Yusuf Estes
We have arrived safely back here in New York, Al Hamdulilah, on Saturday afternoon. We spent most of the time since then resting, praying, eating and working on the Internet. Al Hamduilah.
I would like to borrow a comment that I heard from one of our dear respected scholars in Islam from Egypt, Shaykh Mohammed Hussein Yacub, when I asked him, "How is the Hajj with you?" - He replied with a big smile, "Beautiful like the flowers."
And it certainly was "beautiful like the flowers" for me as well. There were so many things that Allah made happen for us on the journey, that there would be no way to enumerate them all. Suffice to say, that we were all tested and challenged and yet, we felt ourselves being brought even closer to Allah. Al Hamdulilah.
It is truly only Allah who guides and whomever He guides cannot be misguided. And when Allah invites someone to His House in the Harem at Mekkah, they will be guided there by Him, inshallah. The trip was from the beginning to the end a Mercy and a Blessing from Allah for me and for my entire family.
For months in advance I had only the intention without the least prospect to be able to traverse such an undertaking. Naturally, as any Muslim would, I desired to return to the Holy Place of Islam and once again perform the rituals established by Allah for the prophets before, starting with Abraham. But how it would come about would definitely have to be from Allah.
One day a dear friend contacted me and asked me if I were ready to go for Hajj (pilgrimage) and I immediately replied, "Yes, inshallah." But how? He then told me that I was to be the invited guest of another dear brother to come along and be a part of their Hajj with his family and friends. I immediately accepted this grand opportunity. But then it came to me that my wife had been asking me many times over the years to have another chance to go for Hajj. I mentioned this to my friend and without hesitation the invitation was increased double. We could both go. Wonderful, I thought. But now what about my two teenage daughters? They certainly couldn't remain at home. So once again, I mentioned my situation, and once again came the answer, "They can go too." The increase was doubled again. Not one, not two, but now four of us, all going to Mekkah for Hajj.
But wait, there is more. We also had the chance to spend a week in Medinah to visit the prophet's mosque and spend time in the beautiful peaceful city of peace and tranquility. The journey took on new and unusual twists as we went from place to place and visited so many historical sites concerning the early advents of Islam. We met so many wonderful brothers and sisters along the way and enjoyed experiencing the moments and reflection together.
The weather was superb. No one could have asked for a better and easier trip, from the very start. We were immediately raised to first class status on leaving New York and spent a very lovely time flying over on Saudi Airlines with all the best of treatment. Who could have asked for more? But even more was in store for us.
After landing in Medinah we found first class treatment by the airport and government people right away. We enjoyed a bus ride around the city on the way to our suite at the Ashrak Hotel just at the very edge of the entrance to the prophet's mosque. Hold easy it was to pray in the masjid every day. The ladies however, were not quite so fortunate. Their area was completely on the other side of the mosque. Good news -- they got more reward for each footstep they took, inshallah.
After visiting so many of the historical sites and the graves of the companions, and the sacred and holy places within and around the prophet's mosque, we enjoyed meeting and getting to know the brothers and sisters who were to become our close companions for the next month or so of this journey for Allah. Perhaps someday, I will write more of the details of what took place in Medinah, but for now, I will go on to bigger matters, inshallah.
Before leaving Medinah for Mekkah to begin the 'Ummrah and Hajj, an amazing event took place. One of the brothers who had been very helpful in dawah out in the California area was attending the University of Medinah and we were able to meet with him while we were there. Of course this was something that I had anticipated and planned on for some time. You see, I had in mind since meeting with his family last year, that he was just the boy for one of my daughters. And sure enough we were able to get his folks down from Riyadh and work out the details for marriage. Wonderful.
But by the time that the couple had actually met each other and interviewed for marriage, it was now late at night and we had run out of time. We would be leaving for Mekkah in the morning. What to do?
I then came up with an idea. Go across the street to the mosque of the prophet, peace be upon him, and let them get married just outside the door of the mosque, while we wait for the doors to open to be the first visitors before Fajr's adhan.
And so we did. Our host and friends came out with us and there in the light of the entrance to the prophet's mosque we wrote the contract, presented it to them, heard their confirmation and witnessed their signatures, and with that, they were married. Right there in Medinah. Maashallah.
The whole area became busy with Muslims coming over to see what all the noise was about, shouting, "Zawaj! Zawaj! Marriage! Come and make Dua." And they did. One brother from Indonesia appeared suddenly and sat down and began to make the most wonderful Dua and prayers for the couple and immediately we were all in tears. How wonderful. How appropriate. It was a night (morning?) that I will long remember, inshallah.
We left the groom in Medinah and watched as the prophet's city began to fade in the rear view mirror of the bus. The new bride was so excited, but also quite saddened, after all, she was a new wife, but without a husband. He was a student and was not cleared by the government for a Hajj visa. What could they do? Pray of course. After all, it is Hajj, right.
And pray they did. We talked with him on the phone (everyone in the Kingdom must have at least one cell phone on at all times). And we talked with different contacts about how things might be worked out for him to come to Mekkah to perform the Hajj with us. But was it in Allah's Plan?
Good question.
I hope that you will visit our website to find out more about this amazing story of Hajj, love, marriage, at:
www.IslamTomorrow.com
Until then, Salam alaykum, and peace to all who follow true guidance,
Yusuf Estes
Hajj: A Personal Account of Worship, Love, and Marriage - Part1
Hajj: A Personal Account of Worship, Love, and Marriage - Part2
