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Day 2 in Jordan 19th April 2011
We pray the morning prayer in congregation,
Have breakfast at 8:00am and get ready to leave,
This time, plan to go in plenty of time, we reach the border crossing at 10:30am
.....the usual pleasantries with the Israelis start.
First it's sticker application in passport and why we are here ( questions from every one) than we move on to baggage control search passports are kept by them again, some of our group go for interviews / questioning
We are given more forms to fill in,
After and agonising wait of an hour or two we move to passport control, well wrong to think that this was all! Forms again . Now we wait and wait and wait, our group leader is spotted negotiating our travel,
We wait but second time round we have come prepared..... We have biscuits and cheese balls and all the junk food one could think off, well I must say it was my idea.
A long wait , power naps , prayers and cups of tea and some 8 hours wait later. They start giving us our passports..
A pilgrimage wouldn't be one without hardships, it is the worship of tests of patience,we hope Allah's pleasure in every hardship we endure. Allhamdullilah
United as we are, part of the larger group split and some try to leave early,
Our group stays together , united we stand.
At last at 7:00 we board the buses...
Passing through qasr al yahud and dead sea on our left at 7:20pm we pass towards jeruselum on highway 1
The sand so White as White so unreal , i feel humbled we are entering jerusalem at sunset
The time of Maghrib prayer, Allah forgive me, and accept my humble effort.
We are quite , each one in their contemplation, I want this moment to stay in my heart, the taste to stay for ever, I want the time to stop, I am on the way to ask forgiveness from my Lord,.......
We see vast fields and long distant roads, Israeli presence is so obvious , I spot some military vehicles on the road.... But we pass.
We pass Jericho on to highway 1, we move on through to adumim interchange
Passed some road side shops on the way, were a number of tourists have stopped.
We carry on.... Then the grave of prophet Musa a.s on our left. We pass on Arriha highway.
Vegetation is sparse but the sand so surreal, the most beautiful I have seen m the land of the prophets, we pass from below sea level to at sea level, our minibus struggles, taking us, I wonder how many journeys it must have made....
How many souls seeking Gods pleasure have been through these valleys...
And how many would have transgressed along the way?
I seek protection from the evil in the glorious name of my lord.
jerusalem nears as we pass the settlers town, and passed a beduin camp near khal Ahmer
We pass through a Palestinian settlement called al aysariya , generally termed dufh gharbia Is a palestinian territory , the residents of which can not travel to jerusalem,
I am lost for words, overwhelmed
8:00 we are entering Al-quds ( jeruselum), the entry is through Derech har ha tsofim ( Jewish name) tunnel at exit on the left is a magnificent view of Al-aqsa and the dome of the rock , we move towards the city from the north, facing both qibla simultaneously,( jerusalem used to be the direction of prayer for muslims for 16th months when the prophet Mohammed pbuh was ordered to change to mecca by Allah- this was for a while when the prophet used to position him self in Mecca in the direction of both, the grand mosque at Mecca and towards jerusalem
I have tears in my eyes, am I sad or tears of joy , I have lost the feelings or is it that I am overcome by emotions, I feel Love for my Lord remains.... I feel one with my brothers. Feelings I cannot write, perhaps I need to take time.......
20:00we reach Capitol hotel, we leave our luggage , the essential freshening up and at 20:30 we are out to do what we came for, prayer at Al-aqsa...
We enter the old city, The walls stretch for 12 miles over an area with a diameter of 2.5 miles and rise to an average height of 40 feet, and a width of more than 7 feet. It contains 43 surveillance towers and 11 gates, seven of which are presently open.
Herods Gate (Bab Assahera)
A small gate at the North of the Old City leading to Muslim Quarter, I feel over whelmed with emotions, we reached for the time of prayer , Allhamdullilah ( all praise is to Allah...
It seemed too emotional for me to take any pictures. For me this was the time to Ask the forgiveness from my Lord, this was what I had come for and now I am here.........
- comments
Asma Allahumdullillah you made it to holy jerruselum :) will await more updates. You sleep well :)
medhat salameh Allhamdolelah u & your group in good health ,made doaa for me when you pray in the aqsa mousque,take care bro.
Asad Savor every moment. So much history to relive.
Mo Thanks bro. Nicely written n described. May Allah accept it 4rm u. Make dua 4me, my fam, my parents please