Getting Ready for the Journey of a Lifetime…

Inshallah we will be departing next week for Hajj. As such, I have been trying to mentally, physically and spiritually prepare myself for this journey. Not an easy task. This will be the first time that I am embarking on this journey. I feel ill-prepared even though I performed the Little Hajj (Umrah) last year.

I am anxious to return to the City of our Prophet, sallallahu alaihi wa salam, (Madina) but am nervous about going to Makkah. I long to see the Holy Kaaba again and catch a glimpse of the Black Stone (Hajar Aswad) if possible, but I know that I’ll feel scared/nervous in Makkah. Makkah is a city of strength – of Allah’s Jalal. Madina is a city of mercy – of Allah’s Jamal.

There are so many things left to do and so little time. I keep wondering if I should prepare a will. I don’t have much but I want to ensure that, if something should happen to me, whatever I have goes to the people I love. It is the “sunnah” thing to do, afterall.

I also need to find a place for my little kitty while I am away. I had something set up last week, but today the lady informed me that she is unable to look after Nimbus. I have less than 10 days to figure something else out. The last thing I want to do is to leave her at some animal hotel/kennel and have her put in a cage. Inshallah I will find someone to take her in for the time I am away.

I attended a Hajj workshop last Sunday to learn about the rites and rituals that are necessary and required for Hajj. The Imam also listed items that we should carry along with us. One was a sleeping bag for our overnight stay in Muzdalifa. I have a sleeping bag back in Canada but it is over 10 years old and I don’t think it will be warm enough (it was used for summer camping trips), so decided to buy a new one from the store that the Imam recommended. Away to the store I went today! As I was perusing the various types of sleeping bags the store had, a sales clerk asked if he could help me. I explained the situation – that I was going for Hajj and needed a sleeping bag. I felt rather sheepish for not having had researched what the temperature would be when I am in Saudi before coming to buy the sleeping bag! He curiously asked me, “So this is why so many Muslims are coming in these days and looking at sleeping bags?” “Yup – the local Imam recommended your store so here I am.” “Sweet.” After I gave him a brief overview of what I would be doing on Hajj, he went to the back to gather some suggested items that he felt woudl be helpful for my trip. Upon returning, he said that his manager had the perfect sleeping bag for me! Apparently there have been so many Muslims that had come in for sleeping bags that the manager decided to go online and research the temperature in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season so that he could better advice his growing Muslim clientele… how considerate!

As I was paying for my purchases, the cashier, in efforts to make idle chat, I accuse, asks, “Going camping?” “Nope.” “Vacation?” “Nope.” “You’re funny – you are not going camping or vacationing, what are you doing with the sleeping bag?” “Going for Hajj.” “Ahh.” So, if any of you are ever in the area, do drop by Mel Cottons – very friendly and helpful staff….good for most of your technical Hajj merchandise!

~ by nayya on 3 December, 2006.