AsalamAlayKum…
Earlier tonight, after praying Maghrib in the Darul Khair Masjid in Flemingdon Park neighbourhood in North York, I spent about 20 minutes searching the western skies for the new moon.
My search took me to Don Mills Road, across from the Ontario Science Centre.
With highrise towers no longer blocking the view, and only the tree tops fencing in the parking lot, I had fully expected to see the new moon.
SubhanAllah, nope. Not tonight. Marshmallow clouds hazed the horizon.
I emailed my report of a Negative Moonsighting to Br. Khalid Shaukat over at Moonsighting.com.
All the while, I was recalling how for the past three years, I intended to properly blog about my Umrah, the minor pilgrimage, to Makkah, and Zirayah, visit to Madinah, back in 2011.
So that’s what the above video is about along with an archive of tweets which follow these words.
Each day, for the following nine days leading to Eid-al-Adha 2014, beginning tonight, you will see a story of a video plus a collection of tweets related to it… InshAllah.
My Umrah was technically, and correctly, only a few hours in length in the City of Makkah.
However, if you the dear reader of this blog, will forgive me, the titles of this and following nine blog posts will include the word Umrah.
786 ..LabaikhAllahumaLabaikh…
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 25, 2011
Bismillah. Let us begin our Journey . . . Together . . .
One year ago today, this hour, I began a Municipal Journey by withdrawing from the Ward19 Council Race and filing for Mayor of Toronto.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 25, 2011
I did my best to prove Another Toronto IS Possible. A direction of hope, a Vision in our City's Future. Vision 2020 — http://Oct25.ca/v20
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 25, 2011
In a few hours, one year to the day I started that journey, I'm staring a Spiritual Journey. A personal pilgrimage to Holy City of Makkah.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 25, 2011
If I wronged anyone this past year, I ask for your forgiveness. If not then perhaps your understanding and patience is where we meet.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 25, 2011
God-Alone-Willing, InshAllah, hope to be able to tweet as I make my way from Toronto to Madinah then on to Makkah and back home again. HiMY.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 25, 2011
Emirates EK 0242 #YYZ > #DXB http://twitpic.com/52iv7x
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
786 labaikhAllahumalabaikh… Ana MuSafir-al-Umrah… 🙂 http://twitpic.com/52j9xm
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Boarded.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Seat 55D EK 0242 http://twitpic.com/52jnyv
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
I lost my window seat when checking-in. Was so these three well-behaved kids could be together. Cool. http://twitpic.com/52jsmk
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Emirates crew handing out toys, stuffed animals, comic books, to all the kids on board. Wow. Don't remember that when I flown in childhood.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Being Muslim en-route to Holy Land, only way to join #MileHighClub is if I sexually-harass myself… http://twitpic.com/52rws0
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
#WheelsDown #DXB — http://twitpic.com/52sfd5
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Emirates EK 0242. This Airbus has double deck disembarking. First class above with Economy below… http://twitpic.com/52so1u
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
During the flight, #Emirates kept displaying The #Qiblah (direction towards #Makkah) as it changed. http://twitpic.com/52tgpw
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
This is a #Qiblah sticker stuck on the ceiling of the mihrab inside larger of 2 #DXB Prayer Rooms. http://twitpic.com/52ti2n
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Here's the larger of the two Prayer Rooms in #DXB Terminal 3. Did Dhuhr+Asr here right after landing http://twitpic.com/52tj93
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
#DXB Terminal 3 is…I want to say a giant shopping mall with Airline gates designed as some kind of after-thought at either end.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
In contrast I prayed Maghrib, Sunset prayers, in congregation in almost a tiny prayer room closest to middle of the shopping mall area. #DXB
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Dawned on me, this unique combination of human beings, praying side by side row on row will never be in this exact combination ever again…
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
'…When you see…bedouins competing in construction of tall buildings' (Sahih Muslim) http://twitpic.com/52tqvo
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Experiencing Cognitive Dissonance in #DXB: Muzak version of theme music from final episode of Battlestar Galactica playing in rotation. #BSG
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
If you are flying via #DXB and in-transit for more than 4 hours, you entitled a free all-you-can-eat self serve, but you got to ask for it.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
The Flashing Strobe Lights of @goBurjKhalifa in the far distance remind one of The @CNTowerVenue before installing colour LED light show.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Giant World Map of Country-Code Top-Level-Domains #ccTLD spotted in #DXB Terminal 3. http://twitpic.com/52uw2u
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
#WheelsUp #DXB – #MED inshAllah. LabaikhAllahumalabaikh…
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 26, 2011
Reached #Madinah. All requests for prayers on your behalf have been made from inside Masjid-al-Nabawi, The Prophet's (pbuh) Masjid.
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 28, 2011
Friday 3 am: Private Cabbed it from #MED+joined Fajr as Adhan began. Prayed in FIRST line for Jumah, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, Fajr! More later…
— HïMY SYeD (@HiMYSYeD) May 28, 2011
