Friday, April 25, 2008

Labbaik Allahuma labbaik...

Bismillah...



Performing Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. I believe each and every Muslim wish to perform hajj at least once in his lifetime. Suhaimi and I plan to achieve this within the next ten years, InsyaAllah.

Song by Alarmi Nasyid group... suddenly lingering on my ears... :)
"Muharram Safar Rabiaul Awal Rabiul Akhir Jamadil Awal Jamadil Akhir Rejab Sya'ban Ramadhan Shawal Dzul Qa'idah Dzul Hijjah..."
"Ibadah Haji di bulan Dzul Hijjah... Kita menyambut Aidil Adha..."


Pertaining to Kaabah, it is historically a central point of all revealed religion, discovered by Prophet Ismail and Siti Hajar when they found the water of zamzam, (an interesting info about zamzam). And the picture show the current view inside kaabah...



Then I remember my first experience visiting the Holy land of Islam, Makkah al-Mukarramah. It was a great experience indeed...

In 1997, the History Student Forum of IIUM organized an Educational Visit to Istanbul and Saudi Arabia . Alhamdulillah, we managed to find good sponsors (thanks to Nida's uncle especially, our lecturers and the team members as well, who joined and also some who were not able to join... I remember them all ). Our stay in Istanbul were sponsored by Refah Party, an Islamic party & ruling party at that time, while our stay in Suadi Arabia (Makkah, Madinah, Thaif and Jeddah) were sponsored by WAMY (World Assembly of Muslim Youth)

It was a 2 weeks program, and the most memorable part (for me) is performing Umrah.. Alhamdulillah... Thanks Allah.. for giving me the chance to be your guest in the Holy land... And I remembered few days after we went back home, I had a dream... which is still quite fresh in my mind... in the dream, I entered the Kaabah and perform sunat prayer inside... the internal view was different though... no tile underneath, no chandelier, no light... it was deem, and the feeling... subhanallah... I felt soo close to Him... It was just a dream but it's a beautiful one...

The visit was successful...alhamdulillah. In Istanbul, we visited Hagia Sofia, the Blue Masjid (avoid the word mosque... it's not the proper word for masjid), Yerebatan Sarayı (Istanbul's largest underground cistern -- a remnant of the Romans -- and the only one renovated and opened for public), Topkapi Palace, and many other places including having syai (tea) while enjoying the view of Marmara Sea...

And in Saudi, our visit began in Madinah al-Munawwarah, having the chance to pray several times in Masjid Nabawi, visiting location of Badr Uhud and few other things. There was one incident occured while we were in Madinah...:) We're provided with a small bus to travel to/from masjid Nabawi and our hostel. One evening after solat Isyak, we notice that few members were not around. So we waited in the bus. Most of us were wearing normal dress (of the same style we're having in Malaysia... colourful ones). While waiting, suddenly an Arab man approached us and gave 'syarahan/tazkirah' to us... (Haza launu shaitan... launu rijal abyad wa launu nisa' aswad...) which means man should wear only white and women should wear black.. these colors (our dress) are evil colours... Oh how much I remembered that incident, and our accompanying lecturer was wearing red/maroon baju melayu that evening!!!

Let me continue with the spiritual journey now... the first time we approached kaabah, all seemed speachless.. uttering some dua (as advised), some of us cried, out of joy and thankful to Him... We performed tawaf, sa'i and also visited Aqabah (place for jamrah, a mere visit since jamrah is not of requirement in Umrah). I had the chance to pray in Hijr Ismail and also kiss Hajarul Aswad, alhamdulillah... We were also showed (from a distance) the location of the house of Prophet Muhammad (which is not normally told to regular visitors). And the zamzam water.. oh how much I miss it's freshness and taste...

We also had the chance to visit Taif.. a highland where the arabs have their picnic. Yes, there are lots of trees up there and the temperature is low, as compared to other part of Arabia... nice and cold. And on top of the hill, we're greeted in normadic style... having special meal (lamb cooked under heated sand.. or something like that) inside big tent...

Alhamdulillah... thanks to Allah for giving me the chance to be there.. and InsyaAllah I wish to go there again, oh Allah please make my wish come true... ameen.

4 comments:

achiema said...

Salam..
This story reminds me of my vist to Holy Mekkah & Madinah two years ago, masyaAllaah it touches our heart deeply, amazingly. Let us pray that we will have the chance to be there again, insyaAllaah.

Asiah said...

ameen

IKRAB family said...

yes, the memories there still fresh in our mind ;)
-shimah-

Asiah said...

indeed.. still fresh aye! soo memorable, so beautiful, insyaAllah we'll be there again..ameen