MINA, 8 January 2006 — Sixty-nine-year-old Khadija Tayyil Kizheketil from Perumthiruthy village in Kerala’s Malappuram district was among the first to reach the tent city of Mina last night. A mother of 10, she counts herself lucky to be here in the holy land for a second time.
“I performed Haj 17 years ago. Makkah and Madinah have changed beyond comprehension since then. The Grand Mosque has undergone tremendous changes. It is amazing. One look at the Holy Mosque is spiritually exhilarating. The feeling is indescribable,” she told Arab News in her native Malayalam which was carefully translated into English by her son.
“All my children are, by the grace of God, married and well-settled. Some of my sons are working in the Gulf so money has not been a problem. The children were vying with one another to see who should bear the cost of my pilgrimage. May God keep them well,” she said, patting with pride the shoulder of her son who is performing Haj with her. “We are vying with each other so that we can earn Allah’s reward,” said the son. “This is a great moment in my life: to be here with my mother in Mina and Makkah. I want to help her in any way I can,” he added.
Khadija is a housewife but like many Muslim women in India, she has considerable knowledge of the principles of Islam. “Having performed Haj earlier and having read many books on Islam in my own language, I feel confident and energetic. I know all about the daunting rituals and the sequence of events. Even though I am old and am coming here for the second time, I am extremely excited. There were moments when I thought I would not make it. But Alhamdullilah, I made it,” she said and began reciting the talbiyah: “Labaik Allahuma Labaik.” (O God, here I am.)
“At no other time do you feel so close to God. Every Muslim should try to come here and renew his faith,” she said. “Once you are here, you will always have the desire to come back again and again. Our Prophet, peace be upon him, was here. I am following in his footsteps.”
Khadija has felt particularly lonely in the last two years. “My husband died and I feel alone. I have my children but I miss my husband. He performed Haj 10 years ago,” she explained.
Khadija is part of the Kerala Haj Group. “In our group, there are about 600 pilgrims from different parts of Kerala. Each pilgrim paid about 90,000 rupees. This includes airfare, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah and transportation between the holy cities. The one thing worth mentioning about this group is that whatever is left after the expenses are paid is returned to the pilgrim. That is why this group is so popular in Kerala,” she said.
Khadija said the group had made arrangements to stay in Makkah’s Aziziah district. “It is very close to Mina. They arranged buses to take us to Mina but I preferred to walk the distance. It didn’t take more than 20 minutes and now that I am in my camp, I feel relaxed. I just want to unroll my prayer mat and start reading verses from the Holy Qur’an.”
She said the welfare of Indian Muslims and Muslims around the world will be at the top of her prayer list in Mina and also on the plains of Arafat on Monday. “I have been watching a lot of mayhem on television screens. I am not a political person but I know that most of those who are being killed are Muslims. I will pray for them. May Allah protect them. And may He unite them.”
