Makkah: A massive Reconstruction in motion

Tall scaffoldings overlooked the Baitul Atiq with moving lorries, ferrying about grinded stones from the what was originally stone-hills that surround the location. Construction workers - all geared in high-tech boots and helmets - scattered the nearyby perimeters. Dust was a constant phenomenon if one is to walk along the roads towards Babul Fatah - Door No. 45, that any effort of sweeping it is utter useless. A constrast between the ready and the unready furnished the setting. Inside the mosque, pious worshippers crowd the avenue, leaving the place at constant attendance of its visitors.

At this point of writing, I was taking my time out from the usual zikir and Quranic recital perior before the five compulsory solat to observe my surroundings. At common, I would hop around to locate the best seat in the mosque before the call of azan. After some time, I realised that such habit is a terrible practice to continue, especially during the first ten days of Zulhijrah. It is during these period that the number of people that crowd this location seemed to overpour the city, making ikhtikaf a most trying phase. I was always trying to outbeat the crowd by changing my praying venue just to have plenty of ease while praying but alas! I never succeed at doing so.

Inside the mosque, familiarity is often left at bay once one steps into its grandeur doors. One particular instance is the space that he hopes to own by coming early. Thinking that an early secured spot would entitle one to that three feet by one and half to a comfortable space in order to extend his dua' to his Mighty is often a failure. I learnt this the hard way during one of my Subuh prayers.

My journey to the mosque would start as early as one hour before the first call of azan so that I could enjoy a place by the grilled window at the first floor at the Saie pathway. I reasone out such option is vital for my ability to focus well in my prayers.

By the second azan, the area was filled with assorted kinds of ma'mumah (masses). It is then when two Paki ladies approached the area, requesting for a spot between the jamaah, including me. As soon as I sternly denied to the request, believing that there is no enough space for the two of them, the elderly one asked me to move up a bit. I understood her by her hand gesture so that she could form another saf (row).

Well, one just has to take in all that are offered during this pilgrimage and in this case, I tell myself that control is never within my strength. As much as modernity tries to evade the Holy city, ancient attitude remains within it.