There is a deep sense of satisfaction in being by yourself in Masjid ul Haram in Makkah; a feeling of belonging and contentment in the solitude of being one among so many thousands. I was able to travel to Makkah to perform Hajj this year, alhumdulillah and now that it’s been some time since we’ve been back, it seems like it happened so long ago. Now I remember with fondness our days in the Haram, watching, as we made dua, the setting sun dip behind the hills in the last hours of the day of Arafat, the night spent in Muzdalifah, our walking to the Jamarat on the days of Hajj; walking, walking with the crowds, all going the same way. May Allah swt accept it. We spent the few days before Hajj in going to the Haram for most of our prayers and once that initial fear of getting lost in the immense crowds was gotten over, there was such a liberating, quiet exhilaration in being there and in being there with so much time on our hands. We talk about our early mornings in Makkah, the quiet rides on the dark roads, Fajr in the masjid and then pausing there in the musallah, soaking in the peace emanating from the very atmosphere till ishraq, then out in the early sunshine, an early breakfast and a ride back; alhumdulillah for time there in youth and in health.
And there was nostalgia aplenty in being back after so many years; memories of growing up in that land with its streets, and its food, and its people. The mountains often reminded me of the mountains here, sprouting buildings from its sides =D May Allah swt facilitate for us to go to Makkah and Madinah often, in peace and in good health. May He swt accept from us and overlook our shortcomings and guide us to what is pleasing to Him.