No one goes to Allah’s house, until and unless He decides to invite you
IT is indeed the most blessed place on Earth, as somebody replied when I told him that I was going to Makkah and Madina to perform Umra.
Of course, this is not because it is located in an oil-rich affluent kingdom. But its the reverence of the place on which the Holy Kaaba is situated. In fact, one can feel it as soon as you set your eyes on the magnificent House of God.
I had often wondered what can be so special and glorious about a cube-shaped brick structure clothed in plain black cloth? But the answer that always came to mind was that it’s so because through the centuries, it has been a symbol of devotion for millions of Muslims across the globe who have visited it to humble themselves in front of the Almighty. And this held absolutely true as I returned from my visit to Makkah, last year.
I had been saving for this trip for the past two years. No specific reason, just wanted to take my family for Umra. Other vacations like Dubai, Singapore, USA, England etc. were not my financial problem. I got to go anyway, thanks to an adventurous family.
However, every time we thought of going to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage, something or the other came up. The time wasn’t right or the vacations were over or the Haj season had started and Umra visas were stopped. Why? I had been abroad many times. Why were we so inefficient when it came to planning a simple enough trip? No matter what, I was determined to go last summer. Come rain (what am I talking about) or shine (now that’s more like it), I was determined to fulfil my dream. And a dream it truly was.
“How should we go about it?” we inquired.
“Take a package tour,” suggested our friends.
So a package tour it was. The best, I told the travel agent. Well, this particular brown paper package tied up with strings, was not my favourite thing. Delays, snags booking hassles, expired passports, everything that gives one a terrible headache. Again I wondered. What was it? Would I not be able to go even this time? But no, when the date of departure approached, everything fell into place. As someone told us before we left, this is by Divine Invitation only.”
I have often thought about this statement, as many others also must do. What is the meaning of a “Divine Invitation?”
I think a Divine invitation is when you look for something and suddenly find it. When you get lost, separated, and as soon as you look up and pray, you are not lost anymore. It is when you are thirsty with no water container in sight; one suddenly emerges around a corner. It is pure agony to loose one’s slippers in the middle of the afternoon with the blazing heat burning your feet, it is indeed a blessing when you spot a tiny shop selling the same transparent purple slipper you so fondly saw while walking yesterday.
Coincidences? All of them? Okay, I am a skeptic too. But here is another one. Your return seats are cancelled. You have to stay for six more days. It’s a time when it seems like the whole world had no where to go but to come to God’s house. The hotels are splitting at the seams. Wherever you go all you hear is “Sorry, no room”. And worse, you are out of cash. The ATM card you had does not work for some reason or the other.
Well in a place that is indeed truly blessed, one looks up at the magnificent structure and says, “What am I to do now? I have come to your house but I do not have a place to live. I have come to the land of glory, but have no money?”
Suddenly while looking around the street, you spot a small but luxurious hotel. You walk in and the courteous receptionist tells you “We do not have any rooms, but talk to the manager”. The good natured Egyptian smiles and says let me check.
You sit and wonder. “Well,” he says “I have just one room.” So okay they all have a couple of rooms in reserve but they are for special guests, not for tired-looking people off the street. At least that’s what we looked like. Okay now what about the money? We make some calls back home. Incidentally, a friend’s sister is visiting Pakistan and her husband who works in Makkah would not mind sending us some money!
I don’t know about all you skeptics, but I was convinced. This was indeed a ‘Divine Invitation’. Needless to say that we stayed in a suite, shopped and ate some great food between prayers at the ‘House of God’. By Divine Invitation Only? You bet.
No one goes to Allah’s house, until and unless He decides to invite you 
