Print

 

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim

 

~*Aishah's Journey Continues…My First Umrah*~

 

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatuallahi wa Barakatuh.

 

Wow...there are so many things to tell you...wallah...my brain is just slam full...I feel I could type for days...and there is a story I was writing the night before we left waiting to be finished as well...subhan'Allah.

 

But since I know you are anxiously awaiting SOME kind of word from me...(if you are in the e-group), I will share with you this little bit until I can get some more jotted down...and...well...I'm cheating in a way...lol...because what I am offering here is the messenger text of the conversation I had at 3 am this morning with my dear sister and soul-twin, Sakinah.  {{smile}}

 

Enjoy!

 

Wa'Salaam Alaikum,

~Aishah

 

P.S. - Please feel free to pass along...>

 

*****************************

 

aishahschwartz: This weekend was an up and down emotional roller-coaster...When I got home tonight I put my things away and made wudu and went to pray Isha...and I cried begging Allah (swt) to help me remember the good things...the positive and uplifting parts of my experience in Mecca.  Al-hamdulillah that Allah (swt) didn't disappoint me and there are such wonderful things to tell you...

 

aishahschwartz:  One of the neatest things happened...

 

aishahschwartz:  subhan'Allah...

 

aishahschwartz:  Allah (swt) made sure I got there (to Mecca) because He intended for me to be there...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  yes He did intent for you to be there, and to study and to get a blessing. inshallah!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  Part of the whole Umrah experience is the Tawaf (or the encircling - 7 times) of the qib'lah

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  yes I know that part.  It's so beautiful what I have read so far for hajj.

 

aishahschwartz:  and at the beginning corner it is covered with a gold plate about "people" height...lol...and if you can't get to it to kiss or touch this spot...you can "wave"...and there were a lot of people...as could be expected at most any time...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I know.  Do some people just touch the other people if they can't get close enough? or what?

 

aishahschwartz:  there were a lot of people there that day...

 

aishahschwartz:  funny you should say that...

 

aishahschwartz:  that's part of the story I'm about to tell you...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  wow, cool!!

 

aishahschwartz:  masha'Allah...

 

aishahschwartz:  Anyway...

 

aishahschwartz:  again...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I can't wait to see your story for the group.  I'm sure it will be truly amazing and awesome and most inspiring!!

 

aishahschwartz:  considering that this was my VERY FIRST

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  alhamdilillah

 

aishahschwartz:  Umrah...

 

aishahschwartz:  I really and truly wanted it to be the maximum experience...

 

aishahschwartz:  so, as we were making the 7th passing

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I'm sure you did receive the best.  Allah knows your intention and your heart!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  I told Mustafa that I wanted to reach the corner...

 

ann_spaulding_usn: did you?

 

aishahschwartz:  he was hesitant (gee...the scene did appear somewhat barbaric...)

 

aishahschwartz:  and at first he tried to stop me...

 

aishahschwartz:  but I insisted I wanted to do it

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  good for you!!  I'm so proud of you!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  the number of other people also attempting this goal was staggering...

 

aishahschwartz:  it was really something...

 

aishahschwartz:  everyone was just sandwiched like sardines into a wave of movement taking us forward, ever so close...

 

aishahschwartz:  and then pulling us back again...

 

aishahschwartz:  you know...two steps forward

 

aishahschwartz:  three steps back

 

aishahschwartz: 

 

aishahschwartz:  Suddenly I noticed to my right

 

aishahschwartz:  A teeny-tiny little old woman...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  wow

 

aishahschwartz:  with her right arm out-stretched...

 

aishahschwartz:  trying desperately to reach the stone...

 

aishahschwartz:  masha'Allah...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  did you help her and then help yourself?  wow

 

aishahschwartz:  I felt like she would drown in the waves...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  awesome of her!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  and somehow...

 

aishahschwartz:  there I was...

 

aishahschwartz:  behind her...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  you are giving me shivers sister.  I love ya!! and I'm happy you helped her so much!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  supporting her with my right arm up behind her back and underneath her right arm...

 

aishahschwartz:  and her left arm was outstretched and holding on so tight to my left hand...

 

ann_spaulding_usn: 

 

aishahschwartz:  and every time the wave pushed us back...

 

aishahschwartz:  with all the strength I could muster...

 

aishahschwartz:  I pushed right back (lol) and lifted her up and forward...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  alhamdilillah!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  trying to get her to the gold covered corner...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I am sitting here with the biggest grin on my face, I can see it!!  wow!

 

aishahschwartz:  the sun was beaming down do hotly...

 

aishahschwartz:  and people were sweating...

 

aishahschwartz:  and there was a guard literally having to shove and even slap some of the men on the head (astaghferullah)...

 

aishahschwartz:  to get them away so other people

 

aishahschwartz:  could get there, too...

 

aishahschwartz:  and suddenly...

 

aishahschwartz:  I swear...

 

aishahschwartz:  my sweet little old woman...

 

aishahschwartz:  reached her destination...

 

aishahschwartz:  and her face was just beaming...

 

aishahschwartz:  and she was smiling...(she looked just like a baby...masha'Allah...)

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  wowwwww awesomeeeeeeeee

 

aishahschwartz:  and her eyes were shining so brightly...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I'm so happy for her and you!!!!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  and she was speaking to me in a language I could not understand...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I'm sure it seemed an impossible task but your heart and her's was pure so you did it!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  but I know she was thanking me...

 

aishahschwartz:  and making dua for me...

 

aishahschwartz:  and you know...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I am about to cry, honestly.  This is beautiful!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  even though I didn't make it to the corner myself...

 

aishahschwartz:  I felt like I had made it...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  you were touching her??

 

aishahschwartz:  just from holding on to her...

 

aishahschwartz:

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  wowwwwww

 

aishahschwartz:  It was so awesome...

 

aishahschwartz:  Afterwards, I guided her out of the throng of people...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I'm sure.  I'm sure that was one of the parts you will never forget.

 

aishahschwartz:  to where it seemed there were some other members of her party standing and watching....

 

 

aishahschwartz:  there were a couple of other sisters standing there...

 

aishahschwartz:  and I think the male figure was her son...

 

aishahschwartz:  he was thanking me...

 

aishahschwartz:  masha'Allah...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  wowwwww

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  awesome!!!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  and before I turned away, I hugged the little old woman tight, and planted a kiss on her forehead...well...two actually...

 

aishahschwartz:  and turned to re-join my husband.

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  yes mashallah!!!  He definitely willed this to happen and used you!!! Allah Akbar!!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  Sakinah...

 

aishahschwartz:  it was such an overwhelming feeling...

 

aishahschwartz:  when you finish from there another part of the process is to pray two rakat...

 

aishahschwartz:  and there I was...

 

aishahschwartz:  in front of the Qib'lah...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I'm sure. I get shivers just hearing of it, and I know your heart is so good and you try so hard.  I'm so happy this happened to you!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  in Mecca...

 

aishahschwartz:  praying...

 

aishahschwartz:  and the tears were just running from my eyes...

 

aishahschwartz:  and I just felt like I didn't want to move from the spot where I was praying...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I'm sure it was a heart cleansing experience. truly!!!

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  you needed this so much!!

 

aishahschwartz:  even though the sun was just burning down on us...

 

aishahschwartz:  But you know what, Sakinah?

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I want to go there!

 

aishahschwartz:  That wasn't the first experience I had like that...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  what??

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  there?

 

aishahschwartz:  wallah...you won't believe this...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  I'm sure!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  When we were first arriving, the adhan was calling us to Asr, remember?

 

aishahschwartz:  Well...

 

aishahschwartz:  They had just begun the salat...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  yes, oh wow.  what else happened.  I am so happy to hear all this!!

 

aishahschwartz:  so the prayer area was pretty full in the area of the gate we entered.

 

aishahschwartz:  I turned to walk down the back row to my right where other sisters had gathered...

 

aishahschwartz:  and finding it spilling off the carpet and onto the tiles...

 

aishahschwartz:  I was a little disappointed...(just because I wanted to be closer...)

 

aishahschwartz:  then I peeked around the corner of the retaining wall...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  just enough room I'm sure lol

 

aishahschwartz:  and second row from the back...

 

aishahschwartz:  I saw what looked like a space...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  a space was all you needed.

 

aishahschwartz:  even though there appeared to be a scarf laying there...

 

aishahschwartz:  I decided to scootch in anyway...

 

aishahschwartz:  I stepped into the rakat that had already started...

 

aishahschwartz:  and then when we were moving back into a standing position from prostration...

 

aishahschwartz:  I noticed that the little old 4-toed woman sitting beside me could hardly manage getting herself back to her feet...

 

aishahschwartz:  and I just instinctively tucked my arm up underneath her elbow...

 

aishahschwartz:  and lifted her up...

 

aishahschwartz:  and when we began the second rakat...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  wow, I am so happy you did that!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  I noticed that leaning up against the pillar directly to my right...

 

aishahschwartz:  was a folded-up wheelchair...

 

aishahschwartz:  obviously it was hers...

 

aishahschwartz:  so...

 

aishahschwartz:  for each of the next three rakat...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  she was trying her best to pray. Alhamdilillah. may she be rewarded 100 times more !!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  I helped her back up...

 

 

aishahschwartz:  and at the end...

 

aishahschwartz:  she said, simply, and quietly, "Shukran."  (Al-hamdulillah, I do know that means, "Thank-you!" 

 

ann_spaulding_usn: 

 

aishahschwartz:  and smiled...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  a smile is the best charity I think!!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  And you know what?

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  mmm?

 

aishahschwartz:  before I began to rise from that first prostration in the first rakat...before I knew she might need assistance...

 

aishahschwartz:  when I was making dua with my face to the floor...

 

aishahschwartz:  I was already so overtaken by just being there...that, here, too...

 

aishahschwartz:  I found tears just streaming down my face...and my fingers trembling...

 

aishahschwartz:  subhan'Allah...

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  each tear is much cleansing of the soul!!!

 

ann_spaulding_usn:  ahamdilillah!!!

 

aishahschwartz:  Whew...

 

aishahschwartz:  What an afternoon...

 

aishahschwartz:  I so want to go back again...

 

*****************************

 

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatuallahi wa Barakatuh.

 

Dear Shabana...

 

I remember sitting in your apartment and ever so eagerly listening to you tell me about your trip for Hajj...and I so vividly remember you telling me how you felt to never leave...subhan'Allah...now I truly understand.  I love you for the sake of Allah (swt).  You are in my heart and duas.  I hope that son of yours is keeping you busy! 

 

Wa'Salaam Alaikum.

~A.