I was four when I learnt it; never forgot it since then. The
talbiya can still bring tears to my eyes.
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لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ
لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ
لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ
لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ |
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"I am present, O Allah, I am present, there is no partner unto You. I am present. Definitely praise and glory is yours (for You). The Kingdom is also Yours. There is no partner for You". |
After traveling to Medina via Jeddah , we drove to Makkah for the Hajj 1425AH. I won't go into the the more obvious high points everyone experiences. I was amazed at the spiritual jolts from seemingly small things.
I remember the thoughtful generosity of one fellow traveler who bought steaming hot tea for the entire group as we shivered for hours at the Jeddah Hajj Terminal on an unusually cold and windy night enroute to Medina. We had to stand together around our elderly to shelter them against the biting cold.
The first entry into
Masjid Nabvi (PBUH) was exciting though anti-climatic as it had changed so much since I had last seen it in my childhood. Following the crowd shuffling towards it I got closer and closer to the
Rozah-e-Rasool (PBUH). I could not breathe. My heart was thumping and I could sense the history of the place. I was actually in the Prophet's (PBUH) neighborhood, in his mosque near his house and burial place. May the peace and blessings of Allah be on our beloved Messenger -
aameen.
On exiting the door, I realized I had left my slippers inside the mosque. I tried to go back but was stopped by the crowd and the
Shurta policemen. On my panicked request, their senior smilingly let me try and go back but the crowd was too much and I got herded out again. The
Shurta explained I could simply go around the mosque and re-enter and come back out this time carrying my slippers. The
Shurtas in Medina were really helpful and polite. I remember them whispering near the
Rozah-e-Rasool (PBUH) telling people not to raise their voices near the last resting place of the Prophet (PBUH). Amazing to sense the respect and love for the
Nabi (PBUH) at such close quarters.
The journey to Mecca for the Hajj was unforgettable. We stopped at the
miqat of
Zul-Hulaifa at night. The atmosphere was electric. Felt like the culmination of all spiritual experiences ever. Emotions, excitement, anticipation and a sense of affinity with all
Hujjaj filled the mind and heart. I dared to wonder: If the effort was such a pleasure what would the reward be? One has to be optimistic!
The rest of the bus journey was like a dream. Most fellow travelers were asleep . Someone had put a most soothing Qur'anic recitation (by Sa'ad alGhamdi I think) on the bus stereo. I was reflecting on the
Hijrah journey along possibly the same route in the opposite direction.
In Makkah the first
Umrah was over way too quickly. The rush in
tawaf was awe inspiring. After the
umrah we went upstairs and were dumbstruck by the magnificence of the scene below. We couldn't believe we had just come out of that. No matter how many pictures or videos you see, the real thing hits the heart directly.
The Mina-Arafat-Mina routines seemed to hold more than the endless bus rides and the astounding crowds. We prepare for the Hajj journey as if we prepare for death. We settle our affairs, seek forgiveness from people we have or may have hurt and set off. The rituals there seemed similar to death rites and then rebirth.
It seemed the Ihram was like a shroud. The first night in Mina was like the time in the grave. We were really so tightly packed together! The time in Arafat was like
Qiyamah and then it seemed like we were given a second chance to atone. The stoning of Satan was like resolve to never follow him again. Then the head shave (like after birth) and final time in Mina in regular clothes. A time of much fun chatter and making friendships, but also of reflection on what we had just been through.
After the Hajj, in a hotel right next to the Haram, I wanted some hot water to gargle with to ease a sore throat. I was about to use the washroom tap water which was steaming hot, but a senior and much experienced room mate stopped me saying the tap water may not be fresh. What hit me was we were hardly a few yards from the well of
Zam Zam. And they way that water was flowing it was more abundant than any thing I've seen offered free. And the rest of the area had no other wells or water source at all!
Nabi Ibrahim (PBUH) was told to recite the
Azaan after leaving his wife and only son in this then completely desolate and unhospitable place. When he asked how could any one hear him as there was absolutely no one nearby, Allah told him to do his part and Allah would relay his call to the people.
He did.
.
