Performing the holy pilgrimage of hajj is compulsory for a Muslim. Hajj has to be performed once in a life time.

Many scholars say, You are invited to complete hajj. Hajj is one element of the five Islamic pillars. The other four are Salah (5 daily prayers), Zakat (Charity), Shahada (Creed) and fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. Whilst in my final year at university I made the intention to go on the pilgrimage of hajj. Before I could go I had to negotiate it with my lecturers in order to get four weeks leave. Eventually they all agreed to give me the holidays that I required. I was over the moon with joy because the first and most important hurdle had been crossed; I was one step closer to reaching my goal. The night before I couldnt sleep at all. I spent most of the night tossing and turning. My mind was all over the place, it wouldnt shut down no matter how hard I tried. I got up and looked out of my window. It looked a little foggy but the weather didnt seem too bad. At 3am I got ready and stepped out of the house. It was very dark and cold, the cool breeze made me shiver. I wanted to go back inside but the pilgrimage had more importance. I hurried into the warm and cosy coach. I gazed out of the window and saw my family on the street in tears it looked like Niagara Falls. I wanted to cry my eyes out, I felt sad; my smile started to disappear but I had to be strong and hold my tears in. A family friend sat next to me and encouraged me to be strong. The support helped me and I overcame my upset. The agent kept walking from the front of the coach to the back, he continued to do this several times. When he walked passed my seat I stopped him and asked, Do you need to go to the loo? He replied, Why? I said, Youre constantly moving from the front to the back of the coach. He gave me a funny look and answered, Im counting the people to make sure we dont leave any one behind. He started walking to each seat and registering everyone similarly to a school teacher registering students attendance. After everyone had registered we set off. It became very silent in the coach as if it was empty because everyone was thinking about the spiritual journey ahead. We got to the airport, checked in and waited to board. The plane and boarding staff arrived. Everyone waiting rushed towards the staff on the gate. I got up leisurely and made my way to the plane. The staff scanned my passport, tore the boarding pass and told me to make my way towards the plane. In the plane, it felt as if there was no law and order. It was extremely loud with people shouting across the plane. It was absolutely chaotic. The flight attendance calmed the situation, gave the safety instructions and off we went wwwuushhhhh miles into the sky. I entered the airport. It was extremely hot. It felt like I was standing in front of the sun. Sweat drop dripped down my face, I wiped them but it was as though Id dipped the cloth in a bucket of water. We rested our feet for a while before our group was selected to make their way towards the immigration desk. The

immigration advisor took my finger prints, a photo and sent me on my way. We were escorted to the transportation area and waited patiently for our driver to arrive. Finally the driver arrived and we were taken to our hotel. Performing Hajj may seem difficult to some people because it is a physically and emotionally draining. However, I enjoyed it. I wore my Ihram (two pieces of white cloth), read my prayer and waited patiently in the lobby for my transport to arrive. Id never seen so much traffic on the roads in my entire life, like bees buzzing in a beehive. Once we arrived in Mina we were given a tent number we stayed in our tent, we prayed there and slept there in the night. In the morning we prayed and went out. It resembled a market place. The temperature started to increase, today we had to go to Arafat. Its a compulsory action of Hajj. I got to Arafat and there were tents everywhere. I saw coaches coming and going, I went to my tent, sat on the sand praying just like I had read in the books and sizzled as the shining sun rays toasted my body. After sunset we had to go to Muzalifa. When we arrived at Muzalifa it looked was as though flocks of white doves covered the sandy mountain, it was white and pure. In Muzalifa we prayed Magrib and Isha Salah together. After praying I went to collect pebbles to stone the devil over the next few days. I laid down and looked into the awesome navy sky, it shone with the bright stars, like pearls in the sky, I thought I was dreaming. The next morning I got up and made my way to Mina, rested for a short while and made my way to the Jamrat. I threw seven pebbles at the Jamrat. I went back to my hotel, called my agent to make sure the sacrifice on my behalf because Allah told prophet Ibrahim to slaughter his beloved son prophet Ismaeel. It had been done and he confirmed it. I got my head shaved, bathed, changed my clothes and made my way for Mina. I threw pebbles at the Jamrat again and then I made my way back to the hotel but it started to rain heavily. There were three Jamrats a small, medium and large and I had to stone the three devils. As people slowed down, it caused a domino effect. The rain water was about waist height, as some people looked for shelter I continued walking absolutely drenched until I reached my hotel. The day after I had to perform Tawaf e Zairat, which is an obligatory part of Hajj, it had to be performed with in three days. I entered the mosque was full of people it seemed like the whole world was present in one place. The security guards wouldnt let anyone sit down as it was very busy. Before leaving I had to complete Tawaf e Alvida this is the sunnah of the prophet Muhammed SAW. No one knows when they will be called back to the Holy land. I arrived back to snowy Britain, Id seen the large white areas but didnt think anything of them until I felt the chill. I got my luggage and made my way to arrivals. I stepped out of arrivals and saw lots of people waiting with gift for their loved ones. All the people were jolly, happy and amazed to see their loved ones returning. The van driver greeted, hugged and congratulated me.

I got home and my family was waiting at the door. They all were pleased to see me. They hugged, kissed me and welcomed my inside. The house was really warm and cosy it felt relaxing much better than the weather outside. My neighbours came over they brought Asian sweets and said youre very lucky to be able to perform Hajj at such a young age. I felt special words werent enough to describe the feeling inside, each time someone came over and reminded me my eyes filled with tears of joy. It was because I was the third person in my extended family to perform hajj. A lot of the elders havent performed hajj which made it more special.