4am. Better wake up, another exciting day is waiting for me. Looking at myself, I felt so lucky to be healthy and alive. More over to be in this blessed kingdom. The crowd was moving fast to catch Fajr prayers but somehow it was calm and quiet. A sense of battered soul collecting what was left in life and moved on. As usual I joined in.
This hotel used to be called El Saraya Hotel but now renamed as Sawaed Khair Hotel. No wonder we could not find it when we arrived because reservation was under El Saraya Hotel. Interestingly, it used to be owned by a Malaysian but due to covid, business was bad and he gave it up. We used to stay here sometime ago and seems unchanged. A budget hotel facilities but expensive rooms. Due to its short distant away from the mosque(10 mins walk), we dig deep into our savings to pay the rm800 per night room only ( no breakfast). And so far it worth every cent as we can go back and forth to the mosque. Alhamdulillah.
The main thing about DIYumrah is to secure your accommodation. This people have no sense of the word “reservation” let alone internet reservation so the trade still runs on a firm handshake after a cash payment. Of course the big hotels can be found online but mostly outside our budget range. So we asked a friend who is working here to secure our place — for the whole month of Ramadhan. Then the flight tickets must be bought early for a lower price. The eVisa, health insurance, sim card , immunizations etc must be dealt with as early as you can to avoid delay. It was not easy but things we can be done nevertheless. Then you are left with the worry that this plan can be successful or not. Anxiety will start to burn your tummy like bad mee mamak will do. But to be the guest of Allah (dhuyufur Rahmaan) you must trust Him. I did.
At Zuhr prayers I met Salim Mohamed from Lebanon but working and living in Kuwait. He’s a banker with Kuwait Finance House. About three months ago he was laid off. It’s nice to have an English speaking person sitting next to you once in awhile. This guy is a disabled person ;he has problem with his weight and now it’s hurting his knees. He prays sitting down. He asked for my praying mat( I use my ihram cloth as a mat) so that he could sit. No problem I gave it to him. just glad to help. Standing next to a disabled man sitting beside you makes you think how grateful you should be. It was so difficult for him to move or to get up. May Allah make things easy for him.
His wife came by to pick him up. Wow what a beauty! I took a quick glance and has to withdraw my eyes immediately. She was so stunning with big deep Arabic eyes, strong eye lining and vida like lips. Move like a Lebanese belly dancer doing sexy thing with her ass. Hahaha dirty thoughts came without warning even in this unlikely place. I lowered my gaze and be a good boy again.
After Asr I settled on the rooftop, my fav port for Iftar. Love the open air atmosphere that seems to welcome everybody. But when the night falls the bugs will swarm in and that a bit annoying. As the sun retreated behind the clouds ,the heat subsided and the wind blew in ,the place will be really cool.
Haji Ezzad is from Afghanistan but lives in Leeds since 2000. Works as a security guard and has 10 children. He described life in Afghanistan is hard as we all expected. His brothers and sisters manage a madrasah for girls as all girls are banned from pursuing education in their universities. Haji comes to Masjidil Haraam for Ramadhan every year and will give up hotel room on the 19th of Ramadhan to iktikaf for the last ten days. Are you coming for iktikaf? , he asked me….
Aar….. eerrrrrr…. Not sure yet, I replied trying to comprehend the answer to such a simple question. Yesterday I questioned why people do not spend time in the mosque but lying around in the hotel room. So i am tasting my own medicine now. Am I going to the masjid for iktikaf??…..I mean staying in the mosque 24/7 !…. enquiring mind wants to know.
Ali Is from Turkiye . No english so we exchanged sign language.
