Umrah flashbacks and pictures

The front row young males in the bus clothed in angelic white from Jeddah airport to the sanctified Kaaba leading the chant ‘Labaik, Allahumma Labaik (We are present, Oh Allah we are present) as if though they were going to carry on forever. The atmosphere intense and yet calm at the same time. What was expecting us? For those who had already visited the holy lands, what would the pilgrimage be like this time? How would the Kaaba greet us?

One participant of our 33 person group, Shabbir Ahmed was seen helping others in the frenzy of kissing the black stone of the Ka’aba or Hajr al aswad as it is known in Arabic. With is relatively robust body and smart thinking he managed to help several people in kissing the stone.  There are literally hundreds of people amassed around the stone around the clock, waiting to kiss the stone, a kiss initiated by the Holy Prophet (SAW). The most kissed stone in the universe! But also the stone that many people never get a chance to kiss and therefore just signal the kiss with their hands. Also the starting point for the Kaaba circumbulation.

Hayrah is ibadah,..’ the words fluently poured out of his mouth. The fine hotel overlooking the green dome of the Holy Prophet (SAW) was the venue for daily lectures in this sacred city. Shaykh Asmat Gilani, sitting composed on the chair commented on ‘hayrah’ (bewilderment in English) as a state where pondering and sincere reflection over Gods gifts and mercies can be a great devotion.

The Persian and Arabic worlds came together. The Persian words of wisdom in form of the Mathnawi written by the renowned poet, scholar and sufi master Jalaludeen Rumi (d.1273 AD), and the famed erudite author of the Hikam, Shaykh Ibn Attaillah Al-Iskandari (d.1309 AD) were the primary texts that were taught during the umra. Despite the complexity of the two texts both teachers opened the books for us with unique smoothness and ease. Fadail (merits) of Mecca and Medina, umra prayers from Imam Nawawi’s book were some of the other texts that were studied before and during the tour.

‘Ajeeb’ (strange), probably the word used most frequently by the energetic Shaykh Abdal Aziz Frederiks from Scotland during his classes, one of the two teachers on the tour. But funny enough being able to answer and elaborate on after saying ‘ajeeb.’ The Shaykh was also the excursion guide. Not only did he have immense knowledge of the places that we visited but his great insight and adab (humility) towards the sacred personalities and monuments were appreciated as well. For instance his umra schedule suggestion of shifting the visit to mount Uhud to a Saturday since the Holy Prophet (SAW) used to visit Uhud on Saturdays was gladly welcomed.

Tunes of Prophetic love sung by Adeel Ali at Mount Hira, the place where Prophet (SAW) received his divine revelation through the medium of Gibraeel were inspiring. Everything having a nisbah (attachment) to the beloved Prophet becomes an object of veneration and respect. But it wasn’t easy to follow the footsteps of the Prophet (SAW) all the way up to the cave. Participants tell of hard endeavours (not to speak of the hot and sweaty conditions) and surprisingly quick climbs by the women and especially one participant of the group, the most aged man! (63 years of age) But all of it certainly worth the visit.

The family like environment between the participants was delightful and refreshing to see. Giving space to each other, sharing food, helping baby chairs up stairs, exchanging gifts, hugs and smiles increased love and affection between all. Everybody contributed. In fact there was not a single incident during the entire tour which could be categorized as problematic or tense. There was not even a single heated exchange of words. This feeling of harmony and kinship culminated during the only common dinner at the hotel restaurant in Medina on the last day where gifts were given to all participants from the hosting organization, Muslims in Dialogue (MID).

But the last day also meant departing Medina soon and this could be seen on the faces and tone of the participants we well. It was a sad evening in a positive sense. This sorrow was also expressed some hours before departure for Jeddah when during the last class Shaykh Frederiks heartbroken, shed tears reading the last ‘dua’ before leaving the city of the Prophet. (SAW)

ack in Denmark with all its prompt and relaxation, the two lands seem so diverse and yet alike. At first instance different because of the intentions of travelling for the pilgrimage to another region which enshrines Gods signs and yet alike because of God’s presence that cannot be restricted to time and place. Finding the meaning of those signs and gifts back in Denmark within ourselves would probably be the thorniest of challenges for us all. The journey thereby not ending with the flight back but just beginning to give birth to the seeds of divine love and intimacy.