Introduction
The story is about a man who perform a hajj after so many difficulties. The difficulties in this makes man faith more powerful .
Starting of journey
It was finally the hajj pilgrimage on which I’d been planning and saving for years to fulfill a childhood dream. When I was packing my bags and leaving home, I was feeling like I could hardly handle it with joy. This was going to be the real, ultimate adventure of faith.
Initial hitches
There were no initial hitches on the trip, although things did eventually go wrong. My friends accompanied me to the airport and my tour group joined me to fly to Saudi Arabia. But when we arrived in Jeddah, that was the last straw for me. My bags were missed by the airline and all I had on me was my body wearing when I arrived in the hot and dusty airport. However, I quickly got angry and somehow managed to calm myself down knowing that this is just the tip of a spiritual journey that lies ahead of me.
Lost sight of guide
The other challenge came when we got to Mecca this was added to feeling. The city seemed to be over flowing with pilgrims from all parts of the country, and ranging in all ages and classes; where we lost sight of our guide in a huge crowd. There is nothing as being overwhelmed by the crowd, but deep inside my heart, I knew that, Allah would always lead us to the right way. We went around asking some people we found our guide who then took us to the hotel where we spent the night.
First rite of Hajj
The next day we proceeded with the first rite of hajj which is tawaf. CircumambulatingIslam’s holiest site, the Kaaba was exciting as it was challenging. The constant stream of people arriving made all movement nearly impossible, but that is how we moved, circuit by circuit, and did our part. While my body screamed with tiredness, my soul experienced a fleeting moment of envigorating lightness.
Second day of hajj
We continued with the day by proceeding to Mina for camping. The trip to get there was quite eventful – our bus had the misfortune of having two punctured tires on the way! We lost time to extra moments of tiredness for each delay and continued to encourage each other through songs and prayers while waiting for God to provide a means to get there. We were behind the schedule, but we were able at least to go through the routine of devotions and quiet time for the day.
Plain of Arafat
The most unforgettable trial took place on the plain of Arafat. We assembled there and stayed there for hours being covered by the scorching sun just to pray to Allah. My friend fainted from heat stroke but could not break position. I could move immediately and cover him with my umbrella while using a folder to fan him until he stood on his two feet. By helping him I realized how issues of life become diminished when we offer our assistance to others.
Growling Stomach
Exhausted not only physically but mentally, our ‘ordeal’ only served to remind oneself on the virtues of perseverance and camaraderie symbolized in the pilgrimage of Hajj. My sore feet, aching back and growling stomach quickly become status symbols. On the way back to Makkah, I started thinking about social realities- how few of us realize how fundamental commodities like food, water and shelter really are? Poverty had taught me how to be thankful.
Farewell Tawaf
Last but not the least after several days of ritual we returned to Mecca for the STONE 21 Farewell Tawaf. A seventh encircuit also, fixed an irrevocable proof of self reassurance of being – here at one’s niche of togetherness irrespective of the skin color of the heart’s basic ethnic identity.
The Returning to home
Then when we were about to leave the city, I cast my eyes back at the beautiful structure of mosque which I was so privileged to see. This trip had taught me things that nothing else could ever have taught me, it had showed me the strength of ones own character and brought my faith back to life. I anticipated my next meeting with my family back home, but all the some time I felt that part of my heart was created and would always be in Mecca.