Salam all )

Thank you for sharing your story and experiences during so called Hajj.

Your welcome. It's not all bad, there are fond memories too )

The most memorable experience for me during the umroh (pilgrimage) was when I spent time in the mosque. I met wonderful people from different backgrounds. Sharing the praying mat with another person I don't know, getting a warm loving hug from an elderly lady who was very happy over a little thing I did for her. Spending time in the mosque studying the Quran (translation) surrounded by people who do the same from various backgrounds. When I was in college, I used to go study in the musalla with friends. In my village, the people of older generation used to have classes in the Mosque. They learn to read, caligraphy and have discussion over various daily issues, it was common practice back then.

Salam,

thanks San, appreciate your thoughts )
thanks for sharing brother Khalil )

Salam all,

Thank you for welcoming me and for sharing brother Khalil.

Brother Mohammed M. Khan;

These are my experiences during that Hajj & I don't know if anyone faced similar problems.

I do not worry about the stampede but quite a number of time I was worried while doing the tawaf and saie.. I was worried and feel uneasy that I am doing something wrong (shirk) & . My brother said he feel nothing when he look at Kaabah, I share his feeling but I was reluctant to say it outloud.. but when I mentioned that the Kaabah is not as huge as I imagined it to be, a relative looked at me strangely and made me feel so uneasy.. The whole time during the pilgrimage I asked of Allah to show me the right path and the more i pray the stronger the feeling I have that there is something wrong with the pilgrim ritual. Forgive me if i am wrong.

Another thing, I do not know about others but our group was often told not to let a single hair drop during ihram which i find quite absurd since hair fall is a natural thing. We were told for the amount of 3 strands of hair we have to sacrifice a lamb As far as my knowledge, it is nowhere stated in the Quran. My companion was so worried about it that she refused to remove her head scarf. I didn't said anything because I have tried talking to her about some stuff that I think is misunderstood by many muslim because of the book of hadith and are nowhere in the Quran, but she often ignores me. She said the best way is to simply ignore and don't listen whenever she thinks a person is uttering the words of the devil '(

Our group was brought to a place in Jeddah where it is said the cutting hands of thief is still performed to this day. I do not know if that is true, hope anyone who lives in Jeddah can confirm? Thank you.

I feel more at ease in Madinah than Mecca too

Salam

I know this is an old post, but I would like to share my experience when I went to do the Umrah recently, actually I just got back home a few days ago. I can't say that I am against all hadith narration as some of it teaches good things like be polite to elderly and so on, but the Quran comes first and I believe that the Quran is complete as Allah have said so. Therefor I have been having doubts about the pilgrimage ritual such as circling and going between safa and marwa or to cut my hair at the end of the ritual.. and I have made it clear to a close relative that I am reluctant to wave at Kaabah for I don't see the point, Allah is all knowing and all seeing... But maybe I am wrong, forgive me. I did the pilgrimage with an elderly relative who turns out to have a different view than most tradition muslim and he made it very simple and easy for me. He told me that his understanding is that it is stated in the Quran that we must perform Hajj and Umrah at least once in our life. We did the circling anyway, and go to safa marwa and the hair cutting. I respected him for his belief and understanding therefor I did some of the ritual like waving to the Baitullah or hair cutting because I simply don't want to hurt his feeling and cause problem while we are there. During the pilgrimage I keep praying to Allah to forgive me and everyone performing the pilgrimage for anything we had done wrong whether in secret or public, with or without purpose for we are just a weak human being who err. I believe Allah understand that all the while we were doing it not because we worship Kaabah or for the purpose of pagan ritual but simply in the act of submission dedicated fully to Allah. I keep praying for a guidance to the truth of His path, a guidance for I am far from knowing the truth and still learning. Amazingly, I don't think I have ever been more tolerate and patience in my life, that is something i gained from the pilgrimage. I met people from all walks of life, young or old, male and female and of different background and colors.. There was akward time during breakfast where a man suddenly preach to me that I should praise Mohammad several hundreds or thousands to get his syafaat and a promise of safety in the hereafter. I think he is wrong, I believe I should ask from Allah and the prophet would want me to do the same, praise and ask from Allah. This man even accused of my reason to do the pilgrimage is only because I want to ask a lot of money from Allah and not His forgiveness... astaghfirullah. Anyway, whatever I asked from Allah is my business, I forgive him. Then there were also very nice people who have refreshing Quranic point of view. I get to discuss about Islam and the Quran openly with my companions during the pilgrimage without anyone got upset. I even found a very good translation of the Quran inside Masjidil Haram that has no influence of any school (mazhab), too bad I couldn't finish reading it. But it has helped me to clear up some questions in my head. The experience is amazing and through it I get to learn and study the mistakes of others and of myself and try to better myself and not to judge of mock others for thier belief. I still have more questions and I will continue to look for answer, may Allah guide me to the right path. Salam Alaikum.

sorry for my bad english and grammar