Eid..Hajj..Arafah..

Having not reflected on the blog for almost six weeks, there is a mountain of thoughts and emotions churning away in my head. Speaking of churning, some dippy oldish lady I work with thought churning wasn't a word. I was like Churn as in butter; she thought I'd made it up. Really she's great, just a bit dippy. But yes when I say churn, I think of butter, especially since I am sure supermarkets shelve the Churn brand of butter, still she wasn't convinced!

So yes, I was saying I have all these unfinished pieces of writing that I keep meaning to update and post up on here and just haven't gotten round to it, so beware people you may see an influx of posting up here sometime soon.

Ok, onto Eid. The Day of Arafah is always the most tranquil of moments, I don't have to be there, out in the plains of Arafat to feel and experience this. Once you have been there, the electric feeling remains with you forever. You can be as far away detached from Hajj, but the minute someone mentions Yaum Al Arafah it all comes flooding back and if I see even a glimpse of the scene on television, the emotions evoked are even more compelling. You have to have had experience Hajj to feel this. I am sure of it. Never in my life has such an event impacted me as did Hajj. It was the most beautiful and memorable experience ever gifted to me and will remain the best gift I ever have throughout my existence.

So yes, I was talking about Arafah in particular here. There was a huge buzz of activity when we arrived to the tents that day all those years ago, and while some were wondering around like lost souls, some determined to explore the place and some ascended to the Mount. Each unto their own intention. I was determined to get settled in to a tent, shabby as it may have looked especially for some in our camp, it was enough for me just to be in the shade, I still wanted to see out in to the plains of Arafah and the sky beyond the Mount but I knew I needed to be in the shade if I was to survive through this day. I have never felt so special and connected to Allah than I did on this day. This was the very day that Allah had perfected His religion for His slaves, without a doubt I felt special. I am sure I wasn't the only one, but nevertheless what I felt was so significant, a set of emotions, a magnificent experience I could take with me wherever I proceeded with my life from that point onwards.

Just an hour or so before sunset, I remember leaving the tent, and being out in the complete open, the entire ground as far beyond as I could see was dotted with all these bodies clothed in white, such a pure vision, such a united vision, nothing could ever compare to this vision. As the sunset, I just didn't want to let this day go, if only I could remain in it forever but I realised that this day, where I felt most safe, most pure was about to end and I had to go back out in the to this big and sadly not so nice world and its people within it, and prayed so hard that I would face it with complete determination of success and with absolute faith and strength; no matter what life was to throw at me from this point onwards, I would take in my stride, deal with it to the best of my ability and If I was to err, it would never be knowingly and I would seek Allah's mercy and forgiveness forever onwards. I know all this sound kind of soppy but really, how can a true servant of God not feel this way after they have experienced Hajj, after experiencing Yaum Al Arafah.

One other thought that remained with me through this day is the day of Yaum Al Hashr, the day of reckoning when we would all gather on this very ground, yes we are all to return on this very soil to be reckoned for our action and nothing could escape this. The complete reality of Judgement does not hit a person until you actually step foot on that soil. On that very soil will be the final gathering of the people for reckoning. It's enough alone to shake and put into check a person's life!

That day for me ended though emotional, most beautifully, nothing would ever compare to it. Every Eid Al Adha it stirs up many memories more profoundly than any other time throughout the year. It allows for a striking significance to Eid along with some other relevant points pertaining to this festival.

We had a fantastic feast at our house and the sacrifice signified Eid perfectly. Mum got her huge pots out and made the most delicious food. The roast we had on Saturday was divine. I devoured over the food throughout the few days. I'd made some quick sweetmeats earlier in the week and they finished the meals off nicely. Alhamdulillah. Happy times they were indeed, for it is with happiness in our hearts that we must seek pleasure and ultimately attain reward.

I sincerely hope my friends that you had a joyous occasion with your loved ones and importantly ate your feasts to your desires :)

Aisha