22. Haj Pilgrimage.
As if arranged by means of a divine force, all of a sudden, lots of people in the family made up their mind to go for Haj that year. Jhabboo Bhai was not keeping well and probably he knew that it was cancer. He kept it to himself and also decided to go for the Haj. When I heard of their Haj plans, I was left with no money. After him, rupees ten thousand was withdrawn from the bank but it was over.
But Almighty Allah is always there to let you find a way out. I had some ancestral property from my maternal side which neither my nani nor my mother had disposed off during their lifetime. I had sold that off to a garment manufacturing factory for a consideration of Rs.5,000. I had set aside that money exclusively for performing Haj with the intention that they too (my mother and nani) will get the blessings of Haj. Doctor Saheb often used to remind me to say Namaaz and I always used to say that I will religiously do that once I come back after performing Haj. Whenever I used to urge him for going to Haj (Govt. servants were entitled to three months leave with pay), he always used to say “after Nikhat's marriage”. He had this noble intention and I am sure his Haj must have been accepted. I had the money and my Iddat (period of mourning) too was over or else I could not have gone.
The next major issue was that of a mahram to accompany me for Haj. Jhabboo
Bhai and Reyaz Bhai had to go to Phulwari Shareef to get a fatwa. They
explained that these two males were going and they were not mahrams and then
they said that as I was accompanied with my own mother in law
and two sisters-in-laws, it could be permitted. It was all God’s will to keep
me engaged because God says that this universe and all the blessings has been
bestowed for we human beings and we have been created for God the Almighty.
Hassoo also wrote to Nazim's wife that we all are going for Haj and it
would be nice if she too could join the caravan. Manjhli Dulhan too
came forward to fill up the forms. That year many people known to us also went
to perform the Haj. Besides the lot from Rajendranagar, Reyaz Bhai , Sakkoo, Sayeeda
and her Amman from Kashmiri-Kothi, Dr Mohsin and his wife Syed
Hassan. Saffan and Fazlul Haque Bhai, from Bakerganj, were all
going. Saffan’s husband was such a kind hearted and saintly person. I have
across very few people with such good traits. Just before going for Haj , he
had fractured his hip bone and doctor had advised him for
surgery. When the lottery for Haj was announced, all of us had our
names in the list. He did not did not think twice and said “ I have got a call
from Allah! How can I now back out?”. I too withdrew the money and that Rs.
5000 was enough for the tickets, rent for the house, muallims fees, the
groceries that we carried with us and the gifts that I bought. Things were no
so expensive those days.
Nazim’s wife too came from Aligarh, after making arrangements for the
money, and we all got ready. We got all the books, learnt the Dua-e-
labaik. I got four dresses and a burqa stitched. Reyaz, Neyaz
Ejaz Nikhat were already there and the three daughters together with
their husbands came to see me off.
A big troupe shouting slogan of” Allah Ho Akbar” send off
was given to the train that was going to Bombay. We had taken the food for the
journey as we did not get anything on the way. We reached Bombay after three
days. It was comfortable stay at Saboo Siddique Rest House. Next day, as we all
got ready, a bus came to take us to the port. We had written our name and
address on our luggage. We all boarded the bus and the luggage too were taken
in the bus. We were carrying with us groceries good enough for full
three months.
The Ship was ready there. At the time of boarding the ship we got lunch
boxes from the Government. There were separate cabins for males and females.
There were three berths in one cabin and there were 16 cabins. At
around 4 p.m. the ship eventually sailed. All the relatives who had come to see
their people off were waving handkerchiefs or waving and as the ship
started moving the surrounding was filled with loud roar of
Nara-e-Takbeer. Thereafter for seven days it was just the sky and the sea.
Eventually we saw the coast of Jeddah. We were taken to the big hall for
customs and collect our luggage. Lot many hajis lost their luggage which the
ultimately could get only after the Haj. We were fortunate not to have missed
anything. Getting through the Customs was a tedious exercise which went through
morning till evening. Cooked food item was prohibited but people would just not
listen. We got the money from the bank. By midnight we reached Mecca. The guide
Muallim took us to his house and offered food. The first tawaaf was to be
performed immediately after the arrival. We had read in the books that the
first entry to Khana-e-kaaba should be through the door “baabe-e-salaam” and at
the first sight of the Haram Sharif, whatever is prayed for, is
granted. As I climbed up the stairs and actually saw the
Khan-e-kaaba, just couldn’t believe my eyes. I was so stupefied, I just forgot
to offer any prayers. Later all the other members of our group admitted the
same condition. Soon the azaan for Tahajjud was heard the very sound of it was
sole stirring. After the Namaaz, we managed to completed full seven rounds of
tawaaf around the Kaaba. We completed all the rituals. Mumani Amman was too old
to perform it herself so a carrying chair was arranged for her. After the umra
was over, we came back to the room allotted to us, that was fairly close to the
Kaaba. We used to share the cooking part.
The Haj day was fast approaching and our anxieties were on the rise.
Whenever I asked the Muallim, who was a young boy of Neyaz’ age, “How is the
Haj performed?” His answer was “ only Allah knows how it is gone through!”. He
would scare us further. The ground of Arafat, where the Haj commences, is the
same ground where the people will gather on the dooms day”. Three days prior to
the Haj everyone is required to be in Mina. This is said to be like
a preparatory session before the exams.
It was the time to go for Arafat. Millions of pilgrims gather at one place
at one point of time in similar looking tents, but there is no chaos. We left
for Arafat in a bus. We reached Arafat late at night and had food. Finally
the king of Audi Arabia Shah Fahad, came to the huge mosque and read
out the address and joint prayer was held. Cannons were fired to announce of the
completion of the Haj. Thereafter everyone was asked to come out of the camp
and join in the prayers. Sheikh Haider, our guide was leading us in the
prayers. He wept and begged for forgiveness. The atmosphere was such that tears
were just flowing from everyone’s eyes. The heart was much lighter thereafter
with the feeling that Allah has condoned. Congratulations were exchanged. Haj
was done.
We again had to go back to Mina but it took a lot of time to reach there.
There was not enough water left and I was worried for Mumani
Amman. Two more rituals were still left before the Ihram could be
taken off. First the Satan was to be hit which is the event where maximum
casualties take place every year. We somehow managed to do it from a
distance. The same night we went to Mecca and reached there after midnight. We
were under the impression that at this point of time the Haram Sharif might be
deserted but we couldn’t be more wrong. We could complete all the rituals
comfortably and without any untoward incident.
One of these days, in the morning, when I was writing a letter to Patna,
someone called Reyaz Bhai. He went down to see and came back with Asim. Before
our departure from Haj, Hassoo and Sakkoo had sent a message to Asim that Amman
is going for Haj asking him to come and meet her. The sight of him triggered
the trip down the memory lane. Tears would just not stop trickling from my
eyes. Asim, however, did not utter a word and just kept sitting there. The
sisters too were quiet. I washed my face and offered him some snacks and tea.
When asked about his stay he told he is putting up in a hotel nearby. The
question that remained unanswered was in such a holy place, why did he arrive
only after the Haj was over.
The most helping person during the entire entourage of Haj was Reyaz Bhai.
Not only he was ever willing to offer a helping hand to everyone in the group,
he would go out of the way to help others as well. Right from the beginning he
was saying “ I will pray for you all for everything, and in exchange you pray
just one thing for me that I am able to come back to this place. Allah granted
his wish and Masha-Allah he had Haj six times. He is a well wisher of my
family. He possesses tremendous courage, patience and
forbearance for which Allah will reward him.
It was now time to go to Medina. Half the Hajis had gone back home by now.
On the day of departure, the last round of Tawaaf was to be performed. The
heart was heavy when the time of leaving Khana Kaaba arrived. Tears just kept
rolling down from the eyes. No one knows whether the Haj has been accepted by
Him or not. No one can be sure whether another chance will be given to visit
the holy place again.
The atmosphere in Medina was altogether at variance from Mecca. Strict
discipline and etiquette has to be maintained. We offered Salam and
Darood. Just before the final departure back to home, ten days stay is allowed
in Medina. Offering 40 time Namaaz in Medina is said to be of great
significance so we all were very particular about it. Eventually we came back
via Jeddah. When the ship finally left the shore, joint prayer was held. The
wish we all had was that let this not be the last visit to this place. Although
we stayed for nearly three and a half months, it seemed inadequate. Nowadays,
of course, by air the Hajis return within a month and some of them are keen to
even cut it shorter. While in the onward journey, all around the ship only
prayers and lectures were heard, at the time of return, it was song and music
on the tape recorders. When I asked where all the lecturers of Tablighi Jamaat
had gone , I was told they will return by the last ship.
When we reached Bombay, I was surprised to find that all the goods that were seen in Mecca market, was being sold on the footpath near our rest house. A lot of people were going there with the twin motive of trading and Haj both. After 4 days we reached Patna by train where all the family members were present to receive us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter
INDEX.------------------------------------
Comments
Post a Comment