By Asma bint Shameem
This time the crowds were tremendous…..more, much more than the previous years.
One couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the number of people at Hajj this year.
And similarly, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the sheer number of lessons that I learnt on this journey…
lessons of patience, lessons of compassion, lessons of humility and lessons of thankfulness to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘ala.
Every corner I turned, every where I went, every second I spent during my stay in Mina had the potential to mould me for better or for worse.
When I saw scores of people living on the streets, some under a sheet stretched across two bamboo poles, some sleeping on bare ground with nothing but their shoes as a pillow, and some having no more space than the very spot they were sitting in, how could I complain about the size of my camp at Mina?
When I saw hungry kids rummaging through piles of garbage looking for something to eat, or a family of six eating from a very small bowl that had food enough for only one, how could I be dissatisfied with all the multiple varieties of fruits and juices and foods that I had at my disposal?
And when I saw elderly, weak people and people in wheelchairs and people limping and crippled standing at the side of the street hoping to find a ride or walking for miles with their legs so swollen that they were the size of their thighs,
or people precariously perched on top of vehicles just because they couldn't find a proper ride,
Or when I saw elderly mothers being carried on their sons' back, how could I even begin to complain about my stay in Mina or the short time I was stuck on my air-conditioned bus, or the time waiting at the train station?!
Subhaan Allaah!!
I remember the words of one of my teachers.
He said once, “Hajj is not a journey of the body such as one may take to a vacation spot or tourist attraction. It is a journey of the SOUL and HEART.”
And how true those words are....
It is indeed a journey of the soul and a journey of the heart….a journey to work hard…. to get your sins forgiven….to get to Jannah.
‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas Radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“When Islaam entered my heart, I went to the Messenger of Allaah and said, ‘Give me your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.’
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) spread his hand, but I withdrew mine.
He said, ‘What is wrong ‘Amr?’
I said, ‘I want to make a condition.’
‘And what is that?’ he said.
I said, ‘That Allaah will forgive me.’
Then the Messenger of Allah said,
‘Did you not know that Islaam wipes out what came before it, and that Hijrah wipes out what came before it and that Hajj wipes out what came before it!” (Muslim)
When Allaah forgives all our previous sins……yes, that’s right…..ALL OUR PREVIOUS SINS…….then is a little discomfort or inconvenience not worth it?
In fact, I think even a LOT of inconvenience would be worth it.
Actually, anything…..anything in this world is worth it.
“(That Day) No loyal friend will ask another loyal friend, though they are in sight of each other.
To ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, the sinner will wish that he might even ransom himself by his sons, his companion (wife), his brother, the kinsmen who gave him shelter, and whatsoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him.” (Surah Ma’aarij:10-14)
Then how can we complain?
Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala chose us from among 6 billion of His slaves, and invited us to His Blessed House to undertake this Blessed Journey…..to perform this Blessed Worship that people only dream about once in their lifetimes.
So we should be THANKFUL
But we forget.
We forget this immense, immense blessing of His on us.
And instead of falling prostate on our faces, with unstoppable tears of repentance and gratitude…. thanking Him for inviting us there and guiding us to Islaam and giving us the opportunity to have our sins forgiven, we forget the big picture and complain.
Subhaan Allaah.
We need to remember that indeed the greatest blessing that Allaah has favored us with is Islaam, and that alone suffices as favor.
“There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord (during Hajj). But when you depart from Arafah, remember Allaah at AlMash’ar AlHaram.
And remember Him as He has guided you, for indeed you were before that among those who went astray.” (Surah Baqarah: 198)
So thank Allaah for His favors upon you and when that test comes, instead of complaining….turn to Allaah.
Respond with patience and a whisper of gratitude to Allaah.
And ask Him to forgive you.
“Then go forth with the rest of the pilgrims. And seek Allaah’s forgiveness. Surely Allaah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(Surah al-Baqarah:199)
Remember, Hajj is just a reminder of another journey that you and I will eventually have to take…..a journey every soul is traveling, whether they know it or not, whether they realize or not…..
A journey to the Hereafter, our eternal home.
So prepare for that journey NOW while you still have time, with your good deeds and the Taqwa of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.
“And take sustenance (with you) for the journey; verily the BEST sustenance is Taqwa (piety and righteousness).“
(Al Baqarah :197)
And Allaah knows best.
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