10-06-2005, 12:37 PM
Bismillah
A belated reply.
I was supposed to tell you all how Ramdan is in Mecca.
Sobhan Allah, a year already passed. Are we aware of this time passing by so quickly like water runs between our fingers? sobhan Allah.
Well how do I start? I hope I can just convey the whole feeling and situation.
Ramdan in Mecca is really different.
you put on extraordinary effort, without feeling the least tired. You sleep and eat on the minimum, yet feel much light and content.
Of course one performs the Umra upon arrival to Mecca, then just take a schedule in which one does not miss any of the prayers in Ka`ba.
Last time I went there, we arrived to Mecca very late, we had to perfrom Umra, which took us to 1.30 minutes before Fajr. I preferred to stay over, going to the hotel was useless. Alhamdulelah managed to do extra prayer. Then just joined Fajr and went to the hotel
This would be the usual routine. you head towards Haram before the time of prayer to secure a spot for you to pray. You feel part of the crowd, you see how Muslims engage in communciation without knowing each other.
Then when Maghreb comes, usually one goes in with some dates and a bottle of zamzam water. That is all we take, I stayed there till Esha. If I go out to the hotel and come back it would be very difficult to find a space.. One breaks fast and prays Maghreb, then eat extra dates and drink zamzam. sobhan Allah, zamzam is really something. You feel no hunger or weakness at all.
Then to use the time between Maghreb and Esha one does voluntary tawaf and recites Quran till ESha. Then joins the 20 Raka happily and lightly. After that, I used to head to the hotel, whatever comes in the way I pick for food. Take some rest and then back again to Haram around 12.30 for Tahajud, on the way I just pick an instant coffee drink to keep me up after another 10 Raka`s for which the Imam recites a whole Juze as well.
Sobhan Allah, during this tahajud one really feels something special that no words can describe.
Alhamdulelha, on the whole u eat and sleep on the minimum, yet feel light, focused happy more than ever.
May Allah Allows us all to spend Ramadan there.