“Mini Hajj” by dutchb0y

Suhaa of Luminosity shares with us a moving letter written by a sister recounting her Hajj pilgrimage. The Hajjah has since passed away after suffering from breast cancer, but her message lives on, as a source of inspiration to those left behind. May Allah grant her al-Jannah; the only recompense worthy of an accepted Hajj:

[T]he Imam stopped everything and made an announcement. He said to everyone, “I want you all to know that Allah will answer all of your prayers because of YOU!”. And he looked at me and pointed to me. [...] He said “Yes you, sister Jawharah! Allah has blessed us with you”. I just started balling. What else could I do. Later I understood what he was saying. I was visibly ill. In Islam, sickness is an ar-rahma=blessing from Allah. Since it brings you closer to Allah and is indeed a cleansing and expiation of sins. That is what Muslims believe. Caring for the ill or sick is also looked at as an ar-rahma from Allah. It is a blessing to care for the sick. So what he was saying was that Allah blessed them with me because Allah has given them me to care for during the very special journey of Hajj. How beautiful is that! And boy did they rise to the occasion. My sisters in Islam were fabulous. I was hugged and kissed and such kind words were said to me. When I wasn’t crying happy tears I was hugging someone.

Jazakallah to Suhaa for the tip.