While we were away at Hajj, Abdullah learned how to use the Pakistani toilets very well, Masha-Allah. He is very tan and looks like a Pakistani boy now, Masha-Allah. I rarely saw Abdullah the remainder of the trip because he was always in the masjid with the big boys or attending school with the young GIRLS (yes girls, Astagh Ferrullah). Hafsah also became comfortable in Pakistan, Masha-Allah. She spent a lot of time downstairs playing with her aunts and the young girls, Masha-Allah.
Zum Zum water and dates!!! These are the Hajj treats that family, friends and neighbors daily flocked to the home to receive from great Blessings of Hajj, Masha-Allah. Visitors arrived through each day to receive their portion of Zum Zum water, dates, and Hajj stories.
Finally, we headed back to Michigan from Islamabad on April 16th. Once again we had a layover in London. This time our layover was overnight. We traveled the same route in the airport as before and stayed in the same hotel. Since we were out of money we had to charge this stay in the hotel to our Discover Card. This time we will be able to find out for sure how much American dollars this hotel is costing us when we get the bill in America. The hotel gave us two complementary breakfasts. When we got up in the morning we headed downstairs to the hotel restaurant and had a wonderful food from the breakfast bar. We were permitted to eat whatever we wanted from this huge breakfast bar, Masha-Allah. We had eggs, cereal, fresh fruit, toast, pancakes, hash browns, and much more, Alhamdulillah. The children really enjoyed their breakfast, Masha-Allah.
After breakfast we went back to the room, packed up and left the hotel to head back to the airport for our flight. Again, we had to take the bus back to the terminal, a good walk to the underground train, a good walk to the check-in counter, and then again a good walk to the gate to board the plane. Alhamdulillah, everything went smooth.
Alhamdulillah, we arrived in Michigan safely. Upon our arrival as we were waiting for the luggage to appear on the conveyor belt, an airline official told us that one of our bags was still in London and would arrive the next day. As the conveyor built started we wondered which bag was missing. We quickly found out after retrieving the rest of the bags. The bag that was lost was the bag with the Zum Zum water and all the dirty clothes, Masha-Allah. We had to report to the claims desk after customs to make a report. I told them, "No big deal it's just our dirty laundry now I don't have to do laundry tonight. There wasn't any customs really. We just walked through a hall and then to a desk. No one checked luggage or even asked any questions, Masha-Allah.
My husband ran into a Muslim brother who was also a taxi driver. The brother took us to our friends home in Ann Arbor where we had left the truck. We loaded up the truck and headed home to Jackson. Alhamdulilalh, the home was safe and sound. We were back safely from our Hajj trip and our home was complete, Alhamdulillah.
After getting home and unpacking I realized a lot of other things (important) that were in that lost bag. A bag of dirty clothes meant a lot of clothes not available for wearing. There were also gifts and items that we had received over the years from Pakistan. Much The contents of the lost bag is priceless!
Next day came and no luggage had arrived. Days went by and weeks went by with no arrival of the luggage. I try to follow the example of the Prophet (SAW) and his companions (RU) by not having a lot of clothes and other things of this dunya, Insha-Allah. I have two pregnancy shulwar khamiz (Pakistani pant and shirt) and two non-pregnancy shulwar khamiz. Now I have one pregnancy shulwar kamiz. The other one is dirty and in that lost bag. Much of the children's clothing were in that lost bag. I didn't wash clothes before we left because I was waiting to put them in my wachine machine here in Michigan. I was down to one shulwar khamiz so I had wear a terrible looking t-shirt (because it was tight over my big pregnant belly) some days until my laundry was dry. It wasn't so bad because the days were hot anyway and the t-shirt was cool, Alhamdulillah. Multiple calls to British Airways had been placed with no trace of the bag. The airline was going to have to pay a pretty penny to send us back to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to buy new items that were lost in that bag. As time went by, I realized more and more things that were in that bag other than dirty clothes and Zum Zum water which itself was priceless.
Finally after filing another report with the airline, listing ALL the contents of the bag (that I remembered), when each item was purchased and how much we paid for it, the bag was finally retreived after nearly a month, Alhamdulillah. The tag was torn off the bag and it had been sitting in London wondering who it's owner was, Masha-Allah. We thought that maybe the Zum Zum water had leaked and they kept the bag for that reason. Alhamdulillah, the bag was brought out to the house in Jackson via a carrier with no damage and no signs of Zum Zum water leakage. Alhamdulillah, our bag was home! A lot of laundry to do now!
Insha-Allah we plan to return to Saudi Arabia for Umrah each year before visiting Pakistan. We usually visit Pakistan every winter. We are anxious to return to the Kabah and to touch the Black Stone, Insha-Allah. We still have a mission to complete. "The Black Stone", Insha-Allah! May Allah (SWT) accept our Hajj, Ameen.