That african man in Mina.

He was standing at the side of the road, watching passerby. My husband stopped beside him to buy mineral water being sold nearby. My husband started chatting with him while consuming the mineral water. He is from a country in African continent. This is the third time he went to perform hajj on foot, walking all the way. The first time he came, he was only ten years old, walking with his father. Now he is in the early twenty, working as a religious teacher teaching the holy Qur'an. He doesn't earn much but what little he earn he keep some to perform hajj. My husband was touched. Walking all the way from Africa?

My husband and I make it a point to save every bit that we can in order to perform hajj as early as possible while we are still young and strong. My husband wanted to change to a bigger motorbike to go to work which would take almost an hour to arrive riding a small motorbike. Plus riding a small motorbike for a long time twice a day take its toll on my husband's waist, it sometime aches. But I told him to put everything on hold until we have perform our hajj first. As soon as we can afford it we perform our hajj using the muassasah or the cheapest choice. We did't go using package scheme since it is expensive and would take us longer time to come out with the money even though it is much more comfortable and easier. Choosing muassasah would mean walking eight kilometers to the jamrah area and walking another eight kilometers back to our camp every day for three consecutive days. We don't mind that as long as we could perform our hajj at the earliest time possible.

Meeting with this african guy has made the hardship that we faced pale into insignificant. Our condition is luxury to his eyes since he don't stay in a hotel in Mecca or Medina or living in a camp at Mina. He sleep where condition permit him, having the sky as his cover. Every step he made earned him blessing from Allah Almighty and he made thousands and thousands of steps to perform hajj to get Allah's blessing. Subhanallah, glory be to Allah.

Ya Allah, bless all those who has perform hajj to seek your blessing. And bless all those who pray every day for a miracle chance to perform hajj even though they are poor. Give them the pahala or rewards equal to those who has perform hajj.

May Allah bless us all. Ameen.