This is a continuation from the last story about Dr. Khadijah’s pilgrimage story.

Upon arriving at the plains of Arafah, I was clearly exhausted. As we entered the huge, air–conditioned tent, I slept it off. But, how could anyone fall asleep on this blessed day? The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) described it as follows: “There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on Arafah), and then He reveals before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” (Sahih Muslim)

I awoke from my slumber and called on Allah. I prayed for all of the people who had asked me to pray for them, and for myself. Together with the other pilgrims, I observed Dhuhr and Asr prayers. Then, we listened to and watched the khutbah (sermon) from Masjidun Nimrah via live  stream in our tent. We said, “Ameen.”

By sunset, we proceeded to Muzdalifah, halfway, by train and the other half, by foot. The walk was a bit more difficult than I had imagined it to be. I was tired so I got as much sleep as I could. After all, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) rested at Muzdalifah.

The other pilgrims and I spent the night within open camps, laying on flat mattresses and gazing at the night sky. It was a cool night, but due to the crowd, it was quite suffocating. My Syrian friends were still by my side.

After praying Isha, which was shortened and observed immediately after maghrib, we started picking up pebbles to be thrown at the Jamaraat in the next three days. Night was short as fajr prayer appeared around 3.30 a.m. and we set off to begin the Ram’y while the rest of the Muslim world celebrated Eid-ul-Adha on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah.

Unfortunately, I did not dare to move closer to the Jamaratul Aqabah. As some people were rushing to “stone the devil,” the walkway became chaotic. I saw people throwing stones aggressively as though the devil himself was physically present!

I became very sick and spent the rest of that morning at the clinic while my Syrian friends helped me with the Ram’y (throwing of stones). The doctors checked my unborn baby and me. ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ we were fine.

After they were done with the Ram’y, my friends and their brother went to sort out the sacrifice. I left the clinic and followed other members of the group back to Mina, delaying my Tawaful Ifadah until the last day of Hajj.

Everyone returned to Mina later that day and came out of the state of ihram. The ladies freshened up, applied sweet fragrances and trimmed their hair. I was still feeling quite weak and spent most of the day, resting.

Allah knows that I tried to gather enough strength to complete my Ram’y for the remainder of Ayaamut-Tashreeq. But it was tough. I handed the remaining 42 pebbles to my friends and their brother helped me throw them on days 11 and 12.

I continued praising Allah until the 12th day of Dhul-Hijjah, just after Dhuhr. I wish I had stayed one more night at Mina, but my heart longed for home. My friends stayed, however, until the 13th, the last day of At-Tashreeq.

I carried my backpack and jumped on one of the buses toward Masjid-ul Haram. I performed my tawaaful ifaadah amidst a mammoth crowd. The ground and first floors were jam-packed so I had to move to the second floor, which meant that I’d have to walk around a larger circumference.

By the time I was done with the 7 circumambulations, I had run out of strength to perform the Sa’i, the walks between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa. Thus, I rented a wheelchair at a ridiculously high rate. I performed the Sa’i while sipping Zamzam water intermittently.

Finally, I completed the essential pillars of hajj, even though it felt less-than-stellar by the end.

I collected my baggage from the Hajj agency and was driven home. May Allah accept it and bless my friends who assisted me throughout the journey, Ameen. May He grant me the privilege to perform another one in my lifetime, Ameen.

Hajj is hard work; we are tested to our limits; but the believer in us endures and we learn patience. Do not delay the experience if you are financially capable and physically able. There is no such thing as the perfect timing and there is no guarantee of another year…another chance. Trust in Allah and go for it: “Call the people to the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path…” (Qu’ran 22:27-30).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Dr. Khadijah Tijani is a Nigerian medical doctor, a creative blogger and a published author. She grew up in Ibadan, Oyo State and graduated from the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan in 2009. After five years of practice in Nigeria, she relocated to Saudi Arabia where she worked as a resident physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Known as “Doctor KT,” Tijani is a women’s health advocate and a prolific health blogger for her own blog, www.askdoctorkt.com. She also runs an online platform, known as “Breastfeeding Support Lounge,” where she supports mothers towards achieving their breastfeeding goals. Tijani is the published author of “Wholesome Motherhood,” “Nature’s Superfood,” and “The Stampede: Tales of Love, Trials and Faith.”

Twitter @askdoctorkt

Instagram @askdoctorkt@gmail.com

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