Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Hajj Online |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 17:58:12 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Okay as promised myself and Br Abdul Basir are around for all things Hajj ;-) I have no idea how this will work out, but by all means feel free to ask about anything related to Hajj. We'll deal with the questions asked by Sr Mariam in a second but first up I want to ask Abdul Basir what he thinks is the hardest aspect of Hajj? |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 18:03:20 |
| [quote]Should I take bath towels? (the hotel is supposedly a 4 star hotel but I don't know...)[/quote] Definitely take bath towels. You will definitely need them when you stay in the camps at Mina. Another point is that in Makkah you'll most likely be sharing accomodation so having your own towels is a good idea. |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 18:05:08 |
| [slm] Hmm, the hardest part of hajj... In these days of modern technology and amenities, the Hajj is "easier" than it was for our illustrious predecessors, may Allah have mercy on them all. The hardship of the elements is diminished with paved roads and walkways, roofs, air-conditioning, transportation and so on. However, with these amenities of modern life, the Hajj has become bigger than ever, with millions of people. The sheer crowds, which are up to three million, are the hardest part to deal with. One needs to learn how to deal with them and have patience with all the things that inevitably occur with so many people in on place. I believe this was the most challenging aspect of hajj. But I would venture to say that this is the new challenge of hajj we today must face in lieu of the previous challenges faced by our predecessors. They had to have sabr in different ways back then, and we have to have sabr in our own now with the different conditions. :) |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 18:16:17 |
| [quote]Definitely take bath towels. You will definitely need them when you stay in the camps at Mina.[/quote] I might be inclined to respectfully disagree here, ;-). One must weigh the benefits of lugging around towels in your already hopefully stream-lined belongings versus the risk of not having towels when you need it. One can always buy them in Makkah or Madina if the hotel doesn't provide them. Hmm as for Mina, that is a good point, and I guess every one has their preference. Do you need towels Br. Khalid at Mina? I didn't need any, just sort of let the sun dry my face :) [slm] |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 18:10:15 |
| I remember the first time I went to Hajj and the number of people who kept telling me of the need to be patient when you're there. But indeed you *are* tested and the strength required to bear afflictions and adversities is one of the true characteristics of the Hajj |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 18:13:12 |
| [quote]But indeed you *are* tested and the strength required to bear afflictions and adversities is one of the true characteristics of the Hajj[/quote] I think the words one hears most often during the Hajj, after "Hajji, Hajji!" are "Sabr, Sabr!"...:) |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 18:17:52 |
| I have to admit there is a real sense of relaxation of the 10th of Dhul Hijjah when after the stoning, offering a sacrifice and shaving your hair, you are allowed to take off your Ihram and take a nice relaxing shower ;-) [with towel ;-)] As Br Abdul Basir mentioned, they can be quite cumbersome to carry around so bear that in mind. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 18:25:29 |
| [quote]If I understand right, a mutamatti' doesn't perform tawaaf and sa'ee on the day of tarwiya, he just goes to mina. [/quote] According to my understanding, a Mutamatti does not have to perform Tawaf and Sai before leaving for Mina. [quote]When a man clips his hair after umra, does he have to clip all the hair all over the head, or just clip around the nape of the neck?[/quote] There are lots of barber shops as you come out of the Haram after finishing Umra and most of them will quite happily cut off your hair. ;-) If you ask for Qasr[shortening] they will trim your hair all over and if you ask for Halaq they will shave it all off. To answer the question though, Sr Mariam, I’m don’t know whether clipping around the nape of the neck is allowable. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 18:27:13 |
| So Abdul Basir what kind of physical shape do you think you need to be in to be able to complete Hajj comfortably? |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 18:35:57 |
[quote]So Abdul Basir what kind of physical shape do you think you need to be in to be able to complete Hajj comfortably?[/quote] In the Hajj Questions thread, there was a question about how much walking there is. I stated at that time that there were at least several miles a day, particularly in Mina and also Makkah if your hotel is far. I think it behooves those who wish to go for Hajj to get in shape. And honestly, you don't have to be an Olympian or something. But if you can't walk several miles in a day in your comfortable environment at home, how will one expect to do the same in the midst of millions of people, with intense heat? I really think that one should do his or her best to get in the best shape possible. Not necessarily because you will need to be, and not necessarily because it's good to be in shape anyways, but because you want to cover all your bases and not let anything come in the way between you and a Hajj where you don't have to think about worldly things like hunger and sore muscles and what not. And who knows, what happens if a steam-rolling group of Hajjis linked arm and arm come towards you to run you over? Having quick reflexes and some agility can come in handy. :) Seriously though, one can't expect to live on the adrenaline of the situation alone. Hajj is a spiritual experience and yes you will see people who could hardly walk suddenly able to run and do all sorts of things thanks to the spiritual adrenaline. But don't take a risk and get in shape if you can.:) |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 18:40:38 |
| BrKhalid, the Jamarat can be a little rough. Any tips on how to do the Jamarat comfortably and safely? Any special strategy you're going to employ inshallah in ten days? :) |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 18:43:05 |
| [quote]you want to cover all your bases and not let anything come in the way between you and a Hajj where you don't have to think about worldly things like hunger and sore muscles and what not[/quote] To coin a Madina phrase I think that's spot on ;-) Hajj is now entering the winter months so the heat is not as intense. I really can't imagine how tiring it will be when Hajj returns in the summer months of July/August!!! My advice to everyone I met when I came back the first time, was to go whilst they were still young if possible. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 18:53:03 |
| [quote]BrKhalid, the Jamarat can be a little rough[/quote] A "little rough" can sometimes be an understatement ;-) [quote]Any special strategy you're going to employ inshallah in ten days?[/quote] The Jamarat are located within a circular wall and the stones one throws should land within the circle. I had a very good vantage point in Mina last time I went, and I could see everyone rushing to the front of the circle to throw their stones. My father, brother and I saw that there was actually very few people throwing from the back of the circle, hence, we walked past the front and past the back and then double backed on ourselves. InshaAllah you avoid most of the rush that way!!! There are more tips like these on the Jannah.org Hajj page. Here's the [url=http://www.jannah.org/hajj/tipsandtricks.html]link[/url] |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 18:59:08 |
| [quote]My father, brother and I saw that there was actually very few people throwing from the back of the circle, hence, we walked past the front and past the back and then double backed on ourselves. InshaAllah you avoid most of the rush that way!!! [/quote] I found this technique similarly successful. One thing also to remember is that the crowds are greatest right after the time of noon on the days of Tashreeq, when all the pilgrims will go. It is helpful to delay throwing till later in the afternoon sometimes. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 18:59:53 |
| What about praying in the two Masjids. How do they compare? |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 19:25:15 |
| [quote]What about praying in the two Masjids. How do they compare?[/quote] Both can be equally beautiful and moving, but I doubt nothing can come close to Masjid-al-Haram at its best. Yet one can have a similar feeling if one is in Rawdah. At the time of Hajj the Haram is very crowded so it can be difficult at times; Masjid al-Nabi is crowded as well, but is relatively more spacious so it does not seem as crowded. I have such fond memories of salah in Masjid al-Haram and in Masjid-ul-Nabi, particularly during the times I have gone for Umrah. Perhaps my most memorable salah in the Haram are Fajr prayers where I stood directly behind Imam Shuraim, who is my favorite. With the birds chirping and circling the Kaaba, hearing Shuraim's voice from his lips seconds before hearing it over the speakers, flanked by Maqam Ibrahim, with nothing but an expanse of empty space between myself and the Kaaba as we stood in salah. I still remember it like it was yesterday. And yet I remember last year at Hajj in Madina, during a time where I was initially getting used to the crowds, longing for the days of solititude in the Masjid where Allah facilitated for me an early entrance in to the Masjid hours before Fajr. And I ended up being practically the only one on the entire roof, the cool Madina breeze and still night making that Qiyam a Qiyam I will in turn always remember. As Abu Darda RA has said, if two rakahs in his lifetime were accepted by Allah, it would exceed the entire world and universe. May Allah SWT accept all our salah, but if there were ever any salah that I would wish to be accepted first, it would be those I just mentioned. :) BrKhalid, you are making me way too nostalgic. :) |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 19:18:41 |
[quote]What about praying in the two Masjids. How do they compare?[/quote] What say you BrKhalid? :) |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 19:28:09 |
| I remember the first time I set eyes on Masjid Nabwi and was awestruck by just the beauty of its doors!! There is nothing better than waking up in the early hours to pray there before the crowds wake up and make their way to the Masjid. The sense of tranquillity is second to none. Masjid al Haram of course has the beauty of the Kaba and the ability to do Tawaf (a worship which cannot be made anywhere else in the world) I remember we used to go to the top floor for Maghrib and then watch people doing Tawaf in the twilight. Subhanallah what a beautiful sight. The place and the time is such that at that particular moment in time there is no where else in the world you would rather be. Woe that we have to leave the Holy Cities after visting them! |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 19:34:02 |
| [quote]I remember we used to go to the top floor for Maghrib and then watch people doing Tawaf in the twilight. [/quote] I remember during Hajj doing the same thing after Fajr, gazing at the Kaaba below with the thousands and thousands of people making tawaf. And someone next to me simply said, "All one needs to do is to look at this sight to realize the truth of the deen and the reality of Allah SWT." |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 19:39:37 |
| What were your feelings when making your way to Arafat? All I could think about was that today I was going to be in the presence of my Lord and the recitation of Talbiya on that day seems to have so much more meaning. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 19:42:22 |
| Just a reminder that this thread *is* open to everyone. Don't let our reminiscing put you off from asking a question! |
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| AbdulBasir |
| 02/13/02 at 19:48:52 |
| [quote]What were your feelings when making your way to Arafat?[/quote] Marked anticipation, excitement, yet in a harmonious balance with feelings of tranquility before embarking on the the most important day of one's life. I remember thinking how merciful Allah SWT was in giving us this chance to "clean our slate" in the hours to come. |
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| BrKhalid |
| 02/13/02 at 20:50:40 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Man too much Hajj reminiscing can lead to unexpected drops of water!!! InshaAllah both Br Abdul Basir and I hope you guys have found the Road to Makkah series useful and of some benefit. We pray that, InshaAllah, all of us at the Madina will have the opportunity to perform our Hajj sometime in our lifetime. Wasalaam Brs Khalid & Abdul Basir PS That boy in Week 3 is going to Hajj on Friday so please make dua for him. |
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