Hajj 2023- Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey

Every Hajji/ Hajja- is a guest of Allah. As one of Allah's millions of guests in the holy land of Makkah last

year, with immense gratitude and heartfelt joy, my husband and I set out for our spiritual journey.

Deciding to undertake Hajj wasn’t difficult, but even with most arrangements in place, everything had to

align perfectly in the end. We are eternally grateful to the Almighty for enabling our dream and guiding

us throughout the trip.

Hajj is an indescribable journey filled with heartwarming experiences, tests of physical endurance,

profound revelations, and transformative insights. It takes place every year between the 8th and 12th of

Dhul Hijjah. 

Before we started, we humbly asked for forgiveness to all our dear and near for any mistakes or

wrongdoings that we may have committed, knowingly or unknowingly.

The very sight of the Ka'abah was breathtaking, as scores of pilgrims were circumambulating the epicentre of spirituality in unison and complete devotion. It brought back memories of those blessed childhood days when I often visited Makkah.

The taste of ZamZam water refreshes your palate, fortifies your resolve and revitalizes your soul. And you

are convinced that just as Zam Zam well never runs dry, so does Allah’s mercy flow upon us.

The 5 days of Hajj seemed like a marathon of rituals. The stay at Mina tent, the long-standing in Arafah, the exhaustive walk to Muzdalifa, pelting pebbles at the Jamarat, the circumambulation around the Ka’abah amidst a swarm of people, the crossing between the hilltops of Safa and Marwa known as

Saee, all of this in 4 different locations in 5 days is a trial in itself. We walked for about 135kms in all, in these days. But even when it seemed like a difficult ordeal, we were wholeheartedly content realising the spiritual rewards and eternal bounties of successfully completing the Hajj.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Whoever goes to Hajj without obscenity or wrong doing, he or she will be forgiven as a new-born." reported by Sahih Bukhari.

The journey boosted us spiritually and gave us a lot of life lessons in a short span. We made lasting friendshipswith people who have joined hands to look out for each other with no other ulterior motives than to

please Allah. 

                                                                    The Mina Tent Area.

On the morning of Dhul Hijjah 8, we reached our Mina tent.

The experience at the Mina tent was entirely unprecedented for us. The food and facilities were

commendable, but we still had our fair share of trials and tribulations. We shared medicines, ate and slept in a tightly packed space, forgave and forgot each other’s shortcomings, and prayed for each other’s health and wellness. Hajj fosters a sense of community, sacrifice, and solidarity among pilgrims.

We were happy to pray for all our kith and kin who had requested for Dua and Allah’s mercy upon them

in these blessed days.

A notable hadith says:

‏مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَدْعُو لأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ إِلاَّ قَالَ الْمَلَكُ وَلَكَ بِمِث

"There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence) that the

Angels do not say: The same be for you too." {Sahih Muslim}

Mount Arafah or Jabal Al-Rahma

Hajj is physically taxing but mentally rejuvenating. You feel irresistibly drawn to Allah when you stand in the plains

of Arafah from dawn until sunset, engaged in prayer and supplication for mercy.

In an authentic hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Hajj is Arafah.” 

It falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijj.As pilgrims dedicate hours on the plains, engaged in prayer and repentance akin to the practice of

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Muslims worldwide observe fasting, engage in dhikr, and offer prayers.

Kudos to the Saudi government for going the extra mile to ensure a smooth, safe, and engaging Hajj for

around 1.8 million pilgrims from across the globe. Water mist poles and fans continuously sprayed water

onto our weary faces. The security personnels and volunteers were a beacon of comfort in our ordeal and

helped us navigate the heat by offering us water bottles, wheelchairs, food boxes and other refreshments.

Even with updated facilities, most modern technology and round the clock vigilance, there can be last

minute hiccups, challenges and cancellations. But, we traversed each step of this spiritual journey with

complete reverence.

This picture depicts the sheer joy of reaching our Mina Tent from Muzdalifah. The previous night we trekked for about 7 kms from Arafah to Muzdalifa, but it took us around 3 hours to reach our destination. When our feet could no longer carry us, we stopped and laid our mats on the pavement and slept under the sky. We must have rested for a couple of hours. And the early morning next day, after our Fajr prayers, we walked back to our Mina tent. Braving the sweltering heat and the unrelenting crowd, we managed to reach there without losing our way. 

After finishing the mandatory rites of Rami Al-Jamarat ( stoning the devil), Nahr or Qurbaani( Animal sacrifices), and Tawaf Al-Ifadah, we were relieved from our Ihraam (sacred state/attire of a pilgrim). The sense of accomplishment that I felt cannot be put into words. My heart felt lighter stripped of all of its burdens.

Embarking on Hajj imparts lessons in patience, humility, and devotion. It offers the chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with millions from diverse backgrounds, shedding all markers of social status, wealth, and differences. This pilgrimage serves as a poignant reminder of life's fleeting nature and the importance of focusing on one's faith and the hereafter.

At the Jamaarath

To all those who inquire about my Hajj experience, I say this: if your health permits and your financial

situation is favorable, seize the opportunity without hesitation.—book your place and embark on this

extraordinary pilgrimage. 

Hajj is for individuals of all ages who seek spiritual fulfillment, contrary to the popular belief that it is

solely for the elderly.

I waited a full year to pen down my Hajj experience. I wanted to assess whether my fervor for this

pilgrimage remained undiminished over time. The truth is, this year, I recall my Hajj days with the same

profound contentment and gratitude that I felt while embarking on the journey.