Belfast Islamic Centre

It wasn’t until one day that I was out in the park and the strangest feeling came over me I wanted to cry. I was healthy hamduAllah and everything was the way it should have been. I didn’t understand. When I got home I made wudu (wash prior to prayer) I prayed for to Allah for help and guidance.

Only 2 days later my prayer was answered hamduAllah. I received a phone call and was asked a question I never thought at all possible could happen to me and so soon, even though I had talked about it once before. I was asked would I be interested in going to Mecca to complete Hajj? the best question of my life. I had one hour to decide which didn’t need any length of time to answer. I came off the phone and I began to cry After many needles and trying to read up on the things we needed to prepare for and talking to other Muslim sisters. I was ready to go. I say ready but I didn’t know anything about our flights were we were staying all a mystery. It was as if I was going into the unknown which was actually more exciting for me. I was fortunate to be going to Hajj with 2 of my closest Muslim sisters Eileen Ahmed and Sharon Fennell. When I started attending the Mosque it was those sisters that I went with so it was fitting that we shared this experience together. It is said that Hajj is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was sharing my experience with another very important sister of mine. She said once you go you want to keep going and that is the truth!!!! 

On our flight to Jeddah I was trying to learn the Talbiyah, which signifies a response to the summons of Allah the Most High as it is stated in the Quranic verse Al Hajj 22:27I was sitting next to a married couple and I was just about to ask the man to recite it for me so I could hear it in Arabic, when the whole plane begun and kept reciting it.

I knew it in a short time. If all lessons were like that id be flying!!! I was!! In the air I became so emotional and 2 brothers checked that I was alright and one gave me water. It was unreal how close I felt to these people who I had never met before.We had to get off our coach and walk to the hotel as the possibility of getting any further was zero. People were praying everywhere on the roads, footpaths and even on the divides in the roads.

We hadn’t even reached the Mosque yet. Upon entering the Mosque I became overwhelmed. The visual impact that the Kaaba had was incredible. Words could not explain what I wanted to say and when I tried it came out wrong. It is not only unique but symbolic. The Kaaba is not to be worshipped and in no way did it feel as if it should.

Let me leave it at the fact that it was superb. Being only 1 amongst 3 to 4 million Muslims attending Mecca for Hajj made me feel honoured, blessed and also why me???? as I was standing in prayer in the mosque I felt a great peace and at times a beautiful breeze drifted past. I was a guest in Allah’s house. The silence of so many people was touching and not only that it was with people from all walks of life I mean all walks including our wee country Belfast, so many different nationalities, races and ages it was wonderful. Ah yes within the silence I will never forget when everyone bowed down at the same time to Allah it was incredible sound effect was like the wind.

I read before going to try to meet 10 people from 10 different countries that could be done in a heartbeat. I was so relaxed that I went to sleep in the Mosque while waiting for the Adhan, call for prayer. sisters in the mosque were great mashaAllah, a lady beside me from Egypt reminded me I needed to do wudu again as I had been sleeping. No matter where you are from there is someone there to help. Another example, a sister from our group wanted to call her husband so he could hear the Adhan from the Mosque, she told us her battery on her mobile was dead. A sister in front of us from Lebanon overheard and turned around and offered her phone. I say offered I mean insisted.

The kindness of people does really mean a lot.I admit I had a favourite place in the Al Masjid el Haram, Mosque. It was on the very top level it was so calm and breathtaking. The sky, moon and stars were amazing with birds flying constantly around the Mosque. I went over to the Mosque myself walked around the Kaaba and then went up to my spot a slept for a while I felt so safe. My sisters and I had planned to stay throughout one whole night and we did on our last night in Mecca. After each prayer with the vast amount of people I couldn’t believe how few incidents there were.

Although one night on our way back we experienced a scary moment. We were coming down the escalators and I could see the people gathering at the bottom. I was shouting move because I was picturing all the people coming behind me. My sister was shouting behind her stop. I’m shouting move she is shouting stop typical Irish don’t know whether you are coming or going or moving or stopping. The escalators were stopped and no one was hurt.

That was the scariest thing for me the whole trip. In the Belfast Islamic Centre a sister was teaching us how to recite and the meaning of Sura Ash Shams (the sun) this surat was recited during prayers in both mosques Al Masjid el Haram in Mecca and the Prophets Mosque in Medina. I loved the fact that it was something I recognised and reminded me of home where I first heard it.We brought the weather with us. It was thundering and lightening one day which was actually a blessing or else we would have been baked. You can't take me anywhere.

I'll tell you why, I ended up in the Arab newspaper, for good reasons nothing else. I was told it was for a website. The next day a brother said to me I liked your picture on the front of the paper. I thought he was kidding another brother asked did I see the picture so I knew it was true.

We went to reception got the paper and the manager let me keep the copy. A ritual of hajj is to go to a place called jamerat to stone the devil. With our Belfast humour I said the rioting came in handy after all.

Completing Hajj women are Hajas so shop keepers would call out Haja Haja Haja it was lovely. Also what amazed my friends and I was when we wanted to buy something and hadn't got our money changed the guy would allow us to take the item away and pay another time.

One item was nearly 200 pound sterling he said to pay him later how trusting. Our group was terrific especially the brothers. They protected us while completing our Tawaf, circling the Kaaba. Their thoughtfulness was appreciated helping us at the airport, allowing sisters priority getting on the buses, offering to carry our sleeping bags, teaching us hadiths, making us feel included by the simplest of gestures, salaam alekum, a smile and making sure we were alright. If you have not already watched the DVD.

The Message (story of Islam) Anthony Quinn and Irene Papas. It is well worth it. At the end of the DVD there is a part that always makes me cry and that is The Seal and Termination Allah's words.This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed my favour to you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. At one of our meetings the Sheikh and a brother was talking about this very thing and again had me in tears. I have left Mecca and Medina knowing the power and the importance of prayer. I myself have to make more effort, when I am weak turn to Allah for he is the only provider. I must also teach my daughter the true essence of Islam be a good role model and a better example for her. I have more to give as a Muslim and depend on Allah for everything.Allah knows our intention, our efforts, our weaknesses and our struggles.

I am human and I make many mistakes. If Allah wanted us to be angels he would have created us that way. I must always Thank Allah for all the blessings that I have and be grateful for any trials he may place on me for I know he listens to my prayers and answers them. With all my heart I want to return to Mecca and Insha’Allah Allah will make it happen again.

I want to share this with you. It is also mentioned on the DVD      

Still to Mecca they come, Mankind.      

All equal before God All United in this place of prayer.     

Each individual Soul joined in a community of worship.      

One GOD 

Thank you Allah