The idea of Pilgrimage!

For personal reasons last months have been extremely difficult for me. These four months have been very happening and eventful for me as well as if I have been thrown to dark dungeon multiple times but some invisible divine force has pulled me from dark dungeon to the surface of well and has put me in the sunny bright day. My reptilian mind has considered the dungeon as my reality and locale but I didn't know was this new life is for higher purpose. 

I have only been thinking about Allah, how kind and merciful He has been to me in those dark moments. One of my student recommended me the seerat course of Nimrah Ahmed, I bought it and start reading it. It brought a new dimension to my mind, the most important pillar of Islam is Hajj. People who go there don't really explain it to us what really happens there. My parents did hajj in 2012 and since then my mother only watches kaaba on TV and she cries and recites durood on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). I never really understood this experience.

In my SZABIST days, In anthropology class we learned a concept about sacred and profane spaces. I really couldn't comprehend it. How could any ordinary walls and doors really be holy?... What's special about them?

One day I saw Imran Khan walking without shoes in Makkah. I really couldn't make sense of the act. It was such a unusual sight from Prime Minister of a nuclear country. 

I think now at the age of 34, I get it. It's not a physical trip, its not a tour... Its a spiritual journey. Going there, paying home age to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), touching the holy stone of kaaba and kissing it. It's all symbolic. You're part of historical event. The charismatic Ibrahim (AS) and how Holy Prophet (PBUH) carried this mission in his life and what his family really went through to uphold the divine ideology that tracends race, nationality, ethnicity or any other ideology. The pilgrimage is symbolic act of being part of One. It signifies Tauheed, oneness of Allah- All powerful, all knowing, All Merciful and All forgiving. The God of day of judgement, the God who has control over everything.

And me with my petty issues surrender to the Mighty divine force. I'm part of the one unifying force and historical journey. This life is all about surrender to Allah and His Prophet, everything else is useless and trivial. 

I have decided to read about Hajj in detail. All events, their symbolism and it's significance. I will not go there as tourist but as a follower. To meet my Prophet (PBUH) and to seek courage to live rest of my life to have sense of control, patience and gratitude.

Death keeps no calender. You may not get time to wind up your matters. With all your brilliance, appeal and intellect, you will be gone as if you never existed.