MAKKAH, 24 December 2005 — It was a dream of a lifetime and took a long time to fulfill. It took her 17 years before she could embark on her dream odyssey — a journey to the holy land to perform the pilgrimage.
Fiftyseven-year-old Abida Mubarak of Delhi is grateful to Allah that she is performing Haj this year after saving one rupee every day for over 17 years. “I was saving whatever money I could every day. On an average I saved one rupee a day, sometimes more, in my piggy bank for the pilgrimage. And now after a long wait of 17 years I am in the holy land to perform Haj,” Abida said.
Abida has come with her husband Mubarak Ali and her aunt Qadri Begum for the pilgrimage. Mubarak is a low wage earner and was unable to spare any money from his measly income for the Haj. He said they could make the pilgrimage only due to the efforts, patience and perseverance of Abida. “She is a very gutsy woman. When she was saving one rupee a day for Haj, everybody laughed at her. But she was not discouraged and never lost patience, and at last proved everybody wrong,” Mubarak said.
Not only did Abida make the trip, she helped Mubarak. “For all three of us, the flight from Delhi to Jeddah was the first ever plane journey. We had never seen an aircraft before,” Abida said.
“Our accommodation in the Aziziah district is a bit far off from the Holy Haram, but the transportation facility is good and until now we have not faced any problem. But people say when the season peaks, more and more pilgrims will arrive and the situation might change. But we have no choice. We are praying that everything passes off smoothly and we go back to our country safe and sound,” an excited Abida said.
Another pilgrim, who defied all odds to embark on the pilgrimage is Moosa Abdullah from Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Hundred-year-old Moosa is healthy and energetic. He spends most of his time in prayers in a building near the Haram.
Asked how he decided to embark on the pilgrimage at his age, an angry Moosa said: “What’s wrong with you young guys? You think only youngsters have the guts to bear the hardships during Haj. I’m an old man physically, but much younger than so many of you as far as my perseverance and tolerance is concerned.”
On whether anybody will help him in performing the rituals of Haj which are physically challenging, Moosa said: “I don’t need anybody’s help. Allah will help me.”
The medical team of the Indian Consulate is keeping a daily record of all the 100-plus pilgrims including Moosa. The doctors said that he is alert and emotionally and religiously-tuned to perform Haj.
Earlier, Indian Ambassador M.O.H. Farook, Consul General Ausaf Sayeed and Consul Haj Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan accompanied a team of local journalists to buildings where Indian pilgrims have been lodged. Most pilgrims expressed satisfaction over the arrangements but there were a few who had their reservations.
Abdul Majeed of Haryana said the buildings in Aziziah were new and the facilities good, but there were no shopping places nearby, not even eateries. “We have to spend most of our time in the room,” Abdul Majeed said.
“The Aziziah accommodation is a bit cheaper at SR1,050. It includes transportation and breakfast,” Ausaf said.
