It's now around Fajr time. It's not terribly hot here in Mina, but the sisters and I are worried about the extreme heat that we may face in Mina. We aren't sure if there are tents or if we will be sitting out in the open. We are making du'a for rain or an overcast sky to keep us cool while in Mina. We ask Allah (SWT) to shade us, Ameen.
After Fajr we got in the long, long bus line to go to Arafah. A couple of sisters nearly fainted while standing in line because of the pushing of the huge crowd on top of the heat. Finally, my husband and I got a bus and headed to Arafah.
My husband and I reached Arafah around 9:00 am. Upon arrival, we sat in a temporary tent waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. My husband and I caught a bus ahead of the rest the group because the crowd was so huge that they told us just to get on a bus and to catch up with our group later. We were told that all the buses in our section were going to the same area in Arafah as well.
We waited for our group to arrive only a few minutes, Alhamdulillah. Upon their arrival we went to our tents. The brothers selected these tents. In Arafah the tents are all open with no sides to sheild us. The tents don't have fans. The brothers put up sheets all around us so we could remove our face veils and be comfortable, Masha-Allah.
In Arafah, our group was joined by three other sisters. Two sisters were Arab and the other one was Somalian (I think). Many of the sisters brought coolers and bags full of food. They were very kind to share with the rest of us, Masha-Allah. The Kingdom also gives out free meal packs at various locations. The Arabs are BIG on YOGURT in every constancy, Masha-Allah. I am not fond of yogurt myself.
One brother brought back KFC!!! Yes, KFC in ARAFAH, Subhana-Allah!!! The brother checked out the authenticity of KFC in the Saudi Arabia carefully. He was told that the chickens come from America but are then slaughtered here in the Kingdom by Muslims. Okay we said, "Let's eat!"
Because of my coughing and my breathing problems I tried my best to stay away from oily foods the entire trip. This one I could not pass up. I ate ONE piece, just one piece. It was ORIGINAL recipe, Masha-Allah. It tasted so good. I haven't had KFC since before I was Muslim because KFC is not halal in America. There was corn on the cob also, Masha-Allah!!! My husband brought me some baked chicken and rice. That was very good also, Masha-Allah.
Most of the sisters slept from arrival until noon. The other sister (that I knew from Michigan) and I were busy with our babies. The bathrooms are much like the bathrooms in Mina. They are just around the corner very close, Alhamdulillah.
Around Thuhr, we all made wudu and prepared for Salah. We heard an athan in the tent next to us on a loud speaker. We followed the athan until SUBHANA-ALLAH it was the Shi'ite!!!! We were surrounded by Shi'ite!!! We were sitting in a pool of Shi'ite!!! The athan of the Shi'ite is different from the athan of the Muslims. Instead of saying, "Ash hadu an-na Muhammadar Rasool Allah" (I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)." The Shi'ite say, "Ash hadu an-na Ali Rasool Allah (I testify that Ali is the Messenger of Allah)," Astagh Ferrullah ... La hawa la wala quatta illah billah!!! My eyes filled with tears having to listen to this blasphomy! My Hajj! This moment in Arafah I have waited for a long time. I have longed to be here to Praise Allah and to Seek His Forgiveness and now I have to listen to this blasphomy! Subhana-Allah! Because of my past and my personal experience with the Shi'ite, I had to get myself together. I realized that this was my test from Allah (SWT)! I told myself that I need to win this test with patience, Insha-Allah.
Upon hearing this KUFR (disbelief), my husband's dear friend from Michigan (the one know living in Makkah) immediately JUMPED UP and called out AT THE TOP OF HIS VOICE ... the athan of the Muslims ... "ASH HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAR RASOOL ALLAH !!!" We combined Thuhr and Asr as was the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) for Arafah. It was really hard to concentrate with the Kufr being shouted and broadcast on loud speakers all around us. Tears were streaming down my face.
After our prayers, we sat facing the Qiblah making du'a until Maghrib. Alhamdulillah, our morning du'as were answered! The sky is overcast and we have a nice breeze. It even RAINED a little bit today, Alhamdulillah. Yes is RAINED in the DESERT and on the day of Arafah!!! Allahu Akbar! It isn't so hot afterall, Masha-Allah. It is a nice cool breezy day, Alhamdulillah!
I am now coughing my head off, Masha-Allah. One sister at the bathrooms said to me, "I hope you don't get an infection in your lungs." She said this because she heard me coughing so hard, so loud, and for so long. While I was waiting in line at the bathrooms my cough wouldn't stop. I thought I was going to die. I became so weak and the cough was taking over my body. This was a very difficult time for me, but I pushed on and kept making du'as. I am in the best place in the whole entire world and on a the day of Arafah! Nothing is going to get me down not even this cough, Insha-Allah. Hafsah stayed with my husband while I went to the bathroom and made wudu, Alhamdulillah.
After Maghrib, it started thundering and lightening. The wind blew hard and it POURED DOWN RAIN! IT POURED DOWN RAIN IN THE DESERT, Subhana-Allah! We moved toward the bus area, where the buses were to pick us up and take us to Muzdalifah. The line was huge again and it was POURING DOWN RAIN with extreme gusts of wind so we went and sat in a temporary tent until the line went down. The wind was blowing so hard that the tents nearly blew over! We thought for sure the Wrath of Allah (SWT) was upon us because we were in a pool of Shi'ite! When the bus line went down we got back in line. We had to cover our eyes because of the fierce wind. The wind was blowing particles all around us and in our faces.
Finally, we got on a bus to Muzdalifah.