Arafaat is forgiveness.

 In the name of Allah the most gracious the most merciful.

 

9 Dhul Hijja 1425, still 10 October 2014.

 

I did not have time to post my blog below so I will do so as soon as I update it now.

The wind has gone to lie down having blown at full speed since late afternoon. A rescue mission was in place to pick up fallen plants and battle the winds to water the plants. The wind also dries out the soil more than the sun sometimes.

As Magrib approached I checked out the fish in the oven. It was baking fabulously, I turned it round and to drenched it with fresh cream and allowed it to crisp up. This afternoon I wondered I would make to break fast for the family and my sister came in with a freshly caught fish weighing sun at about a kilo. I was not sure what kind of fish it was, thought it was a silver fish. But I scaled it and gutted it and cleaned it and made slices on both sides. I marinaded with seafood masala and lemon and salt and stuffed slices of garlc and slices of butter inside. I placed slices red onion and pepperdews from the garden alongside and then I covered it with the butter paper and baked for three quarter of an hour just before Magrib it was done and served with with tomato pesto and Panini.

later

Grow food and make duah for the hujjaj.

 

In the name of Allah most gracious the most merciful.

Earlier today after 5 am, 8 Dhul- Hijja 3 Oct 2014.

Here on the property, after Ishraaq, the sky is magnificent. The air is fresh and the chirping birds sound sweeter and we finish our duahs and reciting. Our preparations yesterday were joyous making biscuits and pastry and the very last of the water melon konfyt, I found four more melons under the table, yay! We prepared for Suhoor something light and nutritious. We finished our juz each as requested by our family hujaaj so they can complete it and offer it today, on Arafat.

What an honour for us. Being all the more a part of the revered and venerated day of Arafaat, when the hujaaj are sitting and crouching and lying down. When they are in kiyaam - Subhanallah, walhamdu lilaah walaa illah ha illalaa hu alaahu Akbar... resounds on the plains of Arafaat. It is hot, but it bothers none the dripping of water from faces and foreheads and from taps for wudhu. Subhanallah!

Those of us here who can, fast this day. This esteemed day of Youmil jumuah as the barakah and mercy of Allah descends and khatams and duahs and thikr ascends. On this day we are mindful of everything in this universe, as the heavens and earth are in sync and the Angels observe the attribute of Allah SWT that He has taken upon himself – that of mercy.

The wind has started - I hope that little zephyr on Wuqoof will cool down the heat a bit for hujaaj. We stood under the trees where our ancestors stood, where generations before us stood. The trees in 1971 were mere bushes and in 1997 it was just above our heads, I wonder what it is like now. We stood with our hands in duah and as the breeze rustled through, the Imam made duah and we said ameen with closed eyes and senses clear. Little leaves fell into my hands and I glanced across to Abu who gently shook his head and I opened my hands to let it slowly make its way to the ground. You know me the collector of things – flowers of decades dried in my Qur’an, what a boon it would have been for leaves from Arafat. But we have to respect sacred ground to take nothing from it nor leave anything behind. Allahu akbar.

Tonight the hujaaj will Mabeet on Muzdulifah and pick up their pebbles and wash them and secure them in pouches. Tomorrow the hujaaj will stone Aqabah, tomorrow they will make Ifaadah, tomorrow the Labayk will transform into Takbir, tomorrow they will be oblivious that it is Eid in Makkah and should someone hand them a burger or chicken, they may not even remember that they are hungry. Tomorrow they will see the Ka’abah with reborn eyes, superlative in its glory. We of course, will be having Eid on Sunday when they have returned to the Plains of Mina.

So for today everything is in slow motion. Finishing the baking, dipping biscuits and packing into tins,  the fillings made, the windows washed, the carpets scrubbed and getting the last things sorted. Taking out the special draping for tables and beds. Securing the sheep for qurbaan. And in all that busy-ness our thoughts always to Arafah time and time and again. Our hearts are filled with solidarity for the few million hujaaj. A tenderness swells our breasts for Sabirah and Hoosain and our cousins and as we make duah for them, they make duah for us and this day is so special, as every Arafah day is special. When we think of them our throats close down with sobs, in our mind’s eye Nuhr illumintes them and their slates are wiped clean inshaAllah.

We prepare for Sunday and prepare for tonight when we break fast, maybe at the mosque and maybe under the canopy when the sun has dropped down and the red sky turns colour and we place date in our mouths and hope for the pleasure of our Rabb, Allahu Akbar!

Grow food and plant a date seed.

Yasmine