Sitting at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, waiting to board a flight to Jeddah, I had million things on my mind. I was invited by the Creator of all creatures. A few hours later, I was reciting Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik (I am here, my Allah (SWT). I am present.)
When I first saw Ka'bah, I forgot everything. I was lucky to have seen the grand structure in my 20s. The Ka'bah is a sight beyond words. You feel blessed. Your sins don’t matter, your soul feels better. You are reborn. You are super-confident.
I saw people performing Tawaaf, asking forgiveness from Allah. In fact, Tawaf is only doable in Ka'bah’s vicinity. Irrespective of their gender, race and age, they constantly move in a circle around Ka'bah. With all their dreams, they line up before Allah with tears in their eyes. No one cares about the clock. It's just you and your God. Isn’t that enough?
With Ka'bah just inches way, I offered Namaz and said: “All praise unto Allah, the Lord of all that exists. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The only owner of the Day of Recompense. We worship You alone, and beg You alone for help. Guide us in the straight path. The path of those whom You have favored. Not of those who have earned Your anger and nor of those who have gone astray.”
It’s important to understand that Muslims don’t worship Ka'bah. Ka'bah is just a direction. As Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, “Surely, We shall turn you to a Qiblah (prayer direction) that shall please you, so turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid- al-Haram.” Also, Muslims kiss the black stone (al-Hajar-al-Aswad). And the only reason for kissing the stone is that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) did so.
Saudi Arabia hosts millions and the holy cities stay busy throughout the year. Blessed with energy resources, Saudis are self-sufficient in many ways. Inside Makkah, you mostly see sunny skies. Makkah is intense and dry. In Madinah, the temperature drops down and you can expect winds in the morning. Madinah is soothing.
Squatting in the courtyard of the Grand Mosque with my family, I spent the best days of my life. During my stay, I saw humanity and brotherhood. I saw a disciplined nation. I noticed pure scents and clean atmosphere. I watched engineers working on massive construction projects. I saw veiled ladies running businesses. I enjoyed luscious fruits. I witnessed social stability and rule of law. I collected rare books. I interacted with the richest minds. In short, I observed the greatest place on earth.