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Last year this day was the second last day of our trip to Al-Madinah al Munawwara. I remember keeping a small journal which I used to write occasionally while sitting in Masjid-e Nabwi Sallallaho alaihe wassalam. Today I reopened that journal and the memories came to my mind like a flood unhindered.

The bus driver who drove us to Madinah was a Yemeni guy. Throughout the journey the nasheed, tala'al badru 'alaina min thaniyaatil wad'a/ wajabasshukru 'alaina ma da'a lillahi da (the moon has risen over the valleys of mount Wad'a. shukr (thankfulness) is now incumbent on us for as long as the du'a will be made by those who pray, i.e. make du'a.) What a journey it was. One feels an indescribable sensation as one gets nearer to Madinah. Upon entering the city the driver announced in a loud voice with aclap of hand to get the attention of the passengers, "Al Madinah Al Munawwara!" ... the nasheed played on in slow rhythms. And how all ofa sudden everyone who was dozing off got up with a jerk. Finally in the city of the Prophet Sallallaho alaihe wassallam. Could one get more lucky? Probably not... But this was not just about being lucky. It was also about being embarrassed of oneself. Being embarrassed of the kind of life one leads and is still able to make it to the city as a guest of Prophet Sallallaho alaihe wassallam.

I will not write anything else about it. How can one explain in words a recollection so beautiful... Yes, there are still those muqamaat here in this world, where words fail you. Where language exhibits its limitation...

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Another notable thing that happened during the last year's trip was our meeting with a man who belonged to the family of Hadhrat Ali Radi Allaho Anhu. He was an old Arab man with a white beard who agreed to drive us from Makkah to Jeddah, as we had to go meet some people there. My father who sat right next to him in the car asked him if he was a native of Makkah. Upon getting his answer in affirmation, my father asked him as to from which Sahabi did he descend from, to which he answered in a low voice, "Ali ibne Abi Talib (radiallahu anhu)" ... And all of us were awestruck. We could not believe we had met this man...

Times have drastically changed. These people who probably are the descendants may not be the same as their forefathers in their following of Deen but the association they have is indeed precious. Way too precious.

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The Holy cities have greatly changed as well. The globalization has played its part. And did it quite well. Now, as soon as you step out of Haram (either the Masjid ul Haraam or Masjid al Nabwi), your gaze is bound to meet the sight of a KFC or Pizza Hut! YET, there is something that remains intact in these two places. Something that suffices for the lovers... Something that recently made me wonder as to the charm that lies in these two cities - Recently an old woman from our hometown went for performing 'Umra along with her daughter and son in law. She was a distant relative too. Six days after reaching Makkah, she got her leg injured. I don't know if she recovered fully or not but as soon as she reached Madinah, she passed away. And now rests in Jannat ul Baq'ee, among those who have great associations. Yes, apparently an uneducated, old woman...

Marg-e momin cheest , hijrat suay dost / Tark aalam! Ikhtiyar kuay dost

(What is the death of momin but migration towards the Friend
Leave the world! Go to the alley of the Friend)

...Something that is still intact and will always remain so. No matter how times change.

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A readable article on the subject on Salwa's blog...