Every religion has its God, its own belief that has been observed by rituals. Hajj is known as one of the five pillars of Islam central to Muslim belief, a pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime if they are capable of. It is the most spiritual event that a Muslim experiences, observing rituals in the most sacred places in the Islamic world. Kaaba is a building at the center of Islam’s most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. The country of Saudi Arabia has initiated this ritual at the early time of the pre-Islamic era.
The best way to face God, remorse all the sins and pray for all the progress in future is so heartwarming. God Almighty made us upon his power and every creature has to taste the death. He is the creator of everything.
Performing Umrah Hajj
Holy Quran states that Al-Hajj is performed at a specific time of the Islamic calendar every year and Umrah can be done any time of the year. I have been there in the year 2017 with my parents. It is kind of mesmerizing for every Muslim in the world. I and my parents did our Umrah Hajj in the month of December. It requires a special visa from the government of KSA. We flew from Dhaka (Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport) and our destination was at Jeddah (King Abdul Aziz International Airport). Then we checked our serial numbers with the immigration police, they confirmed our arrival, and we left the airport. Now it’s time to reach our Hotel in Mecca. Surprisingly Mecca does not have an airport, so Jeddah. Our transport was ready to the hotel, it was around an hour journey from Jeddah by bus. The nightlife was so calm there and I enjoyed the whole journey to our hotel. We had our reservation in one of the hotels at the clock tower, Abraj Al-Bait.
It was about sunrise so we could not check in our rooms. We left our luggage in the hotel lobby. The first thing we are meant to perform Umrah by the ‘Tawaf’ or circumambulation, means walking around the ‘Kaaba’ seven times in an anticlockwise direction so I did that ritual with my parents. The very first time I saw the black stone (Al-Kaaba), I could not hold up my tears. I was crying constantly and telling myself that I am one of the most fortunate lads to fly over here. The time was running so fast, and it was the moment to move together in one direction to our initial step of this pilgrimage. By that time, the sound of Adhan (call to prayer) for Fajr prayer was coming from Inside of the Masjid al-Haram
After the Tawaf
Once the procedure of circling has been accomplished, this is followed by a drink and wash from the well containing Zamzam water before performing the next ritual called ‘Sayee’, move at a regular and moderate pace of walking on the mount of Safa and Marwa. These two mountains have a glorious history, along the well of Zamzam was discovered. Following that, men are bound to shave their heads and I did that as well. Then all of us performed prayed together toward the Kaaba.
Figure 2. Captured this Snapshot During the Umrah
The Origin of the Black stone
The Holy book Quran cites the importance of the Black Stone.
Al-Hajar al-Aswad. Al-Hajar al-Aswad. Muslims have such belief that this precious stone came down straight from (Al Jannah) Heaven and God Almighty endowed to Prophet Adam and Eve. During the pre-Islamic times, the stone was vandalized by non-Muslims. Afterward, it was stolen, found in broken pieces and reassembled again and remains in its current form since the Islamic year of 952 AD.
Figure 3..The Black Stone set into the Eastern Corner of Kaaba by American Muslim- Own Work
The Place Never Settle Down
God Almighty has given us the golden opportunity to come closer to Islam, to get to know and understand the belief in the one true God, Allah. Muslims walk around the Kaaba because of the importance it has. Mecca is the direction to pray for more than 2 billion worshippers and they must observe the prayer five times a day. Allah has sent many prophets (messenger) for mankind to bring peace and prosperity. Muslims do believe that Prophet Muhamad S.W.T. is our last messenger and there will not be anyone coming to the world. He (Rasulullah S.W.T.) is the friend of Allah S.W.T. and God bestowed him all the elegance and blessings. Prophet PBUH himself is the best man alive on earth and he recommended us to oblige his methodology of Islam, called ‘Sunnah’. He lived for 63 years among us and made the history of Islam. Moreover, his Farewell Sermon has significance to all Muslims of the world.
Figure 4. Great View of the Masjid al-Haram.
Video taken by Md Mahidul Islam
The pilgrimage for Muslim Only
Non-Muslims are not allowed on the premises of Al-Haram. There were several incidents that took place before and those were all conducted by Kafir. I had really a good feeling at this holy place and felt so pure-hearted. After finishing part one of Umrah in Mecca, we had to leave for Medina as it is recommended to do so. The Prophet Muhammad PBUH moved out from Mecca to Medina for peace, it is also known as Hegira.
The City of Medina
This enlightened city is located in Western Saudi Arabia. The main attraction of this city is Rasulullah’s PBUH mosque Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. At the time of 622ce in the Islamic calendar, Prophet Muhammad established the Muslim community after his flight from Mecca to this holy city. He built this by himself, next to his house and was entombed in this holy mosque with other early Islamic leaders Abu Bakr and Umar. There is a green-coloured dome above their tombs, which is called The Green Dome. Every pilgrim is obliged to complete a part of this sacred journey from here. Most significantly, this mosque has a specific place that is considered as part of Heaven, Riadhul Jannah and mehrab. It is a journey to remember for every Muslim Ummah, they follow in the footsteps of past pilgrims before them. I believe it is a lifetime spiritual endeavour to get rewarded both in this short world and life in the hereafter.
Figure 5. South Side of Masjid an Nabawi. Photo Taken by Md Mahidul Islam
Figure 6. The Mehrab Inside the Mosque is Part of Heaven. Photo Taken by Md Mahidul Islam
