ALMISKEENAH

 

"If you lost your shoose, do not walk on hot floor. Get free slippers from door’s staff."

One of the latest signs to appear on a pillar facing you as you walk out from the ladies section of Masjid Nabawi! The sign is also in Arabic and Urdu.

I always suggest to people coming for Hajj or Umrah to make a "SHOO" bag as the incidence of missing "shoose" is rampant, especially in Makkah, though seems to be becoming a trend here too. Alhumdulillah for an effort to ease the pilgrims’ distress when discovering ones "shoose" have vanished. Also an attempt to halt what seems to be the interconnected presence of eager vendors ready and waiting to sell the rubber "slippers" to the dismayed bare footed pilgrim. Or the other alternative is to scrounge the mountain of "shoose" outside the doorways.

Unfortunately there are so many scams operating in and around Haramain, with the leaders of such practices inventing more and more ingenious ways to get the unsuspecting pilgrim to part with their money. Insha’Allah as part of preparations to visit Haramain sharpen all "alert and awake" skills, on the physical as well as spiritual levels!

During this charitable season of Ramadhan the gangs of beggars are prevalent everywhere. The authorities are constantly trying to address this issue, as well as trying to encourage pilgrims not to give to these people. Many cases have been reported where huge sums of money have been found in the possession of the ring leaders, who seem to have no mercy in using many of the severely crippled and young children to work for them. During these past few days one cannot walk across the courtyard without being approached by mainly women begging. There are depressing social problems and extreme poverty in the Kingdom, and even though various organizations are set up to deal with these issues, there is still so much more to be done. May Allah Ta’ala save us all, and guide us to give to the truly needy. The group who deserve praise and charity are the cleaners of Haramain, the labourers, the street sweepers, drivers. They leave their own impoverished countries on two year contracts, working long hours in extreme conditions for such a paltry sum. Their living conditions are primitive, while they sacrifice all their usual traditional foods, climate and families. Maybe they earn far less than the gangs of beggars, but at least they are making an honest effort. And Allah the Almighty knows best

The courtyard provides an amazing scene of humanity with such a festive air in the evenings. Around the periphery are the mixed family groups, and gatherings of men representing every Muslim country; the Afghans in their huge wrapped turbans, the Turks in their knitted caps, the Africans with their various colourfully embroidered flowing robes and head gear, the different Sub-Continent attire, baggy shalwar and tighter fitting pajama style, so many others, including the Saudis in their thobes and scarves, the red checkered Shammagh or the plain white one, some with the Uqal, or Ugal as they pronounce it, the black coil head piece to hold the scarf in place.

Then upon entering the fenced off women’s section the atmosphere changes to gatherings of family and friends and hundreds of children! The children invent creative and playful games based on the marble tiling, jumping over and around the various coloured shapes in some competitive game with rules and accompanying chants. Some use their "shoose" as substitute balls and kick them around imaginary playing fields, apparently scoring goals. Others use the area as a race track, with the baby pushers, or buggies, or trolleys, or prams, named according to your country of origin, as the "formula one vehicle", excitedly wheeling screaming occupants around the obstacle course of other groups! Then there are the roller skate "shoo" things…quite a hazard when the child is obviously a learner and does not know how to brake. Or when they feel the best time to get a good straight run is between the Saf during Fardh Salat!!! Ummm! A real picnic ambience pervades the sacred precincts.

Now there is the "child-free" fenced off area, the security women standing guard to the entry making sure no children are present. This is a relatively new addition to the outside courtyard, while inside there has long been such a quieter place for women without children.

Salatul Esha and Taraweeh together usually takes two hours for 20 Rakats I realize that many watch this on television, but I am also aware of many who did not have TV so am mentioning some of the details here. Unlike many places where after every four Rakats there is a slight pause for individual Du’a, the system here is that the first ten Rakats are read by one Imam with no break at all. In fact barely has Salam been said than the next Salat begins. There is a slight pause while they change Imams, however, if there is a Janazah, which is more likely than not, then this break is occupied by praying this.  For the first twenty days, Witr was prayed immediately after, following the Hanbali method, with a lengthy Du’a in the last single Rakat. Now with the last ten days, after approximately a two and a half hour break Qiyamul Layl begins, where twelve Rakats are read. Each Ruku and Sajda is considerably prolonged. Witr and Du’a completes this session, which also takes about two hours. There are a considerable number of ladies performing I’tikaf, but it certainly is not crowded. I am told that the men’s section is reasonable full. In Makkah the entire Haram becomes "carpeted" with pillar to pillar people! It is very difficult moving around, especially from the Tawaf area to Sa’i. Umrah can take up to four and even five hours to complete during this peak period. As all Gulf Countries are now on holiday, thousands take advantage of coming, as they do not need a visa, plus the thousands from within the Kingdom arriving as well, adding to the millions from overseas.

I found it fascinating watching the ladies establishing their I’tikaf "territories". Many are in groups who tend to section off an area using the moveable metal shoe/seat box things as barriers to their "plot"! They then lay prayer mats on the Haram carpets within their temporary "homes". It reminded me of how as children we would set up a dolls house, attending to little details as to where to place this and that! Others use the pillars as a back rest and are immersed in reading Qur’an, or Dhikr. Others are wrapped in their Abaya or shawls and take time to catch some sleep, while others chat in small circles drinking green Arabic coffee and eating dates, which apart from yogurt and bread are the only foodstuffs officially meant to be allowed inside.

The shops around Haram, as well as the main malls and shopping strips lining the streets to the outer hotels are open all night. The crowd filling these areas is incredible! I find it amazing that after about half an hour after Taraweeh finishing the recording of that session is available and being played and sold in the book shops.

Boy scouts are seen in great numbers offering their services with pushing needy ones in wheelchairs, assisting with traffic control and attending to lost pilgrims, which is not such a big problem in Madinah as it is in Makkah. A report the other day said that thousands are lost each day in Makkah! 

May Allah Ta’ala continue to bestow the entire Ummah with all His special promises during these last few moments of this most Mubarak month of purifying ans fasting. Ameen.

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Alhumdulillah, the problem I have had with posting has been discovered as being due to "corrupt cookies"!! What fun! Such are the intricacies of computers. Insha’Allah I will attend to the few missing features after Eid.

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.