My spiritual journey begins

Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik, La Shareek Laka, Labbaik. Innal Hamdah, Wan Nematah, Laka wal Mulk, La Shareek Laka Labbaik.
Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners, here I am. Surah AHaj 3:97

Since my September 8th calling, the Talbiah has grown much louder and it is almost a reality as we - me and my accompanying family member - ready our luggages to fly tonight.

We are heading for a 45 day journey to the holy land of Mecca.

Alhamdulillah, there was no hitches. It was a rush rush on my part since the formal confirmation from Tabung Haji came only last Monday.

However, it works out as I was able to get my travelling documents sorted out in the nick of time to join my two other family members for tonight's flight.

Wish to express my heartfelt thanks to the helpful, speedy and responsive Tabung Haji staff and officials. Not to be left out are the immigration, and other Government departments people who helped.

Many thanks to the many well wishers from friends, comrades, and readers.

For the next 40 over days, there will be no politics, no corporate stories, and no other posting but Haj posting of this, maybe, once in a lifetime spiritual journey.

I have volunteered myself and a little of my time there as "official" blogger for Tabung Haji and will be covering the Haj as a Jamaah.

The Haj is the 5th and last rukun to a Muslim. It is obligatory on those Muslims who can afford this journey.

In brief, the actual Haj ritual falls on the 8-13th of the Muslim month of Zulhijjah begining with the trip from Mecca to Mina for the wukuf in Arafah. At Arafah, all the pilgrimmes would congregate together from Zohor to Asr.

Then they move on to Mina and stopping over at Muzdalifah to collect stones for use at the devil stoning ritual on the 11-13th Zulhijjah.

Finally it would be circumbulation around the Kaabah. Insya Allah, on completion, one is a Haji and in accordance with the Malay custom, will carry that title around.

I hope I got that right. Rush job, remember. By that time, I am through, I should be familiar.

Tonight we are flying first to Medinah to pay respect to the Prophet. The grave of Prophet Muhammad saw lies, within the holy Masjid Nabawi.

Let me sign off here. I need totake a shower and do my Musaffir prayers before going leaving. Family and friends are congregating at home already. Dog's mobile awaiting.

We are to leave now for Tabung Haji Haj Centre at Kelana Jaya. There is the sad happy good bye.

Before my next posting, I seek everyone's prayers so that we will be healthy and spiritual strong to undertake this Haj which could be physically arduous to a just recovering from asthma patient like me.