My last few hours in these blessed lands before my month of travel comes to an end. Seems soooo long ago since I headed off to Morocco, and there have been so many adventures along the way.

I remember telling my friend as we were setting off “I want to visit people, not places”. For a while I have felt that our lifestyles in the UK seems to miss the point. We have everything yet nothing at the same time. In my short time travelling, I wanted to see what life is like for those in other parts of the world.

Subhanallah, in every place I have met people who I will never forget. Whilst each has their own personalities and circumstances, the contentment in their life is beautiful. This is the beauty Islam has to offer: a peace a mind and soul as all questions and concerns are laid to rest by this faith. From the blind man who dedicates his days to worship, the gentleman who sweeps the streets by day and leads the praises upon the prophet ﷺ by night to the wealthy businessman who sacrificed all his wealth to feed the poor on a daily basis for at least 33 years of his life (although I think the number is 50+), each have shown me in their own way that this world is just a means, not an ends.

Makkah and Madinah are the icing on the cake, symbolising the shariah (law) and haqeeqah (reality) respectively which Islam affirms in one’s heart. The kabah itself is a symbol of the world, to share just a few thoughts:

– just as people circle the house of Allah, Allah should be the central focus of our lives in everything we do

– each individual circling the kabah comes with their own prayers and hopes and Allah gives each and every one of them accordingly toll they feel on top of the world. Yet, when you look at it from afar, each disappears into insignificance and only the kabah remains. Its like couplet I wrote

“How loud the drums of life beat
Yet silence is what fills the street”

– the black stone: the struggle which this ummah faces. Only a hand full of people are involved in reaching it yet the whole crowd feels it’s effects as crowds cause traffic. Many make it the central focus of the intention. Some who go for it can be reckless of other people despite seeking a righteous outcome – a typical case of the end justifying the means.

– The kabah walls – The suffering off the oppressed. Each coming and begging Allah for mercy with the severest hardship culminating at the muktazam

– The Sacred – this place isn’t for tourism, it’s for worship and only those with that intention will be allowed in to appreciate it’s beauty. As much as you try and show the beauty of this place through a picture, the reality is far greater. I met a convert from Christianity who said how the spirituality of the Vatican was ruined as worship was complemented by bus loads of tourist just coming for the photos.

– Emptiness – The kabah is 4 walls and hollow inside. The shariah (law) is important but it’s just the outer cover. The green dome in madinah however contains a moon and 2 stars, and it is described as a piece of paradise. Following the prophet ﷺ and his example is the essence of our faith. I could write a whole essay on madinah!

(there’s a lot more to say, but I’ll leave those for later)

Tomorrow I’ll be back in the UK and trying to bring some of this buzz back to my life. Small and steady is the trick! I’ll leave you with the answer my friend gave me to my initial ambitions which became the moto of our trip

“The least you get is what you ask for”