I wrote this 7 years ago, on the rooftop of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) mosque, a few weeks prior to Hajj 2011. It was our final night in Madinah, and this piece was inspired by the time there. Sadly, I’ve not been back since then. … More A most blessed rooftop
I feel for those who leave their kids behind to undertake this trip. It’s heart-breaking…but it’s a necessary pain. It teaches us that, no matter how strong our attachments to the people we have in this life, we have to leave at some point. We have to meet our Creator. The same goes for attachments to material possessions and status. … More The Journey of a Lifetime
As I sat there, I was moved by watching my fellow hujjaajj. I reflected on how we were all brought together for this trip: Allah had specifically picked each and every one of us to be His guests at these holy sites in this year. I thought about the bonds had grown between us, and how united we’d been. And soon, this would all end. We’d go back to our own lives at home and our Hajj would fade into history as fond memories – flashes of a past experience that we would so dearly love to hold onto, but wouldn’t be able to, since life would move on, and time would erode the highs of our spiritual peak. … More As the days of Hajj draw to a close…
I think of how my own life has changed in these six years.
When we got back, the desire to “live my Hajj” meant staying highly spiritual: worshipping a lot; being beautiful in character; and just living a good, clean life.
Six years later, my feeling is that that’s not what it means to live our Hajj. At least not for me. Maybe because I’ve failed miserably by my own initial definition. … More Makkan Memories…and the future of me
With this year’s Hajj fast approaching, those who are going can find it hectic getting logistical stuff sorted out, making the social arrangements for departure (the greetings etc before leaving), and – most importantly – their own personal mental and spiritual preparation.
What follows is a compilation of tips and lessons extracted from my own Hajj experience – which I hope will be of benefit to those making the journey of a lifetime this year. … More Leaving for Hajj soon? Download these tipsheets
Originally posted on slip-sliding away…..:
Mina on the final morning of Hajj 1432 (2011) Here follows a ramble of thoughts, on the eve of tomorrow’s Hajj… I’m immersed in memories. Memories of four years back, when I was on the cusp of my first and only Hajj. We were in Aziziah, doing last-minute stuff before…
Hajj is now over, and as the pilgrims return home to their loved ones, they take back with them a multitude of precious memories from the journey, lessons they’ll hope to apply for the rest of their lives, and an elevated sense of spirituality. Back to reality But for many, those feelings can quickly fade … More (Repost) Beyond Hajj: Five ways to maintain your Hajj for life
Originally posted on slip-sliding away…..:
I wrote this exactly one year ago – in Mina on the first day of Hajj 2011. May it be a reminder to myself and others of how the journey of Hajj is this life’s preparation for a more important journey we’ll all take. “Friday 4th November 2011 Inside our…
Another piece I wrote for ProductiveMuslim.com this year: In Part 1 of this series, we spoke about how former Hujjaj feel during this time of the year and what they do to bring those special memories back into their lives. In Part 2, we look at some of the many actions Muslims can do to … More Missing Makkah (pt2): A Personal Plan for Dhul Hijjah
Something I wrote for ProductiveMuslim.com: Every former Hajji has their own unique story. Tales of the days they were blessed to spend on this sacred journey, so beloved that even the struggles and discomfort they faced are not enough to discourage them from wanting to return. At this time of year, that yearning grows stronger. … More Missing Makkah (pt1): Special Advice for Former Hujjaj This Season
slip-sliding away..... 