Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's Hospitality

فِيۡهِ اٰيٰتٌ ۢ بَيِّنٰتٌ مَّقَامُ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ   وَمَنۡ دَخَلَهٗ كَانَ اٰمِنًا ​ؕ وَلِلّٰهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ اسۡتَطَاعَ اِلَيۡهِ سَبِيۡلًا ​ؕ وَمَنۡ كَفَرَ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ‏ ٩٧

In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it [i.e., the Ḥaram] shall be safe. And [due] to Allāh from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves [i.e., refuses] - then indeed, Allāh is free from need of the worlds.

[Al-Quran 3:97, Translation: Saheeh International]

December 2006 

We went for Hajj with a group. Our accommodation was in Azizia, a little away from Makkah. 

We were provided conveyance for manasik of the Hajj, but other than that, we were to arrange our own transportation to Haram and back for prayers and tawaf. 

The first day, a few of us got together, hired a taxi, and went to Haram in the afternoon. By the time we reached there, the prayer rows were already formed till outside the gates of the mosque. I think it was a little before Magrib prayers. We prayed the obligatory prayers. Our team members decided that it'll be best to return the next morning for tawaf as there seemed no way to get inside then. I commented that it'll be hot. 

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ is so sweet, so kind, so hospitable, so amazing, so wonderful, ... :the next morning, as we were leaving Azizia, it started to drizzle. By the time we reached the Haram, it had stopped raining, but there was a cloud cover. We entered the Mataf and started to do tawaf. Then, we sat in the Mataf area, with a grand view of the Kaaba, and waited there till Zuhr prayers. All this time, the cloud cover remained. Alhamdollilah. 

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I also wanted to eat a local delicacy. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ knew it wasn't healthy for me, so that craving was not met. Alhamdolillah. 

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I also had worries about how I'll manage long hours without going to the toilet during the Hajj manasik, especially the night at Muzdhalifah. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ was most kind, and made it all easy for me. I didn't even need to go to the toilet in Muzdalifah. Alhamdolillah. 

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Not used to walking long distances, I was also worried how I'll cope and keep up with everyone. Alhamdolillah, I had to walk long distance only twice: once for only twenty minutes when we were returning from Muzdalifah in the morning, and that also because our bus was stuck in traffic, and it would take two hours to reach the same distance. The other was a stroll as our team members decided to walk back to Azizia from Jamarat after our first day of pelting the stones. Alhamdolillah. 

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Our group leader had counselled us that there is great rush at the Jamarat, so its best if women don't go. I had accepted it. As I was sitting, in Azizia , a sister; one of our team members, came and asked me if I wanted to go. Surprised and delighted, I rushed to the bus, and asked my husband (who was already in the bus) if I could come. He consented. Alhamdolillah.  

At the Jamarat, we encountered hardly any rush. Out group leader advised us to walk past the pillar, and pelt the stones from behind. There was no rush there, nor any pushing / tugging. Alhamdolillah, we were able to perform all the manasiks. Alhamdolillah. 

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So many people perform Umrah and Hajj every year, and so many wonderful stories and personal experiences are related each year. How amazing is our Rabb?  

Ya Allah, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for all the details, all the ease, all the comforts, all the wonderful moments, everything, and everyone. Thank you for making our Hajj extra-special. Kindly forgive our mistakes, sins, and shortcomings. Please accept our Hajj. Please be well-pleased with us. Aameen.