Separated from half of your family. A spoilt person thrown into the Eastern side of the world where no one (unless you are royalty) is treated with such high respect. You have become one of the 3 million pilgrims from the poorest corners of the world. Equal for the first time. Its hot, you are in clothes you dont usually wear, in a room with 5 people, 2 of whom are strangers. And yet there is a joy inside that you never knew existed. One word: Hajj

Its like this baloon inside me is being deflated-the one where i thought i was so important-you remember you're simply a servant of God, and only when you stop thinking so much about yourself and start struggling for the greater cause do you begin to feel happy. It was as if the trip brought colour into a black and white world and yet simultaneously allowed me to acknowledge that there was colour in this black and white world, it was simply my eyes that were colour blind-and not life.

how much i appreciate sydney now! a good toilet is the biggest luxury! as is a bed to sleep on-

the Pilgrimmage summed up briefly:

First couple of days:

settle into Mina in the city of Mecca-an apartment with our group of 100-a room with 5 people hardly any privacy with one bathroom. Thankfully i have my mother and aunt with me. We pray in a group -not much food at all but its all part of the experience to let go of worrying about your stomach and start thinking beyond yourself. Began reading the History of Islam-history brings meaning to my trip. We went sightseeing-to the mountain where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would climb every week to sit up and meditate and to escape the mediocrity of the world-its the biggest and steepest mountain ive seen-my God how did he do it every week?

Next couple of days:

Travelled to the HOuse of God for the first time....no words can describe it. It was as if i stepped into a different world-here is where humans feel they're real purpose as one stumbles upon the truth that faced them the whole time. Here is where in a crowd of millions i dont suffocate but rather unite-we are all equal man and woman elder and child before God. THe pictures dont justify it-its breathtaking. Did some shopping in the hotel right next to the Kaaba and prayed again. Miracles happened-my aunt who had knee surgery was, for the first time able to bend her knees whilst praying to God -the doctor said she could never ever but she did! and omg the birds were all circling the house of Kaaba just like the humans do-and none of them pooped ever it was amazing! they were all attracted to it. Also it began to rain from a single cloud!! the rest of the sky was blue and from one little white cloud it began to rain omg...

THe actual Hajj days:

woke up at 1am-bus didnt come untill 5 -_- finally travelled to Arafat mountain where the Prophet (pbuh) delivered his final sermon. Were sitting in wet tents and the Arabian sun is harsh on us even with tents. THe toilets are indescribable-but its meant to be a struggle. Meditated/prayed/asked for God's forgiveness the whole day untill sunset-oh my it was so spiritual and made me reevaluate my life and my past-i asked God to forgive me for everything. By sunset, according to the Prophet (pbuh) our sins were to be wiped away. I must say it was as if i put on a different/new skin. Life begins....

Travelled to Muzzdalifah to pick up stones and we prayed there-we see millions sleeping on the floor with no tent with the midnight sky as their roof-but our group decides to walk now to avoid the crowds. He says its a minimum of 2 hours walking. My aunt is scared-with her back and knees she really needs God's help. BUt we travelled for about 3 hours on foot and not only is she ok, she is faster than all of us! ohmygod my feet-i am so unfit so 3 hours walking/running...ouch!

we finally arrive at Mina-we throw the stones at the symbolic Satan..felt SOO GOOD! one of my stones when i hit it, split into 3 :P walked back to the hotel..but we lost mum! dad found her soon that was so scary never prayed so much before like i did to find my mum! she was ok. most of the group go to sleep to rest-but my dad..sigh...decides to make us finish the Hajj by travelling to the HOuse of God to perform the rituals. no time to rest...

O dear-this was epic! we walked around the House 7 times and by some miracle...i walked right up through the thousands to the house and touched it!!! a surreal moment to say the least God i wish i couldve frozen time and just stayed there! my feet are really killing by now but regardless we finish walking around the Kaaba 7 times and pray for EVERYONE we know-from people weve fought with, disagree with -everyone friends family etc. WE pray the 5am prayer-its spectacular! first time i feel united with so many people-all with the same united purpose-to ask God almighty for help. My feet are unbearable now..

the final feat-this was BY FAR THE HARDEST..harder than the HSC-we had to walk between two mountains 7 times...oh God each time felt like a year..i was in tears-my feet ankles legs arms head everything unbearable...my Dad ended up carrying me! but i kept telling myself the struggle is too hard, but the result will be too sweet-by some miracle (i dont know how) i finished limping though. It was sweet-better than sweet-it was such an intoxicating feeling having every bone in your body SCREAMING from pain, yet a smile on your face because your heart has never been at such ease and peace. THe experience has given me an inside peace, a patience, an experience unlike anything-far harder than the HSC and far more rewarding. This is why humans are created-we can spend our entire lives searching for another answer but we will never come up with it (most people end up syaing there is no truth/there is nothing etc-because they cant come to terms with whats the truth) because this is the truth and there is no other truth that humans were created to serve a purpose-to serve God.

it took Aristotle and Plato theyre entire lives to come up with half truths or acceptance that they dont know the entire answer...how long must we wander untill we accept that the truth was always facing us? its not THAT hard-you dont need to rack your brains just to make sense of the world-you simply need to put your trust in God's hands for its obvious, humans have very little power and ability no matter how big they think of themselves.

you can only achieve peace of mind when you have peace at heart and i believe ive found that and am extremely grateful.

oh and another miracle happened...i woke up in Madina...Dad told me to check my text messages something about a scholarship - i was like whaa? but .i got a letter syaing i was shortlisted for a Sydney University scholarship with the faculty of Arts....

God is great :):):)

Labels: Hajj life truth

Separated from half of your family. A spoilt person thrown into the Eastern side of the world where no one (unless you are royalty) is treated with such high respect. You have become one of the 3 million pilgrims from the poorest corners of the world. Equal for the first time. Its hot, you are in clothes you dont usually wear, in a room with 5 people, 2 of whom are strangers. And yet there is a joy inside that you never knew existed. One word: Hajj

Its like this baloon inside me is being deflated-the one where i thought i was so important-you remember you're simply a servant of God, and only when you stop thinking so much about yourself and start struggling for the greater cause do you begin to feel happy. It was as if the trip brought colour into a black and white world and yet simultaneously allowed me to acknowledge that there was colour in this black and white world, it was simply my eyes that were colour blind-and not life.

how much i appreciate sydney now! a good toilet is the biggest luxury! as is a bed to sleep on-

the Pilgrimmage summed up briefly:

First couple of days:

settle into Mina in the city of Mecca-an apartment with our group of 100-a room with 5 people hardly any privacy with one bathroom. Thankfully i have my mother and aunt with me. We pray in a group -not much food at all but its all part of the experience to let go of worrying about your stomach and start thinking beyond yourself. Began reading the History of Islam-history brings meaning to my trip. We went sightseeing-to the mountain where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would climb every week to sit up and meditate and to escape the mediocrity of the world-its the biggest and steepest mountain ive seen-my God how did he do it every week?

Next couple of days:

Travelled to the HOuse of God for the first time....no words can describe it. It was as if i stepped into a different world-here is where humans feel they're real purpose as one stumbles upon the truth that faced them the whole time. Here is where in a crowd of millions i dont suffocate but rather unite-we are all equal man and woman elder and child before God. THe pictures dont justify it-its breathtaking. Did some shopping in the hotel right next to the Kaaba and prayed again. Miracles happened-my aunt who had knee surgery was, for the first time able to bend her knees whilst praying to God -the doctor said she could never ever but she did! and omg the birds were all circling the house of Kaaba just like the humans do-and none of them pooped ever it was amazing! they were all attracted to it. Also it began to rain from a single cloud!! the rest of the sky was blue and from one little white cloud it began to rain omg...

THe actual Hajj days:

woke up at 1am-bus didnt come untill 5 -_- finally travelled to Arafat mountain where the Prophet (pbuh) delivered his final sermon. Were sitting in wet tents and the Arabian sun is harsh on us even with tents. THe toilets are indescribable-but its meant to be a struggle. Meditated/prayed/asked for God's forgiveness the whole day untill sunset-oh my it was so spiritual and made me reevaluate my life and my past-i asked God to forgive me for everything. By sunset, according to the Prophet (pbuh) our sins were to be wiped away. I must say it was as if i put on a different/new skin. Life begins....

Travelled to Muzzdalifah to pick up stones and we prayed there-we see millions sleeping on the floor with no tent with the midnight sky as their roof-but our group decides to walk now to avoid the crowds. He says its a minimum of 2 hours walking. My aunt is scared-with her back and knees she really needs God's help. BUt we travelled for about 3 hours on foot and not only is she ok, she is faster than all of us! ohmygod my feet-i am so unfit so 3 hours walking/running...ouch!

we finally arrive at Mina-we throw the stones at the symbolic Satan..felt SOO GOOD! one of my stones when i hit it, split into 3 :P walked back to the hotel..but we lost mum! dad found her soon that was so scary never prayed so much before like i did to find my mum! she was ok. most of the group go to sleep to rest-but my dad..sigh...decides to make us finish the Hajj by travelling to the HOuse of God to perform the rituals. no time to rest...

O dear-this was epic! we walked around the House 7 times and by some miracle...i walked right up through the thousands to the house and touched it!!! a surreal moment to say the least God i wish i couldve frozen time and just stayed there! my feet are really killing by now but regardless we finish walking around the Kaaba 7 times and pray for EVERYONE we know-from people weve fought with, disagree with -everyone friends family etc. WE pray the 5am prayer-its spectacular! first time i feel united with so many people-all with the same united purpose-to ask God almighty for help. My feet are unbearable now..

the final feat-this was BY FAR THE HARDEST..harder than the HSC-we had to walk between two mountains 7 times...oh God each time felt like a year..i was in tears-my feet ankles legs arms head everything unbearable...my Dad ended up carrying me! but i kept telling myself the struggle is too hard, but the result will be too sweet-by some miracle (i dont know how) i finished limping though. It was sweet-better than sweet-it was such an intoxicating feeling having every bone in your body SCREAMING from pain, yet a smile on your face because your heart has never been at such ease and peace. THe experience has given me an inside peace, a patience, an experience unlike anything-far harder than the HSC and far more rewarding. This is why humans are created-we can spend our entire lives searching for another answer but we will never come up with it (most people end up syaing there is no truth/there is nothing etc-because they cant come to terms with whats the truth) because this is the truth and there is no other truth that humans were created to serve a purpose-to serve God.

it took Aristotle and Plato theyre entire lives to come up with half truths or acceptance that they dont know the entire answer...how long must we wander untill we accept that the truth was always facing us? its not THAT hard-you dont need to rack your brains just to make sense of the world-you simply need to put your trust in God's hands for its obvious, humans have very little power and ability no matter how big they think of themselves.

you can only achieve peace of mind when you have peace at heart and i believe ive found that and am extremely grateful.

oh and another miracle happened...i woke up in Madina...Dad told me to check my text messages something about a scholarship - i was like whaa? but .i got a letter syaing i was shortlisted for a Sydney University scholarship with the faculty of Arts....

God is great :):):)

Labels: Hajj life truth