My Hajj Diary - Day 11 (end of entry)

Day 11 (18/10/2013)

Waiting for Fajr.  Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah!  We have finally completed our hajj with a very smooth and beatuiful tawaf wada'.  Woken up at quarter past 12 am in the darkness by Maha.  Rini wanted to go to the Haram as soon as possible.  There were already others waiting there when we came down.

Alhamdulillah, we got a taxi almost immediately.  Got there and did the tawaf on the first floor.  Even though it was larger but we did it peacefully and tranquilly and for the first time this hajj, I actually enjoyed the tawaf.  The view of the Kaabah was still impeded but without pushing and shoving, we could really concentrate.  We then waited at Marwa for Rini while she finished her Sa'i.  Again, that went smoothly and we didn't lose each other.  We easily got a taxi back, alhamdulillah, thanks to Maha's Arabic.  So all in all, we had a smooth farewell tawaf without adventure.  A good note to end on, alhamdulillah.

Having finished all the rights of Hajj, I am just waiting till tonight to start on the leg back to London.  There is a sense of sadness and joy that my hajj journey is finally over.

The anticipation of the hajj experience building in the months before were nothing like the rush of the actual experience itself.  I will need to analyse deeper its impact on me but have I learnt anything about myself in this journey that I didn't know before?

Also I realise I have never been more grateful for my ability to read a map and visualise it in reality in order to navigate.  Alhamdulillah, now I realise what a gift it is.  Alhamdulillah, this gift has been useful in navigating my way back to Mina twice and in and around the Haram as well as in Madinah.  Ya Allah, let me always be grateful for this gift and let me use it wisely.

A weakness that was an asset for hajj is my inability to do small talks.  This allows me to block most of the chatters and concentrate on what matters.  The few discussions were on interesting matters or important matters.  What it didn't help for me is the making of friends.  But since I am not here on this journey to make friends, that is fine.  Still, alhamdulillah, to get to know a few of the sisters is a blessing.  Insha Allah, will try to stay in touch with them.

My Hajj Diary - Day 10

Day 10 (17/10/2013)

2 am - Ya Allah, please help us in this test you have given us.  I am not sure why You moved me to do the jamrat before the rest, but it made me come back in time for the return of the sister from the hospital.

11 am - We are now in the apartment again in the Aziziyah.  The challenge now is to arrange for the Tawaf Wada'.  I am disappointed that Elsawy has not arranged for the tawaf for us.  Today is, I realise, the last day of Eid.  As I said, it has been an eventful journey but the actual impact will have to be assessed later when things have sunk in.

The fact that I am not well also does not help.  The tent in Mina didn't help...it is a germ breeding ground.  I wish I had some of the ginger Sis Yusria brought.

Was talking to Mehmoona just now and she had the same disconnection to the Haram that I have been feeling.  The construction around the Kaabah is like a monstrosity.  You can't see the Kaabah anymore from the mosque.  Last year, we had an unimpeded view of the Kaabah and there was that connection, a sense of peace, yet still energetic/magnetic pull.  Now, there is nothing.  And the mostrosity of a building they are building as an extension to the mosque.  And more hotels and shopping centres are opening new the Haram.  All blitz and glitter but no substance.  Are they trying to get the people coming to Hajj and Umrah to divert their focus to shopping rather than worship?  We seem to have gone back to the Jahiliyah days when the Quraish of Mecca were using the Kaabah for commercial and status purposes. 

My Hajj Diary - Day 9

Day 9 (16/10/2013)  

Am sitting in the hot tent.  Alhamdulillah, I finished the second jamrat this morning just after fajr.  Poor Shahidah, her blisters have burst and the doctor told her that she needs to stay off her feet.  So, insha Allah, I will be doing her last jamrat for her.  Allah has been very merciful to me this hajj.  Other than a brief migraine and some sore hip, I have been relatively healthy enough to perform all the rites.  I am trying to keep up my health because there are two more acts to perform.

That was my du'a other than Shahidah's well being during the jamrat. Had been worried about her feet. Anyway, if she can't do the jamrat, I will do it for her.  And if she can't do the tawaf wada' (the farewell tawaf), she is free to go.

This morning, around breakfast time, had an interesting discussion with Sis Fyza and Yusria regarding the Qur'an, sunnah and hadith.  I am glad to hear that Fyza is thinking along similar lines.  May Allah give her strength to do what she wishes to do.  We need people who can speak up and not be afraid.

Ya Allah, today has been the strangest day.  Help the sister, Ya Allah.  She truly is needing your help.  Her condition had gotten worse since I met her several days ago at the Aziziyah. At first, she just seems enthusiastic and a bit over the top but today, she turned violent.  The sisters did well to try and keep her calm but it didn't help.  She needed professional help.

Something Shahidah said today made a lot of sense.  It links to what I said to her in the Haram yesterday.  I said this is the first time I felt like a musafir (a traveller).  Today, she said that hajj is preparing us or reminding us that we are on a journey where we tend to carry too many baggage.  It taught her to travel light.

Masya Allah, she is right.  We carry too much baggage even though we are only travellers in this world.  We need to travel light: perhaps that is one of the meaning of the ones 'who walk gently on this earth.'  That as guests of Allah on this creation of His, we shouldn't be ungrateful guests.  Two points:
1.  Too much baggage

It is more difficult to move freely.  Just look at the chaos to come to Mina with people carrying loads.  But when we went to Arafah, we were more fluid because we only carriedd really essential stuff.  I thought I carried only essentials but so many things I brought ended up not ussed.  So a lesson here is that we really get attached to things which seem essential but actually is not.  E.g. work:  since I have been here, I have not thought about work till now that is.

And remember, we all return to Him without any of things that we can really bring with us.

2.  Impact on Earth

Looking at the state of the Haram, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat, I am sad.  Look at the rubbish everywhere.  Bottles, tissues, peels and whatever else.  I think we used billions of bottles and it is just thrown away and not recycled.  (and not even thrown away in a responsible manner!) Where are our manners in being His guests in His House?  And cleanliness is part of Islam.  So where is it?  Caring for the earth is part of our duty as Allah's representatives.  And yet we are leaving behind millions of tonnes of rubbish which will pollute the environment.

So, we need to understand this responsibility that Allah has bestowed on us.  By truly living a life of a traveller, you realise that a traveller shouldn't leave a print of himself/herself on the place she/he is visiting.

My Hajj Diary - Day 8

Day 8 (15/10/2013 - First Day of Eid)  

It will be Fajr soon and it has been a long night.  Slept for about 3 hours before the rest came back (from Muzdalifah).  That gave me a second wind, alhamdulillah.

People are tired but we will be going for jamrat (stoning) after fajr.  May Allah make it easy for all of us.

Ya Allah, today is the day of Eid.  Just got a "message" from God (as the sister who delivered it said - which is creepy by the way!) that I need to listen more.

After Dzuhur - Alhamdulillah, finished the jamrat, tawaf ifadah and sa'i.  Am out of ihram.  Unfortunately, things are not so smooth.  We are stuck here (at the Haram) until Asr.  Dirty, tired, smelly in clothes which are three days old, I can't bring myself to actually do much du'a at all.  Too exhausted to think.

(note that the entry below is written retrospectively the day after because this day was just madness!)

Woke up at 1 am, insha Allah, an hour before we are going to do the second jamrat.  I am definitely exhausted and not feeling well.  Likely flu.  Trying to fight it.

Ya Allah, I don't know how complete my tawaf and sa'i were yesterday.  I don't really think I did much supplication, mostly dzikr.  But I had a moment; I was trying to negotiate with Allah on whether He could send me an invitation for hajj or umrah again.  At this time, I am leaning towards umrah.  Anyway, it is definitely a human trait not to be satisfied with just an invitation.

Yesterday was a tough day.  One of the most challenging in my life, I think.  First, it started with the jamrat Aqabah (the first jamrat) where we were pushed and shoved by the crowd.  The poor old lady who Shahidah had been helping in our camp was quite overwhelmed by it.  Alhamdulillah, later we found out she made it all the way to the Haram and did at least 1.5 tawaf rounds on her own two feet.

Anyway, we (Mehmoona, her family and I) got separated from the main group and tried to get back together...alhamdulillah, we managed.  The jamrat itself was fine, alhamdulillah.  Sorry, I fell asleep while writing this down.

We then walked to the Haram in a sea of people with Sis Yusria before (literally) battling the crowd during tawaf.  At one point I was swept off my feet (and if not for my hold on Shahidah I would have gone under).  There was no way to really concentrate or take pleasure in the tawaf because of the crowd.  Pushing and shoving are only 2 of the unpleasant things that occur there.  In fact it was so bad that Shahidah had a panic attack and felt faint.  Let's just say, I had a mini sa'i (like Hajar a.s.) trying to find zamzam for her.  I was worried for her because I have never seen her so overwhelmed and not in a good way.  We managed to finally settle her on the first floor at Safa while waiting for her to recover.  Started our sa'i after dzuhur and finished by 2 pm but we weren't able to find Sis Yusria and so we stayed until Asr before giving up.

Alhamdulillah that we did because we would have missed the bus to take us to Mina from the apartments in Aziziyah.  (I would suggest that no one ever stays at the Aziziyah during Hajj - it is a nightmare to find a taxi to go there and we paid SAR100 each for the trip) But the trip from Aziziyah to Mina was another adventure in itself.  The bus dropped us at the start of Mina.  We had to walk a distance before having to cross the highway with cars/buses travelling 70 miles/hr or more.  I lost my cool a little (probably a lot) at that time because the brothers didn't know/weren't sure the way to the camp and they weren't consulting the map.  Alhamdulillah for the maps all over Mina.  Managed to work out where we needed to go and I just proceeded on.  (I left the brothers to their wrangling and walked on.)  Not a team player certainly and I still need to work on my patience.  Ya Allah, truly this Hajj is a test on my patience.

Came back to camp and found Sis Yusria already back.  Alhamdulillah, I was worried that she waited for us and we left her.  Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, truly it was the most challenging day but I managed to achieve what I set out to do and I am no longer in ihram.

My Hajj Diary - Day 7

Day 7 (14/10/2013 - 9th Dzulhijjah) - Day of Arafah 

I wish we could have left Mina after Fajr as per the Sunnah of the Prophet but I understand the logistics is such that it wasn't going to happen.  But alhamdulillah, we are here in Arafah, waiting for Fajr.  From my spot, I can see the stars and just now, it is cool enough to be outside where I can see Orion's Belt.  Masha Allah!

I am overwhelmed by the feeling of gratefulness to be here.  To be given the chance to be truly part of Hajj.  Ya Allah, let me always be among the grateful.  Ya Allah, let me have patience over hajj.  I have resolved to walk to Muzdalifah and Mina tonight.  It will be a long and dusty walk but insha Allah, I will endure.  Keep me safe through this journey, Ya Allah.

Oh, I forgot a thought I had on the way here:  I have not been on the internet for over a week.  And I rediscovered the beauty of the pen and paper again.

It is not even 10 am and it is already very hot.  Masha Allah, if we can't stand this heat in the shade, what about the time when we are on the Day of Judgement?  When there is no shade except those on whom Allah has mercy.

Prophet Ibrahim a.s. supplication in 26:83-85

ربِّ هب لِّى حُكما و الحِقْنى بالصلحين واجعل لى لسان صدْقٍ في الآخرين و اجعلنى من ورثهِ جنَّة النعيم

O my sustainer, endow me with the ability to judge (between right and wrong) and make me one of the righteous and grant me power to convey the truth unto those who will come after me and place me among those who shall inherit the garden of bliss!

I was thinking about the heat and I wonder about those living on the streets, how they take to the heat and others to the cold.  This makes me resolve to go for the challenge to sleep rough.  Yet both conditions are temporary for me, Masha Allah!  How can I not be grateful for the gifts He has given me!  Ya Allah, let me be among the grateful.

Nearly 12 pm and I have resorted to leaving the tent and sitting in the blazing sun outside.  The difficulty is the noises drowning out the voice within.  This is alluding to our daily lives too where so many noise vie for our attention without giving us time for ourselves.  Today, the day of Arafah, I had hoped for quiet time to reflect but that is my test, I believe.  Alhamdulillah for this walkway for it is helping me get away.  Ya Allah, how do I get away in real life?  When do I take time to get away from thoughts of life to reflect on myself, my relationship with you and the rest of your creation?  Help me, Ya Allah, help me.

Alhamdulillah, after dzuhur, and I am sitting outside under the shade of a tree, pilgrims all around me and birds chirping from the branches.  A sister's husband brought me some zamzam water (May Allah reward them for their kindness.)  Ya Allah, I saw much kindness around me this hajj which gives me hope for the Ummah.  If only we can harness this kindness to change the world.

On the one hand, I wish this day would never end and on the other, I am looking forward to the other acts of hajj.  Ya Allah, let me get another invitation to Your house!

The last hour before leaving Arafah.  I posed the question of how we can change ourselves and the Ummah for we know that Allah does not change a person/community unless they change themselves.  What are the necessary actions?

After 9 pm, alhamdulillah at Muzdalifah after walking for almost 3 hours.  Masha Allah, it was worth it to walk even though now I have to ask some Indonesians if I could keep their company for some time.  Not sure if I will stay for Fajr as I am not sure when they (my group) will leave for jamrah.  There is still a ways to go to my camp in Mina.

Anyway, back to the walk - the energy is electrifying.  You could feel what was described in the Qur'an regarding people pouring down from Arafah.  Felt like you are swept away by a sea of people.  But Masha Allah, there were pockets of free space that I didn't feel claustrophobic at all. Allah protected me along the way and provided for me.  There were water coolers when I needed them and also bought an apple and some grapes for food.

People are still streaming in, I can see them walking past me.  There are people everywhere I look and shops line the streets.  Also hawkers.  I left the Indonesians as I didn't feel comfortable imposing on them.  Been walking and now have stopped at the border of Muzdalifah and Mina.  At the African Section (Section 5).  Hawkers line the street and I even saw two women cooking something in a big pot.  Probably to sell tomorrow morning.  Found out the Indonesians didn't belong to a camp but sleeping in the street.  Not all in Muzdalifah are as lucky, I notice, as I am.  Life is very different on the streets than in the 'rarified' world of the middle classes.

Alhamdulillah that I made a decision to walk.  You find out the colourful nature of the world.

My Hajj Diary - Day 6

Day 6 (13/10/2013 and also 8th Dzulhijjah) - Day/Night to spend in Mina.

Alhamdulillah, we arrived safely in Mina.  Had some sleep and prayed fajr.  Things are a bit chaotic but alhamdulillah, I have been trying to follow Sumayia's advice to sit/lay down and do my own dzikr.  What do I feel?  Not sure except that I am trying to do what is needed.  Ya Allah, let me be amongst those who are grateful and successful.

Being in a tent with 58 other people is a challenge in itself.  So many distractions and also the need to compromise.  Perhaps that is the lesson to be learnt in Mina.  There is wisdom in enduring the idiosyncrasies of everyone and learning more about oneself as a consequence.

Was reading Surah Al-Furqan: 61-76:  descriptions of the servants of Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious), those who are grateful:
1.  Walk gently on the earth
2.  Words of peace for the foolish
3.  Remember their Sustainer far into the night
4.  Pray to avert Hell.
5.  Spend on others in a balanced way - neither too much nor too little
6.  Not do the following - set up anything/anyone beside God, kill unjustly, commit adultery
7.  Repent if they did the above, attain to faith and do a good deed (in replacement)
8.  Never bear witness to falsehood
9.  Not engaged in frivolity
10.  Try to understand God's words with deeper/conscious effort
11.  Pray to be conscious of Him and that their family be a source of comfort.


Questions:
1.  What does it mean to 'walk gently on the earth'?
          - not spread corruption on earth
          - minimise impact on the environment (learn from the Native Americans and other Oborigins)
          - spread good
          - what else?

2.  Words of peace for the foolish?
         - do not engage them in hate or anger
         - speak nicely to them

3.  Why the three sins?  Are they the most major or is there something about these acts which have further implications?  What is the significance of doubling the punishment in the hereafter for these?

4.  What about family life?  How is the family as a source of comfort lead to consciousness of God?


As to character of the Prophet which we should strive to emulate:
- sweet disposition, noble character, deep thought, sound reasoning and trustworthy attitude.

Just heard the news of Pak Lang Sarip's death before dzuhur prayer.  That is a shock to the system.  Will need to check with Dad when I return.  May Allah have mercy on his soul.  He was very kind to my late mother and to me.

Finished the maghrib prayer.  The talk/lecture after prayers is on niyah (intention).  Ya Allah, purify my intention: to do this for You alone.

Alhamdulillah, it is always lovely to see the enthusiasm of the young.  A sister was inspired by the poor pilgrims on the street that she is collecting all the uneaten food to be distributed on the street.  May Allah reward her for her effort.

My Hajj Diary - Day 5

و هو الذى أرسل الرِّيٰح بُشْرا بين يدىْ رحمته

وأنزلنا من السماء ماء طهورا

لنحىِ به بلدة مَّيتا و نسقيه ممّا خلقنا أنعاما و أنا سىَّ كثيرا.

And He it is who sends forth the winds as a glad tiding of His Coming Grace and (thus too) We cause pure water to descend from the skies so that We may bring dead land to life thereby, and give to drink thereof to many (beings) of Our Creations, beasts as well as humans

(Al-Furqan:48-49)

Today is the day of rest before we head out to Mina tonight, insha Allah.  I was just reading the above passage and thinking how appropriate these verses are in the context of the land we are in.  The barren desert with rocks and mountains truly need the life giving rain water.  We (I) don't truly appreciate it, living in Scotland.

And a remark by Shahidah a few days ago about the cool wind also comes to mind.  In this area, the cool wind is a sign of His blessings and Grace.  May He make this journey easy for us and grant us cool winds along the way.  Ameen.

Maghrib has arrived and I have done my ghusl.  Prayed qasr and jama'.  Been trying to be quiet and focus.  I guess I am not good at dzikr or reading the Qur'an consistently but I am trying.  I am also reading the books I brought with me so that I can catch up on my readings and reflect.  Perhaps that is the best I can do.  Ya Allah, accept this hajj of mine.

There seems to be some confusion as to the salah for Ihram.  Two questions that might help clarify matters:-
1.  When the Prophet s.a.w. prayed two raka'ah at Bir-Ali (or other miqat), did there exist a mosque there already?  Was his intention that of salah al-Masjid or for Ihram?

2.  What did the Companions do after they came out of ihram and then went back into it when they did hajj tamattu' on the first and final hajj of the Prophet s.a.w.?

These questions should highlight if there is a salah specially for ihram.  Will need to read up more on the hadiths and athars related to them.

My Hajj Diary - Day 4

Day 4 (11/10/2013)

9am - Alhamdulillah, arrived safely at 3 am in the morning at the apartments in Aziziyah.  It was a long journey...we set off from Madinah at 3 pm and then from Bir-Ali at almost 7 pm before reaching Mecca close to 2 am.  Drove around for about an hour before arriving at our destination.

So haven't really slept because by the time we settled down, it was time for fajr and we (Shahidah and I) decided to perform our umrah.  Alhamdulillah, we finished it well before 9 am and am now having a well deserved breakfast.  Sitting here at the food court, I miss my family.  Last year, they were here with me.

3 pm - Back at the apartment after Juma'ah.  It was difficult to find a taxi but alhamdulillah, Shahidah managed to get one for us.  Rested a little but still tired.  Will rest for the rest of today and tomorrow as the focus should be on hajj.

Today, doing the umrah, I was in a daze.  It was probably the tiredness but the sight of the Ka'abah didn't move me as much as usual.  Also, didn't know what to pray for.  Mind was a blank.  But still alhamdulillah, my umrah is completed.

Ya Allah, let me be able to walk safely alone if no one else wishes to go with me.

My Hajj Diary - Day 2

YDay 2 (09/10/2013)

Waiting for Asr in Masjid Nabawi.  It has been an emotional day.  Had a good rest last night, alhamdulillah.  But while waiting for Dzuhur, I was thinking of the book on the puritans vs the moderates.  (The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremist by Khaled Abou El Fadl which I was reading to Shahidah on the plane here)  I realised how daunting the challenges that the Ummah faces but two things stood out:
1.  God does not burden us more than we can bear.
2.  God does not change a people unless we change ourselves.

Thus this is my du'a:
1.  That I am able to make some small contributions towards the change that we need to make.
2.  That I not be overwhelmed and daunted by the task.

My resolve:
1.  Gain an understanding of the religion through learning and scholarship
2.  Contribute to the body of knowledge
3.  Spread good in this world through the various good works and stand for justice wherever it may be.

I was reading Surah An-Nur: 57-60 and the following questions come to mind:
1.  What is the wisdom behind these verses in regulating the privacy of a person?
2.  When and in what circumstances is it applicable?
3.  What is the meaning ثِيابَهنَّ (outer garments) in this verse?  How is it related to modesty and how old is that - related to sexual desire or marriage?

After Isha' prayers:  "Ilm is Islam" stated Rosenthal in his book and yet as I walk around Madinah I wonder where are the bookshops?  When I first came here (over a decade ago), I remember seeing rows of bookshops and similarly when I went with my dad and Cik Nani.  But these two days, I only spotted a single big bookshop and a scattering of tiny ones with nothing really substantial.  Instead I see hotels being built, tourist type shops taking over and spreading everywhere.  Everything except the very thing this Ummah needs - 'ilm.

'Ilm has been the characteristic of this Ummah since the very beginning and yet today, this is absent.  Where are our Ibn Khaldun, Ibn Haytham, Ibn Al-'Aarbi, Al-Ghazali etc.?  Ignorance is spreading.  Our young are no longer rooted in the Islamic scholarship and history.  Our women are illiterate when before they were amongst our top scholars and teachers of our top scholars.  It is very important for us to pursue and revive this culture of knowledge and it should start with the self.

Questions that I have:
1.  Who is responsible to preserving and granting/withholding access to the old manuscripts of past Islamic scholars?
2.  Why are some materials not accessible?

10 pm - Went to the bookshop.  The books for English readers were the same as can be found elsewhere and perhaps more limited.  Very disappointing.

My Hajj Diary - Day 1

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace.

Alhamdulillah, I was invited this year to be His guest for Hajj this year.  Some people are invited many times over while others struggle to get invited.  So, alhamdulillah for the invitation and no one can predict the future, however, there is something in me that tells me that this is to be my first and last hajj.  May Allah accept it.

Thus, on this brilliant,demanding and at times scary journey, I have written an ongoing diary of my observations, thoughts etc.  I hope by sharing some of the entries of the diary, others can benefit from my experiences.

Wassalam,
Sid

------------------------------------
Day 1 (8/10/2013)
5.30 am - Alhamdulillah!  Alhamdulillah!  We have arrived safely in the beloved city of the Prophet s.a.w.  Miracles do happen - Shahidah is absolutely fine after 5.5 hours of flight.  Insha Allah, we are on the bus, waiting to be taken to our hotel.  Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah!  I hope that the rest of the journey will be as smooth.  May Allah grant me patience throughout this journey.  Right now, I am looking forward to be in the company of the Prophet and the Companions in the blessed city.  Alhamdulillah for His call.  Labbaik!

8.43 am - Finally arrived at the hotel after a long delay at the airport parking lot.  Now we have to wait till 12 pm to check in.

2.30 pm - Went to Masjid Nabawi for Dzuhur.

4.00 pm - Right now, sitting in the Masjid after Asr.  Alhamdulillah finally showered and changed clothes.  What a ni'mah, that is.  What is more a ni'mah is to be able to sit here in the relative calmness of the Prophet's mosque.  Sent my salam to the Prophet earlier.  I pray that God will let me be amongst His grateful servants like the Prophet s.a.w. and his companions.  Let me never be ungrateful for His favours upon me.


I was reading the following verse in the Quran:

و إذا دُعُوا إلى الله ورسولهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بينهم إذا فَريق مِنهم معرضون

(When they are called to/summoned unto God and His Apostle that he/it might judge between them, lo! a party of them turn away)

And I had two different translations in my kindle for the term ليحْكم.  In one translation, it said "he might judge", i.e. that the Prophet, and in another translation, "it [the divine writ] might judge".  The ability to interprete  ليحْكم into the two different interpretation gives rise into a rich meaning of the term -

1.  Who judges?
2.  If the Prophet s.a.w., how does he continue to judge even after his death?  In what sense?
3.  If it is the Qur'an (divine writ), how does it act as a judge?
4.  What implications do the different interpretation have upon us?

And yet there are other words with precise meaning in the Qur'an for which if you substitute a different word, the meaning changes.  What a beautiful book, Masha Allah.

Summary:  All in all, alhamdulillah, a good day if a bit tiring.  Been able to pray all the 4 prayers in Masjid Al-Nabawi.  Soaking in the peace and marveling at the diversity of Muslims.

Survival tips for those who want to embark on Hajj

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace

Alhamdulillah I have just returned from one of the most momentous journeys in my life.  I don't normally say that given that I consider myself to be a relatively well travelled person.  But tha hajj is a different kettle of fish altogether.  Each person's hajj is different and individual but there are several things that will be similar and we can learn from those experiences, insha Allah.

So the following are my advice to those contemplating hajj while you are still relatively young and fit:

1.  Prepare your list of du'a/supplications because hajj is all about supplication.  

You don't do much prayer as you are considered a traveller.  But the Quran and supplications are your two main tools to communicate with your Creator.  A supplication is best from the heart and repeated often.  I see people with du'a books but I think it isn't necessary because the best du'a should be tailored to individual needs.  And God knows all languages...a sincere du'a is, to my mind, more likely to be accepted than one that is parroted.

2.  You are a traveller, so travel light.  

All you need is two pairs of ihram (for men) or comfortable loose clothes (for women) on hajj and another one kept aside for the way home.  A small kit of toiletry is more than enough.  I survived on a small toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, and soap.  If you want to pack a small comb, that's a luxury.  Believe me, you don't need anything more than that in Mina and less in Arafah.  And don't buy gifts...truly there is nothing there that you can't find elsewhere.  The best gift is your du'a for those people you love and care for.

A lesson I learnt on this journey is the less baggage you have the easier your journey will be.  The same should be applied in our journey in this life.

3.  Get fit by walking

Before you embark on hajj, start training your body and feet by walking long walks.  Try walking 5 miles everyday if possible.  Insha Allah, You will find that you won't get much blisters nor will you find yourself too exhausted when you do that.

The reason why I am giving this advice is that I am advising people to do lots of walking during hajj.  Walk from Arafah to Muzdalifah and then from Muzdalifah to Mina. From Mina to the jamraat and onwards to the Haram.  This way, you will see the exact condition of the Ummah and not your own micro community/group.  You will learn how the poor amongst us survive and live while we are comfortably settled in our relatively cool tents.  You will witness the tonnes of rubbish we all produce and strewn all over the place.  And perhaps then awareness will start blooming in the hearts that this Ummah needs to change and change fast because we are in critical condition.

4.  Useful things to bring.

A sister I met in my group has been to hajj 9 times and there was one thing she always bring with her - ginger powder.  A pinch of ginger with honey in your tea or coffee will help keep up your immune system, insha Allah.  Alhamdulillah, with the ginger, I was able to stave off the flu till the day I finished the tawaf wada'.

Lozenges and paracetamol are quite useful too.  

Another useful thing is a tea towel.  It is smaller than a small towel and larger than a face towel.  So you can soak it with cold water and put it over your head in the heat.  That will help cool you down.

Draw string waterproof bag for shower in Mina.  Your things will get wet because the cubicle is very small and you don't want things to fall into the toilet hole below.  

5. Food for your survival

If you are vegetarian, your food choice is very limited and if you are not, you will get tired of rice and chicken.

So some good food tips, go out of the camps to the road side stalls.  They have some fresh fruits and perhaps veg like cucumber and tomatoes.  Also they probably have some veg curry.  For those practising macrobiotic diet, forget about it.  Not the place for it.

The best thing is to drink plenty of Zamzam and water.  I didn't touch any soft drinks at all but that is my preference.

6. Patience and socialising

There will be delays, chaos and people's personality that will test the patient of a saint.  But just keep reminding yourself that this hajj is a test on patience and supplicate that God grant you patience.  

Try not to socialise too much.  Keep your own company most of the time.  One of the best advice a friend gave me was to block out all chit chat, lay down the mattress and start with dzikr and du'a as soon as you get to Mina.  You need to get yourself into an introspective frame of mind for Arafah.  

May Allah accept all our Hajj!