One of Islam's five pillars is Hajj,
the pilgrimage to Mecca.
We also call it boot camp.
Islam's boot camp, which happened this week, is so challenging and rigorous
that it would scare the toughest fitness instructor out there.
Yet an estimated 2 million to 6 million people from around the world are
eager to be there each year, and millions more save up their entire lives to
fulfill it.
I say Hajj is boot camp because you don't just need to be prepared physically
for the minimum-two-week journey. You need to be mentally and spiritually
prepared. Like praying five times a day to stay connected to God and fasting
during Ramadan to recharge your spirituality, Hajj is a once-in-a lifetime
opportunity to seek forgiveness and start anew with God.
You also must summon the patience and kindness in the world to deal with the
humongous crowd, with being in a foreign country and culture, and all that comes
with it.
It's not cheap, either. The average cost from the U.S. is about $6,000, and
many can't afford that kind of money, especially people from poor nations.
In fact, boot camp comes with the condition that you are physically and
financially able to make it.
My mom, Shadia, who is 49, did her boot camp in 2009.
Aside from arthritis,
which runs in our family, I would say my mom is pretty healthy. Although I was
so happy for her, I was deeply worried when she was over there, not only because
I know it's a difficult journey for the healthiest of people, but because she's
my mom and I wasn't with her, and I wanted to make sure she was going to be safe
every single second she's was there.
When my mom returned, she recounted her experience, and while she loved it
and described it as overall spiritually fulfilling and positive, she said that
it was so difficult at times that there were days when she could no longer walk.
She herself doesn't even know how she made it through. My mom said there were
times when she would pray to God so hard to give her strength to take the next
step and to help her fulfill her duties. (She made it through by the grace of
God, she always says.)
It sounds so grueling and so trying, yet since she's been back, she can't
stop thinking about going back.
You may hear about an accident here or there, but considering how many people
gather in Mecca, and the lack of properly trained police officers and security
personnel, most of whom are foreign to Mecca because they are gathered from
around the country during boot camp season, it's relatively a peaceful and
successful event that has been taking place annually for more than 1,400
years.
People are on their best behavior.
And beside America, there's one other place I could easily point to as a bowl
of salad, if not quite a melting pot. It's Mecca. But only during boot camp
season.
While there, your gender, looks, body type, wealth, skin color, social
status, citizenship, house and car don't matter. What matters is who you are on
the inside. What matters is your connection to God and the opportunity to be
reborn.
During boot camp, Muslims relive the journey Hagar took to Mecca with her
son, Ishmael. They walk in the footsteps of the Prophet Abraham, who we believe
built the house of God, the Kaaba. They walk in the footsteps of the Prophet
Muhammad.
It's humbling that even those who have never been there, including me, are in
such awe of its greatness.
Boot camp ends with the daylong stand on Mt. Arafat. Muslims around the world
join the boot campers by fasting from sunrise to sunset, which is taking place
Thursday.
The Prophet gave his farewell sermon on Mt. Arafat during Hajj. About 100,000
Muslims were in attendance. Some of his most famous words of wisdom were given
during that sermon, including: Be good to your women. A white man is not better
than a black man, and a black man is not better than a white man. An Arab is not
better than a non-Arab, and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab. Nothing
matters but your deeds.
Then we celebrate the day after. That happened Friday.
Muslims sacrifice a sheep or another animal and distribute the meat to those
in need in their respective communities. The sacrifice of the sheep commemorates
Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, at God's command.
Someday, I hope to make it to boot camp. I sure hope God gives me patience to
get through it, because God knows I kind of have none.
MONA SHADIA is a reporter for Times Community News. An Egyptian
American, she was born and raised in Cairo and now lives in Orange County. Her
column includes various questions and issues facing Muslims in America. Follow
her on Twitter @MonaShadia.
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