3:09. Crawled out of bed and tried not to be late again or missed the whole morning altogether like yesterday. I saw myself in the mirror; pale and frail. How long can I keep this up? Would I be able to come here again next year? Or the year after that? Questions just popped out…..I have seen many old men here and they seemed strong and energetic although their faces all wrinkled up and their feet were about to be torn apart. There were also unable to pray proper without a chair or tawaf without a wheelchair. But still determined to come and be part of this magical place.
Hey! You in the mirror! Can you tell me what you will do?…..you think the future is still yours??
The sky was still dark when we stepped out. As usual people started to fill the street and walked past us as if they were rushing to catch something. I will breathe the air and enjoy the darkness that was about to disappear. No rushing I have plenty of time today.
At the zamzam station, the drama continued. This time I was in the front row and holding the tap. The ladies went crazy behind me yelling and calling out something I did not understand. But I knew that was for me. I played dumb and held the tap a little bit longer just to hear them screaming. Hahahaha it was fun.
Waiting for iftar was not fun at all. People ditched you away to give way for his company.
“Ya Abdullah……bla bla bla” and gestured me to move. My anger suddenly boiled up but due to puasa I just let it go, took my things and move away. And then another one just forced his way in between and the other one kept sneezing. Within ten minutes two whispering beggars came to me trying to ask for money. Not a good ambience today. It used to be peaceful around here but not anymore.
I came for the qiam and it was amazing. Just closed my eyes and let the words of God get into you through all the veins in the body. I lost the track of tonight’s reading so couldn’t follow through the app on my phone. Some how the marker disappeared. But it’s okay I can manage this.
By 10:15 we finished. This short taraweeh has given us plenty of time to go back have something to eat and rest. Alhamdulillah.
