My sight of K’aba

The preparation for umrah travel was a period of self-fulfillment and overbearing. The wait for a long cherished dream was getting over. The excitement about sense of a tremendous change coming in my life cannot be found anywhere else. The thought of seeing the glorious K’aba with my own naked eyes was driving me to a different sense of life. The preparation for my first umrah was a unique spiritual experience which made me restless and nervous. Before my departure to Saudi Arabia with my wife and son, hoping mercy from Allah, we asked for forgiveness from those around us and carried their best wishes and requests with us. ************************************************* We arrived at 12:00am in Makkah, as we walked towards ‘Masjid-e-Harem’, in Ihram ( Ihram is the sacred state in which we carry out the required rituals to complete Hajj or Umrah. However, pilgrims also have to wear special clothing that is designed for the purpose of performing Umrah or Hajj), I felt an anticipation that causes an almost trembling of my body. The blessed Masjid is so huge and beautiful that this sight alone has an overbearing effect. Chanting labbaikallahumma labbaik, which is a very revolutionary chant in itself, we entered ‘Masjid-e-Harem’ at Makkah.On entering through king Fahad gate, I experienced a coolness and an unusual rush of blood in my veins. This path leads straight to well of black cube K’aba. With my wife walking on my side and son shahroz resting on my shoulder, where he and me were draped in two plain cloth piece, illustrating a stage of humbleness, total submission to almighty Allah we walked straight. I wanted a full first view of K’aba. With the shyness of a kid,I tried to raise my head to see if I had reached near the well of K’aba. On an abrupt sight, I witnessed a small black portion of the cuboid structure, where I paused for a moment to whisper the prayer on first sight of K’aba, even though I tried to resist glancing until the very last moment when it will be in complete view. All praise to almighty Allah, tears captured me with trembling feet, where I witnessed a sea of million worshippers prostrating and circling around K’aba. The sight was beyond my belief. I was reduced to a tiny creature of almighty. Tears of mine and others around were a result of joy and luck. My eyes were glued to the black cube K’aba. Except murmuring to my son that this is K’aba, like others, my heart and lips were immersed in supplication. I felt like a fakeer, but powerful with the proximity to Allah. I felt so strong that nothing can stop me from prostrating to him. On entering the well of K’aba for Tawaaf – seven circuits around the K’aba- the pilgrims were stuck in a gridlock. Each circuit around the K’aba must begin in line with the black stone – Hajr-e-Aswad. The circuit is anti-clockwise. We are just beggars with no name and identity of own, but only worshippers of the One and Only deity, worthy of worship; Allah. The four walls of K’aba are covered with a curtain (Kiswa). The kiswa is usually of black brocade with the Shahada (Testimony that there is no god,but Allah) outlined in the weave of the fabric. About 2/3rd’s of the way up runs a gold embroidered band covered with Qur’anic text. Ziauddin Sardar at an article in The Independent: Mecca, birthplace of Islam and also of the Prophet Mohamed, is Islam’s holiest city. It is a city that I, in common with almost all Muslims, have known all my life. A once-in-a-lifetime visit to Mecca is a key obligation. Most Muslims, however, will never see Mecca, and yet will have learnt, perhaps even memorized, its geography from the moment they were taught to pray. The first lesson for any Muslim child preparing to pray is to identify the location of Mecca, and then to prostrate in the direction of the city, not once, but five times daily. Before I proceed to further chapters about experience of Umrah, I remember that I was at the busiest place on earth. I witnessed every culture, nationality and types of people and it was my very duty to remain kind, courteous and gracious. I could find people with humility and kindness; they are the memories to keep. Umrah was one of the most special moments of my life.