Hajj: The Journey of a Lifetime

It's that time of the year, Muslims all over the world are getting restless.

Their Home in the heart of the planet beckons them.

It's time to pay homage to the Beloved Almighty in the House.

It's time to come Home.

It's time to come Home to the Holy Sanctuary of Ka'aba.

It's time to leave all and follow Him.

It's time to abandon this illusory world and come to the House of Almighty.

It's time for Hajj--the Pilgrimage.

Those who can go will head to Mecca,

those who can't will join in the festivities of Homecoming

wherever they may be by celebrating the Eid Ul Adha.

Hajj is a commemoration of love and celebration of faith.

We commemorate Abraham's Supreme Sacrifice in love of his Beloved in Minnah.

We celebrate his wife Hagar's display of unprecedented love for the infant Ishmael and her unflinching trust in the Providence in the lonely desert around the Twin Peaks.

We venerate Almighty's Greatest Gift,

the Quran by spending a day in Arafat where the final revelation was sent.

We celebrate faith by coming face-to-face to the Qiblah of our prayers.

Hajj is also an act of renunciation.

Muslims from every corner of the globe don their coffins--two cotton sheets--to represent their deaths to this life and head to their Primordial Home.

They pay their debts, ask forgiveness of everyone,

bid farewell to one and all and prepare to die to this world to live in Him.

We are now ready for Hajj to the Ka'aba-a very special place.

Ka'aba is a special place.

Its foundations have been fortified by love and faith of Abraham's family.

We go there to commemorate love.

We go there to celebrate faith.

Abraham lived the true meaning of Surrender.

Ka'aba is a special place.

It is overwhelming to be in company of 3 million brothers and sisters in faith,

all enshrouded in humble whites.

The highest king to the humble laborer are both dressed alike.

They stand shoulder to shoulder,

they run side by side and they greet each other the greeting of peace.

People of all races intermingle as co-equals.

Black, white, yellow and brown all come together in harmony before their Beloved.

Men and women all stand together.

In this searing passion for the Loved One, there is no distraction.

He Alone Matters! It is wonderful to lift one's face and see one's Qiblah face-to-face.

All their lives 5 times a day they turned their faces to their Qiblah--the Holy Ka'aba and now they see it right in front of them in all its majesty and glory.

They savor the sweetness of coming Home all the while

exclaiming "Labbaik Allahuma labbaik, la sharika laka labbaik,

Labbaik Allahuma labbaik: I have come, my Lord, I have come.

No one participates in Your Divinity (so I have nowhere to come but You).

I have come." I have come, my Beloved. I have come.

We circulate around the Holy Ka'aba proclaiming all the while our Arrival.

Circling around the earthly shadow of the Pole,

we are reminded to keep our Beloved at the Center of our lives.

We are reminded to keep Him in front of our lives and in center of our existence.

Whenever we pray, this circulation is affixed and imprinted in our consciousness.

We stand in awe of His Presence as if we are circling non-stop in ecstasy round and round our Beloved.

Accept the Hajj of all our lucky Muslim brothers and sisters who are given the grace of your Presence in Your Exalted House.

Give us the Grace to one more time, to be able to come visit You.

O Almighty, there is no one worthy of Love, Worship and Surrender but You.

Allow us to love you, worship You and submit to Your Presence and to Your Wish and Will. Ameen!

Hajj Mubarak and Eid Mubarak!!

 

Our marriage has been the blending of two lives, and two hearts,

a perfect union from the very start.

Our commitment of caring

and sharing from the time

WE said, "Qabool kiya"

has built a lifetime of beautiful memories for both of us.

 

May WE continue to find happiness together, with enough love in our hearts

to last forever.

AMEEN. 

 

PLEASE WISH US LUCK

AND DO PRAY FOR US

BOTH.

 

 

Let's pray for peace on earth,

for love and goodwill to all.

There's no reason to fight when we're surrounded  by so much beauty and light.

 

We can all do our part;

we can all care and quit shedding wasted tears long enough to spread love and hope everywhere.

It's not so difficult to forget our anger and strife if we remember the miracle God gave us called life.

 

We can all experience the best part of living and an inner warmth that only comes from giving.

 

Let's pray for the miracle of peace

and love,

and hope our voices reach heaven upon the delicate wings of a dove and a beautiful butterfly.