Mohsin Aziz

Today was 8th June and 12th Dhul Hijja. I got up just in time for Fajr prayer. In fact, when I woke up, azaan had already been said, and most of the people in the camp were praying sunnat of Fajr. I thought I might miss the congregational prayers. I was lucky to find a spare wash basin to make wudu (ablution). After Fajr, there was a short bayan. Immediately after the bayan, preparations started for leaving the camp. Today was the last day of ramy (stoning the devil). Today was also our last day at Mina. We were about to leave Mina for good. For the last several days, we have left Mina only to come back. There was no need to take our belongings with us. We simply folded our sofa beds and kept our things on them. In our absence, workers would come and clean the camp, but never did I hear of anybody losing anything or misplaced. I even left a box of homemade Halwa that I brought from India for Hajj. I always found it at the same place. The honesty of poor workers was unbelievable.

We left the camp at around 5.45 a.m. with our backpacks. We had spent only a few nights at Mina, but while leaving the camp, we all were looking back at the camp. Today most of us were taking photographs of the camp. I felt a strange indescribable connection to the place. I felt nostalgic at leaving Mina. I believe most of the pilgrims felt the same. For the first time on this journey, I realised that their was a strange silence in the bus. Everyone was quietly reciting supplications. There was a strange wistful longing for Mina in everyone’s eyes. Many, including me, were praying for an opportunity to come back again in the future.

We reached our hotel at 6.20 a.m. Breakfast was ready to be served. After keeping our belongings in the room, we all assembled in the dining room for breakfast. Breakfast, as usual, was lavish. We had some time at our disposal. We had already got the message that the bus would leave at 2.30 p.m. for Jamarat.

I used the time to go down in the hotel lobby and buy a few remaining gifts. There was a large shop in the lobby selling dishdasha (long Arab attire for males). There were toys and other gift items. I bought a few dishdasha, a Hajj Camera, and a camel for Osman. The camel recited Talbiyah when it’s hump was touched. I used the opportunity to collect my clothes from the hotel laundry. By 9 p.m. I was free. We utilised the rest of the time to talk to families and kids back home. We also took a small nap of about one hour.

Me and my wife offered Zuhr prayer in the hotel prayer area. There was a separate prayer area for ladies in the hotel. By the time  we were free from Zuhr, it was time for lunch. Since the plan was to leave at 2.30 p.m. for Jamarat, I kept the lunch very light. After lunch we got half an hour to rest. The bus left the hotel exactly at 2.30 as planned. Today was more crowd than the previous two days. Still, there was enough space for everyone to easily complete the stoning and freely make dua. After the third Jamarat, usually, dua is kept either very short or not not at all. Once we finished the third Jamarat, we stood in a corner and waited for our fellow pilgrims ftom the grouo to join us. At that moment, my wife and I decided to go to Haram directly and do Tawaf Al Wada. Today, I was not feeling well and feeling extremely tired. I was not sure about the next day. We both wanted to complete the last rukan also. I called Asif bhai and asked him whether we can do Tawaf al Wada today or not. His answer was in affirmative.

Now, the target was to reach Haram as quickly as possible. It was already 6.15 p.m. Jamarat is part of Mina. Maghrib time was approaching fast. We had to leave Jamarat before Maghrib. If the pilgrims are unable to leave Mina before sunset on 12th Dhul Hajja, they have to stay one more night at Mina. We had already left Mina in the morning with the intention of leaving Mina. We asked a policeman about getting a taxi for Haram as there were different roads going in various directions from that point onwards. He was very kind and explained from where to take the taxi for Haram. He also very warmly shook my hands and congratulated us for completing Hajj saying ‘Hajj Mabroor InshAllah’. This is a common dua given to Hajjis. It means an accepted and spiritually pure Hajj done without any sins. This is the wish of every pilgrim. The sign of Hajj Mabroor is change in the lifestyle, character,and dealings of a pilgrim change for better after the Hajj.

It was a five minutes walk to the place from where we could get a taxi for haram. This day and place, I was told that taxis charge an exorbitant price. I wanted to go in a reserved taxi. It was difficult to get one. The moment any taxi stopped, pilgrims would just get in. Taxis were few and far and pilgrims in hundreds in not thousands. Finally I managed to get a taxi. He asked for 300 Saudi Riyal per person. Bargaining started, but in the meantime, a lady got inside the car. Finally, we settled for 200 Saudi Riyal people. I paid him 400 Saudi Riyal for the two of us. This was the costliest taxi that I hired for such a short distance during my Hajj. In the rush, it took us around 30 minutes to reach Haram. Hundreds of pilgrims could be seen walking to Haram. It is almost 8.5 kilometres distance. The taxi dropped us at Ajyad side. The taxi driver was Bangladeshi. The cars Air Conditioning was not working properly. He closed the AC and opened the windows. The air of Makjah was warm but bearable.

By 7.10, we were at Haram. It was almost isha time. We were lucky to find not only a place in Mataf but were also able to finish the Tawaf just before Isha. By the time we finished all the arkan, we were totally exhausted. It was difficult to walk. We immediately came out and got a taxi for our hotel. It charged us the usual fare of 20 Saudi Riyals for both of us. When we reached the hotel we found that most of the people had already taken dinner. We both went for dinner straight away. We knew that if we went to the room, it would be difficult to come out again. We were tired and hungry. The warm dinner never felt so soothing and comforting.

During dinner, I found out that quite a few fellow pilgrims had decided to stay one more night at Mina. Allah permits both options. Those who want to leave Mina on 12th Dhul Hijja are allowed to do so, and those who want to stay till the 13th Dhul Hijja in Mina are so equally allowed . Allah says in the Quran:

And remember Allah during the appointed days. But whosoever hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him and whosoever stays on, there is no sin on him, if his aim is to do good and obey Allah (fear Him), and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him (Al Quran, Surah Al Baqarah:203).

After finishing our dinners, we went to the room, took a shower, changed clothes, and straight away dived into our beds. I think we immediately went to deep slumber.

(To be continuedin Part 15)

References:

Al Quran. Interpretations of the meaning of THE NOBLE QURAN in the English language. Muhsin Khan. Darussalam Publications, 2011.