InsyaAllah. tomorrow on the 25th of November 2008, the first in our generation after my grandparents will be heading to the Holy land for their Hajj.
Hajj is performed by muslims at least once in a lifetime. It's a form of submission to Allah as to how the prophet Muhammad did it. It is a must for all able-bodied or who can afford it.
It is a pilgrimage not a trip. Each year, an estimated of 3 million muslims from around the world gather to pray to Allah the Almighty.
The idea of someone doing the Hajj is something of holy. Though i do know some who has done the Hajj but not act like one who has. This pilgrimage would mean your devotion to your creator. The relationship between creater and creation where Islam holds strong.
In Hajj, many things have to be done. From the stoning of the devil. To the zikir or chant by the people. All dressed in white robes. This shows how united muslims are. This shows how everyone is equal. NO matter skin colour, race or nation.
See, there is a difference of this and UMRAH. I did my umrah or VISIT to the holy land in 2006. I was blessed Alhamdulillah to have made the trip. For many others wouldn't have had even the thought or chance to go.
Look at it this way. Umrah, Hajj or even a visit to the holy land. The Masjidil Haram, the mosque where we position our prayer directions to is the house of God.
Heck, all mosque's are a house of Allah. And we are only visitors. So what i'm trying to say is that, Allah invites whoever He wishes. And so, Alhamdulillah, i was invited and i did my umrah. It's nothing hard but takes the spiritual mind into play.
I've heard of the so many people i know, ive been to umrah 10 times! But it wont matter if you don't embrace it.
My dad for instance, went that ONE time. And see what happened. MasyaAllah, i know it's not right to say. But he was clueless or even lost in direction. He only remembered life on earth and not after. He didnt think of the one Higher than him.
On the first day of Umrah, he realised that, there is something greater than money. Something greater than fortune. And something greater than him. That was most important. He embraced the idea of it. He embraced the purpose of being there in the holy land.
I myself learned that, seeing the thousands and millions of people gathering together at the same time. To pray to the One lord. Makes my heart soft. The one time i can be truly honest and submit my weakness is when i speak to Allah in my prayers.
He's the Ar Rahman and Ar Rahim. The most gracious and most merciful.
So to my uncle and auntie, i pray for your safe going and safe return. I hope you will receive Allah's blessings the moment you step on the land.
=)
lots of love,
Hilmi.
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