29th March 2013

On the flight to Baghdad

A sleepless night – the beginning of my journey. Last minute ‘pre-flight checks’ – ensure every last item has been packed. The issue with the nail cutter – Mo had to trim his nails that very evening – and magic! the nail cutter disappeared. I know now, that will be the thing I will need desperately – not the multitude of other items I did manage to pack – I will end up not needing them at all. The nail cutter though will be thoroughly missed. L

Sana, Akbar & Ailia came to the Airport – nice. Mo left early ‘cause he wasn’t too well. He had been coughing and sneezing since he reached London earlier in the evening. And the car was heating up – mo wanted to take his time on the way back. He wanted to leave – said khudahafiz to him outside the Airport.

The heating in the Airport lounges was a welcome relief as the doors closed behind us and we walked towards the check-in counters. It was going to be a packed flight – the aisles were full of travellers - quite a few hijabis – on their way to one of the many places of religious significance.

This is the peculiar things about Muslims: every holiday - travel, they must. Destination – you ask? Well, their goal and purpose is one and one alone: their connection with the Almighty. Every holiday therefore is spent in one of the holy lands where they are intent on the ‘purification of their soul’. Pouring in their pounds into the travel industry – they travel to destinations that are fixed and with a fixation. Mecca and Medina, Karbala, Najaf and Mash-had – they inundate these cities in their millions. And not just once or twice – a dozen times if they can.

Today I am one of them – seeking solace. Destination Karbala. Destination Najaf. Agenda a meeting with Imam Ali. A meeting with Imam Hussain. An oath. A promise. To the Imam of our time – Imam Mehdi (ajtf). I hope, like the millions – that I return more patient, more pious, more penitent: purified.