I leave a cloak patched with vivid scenes of recent witnessing by eyes filled with tears of gratitude. Tears that trickle as beads of a tasbih falling over a wrinkled landscape of memories and attempted efforts of obedience. A cloak embroidered with threads spun from hearts assembled as they were before time and space echoing the very same resplendent chorus in Tawhid major.
The black net of night bulges with a bulging moon, inebriated from this recently passed spectacle of fasting worshippers, filling the horizon as a quivering shimmer as if the entire collections of stars had been sprinkled over the pristine marble. A glistening repetitive reverie at the Almighty’s command.
Weird and wonderful splashes of colour decorate the surface of this rainbow hued cloak. Superman leaps from tall pillars facing the Dome chasing a cute Tinkerbell type angel whose sparkly dress is aglow with pixie dust. A stooped grandpa bends as a kiss is gently placed on his hollow cheek, innocence instantly plucked akin to a rose bud delivering a romantic message of love. The rattle of cans in a sack being dragged by a grimy and dishevelled wanderer adorn the edges as jangly metallic trims. His gnarled hands rummage in bins searching for more to add to his collection. He momentarily stops in front of the Dome, salutes, and then shuffles off.
A blue, brown army chanting praises glides as a wave made from the pure essence extracted from kernels of joy. Smiles so honest and true seem to melt every atom for miles and years, reducing all animate matter to a honeyed mass of adoration.
Scrawny, beady-eyed cats waddle off a production line that seems to refuse to acknowledge quotas, peer from this huge Madian cloak. They slink by impervious to reality, until a tentative pat transfixes them into a statue, or children chase and torment them with silver guns, baseball bats and wayward maneuvers with their roller skates and runaway baby buggies.
Shiny satiny sections of this cloak glimmer with an eerie midnight light, revealing shadowy shapes of men polishing brass, replacing water containers, twirling monster machines, wielding an artillery of brooms, sticks and mops, riding chrome scooters, bicycles and tricycles while others cruise in the anti-vice matchbox car. All perched on this huge rotating ball as circus acrobats. So securely stitched that none of us fall off. Our falling is not of the physical kind.
I dream of sitting wrapped in this cloak, hoping by looking long enough and hard enough at the deep emerald gem that is the abode of the Prince of Creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam that all will dissolve into the One.
Instead I momentarily leave this cloak as I seek to stretch out for the Hand of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala as I circumambulate His House.
Labayk Allahumma Labayk
Makkah: STOP PRESS
The top ten floors of the under construction Hagar Tower, part of the Abraj al-Bayt ablaze last night. Arab News site is down as I edit this, but if you check it later you may read the details. Alhumdulillah there were no serious injuries or deaths.
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. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
Assalamualaikum,
Masha’Allah. Alhamdulillah, no one was seriously wounded during the casualty.
W’salam,
Hajar
Comment by Hajar Alwi — October 21, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
dear khala, alhumdulillah that you will be in makkah..starting my exam this thurs, plzzz remember us all in your special dua,especially s - may Allah accept your umrah ameen
lotsa luv and dua, t
Comment by t — October 21, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
Assalamualaikum dearest sister,
Subhanallah words that stir the heart into remembering the Magnificence of that place! May all have the honour of donning such a cloak, ameen.
Please remember us in your duas as you reach out your hand towards Allah Azawajal!
Just read the article regarding the fire… may Allah Ta’ala protect us all and bring us back to the perfected ways of the beloved Salallahualaihiwasalam, ameen.
Comment by ikramuddin — October 21, 2008 @ 8:17 pm
slmz, wonderful blog.very inspiring. looking forward for the Haj 1429 - insh we leaving from South Africa on the 5 Zul Qadha. plz can i have e-mail ad of the writer of this blog.
Comment by ammihanzlah — October 22, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
dear khala…thought of you when i saw tht a new birkenstock store opened up here:))use of wow mashaAllah you’ve really been gifted with the use of words, mashaAllah, everytime i read something of yours that ive read before it still has the same effect!!.duaz plzz
luv t
Comment by t — October 22, 2008 @ 11:43 pm
ps ignore’use of’ before wow above!
Comment by t — October 22, 2008 @ 11:51 pm
many thanks, your duas please.
wassalam.
Comment by Qushayri — October 23, 2008 @ 8:15 am
Salaam Alaikum Dear Al Miskeenah, I am saddened to hear about the fire in Hajar towers.. May Allah give patience and strength to one who suffered and to firefighters. Please pray for us and convey our salaam to our beloved RasulAllah Salallahualaihiwasalam,
Comment by Umm-e-Shiraaz — October 23, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
Wa ‘alaikumus Salam Dear ALL,
along with all others known through this humble space. May all Umrah’s by all, past, present and future, be accepted, for the sake of the betterment of the Ummah, Ameen. 
re the birkenstocks! They are the best!
Ahlan wa Sahlan Dear Hajar and JazakiLlahu khairan for your comments on this and other posts. Yes, by the grace and mercy of Allah Ta’ala the only casualty of this incident was part of the tower and the contents. Apparently the emergency sprinkler system saturated the entire building and all the new fixtures and furniture. May the scare of a potential disaster be the means of the authorities being prepared to deal with fighting fires in all the new high rise buildings.
Dear t, you were remembered often
The poignancy of the action of reaching the hand to that of Allah Ta’ala deeply stirs the heart and soul Dear Brother Ikramuddin. May all be given the opportunity to experience this intimacy.
Alhumdulillah Dear Ammihanzlah for your soon approaching invitation to the Sacred Lands. Insha’Allah I will email ASA I work through the current backlog I have.
Your name is permanently etched on my list Dear Qushayri.
Happy to see you Dear Umm-e-Shiraaz…and was happy to reach your name and those of your loved ones in front of the Sacred House.
Wassalamu alaikum
Comment by almiskeenah — October 26, 2008 @ 5:58 pm