Labbaikallahumalabbaik. Labbaikala shari kalakalabbaik. Innalhamda. Wanni'mata. Lakawalmulk. Laashariikalaa.
That few ayats will forever be instilled in my heart. And I look forward to the day I get to recite them again, on a journey, on a quest... on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
It's been 7 years now since I last visited the Holy Land, and 12 years since I first did. And that's far too long. And yet Alhamdulillah I'm VERY fortunate to have gone on Umrah the 1st time and managed to kiss the Hajjar Aswad, and on the 2nd trip there I managed to go Umrah akhir-Ramadhan and got to experience fasting in Mecca and celebrate 'Aidilfitri there in front of the Ka'bah.
Now, my parents have gone once more to berjuang for their ibadah, to answer God's call again, and to do another Umrah. My dad once told me he plans to try go on Umrah at least once every 2 years, and having done the Hajj once, Alhamdulillah so far he's managed to achieve exactly that. And Alhamdulillah my parents have reached Mecca safely, and are now in the midst of their Umrah... and will once more celebrate the 1st day of 'Aidilfitri there, before returning home. And as my elder bro recited the Azan before we stepped out of the house to send them off, my heart was heavy at the prospect of seeing my parents go, even though its for the sake of God.
So that's it then, a new Syawal is on the horizon, and this time, it's going to be just slightly different. Both my eldest bro and my sis are married now with their own families, and doubtless they will be spending at least the start of the day with their respective families. That leaves only Me and Beg Mal, the singletons, to start off Raya together. So I guess its just me-tenung-at-him, and he-tenung-at-me for the pre-sembahyang Hari Raya meal. Heh.
Here's to the safe return of my parents and the successful completion of their Umrah.
That few ayats will forever be instilled in my heart. And I look forward to the day I get to recite them again, on a journey, on a quest... on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
It's been 7 years now since I last visited the Holy Land, and 12 years since I first did. And that's far too long. And yet Alhamdulillah I'm VERY fortunate to have gone on Umrah the 1st time and managed to kiss the Hajjar Aswad, and on the 2nd trip there I managed to go Umrah akhir-Ramadhan and got to experience fasting in Mecca and celebrate 'Aidilfitri there in front of the Ka'bah.
Now, my parents have gone once more to berjuang for their ibadah, to answer God's call again, and to do another Umrah. My dad once told me he plans to try go on Umrah at least once every 2 years, and having done the Hajj once, Alhamdulillah so far he's managed to achieve exactly that. And Alhamdulillah my parents have reached Mecca safely, and are now in the midst of their Umrah... and will once more celebrate the 1st day of 'Aidilfitri there, before returning home. And as my elder bro recited the Azan before we stepped out of the house to send them off, my heart was heavy at the prospect of seeing my parents go, even though its for the sake of God.
So that's it then, a new Syawal is on the horizon, and this time, it's going to be just slightly different. Both my eldest bro and my sis are married now with their own families, and doubtless they will be spending at least the start of the day with their respective families. That leaves only Me and Beg Mal, the singletons, to start off Raya together. So I guess its just me-tenung-at-him, and he-tenung-at-me for the pre-sembahyang Hari Raya meal. Heh.
Here's to the safe return of my parents and the successful completion of their Umrah.
'Selamat pergi, Selamat beribadah, Selamat pulang'.
Amin.
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