so as promised.
something that i would really like to share in relation to my previous visits across the small portion of the world.
i have been wanting to write this for so long , but i guess laziness caught me well and as days passed by. i lost bit by bit the opportunity given to share the blessed that i have been given.
and so. at this very moment.
i should really try to express and share my understanding through words.
the least.
before i begin,i think it would be befitting enough for me to explain that.
i am not one that is in the position of saying.
i have seen most of the world.
but.
i guess.
i am one that could say.
Alhamdullilah.
for His blessings.
though it is not much compared to others out there.
Alhamdullilah.still.
and may Allah protect me from any form of ostentation for it is never the intention.
so bismillahirrahmannirahim.
may this post be of good benefit to me and to anyone out there.
insyaAllah.
_________________________________________
i took the first step to travel when i first came to this foreign land.
such great chance given.
though i know i am not the first one.
but indeed amongst those that had the opportunity.
and so.
i did.
from one place to another i went.
before knowing the very essence of why we actually travel.
i took my steps nonetheless.
some people.
take traveling as leisure.
some take it to understand more.
and in some.
they believe it is just a chance.
to see the world.
from a different angle.
and i guess.
for quite sometime.
i was amongst the group of the third.
and after a while.
journeying into the path of knowing God.
i began to realise there are more to traveling than just seeing the grass on the other side of the field.
slowly.
for every step that i took.
i made a decision to really understand of what cause i did it for.
and indeed.
only with the guidance of Allah i began to comprehend why as Muslims we are asked to travel around and explore.
so to begin.
the first place i would like to share about is . . . . .
Mecca.
though it is not the first that i visited.
i believe it deserves the first to be mentioned of.
and here.it begins. . . . .
it was extremely hot and dry.
the kind of dryness that can't be quenched with the coolest sweetest lemon ice of all.
the air was filled with dust of the road.
and everyone is walking at such different pace.
if i were to describe it with a single word.
at its first state.
chaotic would be it.
but it was at night.
the sky was dark.
when i first arrived.
and everyone was wearing white.
the white shining marble of masjidilharam became the light of the path.
and there i took my step following the congregation.
slowly analysing the surrounding around me.
grasping the milieu as i went along.
ah such great experience it was.
i remember still.
Alhamdullilah.
Mecca.
the holy land of my religion.
surrounded by thousands of other submitters of God.
and to compare.
i am none but a small speck in a huge spectrum of space.
but somehow.
i guess.
the miracle of the place itself.
no matter how many people you are being surrounded with.
millions if it may be.
God has His way of capturing your heart and make you feel like you are the only one there.
days in Mecca felt long.
i spent most of it at the mosque.
dismissing myself from the crowd most of the time.
in a way of trying to really understand.
why i was there.
i remember there was a spot in the mosque i will go to.
every single time.
right by the pillars.
just enough to see the Kaabah from where i was sitting.
but not at close distance to just walk and touch it.
it is not easy to always get a good spot.
the mosque is to accommodate millions of people every year.
thousands at a time.
but each time i was lucky.
my spot was always there waiting for me.
and so.
there was this one time.
in late afternoon.
where i sat still at my spot.
still like a stone.rigid like the pillars by the sides.
not a little budge.afraid if i move i might miss my spot.
for a while
i did my reading.
until i weary myself.
and stopped for a bit.
for a change that day.i took a pause a little longer than i always did.
just taking the nikmah of time to appraise the surrounding.
the people. the most.
as i was doing that.
a thought came to mind.
'i have seen Muslims around other places. and roughly know how they behave.now,would it be different in this very place where the birth of Muslims is?
a place where Muslims are the majority or should i say in total.
i roamed my eyes.
to the left and to the right.
two ladies caught my attention.
one in leisure state,lying in the middle of the mosque.
a senior of probably in her 60's or 70's.
and another one.
a young thin woman busy working,cleaning the mattresses.
and so. i locked my eyes on those two individuals.
decided i am going to spend the little minutes to sight them.
two individuals of an afternoon in masjidilharam.
the young woman is covered with a niqab.
though i can't see her face i can feel the tiredness that she is bearing.
slowly she moved her steps.
with great might dragging along a heavy hover behind.
from one row to another row she continued.
and looking at her physique. i know a little rest would be much appreciated.
such humble self.
working slowly. cleaning the house of Allah.
oh i can't imagine the amount of deeds she has attained if her intention was at the right place.
as she moved forward.
finally.she reached my spot.
not wanting to deter.
i moved a little.
she understood my gesture.
and gave a lovely grin behind the niqab.
i can't see her lips move.
but i know her eyes are saying thank you for easing her job.
and somehow. there was a sense of humility in her.
and as i was moving away. i decided to lie by the side of the senior woman.
by the look of it.
she looked tired too.
consumed by her age and the hot weather.
she looked at me and turned away.
like i was another stranger in the mosque.
she was well dressed.
and smelled good.
probably just another one that Allah blessed with good sustenance.
after a while. and countless grins that i offered.
she finally smiled back.
little did i know.
she was too looking at the young lady cleaning.
and with her tired limbs.
she raised up.
and moved towards her.
only to greet her and to give a little sadaqah.
i know this might sound rather petty.
just another regular deed in the mosque one might see it.
but as i was there.
in between two levels of life.
one in a mosque at her leisure state.
and the other working in the mosque for her dinner plate.
and Islam joined them in a deed.
that is praised by Allah.
sadaqah indeed.
and Islam showed its beauty of being humble for those who truly understands it.
the senior placed herself next to me again.
and i gawked at her.
because i know.
by the look of it.
she looked like someone who owns the wealth.
yet.
the moment she held the hand of that young lady.
all wealth shed from her and the cloak of humility covered her entirely.
and for both.
i pray that they are being rewarded by Allah.
abundantly.
still.
(say ameen)
an afternoon of one spot in Mecca.
i truly learnt the value of appreciating others more than the wealth you own.
again. a few months back and a few months ahead after Mecca i was given the opportunity to travel somewhere else.
places that are in contra of Mecca itself.
the European land.
where Muslims become a minority and Islam is an odd religion to adhere.
and another story begins.
it was one winter.and one summer apart.
i travelled all the way to countries filled with sublime sceneries.
like those photos you just take out from calendars and place it in the middle of a huge space.
so beautiful that my limited vocabs of beauty won't do it just.
therefore.instead of struggling to find the right word for it.
i shall just pray that anyone who is reading this will reach there one day.
and witness it for yourself.
instead.
insyaAllah.
and so.
we travelled in a train.
from one place to another .
and again.
i did my thing.
sitting at one place.
quietly.
and looked around.
many times we came across our Muslim brothers and sisters.
and one particular thing i noticed.the most.
every time i visit such countries.
there is always a chance for me to evaluate how we act.
as Muslims in general.
in the countries where we are found so few.
more than once have i bumped into .
my brothers and sisters of Islam.
some in fact came from the same country that i am.
and one thing that has always been a thing that i ponder most.
some find it hard to give salam.and some are really really generous with it.
i don't know of what reason it may be.
but. the less you have in wealth. the more friendly you became.
when it comes to this sort of visit.
i hope i am not being misconstrued.
far from being judgmental i want to be.
just speaking out of experience and apparent signs given by others.
both fortunate and unfortunate events indeed.
somehow.
one afternoon.
i was walking around.
exploring.
and as we crossed the busy street.
a group of Muslims passed us by.
a cold gesture was received.
walking passed them was like a sign that i was ripping off their dignity.
not worthy of a salam.
though i know.and they know.
we bow to the same Lord.
a few times of such encounter happened.
and i was blaming myself.
probably i was not warm enough.
probably when i thought i was smiling.
i wasn't .
and so i was determined.
i need to make sure.
i give salam first.
next time around.
probably i need to be the one who breaks the wall of arrogance.
and i did just that.
sadly.
the same reply was received.
and i was saddened by this.
very.
but Allah is ever so sweet.
He knows His creations well.
the next time i took my steps to travel.
to yet another country.
a lady of commoner like me.
came forward with such warm smile.
and gave me such a sincere salam.
from a Muslim to another.
she had little i know.
from her worn out clothes.
and her simple appearance.
yet. still. without shy.
she was proud to be able to give salam to another Muslim.
not being too proud of her self instead.
another country that i went for a visit.
too had the same kind of event.
those moderate looking group of people.
always have a smile on them.
probably their limbs are not burdened by the heavy shopping that it became a lot easier for them to move the muscle to smile and greet salam.
probably.
such diverse conduct of two group of people.
and i wondered more.
sometimes.
those that have little have so much to offer.
and those that have more have very little to share.
and i was reminded of the old lady in the mosque.
indeed.
at times its not easy to attain great humility.
especially to those who have tasted the hazard of haughtiness.
and indeed through these events i learnt on such fortunate chances to travel.
i begin to value people more.
and indeed those who carry the religion should express it in their conducts.
not merely as a show to the Lord and the people but as a sense of humbling one self.
that at the end of the day .
we are just a shaped clay .
and so.
several afternoon walks in the European land.
i truly learnt the value of appreciating others more than the wealth you own.
and indeed.
it gave me great tarbiyah.
no matter where you are.
or who you are.
humility is always a great company.
when one day.
it is hell that is facing.
may Allah grant us the akhlaq (way of conduct) of those who understands Islam not just by its name.
and may Allah make us all,the people who values the deen more than the wealth that is blessed.
ameen.
insyaAllah.
now. time to reevaluate oneself.
how far have we tamed our haughtiness so that we gain our humility.
ponder this upon.
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