj placed upon me by my Creator (since Hajj is an obligation, if one is able to go)
2. to be completely forgiven for my lifetime of sins and mistakes (which is a promised consequence of the journey), and
3. to be spiritually purified and strengthened to such a degree that I could make the important life changes and improvements that I wanted to make – thereby living a better life for the rest of my days

Change

The last point, especially, was immensely important. Positive change is something that we all aspire to – yet succeeding in that change is much easier said than done.

At various milestones in life – like the turn of a new year, or a birthday – humans tend to feel this motivation to want to make positive changes: to reduce or eliminate bad habits and negative qualities in their character, and strive to live a better life. And with these milestones often comes strength to implement such changes.

For a Muslim, the Hajj serves as the ultimate milestone – because it’s one that may not come again. And because of the enormity of the event in a Muslim’s life, Hajj serves as something of a treasure trove of strength, goodness, and lessons to take forward for the rest of life.

With ‘normal’ milestones, it’s natural that the motivation or drive a person has for positive change wears off over time. And, as per human nature – once that drive wears off, we often find ourselves reverting back to the same bad habits and ‘normal’ behaviours.

But with Hajj, that pattern is one that needs to be avoided – because it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most. So, whatever changes a Muslim aspires to with regards to this journey, those changes have to be permanent.

As mentioned in the opening post on this blog, it’s commonly said that Hajj itself is not the real challenge, but the real challenge is living that Hajj – i.e. taking those changes intended on the journey, and making them a reality for the rest of your life. It’s also said that one of the signs that a person’s Hajj is accepted by God is that they come back and live a better life – and not fall back into the same negatives that plagued them prior to the journey.

Preparation

For most things in life, it’s important to be prepared. For Hajj, it’s even more important – because this is the most important journey of a Muslim’s life. Along with the logistical arrangements – such as seeking accreditation from the relevant authorities, booking with a Hajj tour operator, and the standard travel routines such as shopping for the trip and packing – there are the personal and spiritual preparations, which are critical.

In terms of education about what the Hajj entails and what I’d need to do in terms of rituals, I supplemented self-study with Hajj classes – which ran at a local mosque for six months. On the individual level, I also undertook personal preparatory efforts – including a supplication list, which proved to be the most important step I took.

In Islam, supplication – or dua – is the act of asking God for what you need and want. It could be termed as ‘prayer’ – but it’s not the same as the ritualistic, five times a day prayer that Muslims make.

The latter is a set of physical actions – accompanied by mental focus and spiritual concentration – and is in the Arabic language. The former (dua) has a few etiquettes, but is essentially a personal conversation – or series of requests – that a person makes to their Creator. This is done in any language, and is the very heart of a Muslim’s religion – because it is the direct connection a Muslim has with their Creator. Islam has no ‘clergy’ or intermediaries between the worshipper and the Creator. It’s a direct link, where you speak directly to your Creator and open up your heart completely.

It’s a communication line that’s always open – and one that’s totally free of charge. No high cellphone costs involved 😉

Other preparations included finalizing my will (which should be prepared anyway, since death could come at any moment), and seeking forgiveness from all those I may have wronged in the past. This custom is an essential aspect of pre-Hajj preparation, because if I was to attain total forgiveness from God on Hajj (i.e. within the vertical relationship – between creation and Creator), I first needed to seek forgiveness from the people I’ve wronged in my life (i.e. the horizontal relationship – between myself and other creation). Forgiveness is a hard thing to ask for, but Hajj is a humbling journey – and this custom is something that sees the humility kick in even before departure.

Another pre-Hajj practice is the custom of ‘greeting’ the Hajjis (i.e. those going for Hajj) before they leave. This is a cultural practice – not a religious obligation. Here in Cape Town, it’s treated with all the fervour of a wedding. For the week before the Hajji leaves, the house is pretty much open to visitors at most times of the day (and late into the night too – even if you have young kids at home!). Family, friends, neighbours, and others all come to ‘greet’ you, wishing you well for your Hajj, asking you to pray for them, and giving you some money to help with the trip. Those who have been before share their Hajj stories with you and give advice as well.

Although this particular custom can be rather extreme in Cape Town, it’s one that does have a lot of good in it – for the sense of community it builds, and the way it reminds visitors of the Hajj and Islamic teachings.

Although my home became very chaotic at times due to this, it wasn’t as crazy as it could have been, and in the end, what stood out most in my mind was the very important advice given by friends who had been before, as well as the well wishes of the visitors.

Next up: The journey begins in the city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Footnote for this post:
* With regard to recompense, or reward for intentions and deeds, Islamic teachings also convey God’s tremendous mercy in a principle related to intention: If a person intends something good, but ends up not doing it, it’s recorded for them as a good deed. And if the person actually goes ahead and does it, it’s recorded as ten times the reward of that deed. And if a person intends a bad deed, but then refrains from doing it, then this abstention is written as a good deed. But if the person goes ahead and does it, it’s written to their account as only one bad deed.

Image source: http://www.sambaelegua.com/wp-content/gallery/events/fall-harvest-pic-2.jpg

Part 1: The basics

Do you know what that is? Looks like a big, black box – doesn’t it?

Who are all those people? Muslims? What’s the deal with them and this box? Why are they worshipping it? What’s so special about it?

That “black box” is not really a box – but a cube-like building. It’s called the ‘Ka’bah’ in Arabic, and is believed by Muslims to be the first house of worship established on earth. It was established for the worship of the Almighty, One True God, the Creator of all existence.

Muslims don’t worship the building – but it’s a structure that every single Muslim faces during in their prayers – wherever they are on Earth. One of the wisdoms of this – as relates to the prayer – is the unity it portrays: no matter where a Muslim comes from, no matter what age or social status, everyone – together – is considered as a single nation; all facing one specific spot on the planet, all praying in one language (Arabic), and all worshipping One Creator.

As part of the Islamic pilgrimage – called Hajj – Muslims go to this ancient building, completing some of the rites which re-enact events in the life of the so-called ‘Father of the Prophets’ – Abraham (may peace be upon him*).

 

A short introduction to Islam
Before we get any further, I’d just like to give a very brief intro to the religion of Islam – since it’s the foundation of the journey this blog hopes to chronicle.

The Arabic word ‘Islam’ means peace. Specifically, it means peace through submission to the Creator of everything – Almighty God, Who in the Arabic language is called ‘Allah’ (which can be translated as ‘the worshipped one’).

As a strictly monotheistic religion, Muslims believe in just one, absolutely perfect Creator – Who has no partner, no father, and no children. Absolutely no one and nothing else that shares in the power of the Creator. Muslims believe that everything in existence – including humans, the Earth, and animals – was created, and is being sustained, by a single, universal, all-knowing, supreme Creator – Allah. Allah is the same Creator that Jews and Christians believe in – and even Arab Christians use the word ‘Allah’. Allah is the same Creator that all the Prophets – such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhummad (may God’s peace be upon them all*) – called people to.

For a more professional presentation on Islam’s core beliefs, you can check out the informative documentary titled: The Fog is Lifting: Islam in brief.

The key in this definition is the term ‘submission’.

Muslims believe that submitting to the will of the Creator – doing what He wants – is the way to achieve success both in this life and an eternal life to come after death. To use an analogy: if you think of any machine – an appliance, for example – you’ll know that it has a maker; a manufacturer. The manufacturer designed it, built it, and knows best how the appliance should be used and how it should not be used. It knows the maintenance instructions for the appliance, what will make the appliance function to optimal performance levels, and what will damage or destroy the appliance. If you need to know anything about that appliance, the best person or entity to ask is the manufacturer.

Similarly, in Islamic belief, we humans are like the appliance – and the Creator, Almighty God, is the manufacturer. He designed us, brought us into being, and knows what type of behaviour will allow us to live optimal lives (i.e. peaceful, happy, harmonious lives), and what type of behaviour will lead us to miserable, unhappy lives. So for Muslims, it’s common sense that the Creator knows the creation best – and if we want to be successful, we find guidance by submitting to the Creator.

The exact way of submission is given in religion. Different religions were sent to different groups of humanity, at different times – via prophets and messengers. Though the specific acts of worship differed, and rules and regulations also differed, the core principle was always the same: strict monotheism – believing in, and worshipping only One Creator – and nothing else.

Muslims believe that one final prophet – one final messenger – was eventually sent, with the religion that was to be set as God’s chosen religion and way of life for all groups of humanity; for as long as people would remain on Earth. That messenger was Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the religion was Islam – which was revealed through a Holy Book (The Quran), and the example of the messenger (known as the sunnah).

Hajj – a pillar of Islam

Islam has many religious practices, but to simplify things down to the very basics, there are only five essentials – commonly referred to as the ‘five pillars’ of Islam.

These are:

1. Pure, monotheistic belief in the Creator
2. Performing the five daily prayers
3. Fasting in the month of Ramadaan
4. Giving a specific  portion of your wealth to the needy in charity, and
5. Performing the pilgrimage to Makkah – in present-day Saudi Arabia

The fifth pillar is known as Hajj, and is obligatory on all Muslims at least once in their life – provided they have the financial means to go, and the physical capability. The term Hajj means to travel towards God. The trip itself is both a physical journey – to the first house of worship of God, and a spiritual one – where the pilgrims exert themselves to get rid of all their bad qualities and habits, and draw closer to their Creator; in the hopes of returning to the spiritual purity they had at birth.

It’s a journey of tremendous sacrifice, where more than three million Muslims – from all over the world – gather to respond to the call of God, wearing special, simple clothing that strips away all distinctions of wealth, status, class and culture – signifying that all humanity stands is equal before the Creator.

The rites of Hajj date back to the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), and his family – who are tremendously revered in Islam due to the sacrifices and exertions they undertook in submission to God. Although most pilgrims travel to the Holy Lands for a period of a few weeks (six weeks in my case), the actual period of the Hajj is only five days – with the preceding time serving as a physical and spiritual preparation for the main event.

The Hajj itself involves pilgrims going to a series of places in and around Makkah: the plains of Mina – which houses thousands of tents and acts as the base for the five days; the desert plain of Arafah – which hosts the peak of the Hajj; the open lands of Muzdalifah – where pilgrims spend a night resting; the Jamarat – where pilgrims re-enact stoning of the devil; and the Holy Mosque in Makkah – which houses the Ka’bah and the hills of Saffa and Marwah, which have their own historical significance.

As we progress in this series of posts, God-willing, I’ll be describing these places – including pictures – and attempting to give insight into their spiritual and historical significance.

Thanks for reading this first part, and feel free to leave comments, queries, or any other feedback in the Comments section. To receive an e-mail notification when the next post in the series is published, use the “Follow Blog via Email” link in the sidebar.

Footnotes:

* In Islam, Muslims believe in all the prophets sent by God – and hold all of them in the highest regard. So, whenever the name of a prophet is mentioned, Muslims add the phrase ‘Peace be upon him’ – out of respect for the individual.

Rebirth

First life

I was a latecomer to Islam. No – I didn’t convert into the religion. I was born a Muslim, but for most of my life growing up, I wasn’t really one – not the way I should have been, at least. I lacked the proper understanding, knowledge, and, most of all, commitment to the religion. As a result, much of my life was spent without real attachment to Islam – confined to merely ritualistic acts of worship I was expected to do, and not much interest beyond that.

As a child, I learnt Islam’s basics in Islamic afternoon school (madrassah) – like the beliefs, rituals, and how to read Islam’s Holy Book – the Quran. In addition to this, my family acted as a good moral compass in guiding me through the racially and culturally diverse society that was South Africa in the 1980s and 1990s. I had a lot of exposure to other religions – Hindu family friends, where I’d see their prayer lamps and idols; a Christian junior school, where every morning’s assembly included the Lord’s prayer; and my Jewish high school, where Jewish Studies was a compulsory subject for a couple of years.

I always had a conscience about Islam, and what my Creator expected of me as a Muslim. But without practical action, conscience can’t lead you very far. In school holidays, for Friday prayers, and on other religious occasions, I’d attend Islamic religious services, and hear the religious advice given by the religious scholars (imams and moulanas). I’d sometimes be inspired to want to be a better Muslim, but the feeling would fade a few hours later, and I’d continue as normal – not really thinking about my purpose in life or how I could better treat and serve my fellow human beings.

Turnaround

That changed ten years ago, when I reached a turning point – a ‘spiritual awakening’ that

changed my entire focus and orientation in life. Such events are common in any religion – not just Islam. Anything could act as a catalyst – from a near death experience, loss of a loved one, a period of desperation, or any other event. Different people have different experiences, yet the end result is the same: a movement from a state of heedlessness to one of consciousness.

Over time, I came to learn more about Islam, and firmly believe in its truth – understanding the wisdom behind its acts of worship and social values, and its timeless message of pure monotheism, which was the message of every prophet, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). I came to understand how, as a comprehensive belief system, it links an individual to their Creator, without any intermediaries; guiding them to live in the way that would bring true happiness, inner peace, and success – both in life and in the realm beyond death.

Journey of a lifetime

A few weeks ago, I was honoured to perform the Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah – the Hajj. As mandatory religious activities go, it’s one of the most important acts in Islam. It’s a journey that re-enacts the life of Prophet Abraham and his family, and draws millions each year – promising great reward from the Creator; and immense liberation, such that the pilgrim returns from the journey completely forgiven from every sin – spiritually, like a newborn baby.

It’s a journey of sacrifice, self-purification, and great humility. Pilgrims leave their families and comfortable homes to go all the way to the Holy Land, spending days and nights in a simple, canvas tent – where the only physical comforts are a mattress, blanket, and pillow. They leave behind the ease of cars for a journey involving walking for miles and miles on dirty, congested roads, in huge crowds that they’d otherwise run away from. They shed the adornments of plush clothing to wear nothing but two white, unstitched pieces of cloth – wherein they’ll look exactly like everyone else, with nothing to distinguish between a king and a beggar. They go out to a flat, empty plain – in the middle of a desert – to stand in the scorching sun for a few hours, reciting a few words, pleading with their Creator, and crying their hearts out. And they walk around an ancient building, the first house of worship dedicated to the Creator, praising Him and supplicating for all that they desire.

Second chance

The experiences and lessons of Hajj are numerous, but for me, the most important result was the liberation I spoke of earlier – a second chance at life. A person who survives a near-fatal accident may relate, as could a reformed convict who leaves prison as a ‘new’ person.

After repentance on Hajj, the feeling of being completely forgiven – for every single sin you’ve ever committed – is truly amazing, and beyond words. It’s like a lightness of the soul – like there’s no longer this burden on your shoulders, and you literally feel pure and clean. Your mind feels more free, your spirit feels light, and you feel so much closer to your Creator. It’s really the most awesome feeling imaginable.

It’s also empowering, because you now have this ‘clean slate’ – this second chance to start your life again, from a state of purity. And with that feeling, you’re more sensitive to every wrong you do. You can recognize it more easily, and you feel the need to repent or make up for it immediately – because now that you’re ‘clean’, you want to stay that way, and never let any spiritual ‘dirt’ pollute your heart again.

Naturally, it isn’t possible to remain on such a high for a sustained period. And in the few weeks since Hajj, such feelings of spiritual euphoria have decreased. But the effects of those feelings, and that experience, remain with me, and have hopefully benefitted me as I returned to my normal environment and responsibilities.

In Muslim circles, it’s a common cliché to say that Hajj really begins once you get home – meaning that Hajj itself is not the main challenge. The main challenge is what becomes your life’s mission after Hajj: to ‘live’ that Hajj by taking forward what you’ve learnt, and being that better person you were inspired to be.

Thank you for allowing me to share this account with you, and I hope that – regardless of your religious persuasion or belief system – you can take some benefit from these words, and that you yourself will have an experience of such magnitude in your life, if you haven’t already.

Image source: http://stevelummer.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/life-cycles/