Fasting in Islam speaks of the benefits of fasting, saying it can teach you the worth of blessing, quoting the “Should you attempt to count Allah’s blessings you cannot calculate them. But humankind is innately inclined to extreme misjudgment and ingratitude.”
Ibrahim 14:31. “Both the earth and skies were created to serve humanity. Allah, the most gracious gives us countless favors but unfortunately, for the most part we are unaware of of these bounties. We are like a fish that is in the water but unaware of the water. Fasting helps us to become aware of the blessings of Allah and to appreciate them.”
I was casting about, trying to find a meaningful way to observe Ramadan. I found a blessing within the confines of my hotel room. I shall write of its discovery, from initial inspiration to the sincere appreciation of a blessing that was bestowed by Allah (SWT).
The initial inspiration, that led me down this path came from an unlikely source – Instagram. It is most unlikely in that one of my 2024 Ramadan Intentions was to take Recess from Instagram. I have, for the most part, but happened upon a reel that was SO inspirational. Do hope the link will work for you: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3HFbMQJbbD/?igsh=MW1mb2lrNXZzb212Zw==
It begins with the words of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH): Who is going to believe me now, Khadiji? Then is with great reverence and beauty reveals to the viewers, millions of worshipper in Mecca. shows, with great reverence, probably millions of worshippers in Mecca. The reel has received 304,009 likes – I definitely was one of them.
I am one of the blessed, not only have I been to Mecca but was there for a week, staying in a luxurious hotel with a room overlooking the Kaaba, treated like Royalty receiving an Umrah tray and flowers, by management. This, I am sure was unique. Photographs remind me of the joy upon receiving the blessing. I remember conveying my gratitude to the indirect giver of the the gift. It was, of course, bestowed by Allah (SWT), the manager the middle man, the liaison, the go-between.
An Instagram announcement heralded that eight million believers have performed Umrah this Ramadan so far. The reality of those numbers are not verifiable, but this is certain, there is a multitude, a horde, a crush of humanity. I cannot imagine the congestion, the crowds that such an explosion of humanity would cause. The price of hotel rooms skyrockets to inestimable heights, because it can. The profits made by businesses during Ramadan and the Hajj allow merchants, businesses and hotels to survive over the remaining ‘lean months.’
An Oberio staff member (and friend) posts reels on Instagram taken in the ‘next door’ Prophet’s Mosque. Yesterday I wrote, (and he liked) my response to a scene
Me: Decidedly two crowded for me. My solitary worship brings peace of mind and closeness with our God.
Admiring, admittedly from a distance, the inspiration of Mecca caused me to look about my hotel room, uncrowded as there are few, only meagre possessions. To my delight, there on a table sits an an absolute treasure. A breath-takingly beautiful ‘coffee table’ book The Heart of Makkah: Photography from the Collection of Khakud Khidr. A photograph of the cover of this priceless book will grace this blog.
A coffee table book, also known as a cocktail table book, is an oversized, usually hard-covered book whose purpose is for display on a table intended for use in an area in which one entertains guests and from which it can serve to inspire conversation or pass the time. (Wikipedia)
“A book that is used primarily for decoration may seem a little strange (and more than a little ostentatious), but there’s a deep history behind it.” You will be comforted to know that you will not be acquired to read the ‘deep history behind it.’ Throwing in a little trivia for amusement you shall learn: “As of 2011, Madonna‘s 1992 book Sex remained the most searched for out-of-print coffee table book.’
Although the book shall be pictured, make sure you do not judge the book by looking at its cover. That is a quote by George Eliot. There are also quotes emanating from Eliot’s saying: Never judge someone by the way he looks or a book by the way it’s covered; for inside those tattered pages, there’s a lot to be discovered. Steve Cosgroves.
The book is an absolute and utter blessing. It was given to me in Medina by an renowned staff member Marwin Hetzi. At the time, and until just now, I was not exactly sure what I did to deserve this jewel but as the proverb says: “Do not look a gift horse in the mouth.” Don’t question the value of a gift referring to the he proverb refers to the practice of evaluating the age of a horse by looking at its teeth.
Now I see that Mr. Marwin (as he was called) served the same role as the Mecca hotel manager. As said earlier in this blog: “I remember conveying my gratitude to the indirect giver of the the gift. It was, of course, bestowed by Allah (SWT), the manager the middle man, the liaison, the go-between.”
Perhaps Mr. Marwin was an emissary of Allah (SWT). In other words an envoy, ambassador, diplomat, plenipotentiary, messenger, or if the Catholic Church, a nuncio.
You see with the precious gift I have no desire to join the mass, multitude, horde, crush, army, swarm, sea, of believers visiting Mecca. In the solitude of my room I can marvel at the glories of the Blessed Holy Sight without being jostled.
Jostle is a verb with an object: to push, elbow, or bump against (someone) roughly, typically in a crowd.
This happened to me when visiting a Holy Sight. I was bumped into/against knocked into/against, banged into, collided with, jolted, pushed, shoved, elbowed, cannoned into, plowed into in Rawdah in July of 2023. It was unforgettable and unforgivable. I shall speak of it when the time is ripe, it is not now. When? I know not. Stay tuned.
