Daily Prompt: Stranded Posted by Ranu

March 22, 2013

Bird’s-eye view of uncrowded Kaaba, Mecca, Suadi Arabia in 1910 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Supplicating Pilgrim at Masjid Al Haram. Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Français : Pélerin en prière dans Masjid Al Haram, la mosquée interdite, à La Mecque (Arabie Saoudite). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Every year there are about two and a half million people from all over the world who congregate for pilgrimage.My family and I also went to Makkah for the same reason. One of the requirement is to go around the ka’abah seven times.This was a day when if you are not careful,you can get lost.It happened to me,I was so busy praying and going around I forgot to keep pace with my family.To my amazement I found myself separated from them.I moved around looking for them,I found me in a sea of people,there wasn’t anyone I could ask for help.Every second felt like eternity.

It took me a while to believe,’I am stranded’,I have no money,I don’t know Arabic,I am hungry and worst of all the thought that I  don’t know where I will spend the night,was killing me inside.I couldn’t even weep to feel better.My tears were dry.I kept asking myself, did I really lose my family? I started to walk and reached the front of the mosque,I climbed a few steps and sat down,I had no strength to climb up any more. In the middle of this terrible anxiety I heard my mother’s voice,she was telling me to  pray quietly.I was happy my mother was miraculously telling me what to do. I began to  pray,which I always did when I needed help from the,”Divine”.I prayed and asked God to help me,I was stranded in a foreign city. This is what I said,it is a translation from Arabic into English:

In the name of Allah,the beneficent,the merciful.

“Allah!There is no God save Him,The Alive,The eternal.Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him.Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave?He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will.His throne includeth the heavens and the earth.And He is never weary of preserving them.He is the Sublime, the Tremendous”.

I kept repeating the prayer.My eyes were heavy and I fell asleep where I was sitting. I had a strange dream,someone was asking me, why I was there.The stranger had  a friendly face.It seemed this was what I needed,I broke down and tearfully related my story.Next moment I felt someone’s arms around me. Fear gripped me,I quickly opened my eyes, there before me was   the face of an angel,she assured me I was going to be fine.She was there to help me.Immediately I became aware of the fact,that I asked for ‘Divine’ help through my prayer and God has sent this person to help me.

She took me to her home,while on our way she kept reassuring me I was safe. We used sign language,she didn’t speak English and I couldn’t speak Arabic. Her family received me as if I was one of their own. Amidst all the sign language between us,the lady instantly remembered one of her son’s can speak English.This revelation brought joy to us.The son was brought in and the atmosphere became pleasant,he was the interpreter for me and the family.We exchanged pleasantries for a while,then as promised the lady with my help found my family.My husband was worried and told me how scared he was of losing me.My nightmare finally came to an end.I was grateful to God for His help.I was convinced that If one needs help,prayer is the best source.