The Hajj - A Journey in Parts - Preparation
It is that time of the year again where those who have been fortunate enough to be chosen as the Almighty's guests get a chance to perform the Hajj or Pilgrimage. A sense of longing enters my heart and I recall the time I was privileged enough to be amongst the fortunate. I can recall, as if it was yesterday, the preparations for the journey.
In preparation for the journey, I began reading all the books prescribed and some that I had found to better understand the life of the Prophet and also to become more acquainted with the cities of Mecca and Medina. For this I ploughed through a number of biographies on the Prophet to get a better understanding of his life and what he had truly accomplished. While there was a lot of information on the Prophet there was very little information on the history of the ancient city of Mecca. I wanted more.
I attended Hajj classes, given by a doctor who was a family friend. The classes prepared me for the practical side of the journey and also informed me of the rituals that needed to be performed. Of all the advice given, I must admit I heeded most if not all the advice which was given making the journey much more pleasant, there were two things that stand out to this day. The first was that I purchase a saal and a good back pack.
The saal is around 2m x 1.5m of cloth, cashmere if you can afford it, and can be used to pray on, as a table cloth to eat on, to rest on and to protect one from the cold very versatile. A good backpack provides the required support and protects one in case of a stampede. In a stampede, the crowd pushes against you and every breath you take collapses the lungs until no breath can be taken. People caught in a stampede die of being stepped on while most die of asphyxiation.
Two nights before departure a very knowledgeable friend came over and to my delight began explaining to me of the significance of Mecca and the symbolism that surrounds it. I fell in love with Mecca and, thinking back about my experiences, I realise it is truly the city of God Almighty.
Armed with the knowledge of the life of the Prophet, a history and understanding of the significance of Mecca, travel documents and luggage I set out to the airport. I greeted my family with the knowledge that I may not return and what I now realise is that the person that left and the person that returned, while the same in body, was vastly different and the person I had once been had never returned.
Stepping into the car and leaving my beloved offspring behind was probably the most difficult thing that I ever had to do. With a final greeting I departed to the airport. The journey had began....:-)
In preparation for the journey, I began reading all the books prescribed and some that I had found to better understand the life of the Prophet and also to become more acquainted with the cities of Mecca and Medina. For this I ploughed through a number of biographies on the Prophet to get a better understanding of his life and what he had truly accomplished. While there was a lot of information on the Prophet there was very little information on the history of the ancient city of Mecca. I wanted more.
I attended Hajj classes, given by a doctor who was a family friend. The classes prepared me for the practical side of the journey and also informed me of the rituals that needed to be performed. Of all the advice given, I must admit I heeded most if not all the advice which was given making the journey much more pleasant, there were two things that stand out to this day. The first was that I purchase a saal and a good back pack.
The saal is around 2m x 1.5m of cloth, cashmere if you can afford it, and can be used to pray on, as a table cloth to eat on, to rest on and to protect one from the cold very versatile. A good backpack provides the required support and protects one in case of a stampede. In a stampede, the crowd pushes against you and every breath you take collapses the lungs until no breath can be taken. People caught in a stampede die of being stepped on while most die of asphyxiation.
Two nights before departure a very knowledgeable friend came over and to my delight began explaining to me of the significance of Mecca and the symbolism that surrounds it. I fell in love with Mecca and, thinking back about my experiences, I realise it is truly the city of God Almighty.
Armed with the knowledge of the life of the Prophet, a history and understanding of the significance of Mecca, travel documents and luggage I set out to the airport. I greeted my family with the knowledge that I may not return and what I now realise is that the person that left and the person that returned, while the same in body, was vastly different and the person I had once been had never returned.
Stepping into the car and leaving my beloved offspring behind was probably the most difficult thing that I ever had to do. With a final greeting I departed to the airport. The journey had began....:-)
the observer and poet is back.....so often we follow the ways of religion without knowing...which is better.... the informed faithful or the uninformed faithful.....perhaps not for us to judge lol
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