20th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Wednesday 16th November 2011)

The day of our departure from Makkah to London, It was a sad day in many ways. We were leaving the sacred land to go back to the lives we have left behind. Our lives here on will never be the same again. Some of the changes I have thought about during Tawwaf, taking the time out during my stay.

I woke up at 4.30am and read Fajr at the Harem for the last time at 5.11am Akluma and I made our Tawwaf al Widaa (Farewell Tawwaf) taking just over an hour on the middle floor. It was rather emotional leaving this blessed city. We went back to the hotel to pack for the last time after we had breakfast with the Swansea crew table. Once we prayed dhuhr at the Harem we boarded Coach #3 and were ready to depart. Brother Mustafa found Aklumas backpack in the reception foyer, and Alhamdullillah located us with this bag. I did leave my own bag and my book “The Road to Mecca – by Mohammed Asad” on the coach to Jeddah airport ironically.

The journey to London, was fairly easy and comfortable (as much as it can be on a BMI chartered flight). Most people were not feeling too well and the a/c in the airbus did not help one bit. This later had the ramification of Hajjis collecting the luggage and saying salaams as quick as one could say “Hajji Tariq”!!!
Our Zamzam, the one I purchased through Al Muntada, went missing, never to be found. Alhamdulillah there was a previous flight were few zamzams were not redeemed and the lost property office at T1 provided me with one 10kg crate of zamazam.

Neha was there waiting outside on arrivals, we must have been one of a very few coming out at 1.15am! We were tired but Alhamdullillah I so wanted to see my bed to get some much needed sleep. I am so glad I did not have to go into work the next few days. My throat was painful, and the cough well, it was only bringing up flem that I must hasten to add was not the most pleasing on the eye. These symptoms persisted for another week.

My mother was so proud we did not lose any footwear! Well she was pleased for my wife for sure that she did not have to use the women’s Hamams at the Harems in Medinah and Makkah.

I write this looking back at my days. The more I write on each day journal of my journey, the more I long to be at the Harem, to the sacred land that Allah swt has made for us in this World. Subhana’Allah.
I ask Allah to forgive me for any mistakes I may have made during this Hajj journey, Ameen. May Allah accept the Hajj of Akluma and I, the Hajj of my Mother In Law and Brother in Law, the Hajj of the Hujjaj of Al Muntada and all the Hujjaj from all over earth.

19th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Tuesday 15th November 2011)

The day of packing, this was the item on the menu for all of Al Muntada Hajjis. There was luggage all around the 3rd floor, where we resided.

All the couples were doing all what they can to fit all what they have purchased into their luggage bags. I must say I was not too fussed as with an allocation of 30kgs it would be difficult to go much over this and we had a taste of this from our travels to the Far East earlier in the year and this was with 23kg each.

In the evening after Esha and tawwaf at the Harem on the roof once more, Akluma and I went to see her mother and her dulabhai for the last time in Saudi. We managed to see her mother as dulabhai appeared to be awol. Nevertheless it was sad saying goodbye.

18th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Monday 14th November 2011)

We were originally planning to perform Ummrah today after Fajr however we both were not feeling well.

We hit the souks in “misfala” after asr prayer once we had some proper home cooked Bangladeshi fish and rice at our favourite joint now – Asia Restaurant.
We performed another nafl tawwaf after Esha which was better on the roof. This was followed by much needed mango slush from the zamzam towers.

Our bodies were feeling the tiredness by now, which did not help from our constant coughs which were aided by the a/c all over the 4* hotel. These mod cons are a hazard I must say and many a time I try to switch this off in my room.

17th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Sunday 13th November 2011)

At Asr we managed to meet Heera and his wife. We went to the Zamzam towers, to the 3rd floor where the food court was situated. Akluma and I got our favourite mango slushes from the ground floor and met the other couple near the Burger King. We talked about out Hajj experience to date and Heera being his normal self was cracking as many jokes as he was gasping Oxygen, though this almost backfired where his wife did not take some of the jokes heart. After Maghrib on the roof of the harem we stayed on the roof, and I recited more of the Glorious Qur’an (which I started on day 1 of Hajj).

In the evening after Esha salaat on the roof, we looked to performing nafl tawwaf. This was so beautiful especially as we had more time to take in the surrounding of this magnificent masjid and could supplicate and read the Qur’an in a more tranquil setting than the ground floor.

After ordering our Al Muntada Zamzam 10litre drums @ 18riyals from Brother Sherif, we made our way to the hotel. On the way to our hotel we looked into some of the shopping complexes, and little did we know until then they were full of womens abayyyas! This was like kryptonite for me, from the memories of 1430 (2009). Though I must add it was not too bad, as I must say I had much more sabr (patience) this time round. After looking at much black abbayyas, thought my scenery could do with a change and we took a well deserved break and went back to our hotel.

16th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Saturday 12th November 2011)

This is the day we intended to perform Umrah:
We got up for Fajr and then we stayed up after breakfast at the hotel. I did the preparation for Umrah like any other Umrah.

So at 8am in my umrah attire (2 white cotton towels) Akluma and I went to fetch a taxi to the nearest Meeqat point, Ayesha Masjid. The taxi cost us 80riyals and the driver waited whilst we prayed our Nafl Salaawat and made intention once again. This umrah was for my beloved Father who has suffered much in recent months with him being really ill and then being admitted to hospital which resulted in him being on Dialysis. May Allah accept my umrah. Ameen. Akluma also performed umrah for her Father. May Allah accept this umrah from her. Ameen

We performed the Tawwaf and Saee on the ground floor, the busiest parts of the Harem, MashaAllah we managed to complete this in good time. We just finished the saee 15 minutes before the start of Dhuhr adhaan, so it was very good timing on our part. So all in all took us 4 hours to get the Meeqat and complete umrah. Akluma and I were thinking we could do an umrah every day if it only takes 4 hours! However, we did not look to getting another look into umrah as we both became poorly.

15th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Friday 11th November 2011)

Today was Jummah in Makkah. It was very packed and we were informed we should leave our hotel rooms by 10.30am, so as us well times individuals we left at 11am.
We met my Mother In Law, Brother In Law and my new friend, my brother in laws younger brother, who resides and works in Jeddah. The younger brother was a right character and he lead us to where Aklumas maternal aunt was staying in Makkah. This proved to be quiet a long way away from where we met near the bridge of the Harem.
It was min Sylhet there, signs in Bangla, and looking at the people, you would be difficult to believe it was anything but Sylhet town! You could not even hear the Adhaan from where they were residing at, that’s how much noise there was and how many tall buildings the apartment was surrounded by.

After much deliberation, we ended up leaving around 9pm from Aklis aunts place, and so we prayed Esha and Witr at the Harem, with me leading. I thought may get a ticking off for having another Jammat after the main harem one, as some guards may think this was not allowed. It was okay and we safely escorted my mother in law to her Retaj apartement, room 740, which was on the doorstep of the Harem, MashAllah. We went to Misfala and

14th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Thursday 10th November 2011)

In the morning, I was completely knocked out after taking some antibiotics and performed Dhuhr and Asr at the nearby Masjid and Akluma and I went around the nearby shops. There was very little to find here. The coaches from Azziziyah apartments to Makkah came after Asr and later we arrived at the 5 start As Shohada Hotel at 6pm.

The ques to getting our sets of keys was very long and most of the peeps were getting very tired. Ironically all the allocated rooms were okay except the room of Akluma and her co habitués. They had still been occupied by the previous residence and thus required time before the hotel can get the room ready to vacate. I later checked in to room #362 and Akluma to room #359 which was very convenient. The Swansea crew were in room #361 and Faisal from Commercial Street and his 2 other friends were in room #361. It was amazing that I knew most people on our corridor, that was the beauty of the Al Muntada group, and shows how close knit we became on this beautiful journey.

We went to the Harem to perform our Tawwaf al Ifaada around 9.30pm. We managed to do this on ground floor, managing to get to the Yemeni corner and touched the blessed Kabbah. We were there for some time, making our duas. Alhamdulillah once you are there, it feels very peaceful, and getting to touch it is the difficult part. We did try to get close to the black stone and with the crowds proving to be a very big obstacle we later dismissed this idea. We finished the Tawwaf and Saee around 12am and celebrated back at the hotel.

13th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Wednesday 9th November 2011)

Tashreek – Day Three
I got up for Fajr and as always was the norm, we had a breakfast box delivered to our beds, this was a blessing. And with many croissants on the menu, I opted for a chocolate one, as the cheese variety we all the mina camp agreed was one that had to be consumed in dire need.

This was the quietest day of all the three previous days. Akluma and I went on our own to the Jamarat after Dhuhr, as now after 3 days we thought we have enough gravitas to do this and know the way back to our Mina camp. We also were feeling much better than the other days in Mina. We arrived back to Mina at 2.30pm in time for Asr Salaat. We had some rice and chicken (once again) which subsequently followed the packing and later departure from our camp at 4pm. It was rather emotional to leave what had been out home for the last 6 days, and dare I say it there was much love in the camp, even for the lavatories, I had already got used to these cubicles.

The diesel almost run out on the bus that I was on, and many u-turns later to find gas we were back on the road and on the way to Azziziyyah. There was long traffic for most of the journey as roads were blocked (which is typical during the Hajj season as I found). I met brother Zia from Croydon on the bus who works in Aldgate east.

We arrived at Azziziyya apartments at 7pm for one night stay. I took a nap whilst others went for a stroll. We had the Qurbani meat for dinner, it was scrumptious, Alhamdulillah. The Swansea crew were looking to head out to the Harem for 11pm, and Akluma and I were set for this until sleep got to the better of us. We got up at 5 to 11 and thought we should leave it and wait the next day when we are closer to the Harem from our hotel.

12th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Tuesday 8th November 2011)

Tashreek – Day Two
Today was less busy at the Jamaraat than the previous days. We went after Asr and came back in good time for Maghrib around 6pm. On the return leg I got talking to Brother Imran and we spoke about how blessed it was for us to be invited to Hajj.
After esha prayer, we had another Shaykh from Amaana Tours come into our camp to provide us with another dars.

The main message was:
1. Patience of 3 types – In following the commands of Allah, in staying away from the prohibitions and lastly patience in times of calamity (lower and higher levels – having contentment with the calamity i.e. it is blessed).
2. Obedience
3. Reminder of Death
4. Brotherhood and Love
5. Other Benefits of Hajj
Leaving with the message, Hajj - if it is a turning point in one’s life than that is a sign that one’s Hajj is Mabrour, an accepted Hajj from Allah.

The hujjaj are a snapshot of the state of the ummah as you will encounter all types of people during your experience on Hajj.

11th Dhul Hijjah 1432 (Monday 7th November 2011)

Tashreek – Day One
Our group was blessed with many great professionals from all industries, and from all over the UK too. We had a few Doctors, Lawyers, Pharmacists, IT technicians, not to mention the transport industry was fully represented, with professionals from TFL tube and buses, black can and mini cab drivers, it was a great mix. Our own Mayor Boris would definitely had given the thumbs up for a future consortium with this group! (Perhaps to create the new Hajji Mobile in London?...)

I went to our resident Pharmacist, Brother Hasan from Swansea, and he was Alhamdulillah a top bro. He came with his 2 elder sisters, and he was great to have around the camp. He mentioned there was a Hospital not too far away from our camp where a Doctor would see you and subsequently would prescribe you medicine for your ailments. I intended to do just that after Fajr prayer. I got talking to an Uncle from our group, who was very emotional to be at Hajj, who over the course of the next hour told me all about his 3 near death experiences, Alhamdullillah Allah has blessed him with this chance now to complete his Hajj.

I got to the hospital at 8am, and after seeing much entertainment in the ques for a good hour or so, was swiftly seen by a Doctor who diagnosed me with a throat infection. A few minutes later I was provided with a bag full of medicine which included antibiotics, cough medicine, paracetamol and wait for it, skin healing cream for burns!

After Dhuhr , there was a mass collection of stones in our part of the tent. Brothers from all over the tent came to ourside as if it was the “chosen” place for stones, and lifted the carpet to hunt for their Jamarat stones.

There was a great Nasiha by our resident Shaykh Abu Hanifah about:
1. The obligations /commands of Allah swt
2. Staying away from what is unlawful / ones desires that can be harmful
3. Where one does not have any control – one must have Sabr

Then the heart renching story about Imam Ahmed who was unknown by physical appearance hen he entered the Mosque in Damascus in the night and was dragged by his feet by a man in the Mosque as he did not allow him to pray. Another man came to Imam Ahmeds rescue (not knowing who he was) and wished to take him in to his home. Imam Ahmed asked the man if there was one thing he could wish for before he died what would it be. The man replied it would be to meet Imam Ahmed.

The morale of this story – nothing in this life is ever by chance, it may not make sense to us mere human mortals at the time, due to our own limited intelligence, what is fully known is only attributed to Allah, who had created us. There is an overall plan, and one must be thankful and be patient.

This day was very busy at the Jamarat, in fact even after we thought as a group we timed our journey well (after Asr), we were not, as the crowds were very large.
After Esha, we were blessed to have Shaykh Haitham Al Haddad who was on Hajj with Amaana Tours next to our own camp.

He was so full of energy and every time I see the Shaykh there is something that is always very memorable I take back with me.
The main message from him on this dars was:
• The main purpose of Islam – To Glorify Allah swt - this is manifested in Hajj. Through the glorification of Allah through submission, doing the acts of ebadat such as the Tawaaf, reciting the tarbiyyah (the real aqeedah as he called it).
• Increasing the size of the Ummah – more people saying the Shahadat, glorifying Allah swt. The story about Umar Ibn Al Khattab and what his intention of having sexual relations, was not for pleasure but to increase the Ummah.
• Allahs rights- we talk much about Human Rights, what about Allahs rights?
• Rationalisation – man cannot rationalise everything
• Have we “westernised” our ebaadat – there should be no shortcuts
• Tawwaf, Stoning and Sa’ee are all forms of dhikr of Allah, even if you do not recite at all
• Understand this principle of Glorifying Allah swt and make this a turning point in your life.

May Allah swt grant the Shaykh with all good in this World and the hereafter, Ameen.