BISMILLAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM.
ASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WRWBTH DEAR ILHAM FRIENDS,
It has been so long since I last wrote in this blog. So much has happened since last five months!!! AlHamdulilah, all was good.
In the last five months I saw my only maternal aunt and her daughter and her two grand-daughters. They came to visit us in April, and it was 24/7 fun and happiness. We all enjoyed their company and were very sad to see them leave. The best thing that happened was that they HAD to extend their stay due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland. They live in London, UK, and all flights were cancelled for about two weeks. Allah Works miracles everyday!! So, instead of staying for two weeks, they stayed for four weeks. We were overjoyed!
Then, we also went to perform the 'Umrah. My son could not go because of his board exams. My husband and I, as well as our two daughters were blessed to be there. Our entire experience was a miracle! I actually touched the Kaabah several times! I saw the footprints of Ibraheem AS! The grandeur of the visit cannot be adequately described in any human language. Faith is an inner reality, and its outward expression is limited at best.
No language can express the joy of seeing the Kaabah. It consumes the soul. One cannot think deeply while doing the tawwaf (circumambulation) around the Kaabah because its presence would make one lose consciousness. One just has to move and make du'a ardently, as if not trying to assess the situation. If one only steps into the 'moment' and realize the place of tawwaf, how holy it is, one would just faint. Not only it is sacred, it is full of history. I remembered many sacred historical events and at times my mind would get cloudy and I would feel disoriented. A voice deep within my being commanded me to suppress the thoughts and instead just perform the sacred rituals.
I thank Allah azza wajal for allowing me to visit His Home and the shrine of Prophet Muhammad Sa Allahu Alaiyhi Was-Sallam. I hope that many more visits are written in my decree.
Ma'Salamah,
Tasneem Ahmed