Everyone has a story to tell… & everyone’s story is somewhat different. I stand looking up at the beautiful people before me,utterly amazed at the beauty they’ve received from You, Oh my Lord.
You see, Allah S.W.T, in His infinite mercy & wisdom, chose these beautiful people to be His guests in the Holy lands. They got to stand before His bayt, beseeching Him from the bottom of their hearts. Their eyes filled with tears, their hearts overwhelmed with the knowledge that Allah S.W.T chose THEM out of the billions in this world! It is only Allah who knows the content of our hearts. Only He knows whether we’ll truly succeed or not. Only He can honour pilgrims every year by inviting them to this blessed place.
I wonder what it’d be like… travelling to the holy lands for the first time. Donning my ihram purely for the sake of my Lord, & laying eyes on His blessed house! Yaa Rabb! Imagine, tawaafing the Ka’bah. One among the millions. Pilgrims from across the globe coming together as a manifestation of their love for Allah. My heart contracts, as my eyes pour forth teary streams at the prospect of it all. At some point, the crowd splits & I move toward the ka’bah, my anticipation increasing with every step. Finally, before the Ka’bah I stand.
In awe of its simplistic beauty,I step forward, silently caressing the “house” before me. Quickly, I pull back! This is the BEITULLAH! The Ka’bah which my prophet S.A.W circumambulated. The house which my fathers Ibraaheem & Ismaaeel A.S build with their own hands. In that moment I realise… The Ka’bah isn’t just a house. It is a symbol of Islam since time immemorial! Allahu Akbar!
Someone touches my shoulder & I’m knocked back down to earth.
Before me is a lady, as beautiful as they come. Her husband, an example to many. And the nur on their faces?! SubhaanAllah!!!
These two people are truly an inspiration in my life. I look at them and am reminded of Allah.
Trembling, I embrace this beautiful woman. Glad my Rabb returned her home safe and sound. Glad that I get to benefit from her company once more.
Today Yaa Allah, I have finally witnessed the nur of the hujjaaj.
Yaa Allah, all I can think of is the verse:
“Then their skins and their hearts soften due to the remembrance of Allah” «Surah Zumar, Verse 23»
You showed me that Yaa Allah! You showed it to me in two of the most beautiful people I know. Yaa Allah, grant them,& all other hujjaaj a hajj maqbool & mabrur & keep them from among those who are guided. Let them live and die as mu’minoon. Yaa Allah, forgive their shortfalls, & make them living examples of the true submitters to Your deen!
**Ameen Yaa Rabb Al-‘Aalameen!**